Worthy: Blues finish homestand on encouraging note but a win streak is badly needed
The Blues’ Nathan Walker, left, battles with Calgary’s Walker Duehr in a game on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Seeger Gray, Post-Dispatch
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Maybe, in another few weeks, the song playing over the public address system would qualify as an example of a “life imitating art†moment.
However, we’re not there yet.
As the Blues got set for a faceoff in their offensive zone with the line of Nathan Walker, Oskar Sundqvist and Zack Bolduc on the ice in the first period against the Calgary Flames on Thursday night in Enterprise Center, blared through the speakers, “You made me a, you made me a believer, believer.â€
Despite the Blues’ 4-1 win that wrapped a four-game homestand with three wins, including back-to-back victories against a club they’re chasing in the Western Conference standings, “belief†remains a bit too strong a descriptor for the feeling the Blues evoke.
They’ve still got more work to do, and the season is more than half over.
“We need to go on a streak,†Blues captain Brayden Schenn said after his two-goal performance against the Flames. “That’s just the reality of it. We just can’t be satisfied that we beat Calgary twice and then go on the road and not play well. So, step by step. We have to have a good road trip here coming up.â€
Winning three out of four games earned the Blues (22-20-4, 48 points) the right to sit in 10th place in the through Thursday night.
They’d registered the same point total as the ninth-place Vancouver Canucks and moved to within a point of the eighth-place Flames (49 points). Both those teams have played two fewer games, so they have more points available to them going forward than the Blues.
The Blues go into Salt Lake City this weekend, where the Utah Hockey Club (18-19-7) has , looking for its first three-game win streak of the season.
The Blues also go in still trying to establish a consistent standard of play and with the club on notice that coach Jim Montgomery isn’t afraid to shuffle the deck.
The homestand began with Montgomery calling for more consistency from his team, individually and collectively. He’s continued to beat that drum throughout the past two weeks.
In case anything got lost in translation, Montgomery also pushed his message across with the trump card every coach holds — playing time.
“I believe in communicating why you’re staying in the lineup,†Montgomery said. “I believe in communicating what you need to do, because you’ve been pulled out, when you get back in. I think that’s really important so players aren’t left guessing, that they know what they need to do when they get back in the lineup or what they need to do most importantly to stay in the lineup.
“But the most important part for us is we’re trying to gain consistency in how we play every night, and the players that reward us with that are going to be rewarded with ice time. They’re going to be rewarded with playing games.â€
That Walker-Sundqvist-Bolduc line featured two players in Walker and Bolduc who were out of the lineup for Tuesday night’s game against the Flames. Thursday, that duo replaced forwards Alexandre Texier and Brandon Saad in the lineup. Saad appeared in his 900th career game earlier in the homestand.
Forward Mathieu Joseph just returned to the lineup Tuesday after three consecutive games spent watching.
“That just shows that you have to come to the rink every single day, prepare, and whether its practice hard (or) play hard,†Schenn said. “There’s a lot of good guys that are, one, playing right now and, two, sitting out. So that just kind of keeps you accountable.â€
Meanwhile, we shouldn’t gloss over the fact the Blues won three of four games.
The Blues imposed their will Thursday with three first-period goals. Their first score came as a result of Holloway’s tenacious play. He lost the puck behind the opponent’s net, then alertly poked it free from a Flames player, gathered it and fed Schenn perfectly for a top-shelf goal.
Parayko’s slap shot and Kyrou’s wrister gave the Blues breathing room before the first intermission.
The Blues even tacked on a power-play goal in the second period to restore a three-goal advantage after the Flames pulled within 3-1. Schenn’s second goal of the night marked the Blues’ first 5-on-4 power play goal since they played in Minnesota on January 7 (they scored in a 6-on-4 situation late in 2-1 loss to Columbus last Saturday).
In a vacuum this four-game stretch could seem like the start of something for the Blues, but remember that they’d lost three of four games just before this week’s two-game mini-series against the Flames.
“The mindset going into this week was essentially it’s our playoff push,†Holloway said. “We needed these points bad. It’s big games for us, and we came through. I think that shows a lot about our group, our resiliency, just our ability to show up when it counts. I think we’re going to keep that momentum going here for our road trip,†which concludes with a game Monday in Las Vegas.
Keeping the momentum going will be easier said than done.
Even if Utah’s futility on home ice continues, the Blues then travel to the Nevada desert where they’ll play the Vegas Golden Knights (29-12-3, 61 points) in the first of two games in a home-and-home series.
