Winnipegger saving day for Blues during emergency recall

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This article was published 19/03/2023 (401 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ST. LOUIS – It was a perfect game for St. Louis Blues goaltender Joel Hofer, even if he got robbed of a fairy-tale ending.

Hofer stopped all 33 shots he faced in a 3-0 victory over the visiting Winnipeg Jets — the NHL team he adored as a kid — on Sunday night.

Despite not surrendering a goal, the 22-year-old Winnipeger wasn’t rewarded with a shutout.

Under NHL rules, in order to register a shutout a goalie must get the starting assignment and follow through to the end. Hofer left with 15:05 remaining in the second period when one of his skate blades broke loose, forcing him to the locker room for a quick repair. Back-up goalie Thomas Greiss replaced him briefly — fewer than three minutes — and registered one save.

“It’s alright. I don’t really care about that,” Hofer, named the game’s first star, told reporters during a post-game scrum. “I’m just obviously happy to be here and to get the win in front of the home crowd. It was great.”

The loophole that prevented an official shutout didn’t spoil the party. Hofer’s parents, Stephen and Elaine, were in attendance at Enterprise Center to cheer him on.

It was just the fourth career start — and first on home ice — for Hofer, the Blues’ fourth-round selection in the 2018 NHL Draft.

“To play on the road is fun and a different atmosphere but playing at home in front of these fans is unreal. There’s obviously a little more motivation there (being from Winnipeg),” said Hofer. “But I thought the team played really well in front of me — limited them to a lot of outside chances, and it was nice to get the win, especially against those guys.”

Hofer made his first start of the 2022-23 NHL campaign last Friday, posting a 32-save performance in a 5-2 road victory against the Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals. He was pressed into duty (on an emergency recall) as a result of a two-game suspension given to starter Jordan Binnington for roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct during an 8-5 loss to the Minnesota Wild earlier in the week.

Hofer’s boss was pleased with the work of his young netminder against the Jets.

“He was good. Again, solid around the net,” said Blues coach Craig Berube.. “No rebounds and things like that, so it’s good.”

Hofer, who is a big body at 6-foot-5, 179 pounds, has spent a majority of his pro career with the Springfield Thunderbirds of the American Hockey League. With the Blues destined to miss the playoffs, Hofer will eventually make his way back to the AHL for Springfield’s post-season run as one of the club’s key contributors.

Recently named an AHL player of the week, he is 22-14-4 with the T-birds, sporting a 2.50 goals-against average and .920 save percentage.

But Berube isn’t ready to see him leave just yet, stating Hofer will remain with the team for the foreseeable future. That’s no small vote of confidence, either, as there might need to be some juggling with the roster, including the potential of putting Greiss on waivers this week.

“He’s calm, cool, collected, for sure,” Blues forward Nathan Walker said. “I had a chance to play with him last year in Springfield, and he was great down there. He’s going to be a great goaltender for years to come.”

Hofer already has a couple of stellar notations on his resume. He backstopped Canada to a gold medal at the 2020 world junior hockey championship, and he scored an empty-net goal in a playoff game for Springfield last May.

For now, he isn’t looking too far ahead. He’s just going to enjoy the moment and ride what has developed into a well-deserved promotion with the Blues — for however long that might be.

“I’m obviously super grateful for the opportunity that they’ve given me,” said Hofer. “I’m just happy to be here and get to see the guys again. For me to come here and get two wins is really good.”

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton