Kadri, though, picked up a primary assist on Milan Lucic’s first-period goal, finding a crashing Lucic on the backdoor. Blues coach Craig Berube and his coaching staff briefly paused to look at Jonathan Huberdeau’s entry for offside, but chose not to challenge the goal. The Blues also host the Flames on Thursday night. Alternate captainThomas wore an “A” on Tuesday night, joining Brayden Schenn and Colton Parayko with letters on their chest.
Kadri, who signed a seven-year, $49 million contract with the Flames over the summer, was the center of controversy last spring after his collision with Jordan Binnington in Game 3 knocked the Blues goaltender out of the series. After the game, there was the infamous water bottle incident, and Kadri had a hat trick in Game 4. The Avalanche won the series in six games on their way to winning the Stanley Cup. On Tuesday night, Kadri was whistled for an early interference call that negated a Flames power play. When the penalty was announced, it drew a chorus of cheers. One of the biggest reactions from the crowd came near the end of the first period, when Noel Acciari hammered Kadri in the neutral zone.
The third-period about-face was a welcome change after the Flames generally but not dominantly carried play in the opening 40 minutes. All three of Calgary’s goals in the first two periods came at the net-front: Milan Lucic’s stuff on the rush, Mikael Backlund’s tip on the edge of the crease and Andrew Mangiapane’s open look from the slot. The Blues' Nikita Alexandrov celebrates his goal in the third period against the Flames at Enterprise Center on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. Robert Cohen Photos, Post-Dispatch Lucic beat the backchecking Blues to finish off a 3-on-2 Calgary rush.
Buchnevich’s hot start was part of a disjointed open to the game that featured three penalties and a goal in the first 3:50. At 1:40 of the first period, Steven Santini was whistled for cross-checking Dillon Dube into the boards. Five seconds later, Nazem Kadri was called for interference. Then Buchnevich drew a tripping call in the slot on Nikita Zadorov. By the time Buchnevich scored, only 100 seconds had been played at 5 on 5, and the Blues fourth line had yet to receive a shift. Kadri’s return to St. LouisKadri played his first game in St. Louis since last season’s second-round playoff series between the Avalanche and Blues, and he was booed every time he touched the puck by the Enterprise Center crowd.
The Blues have now won four of the five games since losing Ryan O’Reilly and Vladimir Tarasenko to injury. St. Louis is 9-3-2 in its last 14 games despite mounting injuries. St. Louis Blues goalie Jordan Binnington eyes a shot by the Flames' Nazem Kadri during the second period at Enterprise Center on Tuesday, Jan.
Without captain O’Reilly and alternate captain Tarasenko due to injury, Justin Faulk wore an “A” for the Blues on the most recent four-game road trip. In today’s 10 a. m. video, columnist Ben Hochman dissects the Blues’ upcoming schedule, as they try to make a push this month and next (before the March 3 trade deadline). Also, a happy birthday shoutout to Pat Benatar! And, as always, Hochman picks a random St.