ST. LOUIS _ Opening night for the Blues was a dud, as they unveiled their renovated and renamed building to a sellout crowd and got clubbed by the Winnipeg Jets, 5-1.
The Blues were down only 1-0 entering the third period, no small feat against team seen by many as a Stanley Cup contender, and then gave up three goals in 1:44 toward the middle of the period, starting with a short-handed goal and then giving up a couple even-strength ones. Along the way, the Blues had a few shots hit the post, which usually is a precursor to the other scoring at the other end shortly after.
The Blues finally got their first goal of the season with 5:50 to play from Vince Dunn, with assists from Ryan O'Reilly and Tyler Bozak. It kept alive the Blues' streak of never having been shut out on opening night. The Blues finished with 42 shots on goal.
The Blues had a chance to pull even in the third on a power play, and the situation looked even better when Winnipeg's Brandon Tanev broke his stick. The Blues had some chances but couldn't keep the puck in the zone and when Alex Pietrangelo's diving attempt came up short, it sprung Adam Lowry for a short-handed breakaway on Jake Allen, who beat to the short side to make it 2-0. Then six seconds after the teams were even, Blake Wheeler tipped in a shot by Kyle Connor from right in front of the goal _ not an easy one to stop for any goalie _ and it was 3-0 and the die was cast. Forty seconds later, Connor had a tip of his own to make it 4-0.
