Hofer Makes 28 Saves as 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, coming a day after he stopped 15 of 17 shots in relief during a 6-1 loss to the Washington Capitals.
“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.”
Key Players and Team Dynamics
Mathieu Joseph contributed a goal and two assists, while Justin Faulk added a goal and an assist for the Blues (5-8-2), who have won two of their last three games. Forward Jordan Kyrou, tied for second on the team with eight points in 14 games, was scratched for this match.
“There were several people we weren’t happy with the effort last night,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery explained. “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 the Sabres (5-5-4), whose seven-game point streak ended with this loss.
Summary
The Blues demonstrated resilience and team character, overcoming a tough previous game to secure a strong defensive win against the Sabres.
Author’s summary: Hofer's standout goaltending and strategic lineup changes fueled the Blues' decisive 3-0 shutout, ending Buffalo's seven-game point streak with a solid team effort.