Binnington sensational for Blues with 40 saves, three more in shootout; Hayes scores in return to Philadelphia of 2-1 win; breaking down the three keys

Three keys in Blues' 2-1 shootout win against Flyers (3-4-24) (2:45)

Jordan Binnington was exceptional for the Blues, making 40 saves, six of which came in overtime and another 14 in the third period, and the goalie stopped three of four shootout attempts in a 2-1 win against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center.

The goalie is the backbone to any successful team, and on nights like this where the Flyers, playing the third game in four nights, were the better team in the third period and created more scoring opportunities, and Binnington was up for each and every one.

Kevin Hayes ended his goal drought at 19 games, and of all places, he does it in the city he spent the past four seasons before being traded to the Blues on June 27, and then Jake Neighbours and Pavel Buchnevich did what they needed to do in the shootout to preserve the two points.

The Blues improved to 32-26-3, giving them 67 points and pull them within five of the two Western Conference wild card spots.

Let's take a look at three keys to improving to 2-0-1 the past three games:

1. Plenty o'saves from Jordan Binnington -- Let's face it, this was a goalie win for the Blues.

Binnington was razor sharp from start to finish, and the only goal that got past him late in the first period by Scott Laughton was one that pinballed in the crease and in.

Binnington had to be especially good in the third period when the Flyers were outshooting the Blues 14-6, and then he had to make six more saves in overtime, including one on Travis Sanheim with 11 seconds left right in front.

The Blues are trying to keep their playoff push alive, and Binnington made sure they stay above water with two more games left prior to the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline.

2. Hayes breaks his drought -- It had been so long since Hayes scored, it takes a few clicks to roll down his game long to find the last time he scored.

It came on Jan. 13 against the Boston Bruins, and goal No. 11 came at the most opportune time on Monday against his former team, making a visit to the building he called home for the first time since the Blues acquired Hayes for a 2024 sixth-round pick on June 27, 2023.

It wasn't the most effective move, as the puck rolled off Hayes' stick on a breakaway but it was enough to eek through Samuel Ersson's pads to tie the game at 15:47 of the second period, a game in which the Blues had trouble getting much sustained o-zone time.

3. Neighbours, Buchnevich clutch in SO -- When it comes down to the skills competition, it in fact does become crucial to make good on your opportunities, which Neighbours and Buchnevich did.

Neighbours made his count in the second round, giving him two goals in two shootout opportunities in his NHL career (he scored the game-winner in a 2-1 win at the Carolina Hurricanes on Jan. 6, and Buchnevich had a chance to win it in sudden death, which he did with a nifty backhand and give the Blues a second point in a game in which they probably wouldn't have collected under normal circumstances had it not been for their goaltending.