Robert Thomas scored his second goal of the night 54 seconds into overtime to help the St. Louis Blues secure a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center on Friday. The win marked the third consecutive victory for St. Louis.
The game-winning play occurred when Philip Broberg’s shot from the point struck the crossbar behind Sharks goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic, rebounded off Thomas’ skate, and went in.
“We found a way to win again. Two games in a row with tough days for our group, and we won both of them,” said Blues coach Jim Montgomery.
Jimmy Snuggerud contributed with a goal and an assist for St. Louis (24-29-9). The team recently traded captain Brayden Schenn to the New York Islanders and defenseman Justin Faulk to the Detroit Red Wings before Friday’s NHL Trade Deadline. Goalie Jordan Binnington made 23 saves.
“It was a really hard morning. That’s a position we put ourselves in. That’s the business. I just want to thank Schenn and Faulk for what they did for me and a lot of guys in this locker room. They laid out every day what it means to be a Blue,” said Blues forward Jake Neighbours.
For San Jose (30-25-5), Macklin Celebrini and Kiefer Sherwood each scored for their second straight game, but their three-game winning streak ended as Nedeljkovic recorded 11 saves.
Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky commented, “We didn’t have our best tonight. Couldn’t make a play, too many odd-man rushes. Yeah, we just weren’t good enough tonight.”
Sherwood tied the score at 2-2 late in regulation after Philipp Kurashev set him up from behind the net for a one-timer that got past Binnington’s blocker.
“I just tried to get open. Really good poise by [Collin Graf] and [Kurashev], just to kind of work them low and just try to get lost. It was a great play,” Sherwood said.
Snuggerud opened scoring early in the first period after taking Cam Fowler’s pass into the left slot and beating Nedeljkovic with a spinning wrist shot through the five-hole.
Celebrini responded midway through the second period with his own wrist shot from Dmitry Orlov’s pass on right wing, evening up at 1-1 after beating Binnington’s blocker side.
Thomas restored St. Louis’ lead later in that frame after Snuggerud sent him a pass from beside the net; Thomas’ one-timer beat Nedeljkovic high on his blocker side.
“Feels good. Between the tough day it was today and the three wins, it aligns our team and brings energy to the room,” Snuggerud added.
In other notes: Macklin Celebrini recorded his 88th point of this season—matching Pierre Turgeon’s total from 1988–89—for tenth-most points by an NHL teenager in one season (31 goals, 57 assists in 60 games). His goal tally also ties him with Steve Yzerman (1983–84) and Wendel Clark (1985–86) for ninth-most goals by an NHL teenager through 60 games; Jimmy Carson holds first place with 40 goals set during 1987–88.
