Two third-period goals by the Buffalo Sabres were the difference in the St Louis Blues’ 4-2 loss Sunday, Dec. 29 at Enterprise Center.

Jason Zucker scored the power-play goal halfway through the third period to give the Sabres the lead for good, while Jiri Kulich added an insurance goal six minutes later. The Blues allowed the Sabres to open the scoring with two goals in the first period, but Brayden Schenn finally got the Blues on the board with just over four minutes left in the frame when he tapped in a rebound from Colton Parayko’s shot attempt. Parayko also recorded an assist on Nathan Walker’s goal early in the third period that knotted the game up at two apiece.

The Blues outshot the Sabres 37-16 but struggled to get much past Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, as Buffalo is on a three-game win streak after dropping 13 in a row. Meanwhile, the Blues continue to trail a packed Western Conference, as they remain sixth in the Central Division on 38 points That’s six points behind Colorado for third in the division, and four games behind Vancouver for the second wild card spot.

The Blues have a drive up Interstate 55 to the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field for Tuesday’s Winter Classic against the Chicago Blackhawks. Puck drop is at 4 p.m.