The St. Louis Blues are aiming to display a renewed sense of urgency and commitment as they prepare for a rematch against the Nashville Predators. The Blues are hoping to bounce back after a tough 7-2 defeat against the Nashville Predators in their last outing. The game is scheduled for Monday night at Enterprise Center.
Coach Jim Montgomery has emphasized the importance of unity and mutual support among players. He reflected on the Blues' recent victories, acknowledging that they might not have been flawless performances, but a palpable sense of urgency and camaraderie was evident. Montgomery expressed a desire to recapture that level of intensity and commitment that defined their earlier games, indicating that the team must strive to meet that standard once again.
"We talk about playing for each other and we talked about the last two wins we had," Montgomery remarked. He noted the difference in energy, sharing observations from players, fans, and the bench.
The Blues have shown resilience and flashes of strong depth throughout this season, despite battling injuries and integrating new faces into the lineup. Recently, the Blues have a record of 11-14-7. The Blues' power play stands at 19.0 percent, while their penalty kill is at 77.8 percent. They are averaging 2.53 goals for and allowing 3.56 goals per game.
In terms of individual performance, Robert Thomas leads the Blues with 21 points (7 goals, 14 assists). Pavel Buchnevich continues to be a key driver for the Blues at both ends of the ice, with 9 points (3 goals, 6 assists) in his last 11 games.
Goalie Jordan Binnington's performance is also under scrutiny, particularly in light of the upcoming Winter Olympics. Binnington has a .875 save percentage. "I've been approaching it as just focusing on my own process and what I need to feel good at the right time," Binnington said. "I'm building my game every day, and that's all I can do is control what I can control. That's where my focus goes."
The Blues will make a lineup change for the game against the Blackhawks. Forward Matt Luff will return to the ice, taking the place of Aleksanteri Kaskimaki. Luff will join his teammates Hugh McGing and Oskar Sundqvist on the fourth line. Coach Montgomery confirmed that goalie Joel Hofer will start in net for the Blues, bringing stability to the team's defensive strategy. Montgomery also announced a decision to revert to previous defensive pairings, aiming for a more cohesive performance on the ice.
Looking back at the season, the Blues showed a significant jump in their play at even strength, with a +26 goal differential at 5-on-5, ranking 8th in the NHL. The power play improved to 22.1% (16th), a noticeable jump from last season's 18% (24th).
The Blues are focused on fostering a collaborative effort on the ice to secure a much-needed victory.
