Hofer’s 41 saves lifts St. Louis Blues to 2-1 win over Ottawa Senators

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OTTAWA - Joel Hofer made 41 saves and the St. Louis Blues held off a late rally from the Ottawa Senators to take a 2-1 win Saturday.

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OTTAWA – Joel Hofer made 41 saves and the St. Louis Blues held off a late rally from the Ottawa Senators to take a 2-1 win Saturday.

Jake Neighbours scored twice for the Blues (10-12-7), including the eventual game winner just 12 seconds into the third period. 

He tipped a Pavel Buchnevich pass by Ottawa goalie Linus Ullmark, who made 18 saves in the loss.

Ottawa Senators' Ridly Greig (71) leaps over St. Louis Blues' Jake Neighbours (63) as he makes a pass during second period NHL hockey action in Ottawa, on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
Ottawa Senators' Ridly Greig (71) leaps over St. Louis Blues' Jake Neighbours (63) as he makes a pass during second period NHL hockey action in Ottawa, on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

The Senators (13-11-4) solved Hofer on their seventh power play of the game. Fabian Zetterlund managed to jam home a loose puck and halve the deficit with 4:21 remaining.

With the Senators pressing for the equalizer, Ullmark was skating toward the bench when he made a diving save on a Robert Thomas shot.

Neighbours was able to get his stick on a puck that flew into the air on a Brayden Schenn shot, and gave the visitors a 1-0 lead at 17:36 of the second period.

The St. Louis Blues were short-handed for much of the first period and outshot 15-2, but managed to hold off the Senators thanks to some solid play by Hofer, including a stellar save on David Perron late in the period. 

Ottawa was unable to solve Hofer during four power-play chances in the  period.

The Senators were without Shane Pinto, who was placed on injury reserve Friday and will be out a minimum of two weeks. Hayden Hodson was recalled from the American Hockey League’s Belleville Senators.

The Blues lost Jordan Kyrou early in the first. Philip Broberg took a shot to the knee early in the third and needed help off the ice.

With the win, the Blues swept the season series after a 4-3 win over the Senators on Nov. 28.

Takeaways 

Senators: Power play went 1-for-7.

Blues: The Blues didn’t generate a lot early on but capitalized on their opportunities.

Key stat

Oskar Sundqvist played his 400th game as a member of the Blues.

Key moment

In the first period, the Blues killed off a double-minor to Robert Thomas for high sticking Brady Tkachuk. Hofer made four saves during it.

Up next

Senators: Host the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday. 

Blues: Visit the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 6, 2025.

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