The Blues finally got a preseason win, and they did it the hard way.
St. Louis blanked Chicago 1-0 on Thursday night, with Calle Rosen scoring the lone goal and Jordan Binnington stopping all 16 shots he faced for the shutout. In a game that turned into a grinding, physical battle, the Blues found plenty to like beyond the final score.
One of the clearest bright spots was Oskar Sundqvist. His return this summer raised eyebrows for some, given the forward depth already in place, but the 32-year-old is making his case the old-fashioned way.
He logged 11:58, put three shots on goal and added a blocked shot. His best moment came in the second period while killing a penalty, when he broke up a chance in his own end and turned it into a 2-on-1 with Nathan Walker.
The Blues didn’t finish the play, but the sequence showed exactly why Sundqvist is still in the mix as roster decisions loom.
Aleksanteri Kaskimaki also kept building his case. After scoring in last Saturday’s game, he was active again Thursday, tying for the most shifts among Blues forwards with 22 and leading the team with six shots.
Jim Montgomery kept feeding him opportunities, including time on the power play, and Kaskimaki kept firing. He didn’t score, but he was involved throughout the night and remained a big part of St.
Louis’ offensive pressure. With injuries in the picture, he’ll likely begin the season in the American Hockey League, but he looks like one of the first names in line if the Blues need a call-up.
The other big theme was the edge St. Louis brought physically.
The Blues finished with 26 hits, and Nathan Walker and Dylan Peterson led the way with five apiece. Peterson and Ross Johnston both stood out in that department, and when Colton Parayko was hit against the boards in the second period, both players immediately rose from the bench to let it be known they noticed.
The response carried into the third period, when Johnston and Anthony Spellacy got into a skirmish. Spellacy headbutted Johnston, which drew a five-minute major and a game misconduct, and both players were also hit with roughing minors.
That set up four-on-four hockey, and Rosen took advantage to score the game’s only goal.
From there, St. Louis kept leaning on Chicago.
The Blues kept sending pucks toward the net, bodies kept crowding the crease and the physical tone never really let up. Walker even dropped the gloves late in the period.
For a preseason game, it had real bite.
That kind of response is exactly what the Blues have been chasing. Players look more willing to jump into the extra stuff knowing there’s support around them, and Johnston in particular looks like he could become a quick favorite with the fan base. Peterson could have a similar effect if he gets the call at some point.
It was also the kind of Blues-Blackhawks game that still carries some heat when the hits start flying. The rivalry has been quieter since 2016, but Thursday’s game had enough pushback to make Saturday’s rematch worth watching.
Before that, Zach Dean earned a stick tap for the way he moved the puck and helped create chances. He also drew attention because of the road he’s been on, missing time due to injury before entering the Player Assistance Program.
The reasons were not disclosed to protect his privacy, and they weren’t needed for the story here. What mattered Thursday was that he looked good.
The Blues and Blackhawks will meet again Saturday night to close out the preseason, and both teams are expected to use their likely NHL lineups. With the regular season only days away, that one should feel a little more like the real thing.
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