Blues Drop Another Winnable Game, Fall 5-3 to Blue Jackets Amid Special Teams Struggles
The St. Louis Blues had a chance to build on some positive momentum after a gutsy win over the Florida Panthers.
With a few key players back in the lineup and confidence on the rise, they entered Friday night’s matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets looking to stack another win. But what unfolded in Columbus was another frustrating chapter in a season that’s been defined by inconsistency, missed opportunities, and special teams that just can’t seem to get it right.
A Promising Start… That Didn’t Last
The Blues came out with jump. They were the better team early, outshooting Columbus 6-2 in the opening minutes and controlling the pace.
But despite the strong start, they couldn’t capitalize on their early pressure. One of the key issues?
Shot selection. Columbus goaltender Daniil Tarasov is more vulnerable high, but the Blues weren’t elevating the puck enough to exploit that.
Still, they broke through first. Jimmy Snuggerud got behind the defense on a breakaway and buried it with confidence, giving the Blues a 1-0 lead just over seven minutes into the game.
But as has happened too often this season, the lead didn’t last. Just 37 seconds later, a fluky bounce off Robby Fabbri’s skate gifted Columbus a prime chance, and the Blue Jackets made no mistake, tying the game on a backdoor finish. A few minutes later, another unfortunate deflection-this time off Colton Parayko-left Jordan Binnington helpless as Columbus took a 2-1 lead.
Special Teams Continue to Undermine Effort
The Blues clawed back in the second period, tying the game 2-2 on a power play goal from Jonatan Berggren. The puck bounced around the zone before landing on Berggren’s stick, and he made no mistake, roofing it from the right hash marks. It was the kind of opportunistic goal the power play has desperately needed more of.
But the momentum didn’t stick. Just five minutes later, the penalty kill let them down again.
With no one clearing the front of the net, Columbus tipped in an easy goal to take a 3-2 lead. It was another example of the Blues’ PK issues-soft coverage, missed assignments, and goals coming far too easily, often early in the man advantage.
Tyler Tucker tied it up again with a shot from the left boards that somehow found its way in off the post, making it 3-3. But once again, the Blues couldn’t hold the line.
A long-range slap shot beat Binnington clean past the blocker to give Columbus a 4-3 lead late in the second. It wasn’t deflected, and it wasn’t screened.
It was just one that needs to be stopped-and one we’re not used to seeing Binnington miss.
Third Period Push Falls Flat
The third period was all St. Louis on the shot chart.
They outshot Columbus 15-4, dominating possession and zone time. But the shots weren’t dangerous, and the execution wasn’t sharp.
Even with two power plays in the frame-including one drawn by Snuggerud-they couldn’t get anything going. Puck control was an issue, entries were sloppy, and they rarely tested Tarasov with anything threatening.
As the clock wound down, the Blues struggled to get Binnington off for the extra attacker. When they finally did, a weak shot from Jordan Kyrou was blocked, and Columbus turned it up ice for the empty-net dagger. Final score: 5-3 Blue Jackets.
The Penalty Kill Is Sinking This Team
The Blues’ penalty kill has been in free fall. They’ve now allowed multiple power play goals in four straight games, and it’s not just the quantity-it’s the timing.
Opponents are scoring early in the man advantage, often before the Blues can even get set. It’s deflating, and it’s costing them games.
They did manage to kill off a crucial double-minor against Florida, but that feels like the exception, not the rule. Right now, it’s hard to trust this PK unit in any critical situation.
The Numbers Don’t Tell the Whole Story
Look at the box score, and you might think the Blues were the better team. They outshot Columbus, won more faceoffs, and even got a power play goal.
They had more hits, more blocked shots. But none of it translated to results.
That’s been a theme this season-doing a lot of the right things on paper, but not converting where it counts.
Snuggerud Shines Again
One bright spot? Jimmy Snuggerud.
The rookie continues to show flashes of real scoring potential. He had a goal and an assist in this one, and he was active late, trying to will his team back into it.
What sets Snuggerud apart is his shoot-first mentality. Where a player like Kyrou often looks to distribute, Snuggerud is hunting goals.
That mindset could make him a more consistent scorer over time.
He’s got slick hands, a quick release, and the confidence to attack. There’s still development ahead, but the foundation is there. He’s giving the Blues reasons to be excited, even in the middle of a frustrating season.
A Familiar, Frustrating Pattern
This game was a snapshot of the Blues’ season in a nutshell. They tease you with stretches of strong play-like the win over Florida-and then follow it up with a letdown.
The effort level isn’t consistent. The execution wavers.
Special teams are a liability. And even when they control the game statistically, they don’t control the scoreboard.
Head coach Jim Montgomery didn’t mince words postgame. He felt like his team wanted it to be easy in the first two periods.
That’s a tough pill to swallow. No one expects playoff-level intensity every night over an 82-game season, but the Blues too often look like a team waiting for something to happen instead of making it happen.
There’s a work ethic problem here. Not across the board, but enough to derail games like this one.
And the Blues aren’t in a position to bench guys or shake things up dramatically. The roster is what it is, and the margin for error is razor-thin.
Final Thoughts
This was a winnable game. Columbus didn’t dominate-far from it.
But the Blues made too many mistakes, got beat in key moments, and couldn’t finish when it mattered. That’s becoming the story of their season.
They’ve got talent. They’ve got flashes of strong play. But until they find consistency in effort, execution, and special teams, they’ll keep dropping games like this-games they should be winning.