Joel Hofer shuts out Hurricanes as Blues snap losing streak

Joel Hofer made 33 saves for his fourth shutout of the season as the St. Louis Blues blanked the visiting Carolina Hurricanes 3-0 on Tuesday night.

Nick Bjugstad, Dalibor Dvorsky and Jimmy Snuggerud scored for the Blues, who snapped a three-game losing streak.

Brandon Bussi made 28 saves for the Hurricanes, whose five-game point streak (4-0-1) came to an end.

The already short-handed Blues won despite playing without top center Robert Thomas (lower-body injury) and key defenseman Philip Broberg (concussion protocol), who were hurt in the previous game.

The Hurricanes built an early 6-2 shot advantage, highlighted by Jordan Staal's clean break-in 25 seconds into the game.

The Blues survived an early Carolina power play and stabilized. They outhit the Hurricanes 11-3 and blocked seven shots during the scoreless first period.

Carolina had an early second-period power play and generated a dangerous shot from Sebastian Aho from the high slot. After Hofer made a shoulder save, Bjugstad, in his return from the injured list, took a pass from Otto Stenberg and scored a shorthanded goal from the right wing on a 3-on-2 break to give St. Louis a 1-0 lead.

The game opened up after the goal. Hofer made a glove save on Jesperi Kotkaniemi's rebound bid during a goalmouth scramble.

Then the Blues scored off the rush again to push their lead to 2-0. Jake Neighbours cut in from the left wing, then set up Dvorsky for his point-blank goal.

Snuggerud made it 3-0 with a power-play goal. After Hofer stopped K'Andre Miller's short-handed shot, Kyrou rushed the puck up the right wing and found Snuggerud for his trailing shot.

Hofer stopped Sean Walker on a 3-on-1 rush late in the period to keep Carolina off the board, then he made 13 saves in the third period to close out the shutout.

--Field Level Media