At least for one game, Binnington found his form again in 4-1 win over Flyers

Struggling goalie had given games, starts to red-hot Ville Husso, found 

solid form in place where he made first NHL start, earned first shutout, win 

By LOU KORAC
If there was ever any doubt with the Blues or their coaching staff about Jordan Binnington, think again.

(St. Louis Blues photo)

Blues goalie Jordan Binnington (right) was back in form in a 4-1 win over the 

Philadelphia Flyers. Here he makes a breakaway save on Scott Laughton.

It's been no secret that Binnington, the Blues' No. 1 netminder, has struggled this season with consistency. Heck, Binnington's results in the postseason can be traced all the way back to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final when he last won a playoff game.

But that's neither here nor there. This is the here and the now, and for whatever reason, it just hasn't happened for Binnington this season on a regular basis.

It's only one game, but the Binnington of old reappeared in a familiar spot, in Philadelphia, at Wells Fargo Center, the site of Binnington's first NHL start and his first win, a 3-0 shutout of the Flyers on Jan. 7, 2019. The stakes were similar, but the circumstances were different, and Binnington flushed the demons down the toilet for one night, making 25 saves in a 4-1 Blues win on Tuesday to eradicate -- again, for one night -- what had been ailing the Six Million Dollar Man for larger chunks of the season.

The Blues (30-14-6), who took seven of eight points on this four-game road swing, going 3-0-1, have been riding the hot hand of Ville Husso, who by his own actions, has rightfully elicited comments and feelings that he should command more of the cage than before simply because he was doing the things that complemented the Blues in their play, things that had eluded Binnington, who was 0-3-0 his previous three starts with a paltry .824 save percentage and an alarming 6.92 GAA.

Remember, this is the guy that once he stepped into Jake Allen's net three years ago, there was no giving it back. He went 24-5-1 with a sparkling 1.89 GAA and .927 save percentage helping the Blues from worst to first in winning the Stanley Cup.

But three years later, Binnington was languishing with an 11-10-3 record, a 3.35 GAA and .898 save percentage, which ranked among the bottom in the league among qualified starters.

And Husso was taking the Blues, and quite frankly, this city and its fanbase, by storm. His 1.97 GAA and .936 save percentage was at the opposite end of the goalie rankings, at the top, and Husso started nine of the previous 11 games going back to Jan. 17.

But as has been the case throughout Binnington's career, it's a one-day-at-a-time challenge. Stay in the present, in the moment, work on the kinks and figure things out. He's been down rockier roads before.

It's one game, but it could be deja vu all over again where Binnington finds the crease in Philadelphia and skyrockets from here.

"Yeah, I guess so. You don't want to look too far ahead. It's a tough league and it takes a lot of work," Binnington said. "You can't let your foot off the gas, so you can't just do enough to get by. You've got to do more. 

"It's tough when you feel you're not doing your part for the team. It just feels good to contribute tonight. I'm just excited to keep working one day at a time and build it back. It happens in life, stuff is not going to go your way and you've got to just keep fighting. That's the mindset and it was fun to get a win with the boys."

Now Binnington knows exactly what Allen was feeling three years ago when he was this year's version of Husso and Allen was this year's version of him. It's a mental grind for a goalie, probably one that takes its toll on them more than it does on any of the other players because the spotlight is constantly on them. But there was never any question from the coaching staff that he would eventually get it back, find it and now, hopefully run with it again.

"I never did not rely on him," Blues coach Craig Berube said. "Listen, every goalie goes through bad stretches in this league. I think he's ready to roll again. He had a really good game and I don't see any going the other way. That's me. I believe in him.

"... I thought he was active playing the puck, he looked sharp all game. Third period, we didn't look that great at the start and he held it together for us."

Binnington was tested a couple times early, and when he made a right pad save on Max Willman cutting to the net 2:46 in and a breakaway stop on Scott Laughton at 5:40, there was the sense that he would be on his game.

"It was a good," Binnington said. "I think it was a good competitive hockey game. We played pretty well and so did (Martin) Jones. I think both teams had chances, a couple power plays. It was a good game.

"You know it's not how you draw it up, but it's about building that resiliency back, just taking it one day at a time and going to work, and believe in yourself. You want to be there for the boys, right? So yeah, it's just focusing one day at a time, and when you get in there, just play your game."

All along, Binnington's teammates felt it would get better. It had to, or this would be Husso's role for the majority of the remaining games. But to think if Binnington can get back to his former self, how lethal this 1-2 punch could be.

"We feel for him," said Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko, who scored what would be the game-winning goal at 8:51 of the third period. "It's on us too like previous games, we don't play well when he was in the net. It's a big game for him, big game for us. 

"We understand the responsibility, especially this town still have a lot of good memories from the past. We are really happy for him. He play amazing, thought he was our best player out there. He (made) unreal saves and played well. We are really, really happy."

Binnington was especially sharp in the third period, like he was here three years ago. And coincidentally, he made 25 saves on that night as well.

"Yeah, coming out and seeing my dad and stepmom after the game (three years ago) just around the corner here. You know, kind of a similar style game," Binnington said.

It was one of the factors Berube made in starting Binnington in this building, hoping he could recapture some of that magic.

"He was going to play at some point, but it crossed everybody's mind a little bit, we discussed it," Berube said. "He was going to play at some point, but he did a helluva job tonight."

When the final horn sounded, the Blues, as they do with whoever is in goal, give the winner full congratulations and taps. This one felt good for Binnington, much like the one here three years ago.

Almost.

"Yeah, it felt good," Binnington said. "I think the boys were happy for me. Everyone is excited, that's a great road trip, that's seven out of eight points. We had a lot of fun being on the road together, so it's just a smooth trip. It's a great group to be around and be successful. Everyone is kind of excited for everyone. Everyone competes and steps up. That's what you want."

"We talk before. You have to know how to be happy for your teammates when they have success," Tarasenko said. "Hockey's a tough sport, people struggle sometimes. It's always nice to see a guy get confidence, get a win when he deserves (it). He work very hard, he's nice in the locker room. We all love him and like I said before, we're just very happy for him."

Berube said he feels Binnington is ready to get on a roll again, and that's the mental confidence a goalie needs to hear from his coach, who's been nothing but supportive. The rest is on the player.

(St. Louis Blues photo)

Blues goalie Jordan Binnington (left) tries to look through Flyers forward

James van Riemsdyk in search of a shot Tuesday at Wells Fargo Center.

"Yeah, it's on me. I'm in this position for myself, on me," Binnington said. "Like I said, it's just about building that resiliency back. It's a competitive league, so you've got to stay on top of yourself. That's my focus now. The team is playing great hockey and we're getting wins, and that's the most important thing.

"Just playing a full 60. Just staying focused and not living in the past. Just be present. Sometimes it just feels like it's not working and you've got to stay with it. It's not going to be right away. It's about building. Just moving forward, like I said, going back to that one-day-at-a-time thing now. We're here and it's how you handle it."

Will Binnington get the start Friday at home against Buffalo? Time will tell, but it would make one great problem for Berube and the coaches if they have two guys going that deserve the net.

"Just take care of myself and it'll play out how it plays out," Binnington said. "We're both great goalies and I think as long as the team is winning, that's what our main focus is. Obviously just taking care of ourselves and pushing each other. You can't predict the future. You've just got to take it one day at a time, and that's the mindset."