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During the Blues’ 2-1 shootout win over the Kraken on Saturday night, goaltender Jordan Binnington submitted another stellar performance, making 30 saves to give ºüÀêÊÓƵ its first win of the season, this one without forward Pavel Buchnevich.

Buchnevich left the game after the first period with an upper-body injury suffered on a hit from Kraken defenseman Jamie Oleksiak during a Blues power play. Buchnevich fell into the boards, his stick broke and he did not return after his shift ended.

“I don’t know what the significance of it is right now,� said Blues coach Craig Berube, who added that the Blues could rule out a head injury with Buchnevich. “It’s unfortunate.�

More answers should come when the Blues practice on Sunday morning at Centene Community Ice Center.

In Buchnevich’s absence, Binnington provided everything the Blues needed. In Dallas on Thursday night, he made 33 saves in a shootout loss to the Stars. In ºüÀêÊÓƵ on Saturday, the degree of difficulty was turned down, but he still saved the game with a last-minute stop on Adam Larsson in overtime.

Binnington also stopped all three shots he faced in the shootout, and Robert Thomas scored the game-deciding goal for the Blues in the third round. Jordan Kyrou scored during regulation, and his goal leveled the game after Jaden Schwartz gave Seattle a 1-0 lead early in the second period.

“Unbelievable,� Kyrou said of Binnington. “He made some really big saves for us, stopped a lot of 2 on 1s, huge saves during the shootout. He was excellent.�

Colton Parayko: “Incredible. Big saves, big moments, unreal in the shootout, penalty kill, 5 on 5, just overall. Kept us in the game the whole game and he was incredible. Nice to have him back there for us.�

Brandon Saad: “He was unbelievable. That’s what we expect out of him. We know his capabilities. He’s been huge for us the past two games and it’s nice to get the job done in front of him tonight.�

Binnington has now allowed just two goals on the 65 shots he’s faced in the season’s first two games, good for a .969 save percentage and a 0.92 goals against average. Only one of the goals against came at even-strength — Jamie Benn’s goal in the second period on Thursday.

“He’s making saves,� Berube said. “That’s what he’s supposed to do. He’s been strong, he was great tonight, made some big saves. I liked, even in the first period, we were a little on our heels, and they got some shots, but we were really good in our zone in front of our net of not allowing second and third opportunities.�

Entering this season, much of the discussion surrounding Binnington was about how much he would have to bail out a defense that hung him out to dry last season. But in the season’s first week, he’s actually rescuing the Blues offense.

ºüÀêÊÓƵ has mustered just two goals scored in the two games against Dallas and Seattle, and could face a tougher task should Buchnevich miss significant time injured. Buchnevich missed 19 games due to injury last season, many of which stemmed from an ankle infection that required surgery around the All-Star break.

“I don’t know if it’s snakebitten,� Berube said. “That play tonight behind the net, he got hit pretty hard there. That’s hockey. I’m not going to say snakebitten or anything like that. Buchy gets in there, he’s involved. Sometimes, it’s just bad luck.�

The Blues only had four shots on goal in the first period (nine in the second and 11 in the third) and are now 0 for 7 on the power play with just two shots on goal this season.

“We’re just not clean right now with our shooting and things like that, power play included,� Berube said. “We’ve got to work on that and try to tighten that up, and get a little bit more cleaner with the puck.�

The result? A lot of shootouts.

The Blues are one of three NHL teams that haven’t finished a game in regulation and the other two (Arizona and Dallas) have only played one game so far.

The Blues like playing overtime?

“It seems that way,� Saad laughed. “It’s nice to be on the other side of it tonight.�

Can they handle 80 more shootouts?

“Hopefully not,� Kyrou said.

But as long as Binnington is as dialed in as he’s started the season, he will give the Blues a chance to collect points.