Brayden Schenn provided three assists as the St. Louis Blues defeated the Seattle Kraken 3-2 on Wednesday in Seattle. The victory improved the Blues to 2-0-0 on their ongoing four-game road trip, which concludes in San Jose on Friday and Anaheim on Sunday.
Key Contributions and Game Events
Robert Thomas scored a goal and added an assist for St. Louis, while Logan Mailloux and Dylan Holloway each found the net. Blues goaltender Joel Hofer was solid in goal, making 34 saves on 36 shots faced. For the Kraken, Jaden Schwartz and Vince Dunn, both members of the Blues’ 2019 Stanley Cup-winning team, scored goals. Dunn also registered an assist, while goalie Philipp Grubauer stopped 24 out of 27 shots.
The Kraken took an early lead just 31 seconds into the game when Adam Larsson’s shot from the right point was stopped by Hofer, but the rebound landed at Schwartz’s feet. Schwartz quickly swept the puck with his skate and scored at the near post. St. Louis responded at 6:50 of the first period when Mailloux wrapped around the net to score off a rebound after Grubauer initially saved Schenn’s shot from the right faceoff circle.
In the second period, the Blues took the lead with a 3-on-2 rush. Cam Fowler passed from the right wing to Holloway, who tipped the puck in for a goal at 7:40. Holloway previously recorded a hat trick against the Kraken on February 26 in a 5-1 home victory. The Blues extended their advantage to 3-1 early in the third period when Schenn carried the puck behind the net and set up Thomas for a quick wrist shot that beat Grubauer high glove side at 1:33.
The Kraken narrowed the gap to 3-2 with a goal from Dunn at 13:34 of the third. Jordan Eberle maneuvered behind the net and delivered a one-timer pass to Dunn, who scored from the slot to keep Seattle within reach.
Player Returns and Absences Affecting the Game
Seattle welcomed back defenseman Ryan Lindgren, who returned after missing three games with an upper-body injury. On the Blues’ side, defenseman Colton Parayko remained out for a third consecutive game due to back spasms; he has been the subject of trade speculation before the upcoming deadline.
Implications of the Result and Upcoming Challenges
With this win, the Blues maintain their unbeaten record on this trip, demonstrating resilience on the road and strong teamwork, particularly in playmaking from Schenn and key performances from Thomas and Hofer. The Kraken, meanwhile, continue to face challenges at home during their six-game homestand. The Blues will look to carry their momentum forward in the remaining two games of the trip, while Seattle aims to rebound quickly, especially as they integrate returning players like Lindgren.
