Blues Shut Out Capitals Behind Hofer's Stellar Goaltending

Joel Hofer makes 21 saves for his sixth shutout of the season as St. Louis stays in playoff hunt

Mar. 25, 2026 at 7:07am

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Joel Hofer made 21 saves to record his sixth shutout of the season, leading the St. Louis Blues to a 3-0 victory over the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night. Jimmy Snuggerud, Ott Stenberg, and Jordan Kyrou scored for the Blues, who remain on the fringe of the Western Conference wild card race. The Capitals, meanwhile, have now scored two goals or less in each of their past six road games.

Why it matters

This win keeps the Blues in the hunt for a playoff spot in the Western Conference, as they continue their late-season surge. For the Capitals, the loss is a setback in their own playoff push, as they try to catch the Ottawa Senators for the final wild card spot in the East.

The details

Joel Hofer was stellar in net for the Blues, stopping all 21 shots he faced for his sixth shutout of the season. The Blues got goals from three different players - Jimmy Snuggerud, Ott Stenberg, and Jordan Kyrou - to secure the victory. The Capitals' offense continued to struggle on the road, as they've now scored two goals or less in six straight away games.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, March 25, 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri.
  • The Blues opened a three-game homestand with this victory.
  • The Capitals were opening a three-game road trip with this game.

The players

Joel Hofer

The Blues' starting goaltender who recorded his sixth shutout of the season with 21 saves.

Jimmy Snuggerud

The Blues' forward who scored the opening goal in the second period.

Ott Stenberg

The Blues' forward who scored the second goal in the third period.

Jordan Kyrou

The Blues' forward who scored an empty-net goal in the final minute to seal the victory.

Pierre-Luc Dubois

The Capitals' forward who received a five-minute match penalty for "attempting to injure" Blues forward Robert Thomas.

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What they’re saying

“We must continue to play this way if we want to make the playoffs. This was a big win against a tough opponent.”

— Joel Hofer, Blues Goaltender

What’s next

The Blues will look to build on this win as they continue their three-game homestand, while the Capitals will try to get back on track during their three-game road trip.

The takeaway

This game showcased the Blues' resilience as they remain in the playoff hunt, while the Capitals' road struggles continued to hamper their own postseason aspirations. Hofer's stellar goaltending was the difference-maker for St. Louis in this crucial victory.