Hofer Makes 27 Saves as Blues Shut Out Sabres 3-0
Joel Hofer recorded 27 saves for his third NHL shutout on Thursday night, leading the St. Louis Blues to a 3-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. The win marked the Blues' first shutout since their season opener and only their second victory in the last ten games (2-6-2).
Key Performers
- Joel Hofer – 27 saves, third career shutout
- Mathieu Joseph – one short-handed goal and two assists
- Justin Faulk – one goal and one assist
- Nick Bjugstad – one goal
Game Highlights
Coming off a 6-1 loss to Washington the previous night, the Blues responded strongly despite limited offensive chances. Head coach Jim Montgomery conducted a mandatory morning skate before the back-to-back game and decided to bench leading scorer Jordan Kyrou in hopes of energizing the struggling team.
St. Louis struck first during a quiet opening period with only four shots on goal. At 12:38, Mathieu Joseph intercepted a pass from Jack Quinn in the defensive zone and scored on a partial breakaway from the high slot. Earlier in that same sequence, Hofer stopped a close-range attempt by Josh Doan while on the penalty kill.
Buffalo’s Streak Ends
The Sabres’ seven-game point streak (3-0-4) ended as they were shut out for the first time since their season opener. Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, returning from a preseason lower-body injury, made 14 saves in his third appearance of the season.
“Hofer gloved Josh Doan’s shot from inside the crease earlier on the penalty kill that produced Joseph’s goal.”
With the win, Hofer improved his record to 2-3-0 after allowing 20 goals over his previous five outings.
Author’s Summary
A strong defensive effort and standout goaltending from Joel Hofer propelled the Blues to a crucial 3-0 win, halting Buffalo’s momentum and restoring confidence in St. Louis.