The St. Louis Blues' prospects delivered an exciting preview of the franchise's future at the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase in St. Paul, Minn., splitting their opening pair of games with a 6-4 win over the Minnesota Wild on Friday and a hard-fought 3-2 overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday. As main camp opens Thursday, these outings showcased emerging talent, clutch plays, and areas for growth in a rebuild poised for impact.
Friday's Victory: Late Heroics Down Wild 6-4
The Blues erupted offensively in a back-and-forth battle, jumping to a 1-0 lead on Dalibor Dvorsky's opening goal before trading blows with the Wild. Aleksanteri Kaskimaki's go-ahead tally made it 4-3, assisted by Juraj Pekarcik's sharp setup, but the real drama came late.
Justin Carbonneau. First-round draft pick. Dramatic late game-winning goal scorer. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/aMuCzFFaV5
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) September 13, 2025
Justin Carbonneau buried the game-winner with 1:22 left in the third, redirecting a feed from Otto Stenberg to seal the deal. Dvorsky added an assist for a multi-point night, while Stenberg notched two helpers overall. Will Cranley anchored the net with 24 saves in a full-game effort, boosting his stock as a 2023 fifth-round pick. While it’s unlikely he sees AHL time this year, it was a promising sign for the young goaltender.
Saturday's OT Setback: Resilience Falls Short vs. Blackhawks 3-2
St. Louis struck early against their rivals, with Stenberg picking up a loose puck in front of the net just 1:18 in for an early 1-0 lead. The Blackhawks clawed back to go up on top 2-1 leading the score throughout a majority of the game. However, it was Anthony Kehrer who tied it at 2-2 with 7:55 remaining in the third, with a puck that found its way through on a rebound amid a net-front scramble. With tensions building in the final 10 minutes of the game, the end of regulation buzzer sounded with the two teams tied.
A name you OTTO know...
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) September 13, 2025
It's Otto Stenberg just 1:18 in! #stlblues pic.twitter.com/SITZHTLpr9
Overtime lasted only 24 second's, as Chicago's Oliver Moore beat defenseman Adam Jiricek around the edge for the winner pulling Koprowski out of the net and finding an easy game in tap-in shot. Cranley and Koprowski split goaltending duties, with the Blues generating chances but unable to convert, including a late high-slot denial on Dvorsky.
Key Takeaways and Standouts
This showcase brought out the Blues' depth throughout both games showing significant growth from several of their top prospects.
Stenberg (goal, three points total) impressed with net-front havoc and quick North American adaptation
Carbonneau (game-winner) flashed offensive edge with several physical altercations standing up for himself and teammates
Dvorsky's scoring touch and offensive vision
Jiricek's added strength, puck-moving abilities (including a goal vs. Wild), and all-around comfort along the blue line showed continued growth and development for what is to come.
Pekarcik's speed and shot stood out across both games
Kaskimaki's positioning and playmaking abilities
Recently signed prospects like Nikita Susuev and Michael Buchinger flashed in spots, showing AHL-ready play in the case of Susuev and perhaps an increased role for Buchinger.
With camp looming, these young guns should have fans excited for what is to come. The talent pipeline is deep, hungry, and ready to push for NHL spots.
For additional prospect coverage and detailed information all season long, follow Blue Notes Rising on Substack, along with all of the coverage for Blues hockey here at Sports Central for NHL prospect insights and highlights.