Pavel Buchnevich scored the game-winning goal as the short-handed St. Louis Blues edged the visiting Florida Panthers 4-3 in overtime Tuesday night.
Vladimir Tarasenko, Brayden Schenn and Brandon Saad also scored for the Blues. Ivan Barbashev and Jordan Kyrou had two assists and goaltenders Ville Husso and Charlie Lindgren combined to make 37 saves.
The Blues dressed just 17 skaters due to injuries, COVID-19 protocols and salary-cap issues. During the game, they lost Husso and defenseman Jake Walman to injuries.
Aleksander Barkov, who returned after missing eight games with a lower-body injury, scored for the Panthers along with Brandon Montour and Jonathan Huberdeau. Maxim Mamin and Carter Verhaeghe had two assists each and Spencer Knight made 26 saves.
The Panthers dominated the first period, outshooting the Blues 20-5 while taking a 1-0 lead.
Aaron Ekblad started Florida's first scoring play with an excellent outlet pass and Barkov finished it by breaking toward the right post to convert Mamin's pass from the left wing.
Tarasenko tied the game 1-1 to snap a 10-game goal-scoring slump. With the Blues pinning the Panthers in their own zone, Tarasenko came off the bench and scored from the right dot off Barbashev's centering pass.
But less than a minute later, Montour put Florida ahead 2-1 with his shot from above the right circle through traffic.
Schenn tied the game 2-2 with a power-play goal with 6 1/2 minutes left in the period. He came from behind the net to redirect Tarasenko's pass from the right dot.
As a Blues' power play expired in the third period, Saad put St. Louis up 3-2 by deflecting Barbashev's shot from the slot.
Huberdeau tied the game 3-3 with 5:32 left by redirecting Radko Gudas' diagonal pass from the left point toward the right post.
At that point, Lindgren replaced the injured Husso in goal.
Buchnevich won the game with a wraparound goal 53 seconds into overtime.
--Field Level Media
Florida | St. Louis | |
Maxim Mamin 2 | Points | Pavel Buchnevich 2 |
Aleksander Barkov 1 | Goals | Pavel Buchnevich 1 |
Maxim Mamin 2 | Assists | Ivan Barbashev 2 |
N/A | Power Play Goals | Brayden Schenn 1 |
N/A | Short Handed Goals | N/A |
Spencer Knight .867 | Save Percentage | Charlie Lindgren 1.000 |
Spencer Knight 26 | Saves | Ville Husso 34 |
Team | Shots | Goals | Power Play | Penalty Kill | Penalty Mins | Face Offs Won |
Florida | 40 | 3 | 0-5 | 4-5 | 12 | 27 |
St. Louis | 30 | 4 | 1-5 | 5-5 | 12 | 27 |