In St Louis, the Blues took their match Wednesday night a bit lightly and lost, 3-2, to the Anaheim Ducks after penalties.
“I thought that we [had a] lack of intensity in the second period for me more than anything,” St. Louis head coach Craig Berube said. “Not making hard plays, direct plays, not checking, just not being physical and hard to play against in the second period and just not very good execution with the puck tonight.”
Anthony Stolarz made 24 saves to get the win.
“Our guys came to play,” Anaheim head coach Dallas Eakins said. “We were able to skate and compete against a very good, very structured team. The guys were real upbeat on the bench, really supporting each other, and they obviously got the outcome that we want.”
He stopped all three skaters he faced in the skills competition.
Mike Hoffman and Kyle Clifford scored for the Blues.
David Backes was given a standing ovation from the fans and tribute from the Blues as he has announced this season may be his last.
“I made it most of the way and then, you know, seeing the guys that I played with the longest really, really hit me in the heart, with ‘Schwartzy’ and all he’s been through lately (Schwartz’s father, Rick, died last November) and David Perron and how far he’s come,” Backes said. “It’s just all the memories flood back of the great moments that we’ve had as friends and teammates.
“If you gave me a blank sheet of paper and said, ‘How do you want to end your career?’, this might have been second to, you know, hoisting the Stanley Cup and going out in that style. That’s not always reality, so you know, this is pretty amazing.”
Haydn Fleury and Max Jones were the Ducks’ strikers.
Jordan Binnington made 33 saves in the loss.
“‘Barby’s’ a great all-around player, got great vision, he just made a great play,” Clifford said. “It’s as simple as that. Credit to him.”
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