Thomas scores twice, Blues defeat Rangers to end skid at four

ST. LOUIS -- Robert Thomas scored twice to help the St. Louis Blues end a four-game skid, 6-2 against the New York Rangers at Enterprise Center on Thursday.

David Perron and Ryan O'Reilly each had a goal and an assist, and Ville Husso made 27 saves for the Blues (33-17-7), who were 0-3-1 in their past four games, matching a season high (0-3-1, Nov. 11-16). Brayden Schenn and Jordan Kyrou each had two assists.
"Any time you're losing, it [stinks], especially a couple in a row where you feel like one bounce and you come out on top of the game," Thomas said. "Frustrating, but it's nice being home in front of our fans. We would have liked to win the last game, but this was a good one, a really good one."
Ryan Strome and K'Andre Miller scored, and Adam Fox had two assists for the Rangers (36-17-5), who had won three of four. Igor Shesterkin allowed four goals on 17 shots before being replaced 15 seconds into the second period by Alexandar Georgiev, who made 16 saves.
"I think we were a little bit lackadaisical," New York defenseman Jacob Trouba said. "I think the focus off the start, we dug ourselves some holes here. We got to our game eventually, but a sense of urgency off the start, I think, is our focus going forward "

Husso made a point-blank save on Rangers forward Dryden Hunt at 11:16 of the first period, kicking out his right toe. The Blues had failed to score in 1:07 of a two-man advantage and a third power-play opportunity that could have been a deflating sequence had the Rangers scored.
"I went to my left, then back to my right," Husso said. "I think I went down and then I just tried to get something out there. I was lucky that it hit my toe.
"You know, as a goalie, you want to make those saves. Then today we scored right away, so it's big. Make a save and then you score, so the game is 1-0 there and I think guys did a good job today, scoring and getting into the house. It wasn't easy for their goalie and nice goals from us."
St. Louis scored three times in 2:36 in the first period. Thomas made it 1-0 at 13:05, Ivan Barbashev made it 2-0 45 seconds later at 13:50, and Thomas extended the lead to 3-0 at 15:41.
"Yeah, it's important to get a lead," Blues coach Craig Berube said. "But what's important is the second period, coming out, scoring right away, and keeping going. I thought late in the second period it was a little sloppy and we were a little loose because of the score, but the third, I thought we were better again."

Strome's power-play goal at 18:37 cut it to 3-1, with Shesterkin getting an assist for his first NHL point.
O'Reilly pushed the lead to 4-1 15 seconds into the second period to chase Shesterkin when he scored from the slot.
"He had no chance on the first goal and a couple tap-ins, no chance at all," Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said. "You get frustrated and hope you wake your guys up. It didn't really, but they should be embarrassed a little bit, the way this guy plays for them all year, and then they come out here and play like that after a game in Minnesota (a 5-2 loss to the Wild Tuesday) that we weren't too good in."
Jake Walman and Perron scored 38 seconds apart, Walman at 7:07 to make it 5-1 on a delayed penalty, and Perron at 7:45 for a 6-1 lead.
Miller scored on the power play at 12:23 for the 6-2 final.
NOTES: The Blues played with 11 forwards and seven defensemen after center Tyler Bozak was a late scratch due to a non-COVID-19 related illness. ... St. Louis forward Pavel Buchnevich did not play due to concussion protocol after being injured late in the third period of a 4-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday. ... Blues forward Logan Brown played 10:54 and was plus-1 in his return to the lineup after being a healthy scratch the past seven games. ... St. Louis defenseman Marco Scandella had an assist and was plus-3 in 16:44 after missing 11 games with a lower-body injury. ... Kyrou has scored 12 points (four goals, eight assists) the past nine games. ... Perron has scored 10 points (five goals, five assists) the past eight games. … Blues defenseman Colton Parayko was plus-4. … Fox has eight assists in his past six games. … Rangers forward Chris Kreider, defenseman Ryan Lindgren and Fox were each minus-4.