BLUES An 18-second stretch in the second period ultimately made the difference on Tuesday night as the St. Louis Blues fell to the Winnipeg Jets to begin their road trip.
A late goal from Robert Thomas brought the Blues within one with less than four minutes to go in regulation, but an empty-netter sealed the 4-2 loss in Winnipeg.
"I think we just have to raise our battle level," said Brayden Schenn, who recorded his first point of the season on Tuesday night. "(We're) not gonna generate chances if we're not gonna check as hard as we need to... We've got to find a way to generate more - two goals isn't gonna do it night in and night out."
Though the Blues will be looking to increase their scoring output, they have boasted a Top 10 defense in the NHL so far - allowing 2.8 goals-per-game after a 27th-ranked 3.63 last year.
Pavel Buchnevich was a welcome return to the offense, contributing a goal and an assist after missing the two games with an upper-body injury.
With a fully-healthy lineup, the Blues have an opportunity for back-to-back wins with a matchup against the Calgary Flames on Thursday and the Vancouver Canucks on Friday.
The Blues head to Calgary with a record of 2-2-1, worth five points and a .500 points percentage to share fourth place in the Central.
FLAMES After missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs by just two points last year, the Calgary Flames are hungry to return to the postseason.
Having to embark on a five-game road trip already, however, the Flames are facing a three-game losing streak heading into Thurday's matchup with the Blues.
Calgary's leg of the 32-team Frozen Frenzy on Tuesday night was a 3-1 loss to the New York Rangers. Blake Coleman gave the Flames an early lead 1:15 into the game, but three unanswered goals in the second period gave New York the victory.
Similar to the Blues, the Flames are still looking to find their goal-scoring rhythm - both teams are currently in the Bottom 10 in the League for goals-per-game and power-play efficiency. Tyler Toffoli's departure via trade this offseason does not help in this regard (after Toffoli's 73 points last year), though the trade gave the Flames added financial flexibilty and future assets.
After hosting the Blues, the Flames will face the Oilers outside at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton for the 2023 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic™.
The Flames meet the Blues with a record of 2-4-1, worth five points at a .357 point percentage as the Pacific Division takes shape.
HEAD TO HEAD The Blues went 2-1-0 against the Flames last season, including a 5-2 win in their last matchup at Scotiabank Saddledome. The season series between the Blues and Flames continues on Jan. 23 in Calgary and March 28 in St. Louis.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
BLUES Jake Neighbours, who is expected play his first NHL game in his hometown Calgary on Thursday night. The 21-year-old forward has two points in two career games against the Flames, posting his first goal of the season last weekend against Pittsburgh.
FLAMES Andrew Mangiapane, off to a strong start leading the Flames with three goals and sharing the team lead with six points thus far. The 27-year-old forward has four points in nine career games against St. Louis.
BLUE NOTES
In their last 10 games against Calgary (since Dec. 22, 2018), the Blues are 8-2-0
The Blues have scored a power-play goal in eight of their last 10 games against Calgary (all eight games were wins), going 9-for-24 (37.5%) on the power play over those 10 games
On Tuesday at Winnipeg, Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong served his 1,000th game as GM of the Blues, becoming the first general manager in Blues history - and 23rd in NHL history - to reach the milestone with a single franchise
Jordan Binnington’s 1.69 GAA and .945 save percentage both rank No. 8 in the NHL this season
Pavel Buchnevich posted his 41st multi-point game as a Blue on Tuesday night, sharing the team lead since the start of 2021-22 (Buchnevich’s first season with the Blues) with Robert Thomas
A pair of frustrated and floundering teams will meet on Thursday night when the Calgary Flames play host to the St. Louis Blues.
While the Blues arrive in the Stampede City having dropped two of three games and three of five, the Flames are in desperate need of changing their fortunes amidst a three-game skid.
"Losing's got to keep you up at night," Calgary forward Blake Coleman told the media after Tuesday's 3-1 home-ice setback against the New York Rangers. "I know it's easy to say, but I'm sick of losing. I think I can speak for the guys in our room that we're sick of losing. But it burns me up. You've got to be one of those guys that hates to lose more than win, and I think we're just, as a group, we've got to have way more fire."
The Flames have managed just one win in six outings since they opened the season with a victory. Adding to their frustration is how so many of their losses have come in games where they were either ahead or at least even with a chance to win in the third period.
Their loss to the Rangers was a perfect example. Calgary, which has scored first in five of its seven games, held a 1-0 edge early in the second period, but surrendered three unanswered goals despite outplaying the Rangers. Tensions are running high.
"We've got to stick together," Flames captain Mikael Backlund said. "You find out a lot about your group when things are tough, about individuals, too, when things aren't going your way. We've got to roll up our sleeves here. The next game is the biggest game of the year."
The Blues arrive after Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, which kicked off a four-game road trip. St. Louis surrendered a pair of goals 18 seconds apart early in the second period to fall behind 2-0 and spent the rest of the game trying to catch up.
"We had some opportunities, and we missed a couple wide-open nets," St. Louis coach Craig Berube said. "Second period, we fell asleep there for the two goals. ... We were sleeping on both of (the goals), so that really changed things."
Although that defensive lapse was costly in Winnipeg, goal-scoring has been the biggest issue. The Blues have managed only four shots in the third period of three consecutive games, just one part of their struggling attack. St. Louis has managed only one power-play goal this season (1-for-15).
Through their five games, the Blues have netted only 10 goals. Calgary has tallied 17 times in seven outings.
With their inability to sustain offensive pressure, the Blues have been unable to control the tempo and wear down their opponents.
"We have to raise our battle level," St. Louis captain Brayden Schenn said. "You're not going to generate chances if we're not going to check as hard as we need to. We showed in the Pittsburgh game (a 4-2 win Saturday) that if we check, we generate and get chances. But if we kind of sit back and watch them play in your end, turn over the puck and not forecheck and create turnovers, you're not going to get chances and shots."
Craig Berube hinted after Wednesday's team practice that there could be some lineup changes, and that is indeed the case for Thursday's 8 p.m. CT meeting with the Calgary Flames (Bally Sports, 101 ESPN).
Berube confirmed Thursday after the morning skate that he will go with 11 forwards and seven defensemen against Calgary. Robert Bortuzzo and Scott Perunovich will make their first appearances of the season, while Tyler Tucker will sit out.
"Our Top 4 (defensemen) play quite a bit and we have back-to-back games, so that was the reasoning a little bit there," Berube said.
Up front, Jakub Vrana will be the odd-man out for Thursday.
"We need more from him," Berube said of Vrana. "It's all honest play on the ice, and he's got to be better."
Joel Hofer will start in goal.
The Blues held an optional practice at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Thursday, so the projected lineup below is based on Wednesday's practice lines and defense pairings. If updates are available at pregame warm-ups, they will be updated here.
PROJECTED LINEUP
Brandon Saad - Robert Thomas - Jordan Kyrou
Pavel Buchnevich - Brayden Schenn - Kasperi Kapanen
Alexey Toropchenko - Oskar Sundqvist - Sammy Blais
Kevin Hayes - Jake Neighbours
Nick Leddy - Colton Parayko
Torey Krug - Justin Faulk
Marco Scandella - Robert Bortuzzo
Scott Perunovich
Joel Hofer
