In Glendale, Mike Hoffman struck for the game-winner in extra time to send the St Louis Blues to a 5-4 win over their hosts, the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday night.
“Every game has been a battle so far,” Hoffman said. “But these are the ones you want to play. You don’t want to have easy games. It makes us a better club. We’ve got to expect the same thing the next game.”
Ville Husso made 32 saves in the win.
The Blues needed a late goal from Jordan Kyrou to force the extra session.
“That’s the way we want to play hockey,” Blues head coach Craig Berube said. “‘Dunner’ made a real good play, ‘Hoff’ had a great shot and scored. It’s a good win, a good win.”
Nick Schmaltz and Dryden Huntscored for the Coyotes to tie the game at 3-3 and pusht them ahead, 4-3 in the third period.
“I felt our push in the second half of the game was good, and it’s disappointing to let that slip away,” the Coyotes’ Barrett Hayton said.
Conor Garland and Hayton also scored for Arizona.
Ivan Barbashev, Kyle Clifford, and Zach Sanford also scored for the Blues.
“That’s why this team is as strong as it is. If some guys aren’t going one night, other guys will pick up their slack,” Hoffman said. “That’s what you saw tonight, goals throughout the lineup, and so it makes us a good team.”
St Louis improved to 9-4-2.
“When we have the opportunity to do something, we’re going to try to score some goals,” Barbashev said. “Every single line is doing a really good job right now. It helps our team to build.”
Antti Raanta made 30 saves in the loss.
“It’s a battle, it’s like playoff hockey,” Hayton said. “It’s seven games and every night is a battle, and they’re a strong team, a heavy team. Obviously, you see the success they’ve had. It’s definitely a big competition, and every night is a fight.”
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