STL's special teams and goaltending margin were the structural difference in a Central Division basement game that carried playoff positioning implications for neither team but exposed a genuine performance gap. Soderblom conceded 2.20 goals above average on 28 shots — in a two-goal game, that margin was the result.
⚡TURNING POINT
Kyrou's power-play goal at 12:06 of the second converted STL's only man-advantage into a 3-2 lead at the precise moment CHI had seized momentum by scoring first in the period. STL went 1-for-1 on the power play while CHI converted 0-for-2, meaning the special teams differential alone produced a two-goal swing that CHI's 5v5 play never recovered.
🏆WHY STL WON
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Special teams decided the structure: STL's perfect 1/1 power play versus CHI's 0/2 created the decisive margin.
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Five different skaters scored, preventing CHI from keying defensive attention on any single threat.
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Hofer conceded 0.40 goals below average on 34 shots, holding firm while CHI generated a higher shot volume than STL.
📉WHY CHI LOST
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Soderblom conceded 2.20 goals above average on 28 shots — that margin turned a competitive game into a two-goal loss.
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CHI's 23 STL giveaways were not capitalized on; their 6 takeaways produced no power-play conversion on two opportunities.
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CHI's power play failure (0/2) directly cost them the points swing the special teams battle created.
Three Stars
Ilya Mikheyev1st
CHI, R
2G2P3 SOG18:00 TOI
Both Chicago goals in regulation came from Mikheyev, making him the only reason the game stayed contested into the third.
Tyler Tucker2nd
STL, D
2A4 SOG18:45 TOI+1
Tucker generated consistent offensive zone pressure from the blue line, contributing assists on two separate STL goals.
Jonatan Berggren3rd
STL, R
2A1 SOG13:26 TOI+1
Berggren assisted on two STL goals including the P3 insurance marker, extending the lead when CHI needed a response.
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Soderblom's 2.20 goals above average on just 28 shots handed STL a result their shot volume alone did not earn.
