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Parayko’s goal was the 23rd this season by a Blues defenseman, which matches their total from all of last year, when the team was 29th in the NHL in goals by blue liners. It also marked the fourth straight game with at least one goal by a Blues defenseman.

“The numbers speak for themselves, but where our defensemen are in the offensive zone, it’s almost like they’re playing free right now,� Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “They’re just trusting where they should be.�

Parayko has been the headliner of the surge from the back end, as he has goals in three straight games and has tied his career -high with 10 goals this season. If he scores Saturday in Utah, Parayko would be the fourth Blues defenseman and first since Alex Pietrangelo in 2013 to score in four straight games. The others are Brian Benning in 1986 and Larry Sacharuk in 1975.

Parayko already has matched his 26 points from a season ago, and is on pace for 46 across the full season, which would be about 11 more than his previous career high. He’s also tied with reigning Norris winner Quinn Hughes for third among NHL defensemen with seven goals at 5 on 5. His 17 points are tied for 11th.

“I think I’ve had one conversation with him since I’ve been here,� Montgomery said. “And I grabbed him after about seven games, and I said ‘Hey, I haven’t talked to you much because don’t change a thing.’ That’s the only thing I said to him. I think he’s taken it upon himself to shoot more. He’s a player that you can tell by the way he’s playing that he wants to play playoff hockey. He wants to play meaningful hockey. He’s leading us that way.�

Since Christmas, no defenseman has more goals than Parayko’s five. His partner Cam Fowler is right behind him tied with defensive scoring leader Zach Werenski at four. Since then, five of the six regular Blues defensemen have scored a goal. Ryan Suter’s the only one that hasn’t found the net, and he’s a plus-9 in that time.

On Thursday night, Montgomery pointed out that Justin Faulk “was really good tonight, he could have a couple,� and that he liked Fowler’s “pretty special� play to draw a penalty before setting up Parayko’s goal in the first period.

More than half (12) of the Blues’ 23 goals from defensemen this season have come since Christmas.

On the season, 17.7% of the team’s goals have come from the back end, which is fifth-most in the NHL. Their 23 goals are tied for seventh-most.

For the Blues, having goals from their defensemen is about more than production. It’s about how those goals come about, and it’s been an example of trust between forwards and defensemen to cover for each other when one makes an aggressive play to try and generate offense.

“They’re holding pucks in the offensive zone, which is extending our time,� Montgomery said. “Then they’re not afraid to shoot. They’re not looking for passes. They’re looking to shoot first and then they’re making plays second, which is the way we want them to be.�

When you think about the most successful Blues teams in recent memory, all of them ranked toward the top of the league in goals from defensemen.

The 2018-19 Stanley Cup-winning team? It was second in the NHL with 46 goals from defensemen. How about the next season when the Blues had the best record in the Western Conference before the pandemic? Tops in the league with 45 goals. In 2021-22, when the Blues advanced to the second round of the playoffs? ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ were fifth.

When they slipped back to 17th in the league in 2022-23, they missed the playoffs. They remained out when they dropped all the way back to 29th in the NHL last season.

Parayko and Fowler’s production has helped hide Faulk’s step back in production (he’s got four total goals in the last two seasons), and Torey Krug’s season-long absence due to ankle surgery.