Robert Thomas tallies deep in OT as Blues overtake Oilers
Robert Thomas scored with nine seconds left in overtime to give the St. Louis Blues a 3-2 comeback win over the visiting Edmonton Oilers on Friday.
Down 2-0 with less than eight minutes remaining in the third period, the Blues equalized on goals from Pius Suter and Cam Fowler. Thomas then added the dramatic late game-winner, depositing a well-placed wrist shot from the circle.
The Blues are on a seven-game points streak (6-0-1) and are 7-1-1 since the NHL's Olympic break. The hot stretch has revived St. Louis' playoff chances, as the Blues sit five points behind the Los Angeles Kings for the final Western Conference playoff berth.
Joel Hofer stopped 36 of 38 shots in another big performance for the Blues goalie. Hofer is 5-0-1 with a .948 save percentage in his last six starts.
Fowler was the only Blues player with multiple points, as the defenseman also earned an assist on Thomas' goal.
Kasperi Kapanen and Connor McDavid scored for the Oilers, who are 4-7-1 in their past 12 games.
Connor Ingram turned aside 22 of 25 shots and had an assist on McDavid's goal.
The game's first tally didn't come until 15:41 into the second period, when Leon Draisaitl made a tremendous backhand pass from the corner. The puck went through the slot to a wide-open Kapanen in the far circle, and the forward buried the wrist shot.
Edmonton's league-best power play was 0-for-3 on Friday, and the Blues had the higher-quality chances during an Oilers' 5-on-4 stretch early in the third period. Colton Parayko and Alexey Toropchenko each had breakaway opportunities, but Ingram stepped up with a pair of critical saves.
McDavid's 37th goal of the season extended the Oilers' lead 9:56 into the third period. Suter responded at the 12:22 mark, depositing a Jonatan Berggren pass from behind the net.
At 16:14 of the third period, the puck went right back to Fowler after Oskar Sundqvist won a faceoff in Edmonton's zone. Fowler's wrist shot then beat a screened Ingram to tie the score.