Hutton, Blues shutout Flyers

(Kate Frese/Sports Talk Philly)

By: Bill Minchin, Sports Talk Philly writer

Carter Hutton faced 26 shots. He made 26 saves. Number 26, Paul Stasny broke a scoreless tie at 15:22 of the second period. Kenny Agostino extended the lead early in the third and the St. Louis Blues defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 2-0 on Monday night.

The Flyers played a pretty solid opening twenty minutes. They were able to generate much more pressure than St.Louis. The strong play led to two power plays.

Ryan Reaves went off at 6:08 for slashing. Reaves got a little aggressive with the stick and Andrew MacDonald did a good job in  getting Reaves to be undisciplined.

Unfortunately for Philadelphia, they were unable to create much with the extra attacker and the score remained 0-0.

Jaden Schwartz took the second St. Louis penalty when he was whistled for tripping at 12:09 of the period. The puck movement was better but they were still unale to beat Carter Hutton.  

The Flyers held St. Louis to just one shot in the period while firing 11 on Hutton and the game remained scoreless after one period of play. 

St. Louis would play a much better second period. They outshot the Flyers 11-4 in the period and eventually took the lead where it counts. 

Andrew MacDonald was given a four minute double minor for high sticking at 11:06. The power play seemed to give the Blues some jump. St. Louis did not score with the power play but did twenty seconds after it ended.

Paul Stasny deflected a puck home at 15:22 of the period to give the Blues a 1-0 lead. The play was challenged by the Flyers and after a engthy review the call was upheld. It appeared the puck might have left the zone but the replay was inconclusive.

The goal was the 15th of the season for Stasny. Kevin Shattenkirk and Alexander Steen picked up the assists. 

Carter Hutton stopped all four Flyers shots in the period and the Blues took the 1-0 lead to the dressing room after two periods.

Kenny Agostino extended the Blues lead just 2;10 into the third period. Jakub Voracek attempted a cross ice pass at the St. Louis blueline that was intercepted by Jori Lehtera. Lehtera found David Perron who hit Agostino with a perfect pass to spring the youngster on a breakaway.

The goal was the first of the season for Agostino who entered the lineup due to the ACL injury to Robby Fabbri. 

Despite two late power plays, the Flyers were unable to break through and the Blues skated off with the 2-0 victory.