Hofer Makes 28 Saves, Blues Shut Out Sabres
Joel Hofer recorded 28 saves, leading the St. Louis Blues to a 3-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on Thursday. This marked Hofer’s third career shutout. He started the game after recently coming off the bench to stop 15 of 17 shots in a 6-1 loss to the Washington Capitals on Wednesday.
“Especially after last night, it tells a lot about our group, the character we have,” Hofer said. “After last night it was tough but bounced back and got a good win.”
Mathieu Joseph contributed significantly with a goal and two assists, while Justin Faulk added a goal and an assist. The Blues improved to a 5-8-2 record and have won two of their last three games.
Player Changes and Coach's Comments
Forward Jordan Kyrou was scratched for the game despite being tied for second on the team with eight points (four goals, four assists) in 14 games. Blues coach Jim Montgomery explained the decision:
“There were several people we weren’t happy with the effort last night. It didn’t matter the role, there were a lot of guys that didn’t play up to their role or responsibilities on the team. And the players we ended up going with we thought gave us the best opportunity to win tonight.”
Sabres' Performance
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 14 saves for Buffalo, who saw their seven-game point streak come to an end. The Sabres' streak included three wins and four overtime losses, standing now at 5-5-4.
Game Facts
- Final Score: St. Louis Blues 3, Buffalo Sabres 0
- Joel Hofer: 28 saves, 3rd career shutout
- Mathieu Joseph: 1 goal, 2 assists
- Justin Faulk: 1 goal, 1 assist
- Jordan Kyrou scratched despite team ranking
- Buffalo Sabres seven-game point streak ended
Summary: Joel Hofer's strong goaltending and key contributions from Mathieu Joseph and Justin Faulk propelled the Blues to a confident shutout victory, halting Buffalo's recent momentum.