SALT LAKE CITY — The St. Louis Blues needed eight rounds of a shootout Thursday night to get past the Utah Mammoth, winning 1-0 after neither team scored through 65 minutes at Delta Center.
Connor McMichael ended it, sending a shot over the glove of Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka. Barrett Hayton had just missed the net for the Mammoth on the attempt before.
Joel Hofer turned away all 29 shots he saw in regulation and overtime. It was his second shutout of the season and the 10th of his NHL career. Vejmelka matched him with 22 saves, also reaching his second of the season and 10th overall.
The tiebreaker dragged on after Utah’s Vincent Trocheck and the Blues’ Jake Neighbours both converted in the opening round. Ten straight shooters came up empty before Michael Carcone and Jimmy Snuggerud traded goals in round seven.
St. Louis nearly won it sooner. Mason McTavish looked to have scored in the middle of the second period, but Utah challenged for offside and the goal was taken off the board on review. In overtime, Philip Broberg rang one off the crossbar, and a goal call on the play was waved off. Snuggerud also hit a post in the extra period.
Coach Jim Montgomery praised his goalie’s steady play since opening night, while saying his team needed to play faster. Utah coach Andre Tourigny said his group had wanted both points but was proud of the effort on the second night of a back-to-back.
Utah was opening a five-game homestand after a 5-3 loss at Vegas the night before.
The Blues improved to 9-8-2 and have won two straight after a three-game skid. Utah, at 10-8-2, has dropped four in a row and plays San Jose at home Saturday.
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