Blues Smother Senators in Ottawa
McTavish and Suter drive the attack, Buchnevich dings iron as St. Louis rolls
The Blues controlled the game on the puck and in the dangerous areas, and the scoreboard followed. They owned the shot attempts share at 56.3 — more of every look — and backed it with heavier-quality chances, piling up 26 shots to Ottawa’s 17. The chance value tilted their way too, with expected goals — how much the chances were worth — at 3.42 for St. Louis, showing this was control, not just bounces.
Up front, Mason McTavish carried the push with two goals, one assist and 6 shots, while Pius Suter matched his line’s punch with two and one on 4 shots. Pavel Buchnevich threaded three helpers and even rang the post — that iron tells you how threatening his looks were — and Jake Neighbours cashed twice on 3 shots. Adam Jiricek added one from the back end.
In net, Joel Hofer turned aside 15 of 17; steady, but the night belonged to the skaters. For St. Louis, this is the blueprint: finish and forecheck clicking, they can pin teams in. For Ottawa, the defensive layers that had been tight came apart here, and the Blues made them pay.
