National Hockey League
St. Louis 2, Vancouver 1
When: 8:00 PM ET, Thursday, January 4, 2024
Where: Enterprise Center, St. Louis, Missouri
Referees: Ghislain Hebert, Dan O'Rourke
Linesmen: Shandor Alphonso, Mark Shewchyk
Attendance: 18096

Robert Thomas celebrated his first NHL All-Star Game appointment by scoring one goal and setting up the other as the St. Louis Blues edged the visiting Vancouver Canucks 2-1 on Thursday.

Colton Parayko also scored and Jordan Binnington made 25 saves for the Blues, who snapped a two-game losing streak while improving to 6-3 under interim coach Drew Bannister.

Conor Garland scored and Thatcher Demko made 30 saves for the Canucks, who opened a seven-game road swing by suffering just their second regulation loss in their last 12 games.

Vancouver struck 1:57 into the game. After Demko stopped Blues winger Jake Neighbours stepping out from behind the net, Garland put the Canucks up 1-0 at the other end.

Garland curled into the slot to convert Teddy Blueger's centering pass for just his second goal since Nov. 12.

St. Louis got the upper hand on Vancouver in the second period, outshooting the Canucks 10-7 while tying the score 1-1.

Parayko scored 4:22 into the period. He joined the rush, accepted a drop pass from Thomas, moved in through the right circle and fired a shot in off the left post.

Demko kept the score tied by denying Blues forward Nathan Walker's clean break-in with 5:40 left in the second period. Then 2 minutes later, Binnington had to make a similar stop on Blueger, who stole the puck and shot from point-blank range.

Thomas put the Blues up 2-1 at the 8:03 mark of the third period by scoring in his third straight game. Scott Perunovich came off the bench, took a pass from Pavel Buchnevich then fed Thomas curling into the slot.

Perunovich has five assists in his last five games.

With Demko off the ice for an extra attacker, the Canucks controlled the action for the final 3:17 but they failed to tie the score.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Vancouver   St. Louis
Conor Garland 1 Points Robert Thomas 2
Conor Garland 1 Goals Robert Thomas 1
Teddy Blueger 1 Assists Robert Thomas 1
N/A Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Thatcher Demko .938 Save Percentage Jordan Binnington .962
Thatcher Demko 30 Saves Jordan Binnington 25
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Vancouver 26 1 0-1 2-2 4 15
St. Louis 32 2 0-2 1-1 2 32
Upcoming Games
  • St. Louis will play their next game on the road against Carolina. The Blues have a W/L % of .368 after a win and .667 after a loss.
  • Vancouver will play their next game on the road against New Jersey. The Canucks have a W/L % of .520 after a win and .846 after a loss.