AP

McAvoy scores in OT, Bruins snap Blues’ 9-game win streak

Apr 19, 2022, 7:49 AM | Updated: 9:01 pm

Boston Bruins' Brad Marchand (63) passes as St. Louis Blues' Colton Parayko (55) defends during the...

Boston Bruins' Brad Marchand (63) passes as St. Louis Blues' Colton Parayko (55) defends during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 19, 2022, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)


              St. Louis Blues goaltender Ville Husso deflects a shot by Boston Bruins' Craig Smith (12) as Blues' Marco Scandella (6) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 19, 2022, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
            
              St. Louis Blues' Robert Bortuzzo (41) and Boston Bruins' Trent Frederic (11) chase after a loose puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 19, 2022, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
            
              St. Louis Blues goaltender Ville Husso stops a shot from Boston Bruins' Taylor Hall (71) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 19, 2022, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
            
              Boston Bruins' Craig Smith (12) reaches for the puck between St. Louis Blues' Torey Krug (47) and Jordan Kyrou (25) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 19, 2022, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
            
              St. Louis Blues' Jordan Kyrou, left, shoots past Boston Bruins' Matt Grzelcyk (48) and Brandon Carlo during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 19, 2022, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
            
              St. Louis Blues' Pavel Buchnevich (89) looks at the puck after loosing his stick as Boston Bruins' Charlie McAvoy (73) sits on the ice during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 19, 2022, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
            
              Boston Bruins' Nick Foligno (17) is unable to control the puck as St. Louis Blues goaltender Ville Husso (35) watches along with Torey Krug (47) Robert Bortuzzo and Logan Brown (22) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 19, 2022, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
            
              St. Louis Blues' David Perron (57) passes around Boston Bruins' Jake DeBrusk (74) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 19, 2022, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
            
              Boston Bruins' Brad Marchand (63) passes as St. Louis Blues' Colton Parayko (55) defends during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 19, 2022, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Charlie McAvoy felt as if the postseason began on Tuesday night.

McAvoy scored 48 seconds into overtime and Jeremy Swayman made 20 saves to help the Boston Bruins beat the St. Louis Blues 3-2.

Jake DeBrusk and Taylor Hall also scored for Boston, which won its second straight after a season-worst three-game losing streak.

The Bruins were coming off a 2-1 win over Pittsburgh on Saturday, and the back-to-back victories give them a much-needed shot of momentum.

“Those are the games that it’s going to be like in the playoffs,” McAvoy said. “So, it’s certainly not bad to be playing those games as we build up.”

Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich scored for St. Louis, which had a nine-game winning streak snapped.

Swayman, who stopped 23 of 24 shots against Pittsburgh, thwarted Jordan Kyrou from close range midway through the final period with the game tied.

“We know that every game is an opportunity to prepare us for the playoffs from here on out ,” Swayman said. “We love (facing) teams that are going to give us that all-out effort, every night and we’re only going to get better from it.”

The Bruins were making their first appearance in St. Louis since a 5-1 win in Game 6 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals. The Blues went on to win the crown in seven games.

“We checked very well, limited their chances,” Boston coach Bruce Cassidy said. “All in all, I felt we did a good job against a real good hockey team. That’s our game plan. If we play like that, we’re hard to play against.”

Ville Husso made for 32 saves for St. Louis, He had won his previous six starts.

The Blues extended their point streak to 13 successive games, tying a franchise mark set Jan. 3-Feb. 5, 2015.

“They checked us well and didn’t give us much,” St. Louis coach Craig Berube said. “You’ve got to fight for space and this was a good lesson for us.”

Thomas deflected in a backhanded attempt by Vladimir Tarasenko with 2.4 seconds left in the second period to tie it 2-all. Thomas extended his career-best point streak to 14 games. He has seven goals and 19 assists during the streak, which is the longest current run in the NHL.

The Bruins have failed to score in their last 27 power-play attempts.

Hall, the first overall pick in the 2010 draft by Edmonton, deflected a shot from Derek Forbort midway through the second period to break a 1-all tie. It was Hall’s 17th goal of the season and first in eight games.

DeBrusk jammed in a shot from close range just 93 seconds into the second period to tie the game.

The Blues had scored at least four goals in their last 12 games, a franchise record.

“Total team effort, it was great to watch,” Swayman said. “Our guys communicate well, take pride in the defensive zone, blocking shots, making simple plays. It’s stuff we work on, it’s great to see it show up for us.”

DEADLY PAIR

Boston goalies Linus Ullmark, with 23 wins, and Jeremy Swayman, with 22 wins, are the only 20-plus win duo in the NHL this season.

WELCOME HOME

Boston C Trent Frederic grew up in St. Louis and made his first appearance as a member of Bruins on Tuesday. A 2016 graduate of De Smet Jesuit High, Frederic has a career-high six goals.

UP NEXT

Bruins: Play at Pittsburgh on Thursday,

Blues: Begin a four-game trip in San Jose on Thursday.

___

More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

McAvoy scores in OT, Bruins snap Blues’ 9-game win streak