Sabres - The Buffalo News
National Hockey League
St. Louis 5, Washington 1
When: 8:00 PM ET, Friday, January 7, 2022
Where: Enterprise Center, St. Louis, Missouri
Referees: Frederick L'Ecuyer, Ian Walsh
Linesmen: Brad Kovachik, CJ Murray
Attendance: 18096

Pavel Buchnevich scored two goals and set up another as the St. Louis Blues routed the visiting Washington Capitals 5-1 Friday night.

Oskar Sundqvist, Ivan Barbashev and Torey Krug also scored for the Blues and Ryan O'Reilly had two assists. Ville Husso made 26 saves to earn his victory in his first start since Dec. 7.

The Blues are unbeaten in their last 11 home games (10-0-1) dating back to Nov. 18. Overall, they have earned points in 13 of their last 16 games (10-3-3).

Daniel Sprong scored for the Capitals, whose three-game point streak ended.

Capitals coach Peter Laviolette pulled starting goaltender Ilya Samsonov after he allowed four goals on 16 shots in the first two periods.

The Capitals earned a 3-on-1 rush less than 2 minutes into the game, but Husso slid to his left to stop Brett Leason's tap-in. But seconds later Sprong took a pass from Aliaksei Protas and fired a shot through Blues defenseman Robert Bortuzzo from the right circle to put the Capitals up 1-0.

The Blues tied the game 1-1 at 12:10 of the first period. Robert Thomas doubled back on the right wing and fired a cross-ice pass to Krug cutting in from the left point to score.

Buchnevich scored from the slot to put the Blues up 2-1 at 9:08 of the second period. Marco Scandella set up the goal by jumping up into the play to take O'Reilly's pass and feed Buchnevich from the left circle.

Sundqvist made it 3-1 with 2:40 left in the second period by converting the rebound off Justin Faulk's blast from the right point.

Then Barbashev scored in the final second of the period to push the Blues' lead to 4-1. Consecutive drop passes by O'Reilly and Buchnevich off the rush created his opportunity in the high slot.

With Capitals goaltender Zach Fucale pulled for an extra attacker on a power play, Buchnevich iced the game with his short-handed, empty-net goal.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Washington   St. Louis
Daniel Sprong 1 Points Pavel Buchnevich 3
Daniel Sprong 1 Goals Pavel Buchnevich 2
Aliaksei Protas 1 Assists Ryan O'Reilly 2
N/A Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals Pavel Buchnevich 1
Zach Fucale 1.000 Save Percentage Ville Husso .963
Ilya Samsonov 12 Saves Ville Husso 26
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Washington 27 1 0-3 2-2 4 25
St. Louis 24 5 0-2 3-3 6 24
Upcoming Games
  • St. Louis will play their next game at home against Dallas. The Blues have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .667 after a loss.
  • Washington will play their next game on the road against Minnesota. The Capitals have a W/L % of .476 after a win and .714 after a loss.