Kyrou scores in SO as Blues beat Ducks 6-5 to preserve slim playoff hopes

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Jordan Kyrou scored in the shootout and the St. Louis Blues beat the Anaheim Ducks 6-5 on Sunday to preserve their slim playoff hopes.

Robert Thomas had a goal and three assists, and Zack Bolduc, Matthew Kessel, Pavel Buchnevich and Brayden Schenn also scored to help the Blues bounce back from a disastrous 3-2 overtime loss to San Jose on Saturday. Jordan Binnington finished with 33 saves through overtime and Kyrou had three assists.

“You just got to go compete every shift, and everyone still wants to win so that’s great we got it done in the shootout,” said Kessel, who scored his first career goal in 37 NHL games. “We definitely wish we were in a better spot, but I think we're just looking to compete every game and just keep on winning.”

Having come into the game with an already narrow path to reach the postseason, likely needing to win their final five games and have either Nashville or Vegas go on a major regulation losing streak, St. Louis escaped with two points despite giving up a two-goal lead in the third period.

In the tiebreaker, Kyrou converted on the Blues’ first attempt, and Binnington saved tries by Leo Carlsson and Troy Terry after Trevor Zegras hit the post.

“We’re not mailing it in,” Thomas said. “We’re playing for pride, and obviously there’s still a little chance so we’re just doing our best to try to win every game.”

Frank Vatrano and Carlsson each had two goals, and Nikita Nesterenko also scored in the Ducks' 14th loss in 16 games. Alex Killorn had an assist for his 500th career point, and Lukas Dostal made 26 saves.

“We have some really talented players,” Anaheim coach Greg Cronin said. “Leo's obviously very talented, I thought he was very good offensively. For most of the game, we were able to play four lines and have consistent pressure.”

Buchnevich gave the Blues a 4-2 lead early in the second period on a one-timer from the right circle for his 27th of the season. Carlsson cut it to 4-3 at 1:02 of the third period, but Schenn scored his own power-play goal to restore the two-goal advantage at 2:40.

Vatrano scored his second of the night at 8:04, and Carlsson tied it up at 5 with 3:51 remaining.

“We don't want to give up that lead in the third, but we found a way to get the job done,” Binnington said. “Good response. We got young guys in there right now and guys playing different situations, and it's good to see guys in opportunities just doing their best and finding a way.”

St. Louis managed to overcome not having forward Jake Neighbours and defenseman Justin Faulk available after both were injured against the Sharks. Neighbours sustained an upper-body injury on a hit from Sharks center Luke Kunin in the second period. Faulk then fought Kunin and was hurt during the scrap.

Blues interim coach Drew Bannister said before the game that Neighbours and Faulk are day-to-day pending further evaluation once the team returns to St. Louis.

UP NEXT

Blues: Host Chicago on Wednesday night.

Ducks: Host Los Angeles on Tuesday night.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL

Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Strome (16) checks St. Louis Blues defensemen Mathew Kessel (51) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)

St. Louis Blues defensemen Mathew Kessel (51) celebrates after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)

St. Louis Blues defensemen Mathew Kessel (51) moves the puck as Anaheim Ducks center Alex Killorn (17) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)

Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Strome (16) moves the puck as St. Louis Blues defensemen Mathew Kessel (51) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)

Members of the St. Louis Blues and the Anaheim Ducks fight during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)

St. Louis Blues right wing Keven Hayes (12) passes the puck as Anaheim Ducks defensemen Cam Fowler (4) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)

St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas skates after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)

St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas (18) celebrates with St. Louis Blues center Brayden Schenn (10) after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)

St. Louis Blues right wing Alexey Toropchenko (13) collides with Anaheim Ducks defensemen Radko Gudas (7) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)

St. Louis Blues right wing Alexey Toropchenko (13) checks Anaheim Ducks defensemen Jackson LaCombe (60) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)

Anaheim Ducks center Nikita Nesterenko (62) scores as St. Louis Blues goalie Jordan Binnington, bottom left, defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)

Anaheim Ducks defensemen Urho Vaakanainen (5) trips over St. Louis Blues defensemen Mathew Kessel (51) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans)

St. Louis Blues center Jordan Kyrou (25) celebrates after a third-period goal in an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, April 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Scot Tucker)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — United Methodist delegates are heading into the homestretch of their first legislative gathering in five years — one that appears on track to make historic changes in lifting their church's longstanding bans on same-sex marriage and the ordination of LGBTQ clergy.

