Lindholm limped to the bench and was clearly laboring before testing himself with a short skate during the next timeout. He then hustled off down the tunnel and did not return.

Brayden Schenn and Oskar Sundqvist scored, and Binnington made 27 saves for the Blues (7-9-0), have lost three in a row and ended a season-long five-game homestand 2-3-0. St. Louis was 5-0-0 when leading after two periods.

The Bulldogs are the first team out of the 12-team playoff after Week 11. Bregman’s wealth of playoff experience, renowned work ethic and rep as a clubhouse leader are some of the headlining features of his case as one of this winter’s premier free agents.