(4-4-22) Coyotes-Blues Gameday Lineup

By LOU KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- The Blues are feeling pretty good about themselves after a solid Western Canada trip that saw them take five of six points in some tough venues, including Saturday's 6-4 win at Calgary.

Now as the Blues (38-20-10) get set to open a four-game homestand against the Arizona Coyotes (22-42-5) at Enterprise Center at 7 p.m. (BSMW, ESPN 101.1-FM), the thought is to build upon the success and bank much-needed points in the heat of a playoff race.
But as many times as has been the case, it's not always easy to come off along trip and begin a homestand, where energy could be an issue.

The Blues are aware of this and aware of their recent record and play against lesser-known opponents, including the Coyotes, who are coming off a 3-2 overtime win at Chicago on Sunday and who came into this building and beat the Blues 3-2 on Nov. 16. 

"These ones tonight are the tricky ones," Blues center Brayden Schenn said. "These ones are you have to be mentally ready to play, ready to play a little bit more than normal just because you know you're not going to feel your best, you know you're not going to have the legs that you normally have at home just from playing back-to-back and traveling yesterday and coming in and play a team that's kind of lower in the standings. Just be ready from puck drop tonight and not try to feel the game out and get ready as a team as soon as the puck drops tonight."

The Blues spent plenty of energy in Friday-Saturday games at Edmonton and Calgary. They rallied from a 4-1 first-period deficit on Friday before falling 6-5 in overtime against the Oilers before pulling out all the stops the following night and topping the Flames, 6-4, winning on a late Nathan Walker goal before getting a pair of empty-netters.

What the Blues were able to do on each of the games, including last Wednesday in Vancouver, was win the third period. They outscored those three opponents 6-3 and allowed one of those goals via the sixth-attacker.

"I think the third period was our best period in all three games and other than when we let Calgary get that goal with a goalie out after we went up by two, that shouldn't happen, but I think our team going down the stretch in all three games in my opinion, our third period was our best period, which is good to see," Blues coach Craig Berube said. "I thought that our pressure without the puck was a lot better in the third period and all three games checked a lot better and found ways to score goals at the same time. So that was really good to see.

"I think there's ups and downs in a season and I think that we were in a little bit of a downward spiral there for a little bit, but obviously, we pulled out of it here and guys did a real good job of understanding the situation they're in, understanding how crucial points are and just basically how intense and how hard you've got to play every night to get points. Vancouver, they’re fighting for playoffs, we've got four points out of them, going to Edmonton, they're in the same situation, got a point there. And then you go into Calgary and they're not a happy team because they've lost a couple at home. They weren’t doing very well at home and you get a buzzsaw going in there but our guys hung in there and did a good job and found a way to win and our third period in Calgary was their best period."

As for Arizona, which is 10-9-1 in their past 20 games and has been playing much better, the Blues have to have the mindset of these points are must-points. Three of their four opponents (Arizona, Seattle and New York Islanders) are opponents on the outside looking in.

They've been put in these situations before, and the Blues haven't responded accordingly. Is there a different vibe this time?

"I hope so," defenseman Robert Bortuzzo said. "You can tell in the room guys know what time of year it is. They know the value of points and they seem the standings, they see we're right in the thick of it. I think this week was big for us to see what kind of mettle we had after our tough stretch and I think it was big for us to step up. It doesn't matter who you're playing this time of year, it's banking points and winning games. Coming off these road trips, it's tough sometimes. We have had some lulls but I think this is where you see your leaders step up like they did last week, like Schenn and (Ryan) O'Reilly. Vocal in the room, but I'm sure this is when leaders can step up and show how valuable points are."

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The Blues played 11 forwards and seven defensemen Saturday in the win against the Flames, something they've had great success with this season (8-3-3), they'll go back to the traditional 12 forwards and six defensemen tonight. Forward Jordan Kyrou, who missed the trip due to illness, was part of the regular rotation and looks like he's ready to go tonight, which will make defenseman Niko Mikkola a healthy scratch.

Kyrou hasn't scored in 10 games but has nine assists; he's second on the team with 22 goals.

