Tarasenko, Thomas, Buchnevich debut in 4-2 preseason win over Blue Jackets

By LOU KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- For Vladimir Tarasenko, Pavel Buchnevich and Robert Thomas, it's not a question of if they'll get their chemistry and mojo back, it's when.

It's all about timing. That's it. Nothing more.

(St. Louis Blues/Scott Rovak)

Blues center Robert Thomas (18) debuted on Thursday in the preseason

against the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

The trio took the ice for the first time Thursday as a line in a 4-2 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the preseason home opener at Enterprise Center.

Admittedly, it wasn't as if they could just pick up their sticks and start whipping the puck around on a string, making tic-tac-toe plays right off the hop. The Blues, 4-0-0 in the preseason, actually didn't make many plays in the first period, including that top line, but thanks to another solid outing from goalie Thomas Greiss, who played two periods and made 23 saves on 25 shots, the Blues only trailed 1-0.

But then the chemistry and began to formulate, things started to click and the players jelled.
Buchnevich finished with a goal and an assist, Tarasenko had an assist and Thomas didn't have any points, but his playmaking abilities were on cue and his pinpoint passes started to come back again.

It was one of the more dangerous lines in the NHL last season, and it's expected to be one again. Thursday was a step in that direction.

"We gelled well together and we moved the puck pretty well in the O-zone and have some fun, now it's just about getting the puck to the net and not stick-handling and passing it around," Thomas said. "So I thought we did a pretty good job tonight. We had some good looks and I had a couple open nets I would have liked to score."

Buchnevich had a power-play goal that got the Blues on the board after falling behind 2-0 and it was clear what his linemates were wanting to do as the game progressed: get as many reps as possible to be as ready for the season-opener against Columbus on Oct. 15.

"I don't think there's any excuses, just get used to playing a game," Tarasenko said. "It's the first game, need some time to adjust. I think we'll be better in the future.

"I don't think we think like that, that it's the preseason, we don't have to try hard or something like that. Just find that chemistry again, play for each other and enjoy our time together. I don't think it matters, like I said before, what kind of game it is. It's a chance for us to go out there together and make some plays, enjoy the game of hockey."

Buchnevich, who had career highs in goals (30), assists (46) and points (76) last season, his first in St. Louis, said things will come.

"It felt better after the first period," Buchnevich said. "The first period’s tough for us. We didn’t create anything. Second period, power play gave us momentum and we started creating something. First game’s always tough.

(St. Louis Blues/Scott Rovak)

Vladimir Tarasenko (left) and Pavel Buchnevich debuted for the Blues on

Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, a 4-2 win, at Enterprise Center.

"Just a couple games and we’ll be fine. The first games, it’s always boom-boom-boom. Everybody dumps the puck or tries to backcheck and make the lineup – like hit you. People run around when you don’t expect it, and it’s always hard. I think a couple games we’ll be fine."

The Tarasenko, Buchnevich and Thomas line produced 235 points and each was over a point a game player, including Buchnevich, who had his 76 points in 74 games, Tarasenko led the trio with 82 points (34 goals, 48 assists) in 75 games and Thomas with  77 points (20 goals, 57 assists) in 72 games.

"I think mostly unselfishness when we play," Tarasenko said. "If something open maybe, we try to pass too much, but it's very important to enjoy the game when you play and enjoy through the hard work and create the chances for each other. We have to learn to be happy for your teammates when he score goals so I think that's what make us successful. No one cares who is scoring, just enjoy the game and try to play for each other."

They'll try and replicate that again this season.