Hofer Makes 28 Saves, Blues Shut Out Sabres
Joel Hofer recorded 28 saves to lead the St. Louis Blues to a 3-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on Thursday. This marked Hofer’s third career shutout. He started the game after coming off a relief appearance, where he stopped 15 of 17 shots in a 6-1 loss to the Washington Capitals the night before.
“Especially after last night, it tells a lot about our group, the character we have,” Hofer said. “After last night it was tough but bounced back and got a good win.”
Mathieu Joseph contributed a goal and two assists, while Justin Faulk added a goal and an assist for the Blues, who improved to 5-8-2 and have won two of their last three games.
Lineup Changes and Coach’s Comments
Forward Jordan Kyrou was scratched for the Blues despite being tied for second on the team with eight points in 14 games. Coach Jim Montgomery explained the decision:
“There were several people we weren’t happy with the effort last night. It didn’t matter the role, there were a lot of guys that didn’t play up to their role or responsibilities on the team. And the players we ended up going with we thought gave us the best opportunity to win tonight.”
Sabres’ Performance
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 14 saves for Buffalo, which had its seven-game point streak snapped. The Sabres’ record fell to 5-5-4, with the streak including three regulation losses and four overtime losses.
Summary
The Blues showcased resilience with Hofer’s strong goaltending and key performances from Joseph and Faulk, while lineup adjustments helped secure the win and end Buffalo’s point streak.
Author's Summary
Joel Hofer's outstanding goaltending and solid team effort propelled the Blues to a 3-0 win, ending the Sabres' seven-game point streak.