Robert Thomas' OT goal lifts Blues past Flames

[January 11, 2023] Robert Thomas scored the game-winning goal in overtime as the St. Louis Blues rallied from a 3-1 third-period deficit to defeat the visiting Calgary Flames 4-3 Tuesday.

Thomas scored on the first shift of the overtime by converting a two-on-one rush with Jordan Kyrou, who had a goal and two assists in the game.

Pavel Buchnevich and Nikita Alexandrov also scored for the Blues and Jordan Binnington made 28 saves.

Andrew Mangiapane, Milan Lucic and Mikael Backlund scored for the Flames and Jacob Markstrom made 23 saves.

The injury-depleted Blues have earned points in 12 of their last 15 games, with a 9-3-3 mark in that stretch. The Flames have points in 15 of their last 19 games, with a 9-4-6 record during that span.

The Blues struck first with a power-play goal off the rush 3:50 into the game. Buchnevich broke down the middle unchecked and tried to feed Thomas at the right post, but his pass deflected off Flames defenseman Chris Tanev into the net.

The Flames tied the game 1-1 with a three-man rush up the ice. Jonathan Huberdeau sent Nazem Kadri racing up the right wing and Kadri found Lucic breaking to the right post for the redirection goal.

The Calgary moved ahead 2-1 less than two minutes later with sustained offensive zone pressure. Nikita Zadorov threw a puck at the net from the left point and Backlund deflected it past Binnington.

Calgary Flames center Trevor Lewis (22) battles for the puck as St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) and defenseman Justin Faulk (72) defend the net during the first period at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Mangiapane made it 3-1 just 62 seconds into the second period with a point-blank shot set up by Blake Coleman and Noah Hanifin's pressure behind the Blues net.

The Blues tied the game 3-3 with two goals 28 seconds apart in the first 2:48 of the third period.

First Steven Santini put a shot on net from the right wing and Alexandrov drove the net to convert the rebound. Then Kyrou took a drop pass from Buchnevich and made a toe-drag move to the middle to score from the high slot.

--Field Level Media

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