Blues Stunned in Embarrassing Home Loss to Rival Blackhawks
Dismal Home Debut
The St. Louis Blues were hoping to build on their recent road success, but their homecoming was anything but a triumphant one. In a shocking 8-3 defeat at the hands of the Chicago Blackhawks, the Blues were simply outmatched and outplayed from start to finish.
The game started promisingly enough, with Jake Neighbours scoring to tie the game at 1-1 early on. However, the Blackhawks quickly regained the lead and never looked back, pouring on five unanswered goals to blow the game wide open.
Goaltending Struggles
Blues goaltender Joel Hofer, who had been a key factor in the team's recent wins, had an uncharacteristically poor outing. Several defensive breakdowns led to prime scoring chances for the Blackhawks, and Hofer was unable to bail out his teammates.
"I don't think we're worried about our goaltenders at all," said Blues captain Brayden Schenn. "We have two of the best goalies in the league and a great tandem. If you want to talk about the goals, let's maybe talk about the team and how we're giving up too many chances."
Looking Ahead
The Blues will need to quickly regroup and refocus as they continue their homestand. Head coach Jim Montgomery acknowledged that the team's compete level and habits need to be better, taking full responsibility for the poor performance.
With a talented roster and high expectations, the Blues will look to bounce back and prove this was an aberration rather than the start of a troubling trend.
TL;DR
- The St. Louis Blues suffered an embarrassing 8-3 home loss to the rival Chicago Blackhawks
- The Blues' strong recent road play did not translate to their home opener, as they were outmatched and outplayed
- Goaltender Joel Hofer struggled, leading to questions about the team's defensive lapses
- Head coach Jim Montgomery took responsibility, vowing the team's compete level and habits must improve going forward