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
