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After the arena went half a year without meaningful hockey, it was the venue for the Blues’ home-opening act in the 2023-24 season that followed a disappointing playoff-less campaign in the spring. There were fancy lights and introductions, and even four mini-stages for the artists that created a Blues-centric anthem for the season.

And at the end of it all was a 2-1 shootout win over the Kraken.

Robert Thomas scored the game-deciding goal in the third round of the shootout to lift ºüÀêÊÓƵ to its first win of the season.

Two nights after making 33 saves in a shootout loss in Dallas, Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington turned in another strong outing on Saturday, making 30 saves. Seattle goalie Joey Daccord wasn’t tested often by the Blues, and made 24 saves of his own.

Binnington’s biggest stop of the night came on Adam Larsson in the final minute of overtime to send the game to overtime, just as he did two nights prior when his left leg denied Jason Robertson.

The Blues have an extended break before hosting the Coyotes on Thursday night.

Buchnevich hurt

Blues forward Pavel Buchnevich did not play in the final two periods on Saturday night after taking a hit behind the net from Kraken defenseman Jamie Oleksiak in the first period. The Blues announced during the second period that Buchnevich would not return to the game because of an upper-body injury.

While the Blues were on the power play, Buchnevich went to recover a missed shot by Brayden Schenn as Oleksiak shoved him into the boards from behind. Buchnevich’s shoulder appeared to crash into the boards, and his stick broke. After getting a new stick from the bench, Buchnevich finished the shift but did not return.

He finished the night with 5:27 of ice time across seven shifts.

Buchnevich has battled injuries during his time in ºüÀêÊÓƵ. In 2021-22, he missed nine games. Last season he missed 19 games, a large chunk of them stemming from an ankle infection that required surgery around the All-Star break.

The 28-year-old Russian forward entered the season as potentially the Blues’ best all-around player from last season, and one of the top forwards in the NHL, producing at greater than a point-per-game pace since his trade from the Rangers in 2021.

Without Buchnevich, the Blues juggled 11 forwards, and elevated Brandon Saad to the top line with Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou. Saad had been playing with Brayden Schenn and Kasperi Kapanen on the second line.

Trading goals

Former Blues forward Jaden Schwartz gave the Kraken a 1-0 lead just 40 seconds into the second period by deflecting an Oliver Bjorkstrand shot on the power play. The Blues also gave up a goal in the first minute of Thursday’s second period, when Jamie Benn scored just 18 seconds in to give the Stars a 1-0 lead.

It was Schwartz’s fourth time playing against his former team, and the first time he scored against the Blues.

The Blues tied the game 1-1 more than seven minutes later when Jordan Kyrou scored his first goal of the young season. After breaking up a play in the defensive zone, Kyrou and Robert Thomas led the rush, which ended in Thomas finding Kyrou in the high slot for a one-timer that beat Kraken goalie Joey Daccord.

Kyrou led the Blues last season with 37 goals.

Surviving the first

The Blues entered the first intermission fortunate that the score remained 0-0.

In the first period Seattle dominated possession, with a 22-10 edge in shot attempts at five on five. By the first television timeout seven minutes into the period, the Kraken already had attempted 16 shots, and nine were blocked by the Blues. Though Seattle controlled the puck for most of the period, it failed to generate many Grade-A chances.

When Jordan Binnington was tested most by Tye Kartye in the first period, he made the save.

For the second straight game, the Blues’ coaching staff nullified a goal with a successful challenge in the first period. On Thursday in Dallas, it was an offside challenge. On Saturday against Seattle, it was for goaltender interference.

Kraken forward Jared McCann appeared to score at 12:36 of the period Saturday, tipping in a point shot by Vince Dunn, but McCann’s stick hit Binnington in the face while he was inside the crease. After a quick review, the goal was disallowed and the game remained scoreless.

It was Berube’s fourth consecutive successful goaltender interference challenge. His last unsuccessful one came on Jan. 5, 2022 against Pittsburgh.