After a day off on Sunday, delegates to the General Conference of the United Methodist Church resumed their work Monday and will be meeting all this week before wrapping up their 11-day session on Friday

They've already begun making historic changes: On Thursday, delegates overwhelmingly endorsed a policy shift that would restructure the worldwide denomination into regional conferences and give the U.S. region, for the first time, the same right as international bodies to modify church rules to fit local situations.

That measure — subject to local ratification votes — is seen as a way the U.S. churches could have LGBTQ ordination and same-sex marriage while the more conservative overseas areas, particularly the large and fast-growing churches of Africa, could maintain those bans.

But whether that measure maintains church unity remains to be seen. The General Conference comes as the American portion of the United Methodist Church, long the nation's third-largest denomination, has shrunk considerably. One-quarter of its U.S. churches left between 2019 and 2023 amid conservative dismay over the church's failure to enforce its LGBTQ bans amid widespread defiance.

A proposal to overturn those bans is headed to the delegates this week, and progressives are optimistic that they have the votes to realize their long-held dream.

“It will say to the world about us that we really stand behind our statement that we are a church of open hearts, open minds, and open doors,” said Tracy Merrick, a delegate and member of First United Methodist Church of Pittsburgh, which has committed to ministry with LGBTQ people.

The denomination has debated homosexuality for more than half a century. Its Book of Discipline bans “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” from the clergy and forbids clergy from presiding at same-sex marriages. It also forbids church funding of any advocacy for the “acceptance of homosexuality.”

The delegates will also vote on a new set of Social Principles — a wholesale revision of an existing set of non-binding statements — which received a committee approval last week. The new version omits the previous version's declaration that homosexuality is “incompatible with Christian teaching." And it defines marriage as a sacred covenant between “two people of faith,” without specifying gender.

Such changes could portend a further fragmentation of the international church. Delegates last week approved the departure of a small but notable part of the body — about 30 churches in Russia and other former Soviet countries, where conservative views on LGBTQ issues are strong.

Some are proposing that African and other churches be given the same chance that U.S. churches recently had to disaffiliate under favorable terms.

Opponents say they already have mechanisms to depart, as some have recently done, but proponents say existing rules are burdensome.

Jerry Kulah of the advocacy group Africa Initiative said that while it will be up to individual conferences in Africa to decide whether to stay or leave the denomination, he believes it's time to leave.

“We cannot remain in this marriage,” he said. “We can’t be one church preaching different gospels.”

A large majority of African bishops, while affirming their opposition to LGBTQ ordination or marriage, have said in a joint statement they are committed to remaining in the United Methodist Church.

The denomination had until recently been the third largest in the United States, present in almost every county. But its 5.4 million U.S. membership in 2022 is expected to drop once the 2023 departures are factored in.

The denomination also counts 4.6 million members in other countries, mainly in Africa, though earlier estimates have been higher.

Conservative advocacy groups say U.S. churches that didn't meet the 2023 deadline should have the option of disaffiliating, too — along with the more than 7,000 that have already done so.

The denomination also will be debating policy stances regarding fossil fuels and other issues as well as voting on major budget cuts to denominational programs, reflective of losing thousands of congregations.

The Rev. Tracy Cox, lead pastor of First United Methodist Church in Pittsburgh, said she’s cautiously hopeful for changes to the rules on ordination and marriage. The congregation, which has long been LGBTQ-affirming, held a commissioning service on April 14 for those attending the General Conference.

“If you are called by God to be an ordained elder or deacon, no church, no institution should step in that way,” Cox said. “And as far as marriage goes, when somebody falls in love with someone, we need to be able to help them to raise a family or to be a family in the community where they’re going to serve.”

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

The Rev. Tracy Cox of First United Methodist Church, left, and members of her congregation pray for Tracy Merrick, a delegate representing Western Pennsylvania at the United Methodist General Conference, as well as The Rev. Anais Hussian and Joshua Popson, Sunday, April 14, 2024, in Pittsburgh. Hussian is a reserve delegate at the General Conference and Popson is advocating for LGBTQ inclusion with the Love Your Neighbor Coalition. The 11-day conference is the denomination's first legislative gathering since a special session in 2019. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)

First United Methodist Church congregants pray for members attending the United Methodist General Conference, including Tracy Merrick, left, a delegate representing Western Pennsylvania, The Rev. Anais Hussian, a reserve delegate, and Joshua Popson, who is advocating for LGBTQ inclusion with the Love Your Neighbor Coalition, Sunday, April 14, 2024, in Pittsburgh. The 11-day conference is the denomination's first legislative gathering since a special session in 2019. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)