Blues No. 1 defenseman had first three-point game since 2022-23 season, first multi-goal game since 2019-20 season in 4-2 win against Maple Leafs
ST. LOUIS -- Colton Parayko was going to play plenty of minutes Saturday regardless of whether Philip Broberg was there or not.
But when Broberg, part of the Blues' top four defensive corps, went down with a right knee injury 7:02 into the second period of a 4-2 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Enterprise Center on Saturday, the onus fell on Parayko, d-partner Ryan Suter and Justin Faulk, who has been Broberg's partner all season.
Parayko stepped up in a big way with two goals and an assist, his first game with more than two points since March 23, 2023 against the Anaheim Ducks and his first multi-goal game since scoring twice against the Dallas Stars Feb. 8, 2020.
Parayko, who led all skaters in ice time with 27:58, scored on two big clappers from distance to give the top Blues' d-man eight points (three goals, five assists) in 12 games.
"He's got a bomb," Blues forward Jordan Kyrou said of Parayko. "I think every goal you see him score is exactly like that."
Parayko and Suter did a excellent job of shutting down the big guns of the Maple Leafs and finished at plus-3 for the game and logged the minutes necessary when Broberg went down along with Suter, Faulk, P.O. Joseph and Matthew Kessel.
"It's good that we have good depth," Parayko said. "Just kind of make sure that we stick with each other, stay on track with our shifts and make sure our shift lengths are appropriate. Obviously that enables us to regroup quicker and I would say that's the biggest thing."
Down 1-0 in the second, Parayko took a pass at the right point from Nathan Walker and used Oskar Sundqvist as a screen to beat Dardenne Prairie, Mo. native Joseph Woll at 3:29 of the second period to tie things up 1-1.
Parayko's second of the game at 12:33 of the second made it 3-1, another puck put on a platter for him by Suter at the top of the left circle.
"The first doesn't go in without 'Sunny' being net front and taking the goalie's eyes away," Blues coach Drew Bannister said. "And he gets it on net. I think I talked about that earlier this morning that we've got to do a better job of when we have lanes, getting it to the net. 'Sunny' did a great job taking the goalie's eyes away, and then again on the power play, we retrieve a puck, we get it up top, we get it over and Colton is just looking to go with it to the net. Good things happen when you do that."