"Yeah, I think just reset, refocus," Schenn said of Kyrou. "I think this is probably the first year having a great year, all-star game, eyes on him winning fastest skater. Guys play harder. That's what it comes down to and now that I'm sure he's realizing and stuff like that, I think it will be good for him to be good for us the final 14 games, I think what it is and into the playoffs. He's obviously a huge piece for us, he drives a ton of offense for us, brings a lot of a game-breaker kind of guy with his speed and can turn it on and score a goal just like that. We're going to need him down the stretch. We're definitely lucky to have him back."

Defenseman Torey Krug, who's missed six games with a hand injury and forward Tyler Bozak, who has missed nine games with a lower-body injury, are not ready to return but are getting closer.

"They're doing fine," Berube said. "Krug and Bozak are rehabbing, they're on the right path, so we'll see how it goes. I don't really have a timetable for (them)."

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If you haven't seen it, the Blues put out a video of 2020 first-round pick Jake Neighbours playing the part of a Blues fan prior to their game in Edmonton on Friday. 

Neighbours, who is currently playing with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League and has 41 points (15 goals, 26 assists) in 26 games, missing a big chunk of the season due to injury, was able to visit for the first time since being sent back to juniors. He played the part of a super fan perfectly, even getting a signed stick from Schenn, who took Neighbours in when he was in St. Louis, and seeing so many of his teammates, including ones that didn't recognize what was going on.

"'Otter' (assistant coach Steve Ott) was laughing at me on the bench," Schenn said. "He was like telling me to look behind the bench and I didn't know what the heck he was talking about and then figured it out right away. As soon as I get the double-take, I get a good laugh. It's funny how some guys recognized and some guys didn't even notice at all. If you look at the video, you see 'Walks' face, he has no idea who it is. That was a perfect video."

As for that stick?

"What a play, what a play by him and by (Blues digital staff) and whoever was else involved," Schenn said. "It caught everyone off guard and good laugh, good sport, kid with a good sense of humor. We obviously love being around him. It's a great play by everyone involved."

And what did Schenn sign on it?

"'Keep up with your diet,'" Schenn said. "He was living at my house putting on a few lbs. He's tightened it up since. 

"No, it's just an inside joke. He's looking skinny now and he's ready for the stretch drive with the Oil Kings."

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The Blues received a special visitor on Monday.

Former defenseman Carl Gunnarsson, who retired from the NHL following the 2020-21 season, is in town for the first time since his playing days.

I'll have a separate story on Gunnarsson to post later, but when asked about a possible return, the Swedish native, who was accompanied by his wife Josefin and two children, said, "No. I don't think I can, my number has been taken now," Gunnarsson joked.

Indeed, by defenseman Nick Leddy.

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* Blues defenseman Colton Parayko needs two points to reach 200 for his NHL career.

* Schenn is one assist shy for 300 in his career.

* Center Robert Thomas has a five-game point streak (three goals, six assists).

* Forward Brandon Saad is on a season-high tying four-game point streak (one goal, four assists).

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The Blues' projected lineup:

Brandon Saad-Ryan O'Reilly-David Perron

Pavel Buchnevich-Robert Thomas-Vladimir Tarasenko

Ivan Barbashev-Brayden Schenn-Jordan Kyrou

Mackenzie MacEachern-Nathan Walker-Alexei Toropchenko

Marco Scandella-Colton Parayko

Nick Leddy-Justin Faulk

Calle Rosen-Robert Bortuzzo

Ville Husso will start in goal; Jordan Binnington will be the backup. 

Healthy scratches include Niko Mikkola and Logan Brown. Torey Krug (hand), Tyler Bozak (lower body) and Scott Perunovich (wrist) are out.

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The Coyotes' projected lineup:

Nick Ritchie-Nick Schmaltz-Travis Boyd 

Jan Jenik-Alex Galchenyuk-Phil Kessel

Andrew Ladd-Barrett Hayton-Loui Eriksson

Hudson Fasching-Jay Beagle-Michael Carcone

Shayne Gostisbehere-Dysin Mayo

Cam Dineen-Anton Stralman

Kyle Capobianco-Vladislav Kolyachonok

Ivan Prosvetov will start in goal; Karel Vejmelka will be the backup. 

Healthy scratches could include Jack McBain, Matias Maccelli and Harri Sateri. Clayton Keller (broken femur), Christian Fischer (lower body), J.J. Moser (upper body), Liam O'Brien (upper body), Antoine Roussel (lower body) and Jakob Chychrun (lower body) are out.