So the Blues have bought a little more time to make us believers.
In act of 'selfless hockey,' Blues try to set Brayden Schenn up for hat trick vs. Flames
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The Blues were going to try everything for their captain Brayden Schenn.
Late in a 4-1 win over the Flames on Thursday night, Schenn had two goals and the Blues were going on a power play. For Schenn’s teammates, that only meant one thing: he would not be leaving the ice. Oskar Sundqvist gave up his power-play shift for Schenn, and the captain played the final 2:11 of the game searching for the elusive third goal.
It didn’t come, but Schenn’s first multi-goal game of the season was a decent consolation prize.
“I tried to come off first on the power play and I had the whole bench screaming at me to get out there,†Schenn said. “That’s just selfless hockey by those guys, especially by ‘Sunny.’ When I was out there, they were just trying to feed me for the hat trick.
“Obviously, that’s the kind of things you need in the locker room to build on: guys taking stuff away from themselves (when) they might get a goal to try and set someone else up. If I’m ever in that position, I’ll be throwing it back to Sunny.â€
It would have been Schenn’s fifth career hat trick, and unbelievably, his first one at Enterprise Center. His two with the Blues have come on the road: against Montreal on Dec. 5, 2017 and against Colorado on Nov. 11, 2023.
The Blues were trying to force feed Schenn the puck late in the game, and he had his chances around the net but couldn’t convert.
“You saw at the end,†the Blues’ Jordan Kyrou said. “(We were trying) pretty bad, I think. Everyone was trying to give it to him. He played unbelievable tonight, so you want that for him.â€
Schenn’s first goal came after Dylan Holloway puck-jacked MacKenzie Weegar behind the Flames’ net and found Schenn open in the slot. His second was on the power play, redirecting a pass from Jake Neighbours in the second period.
Schenn now has 10 goals on the season, and has five points in his last four games.
Walker throws down
In his return to the Blues’ lineup after he was a healthy scratch on Tuesday night, Nathan Walker got in his third fight of the season, this one Thursday against Calgary’s Brayden Pachal late in the third period.
Walker previously fought San Jose’s Ty Dellandrea on Dec. 12, and Ottawa’s Cole Reinhardt on Jan. 3.
“That’s a guy that’s fought for every inch he’s ever gotten in this league,†Schenn said of Walker. “He still continues to do it. He comes to the rink every night, one (to) stay in the lineup, (or) steal guys’ jobs. It’s kind of the reality of it. He plays hard every single night and is such a good guy. That’s a guy you want to play with and guys love him in the room.â€
Walker registered a game-high eight hits against the Flames as he came back into the fold. Walker and Zack Bolduc were in the lineup, as Alexandre Texier and Brandon Saad came out.
Hall of Fame broadcast
The Blues announced on Friday that the team’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be aired live on Matrix Midwest. That station is affiliated with KMOV (Channel 4), and can be found over the air on Channel 32, and on Channel 6 through Spectrum (Charter) cable.
The induction ceremony is at 8 p.m. next Friday at the downtown Missouri Athletic Club. The team will induct Wayne Babych, Curtis Joseph and Jim Roberts, and Bruce Affleck will receive the True Blue Award.
Matrix Midwest also will air select classic Blues games as part of Hall of Fame weekend programming. At 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 31, KMOV will air a Blues Hall of Fame special program.
As previously announced, the KMOV group will air three Blues games as well: Feb. 22 vs. Winnipeg and March 8 at Los Angeles will be on KMOV and Matrix Midwest), with the March 25 contest vs. Montreal only on Matrix.
Led by Colton Parayko, Blues defensemen near top of NHL in scoring goals
With Colton Parayko’s goal during Thursday night’s 4-1 win over the Flames, the Blues all-but guaranteed progress in a key area.
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.â€
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.
The Blues’ Colton Parayko moves the puck while being defended by Calgary’s MacKenzie Weegar in a game on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
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.â€
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.â€
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.
We take a trip down memory lane and look at the top 10 brawlers in Blues history.
‘Dominant’ line continues productive stretch as Blues climb up West with win over Flames
As the Blues discovered a potent offense, as they pieced together a successful homestand, and as they beat the Flames 4-1 on Thursday night, they know they can rely on one thing for sure.
They know that the line of Dylan Holloway, Brayden Schenn and Jordan Kyrou will deliver.
Thanks to Schenn’s two goals, Kyrou’s goal and Holloway’s pair of assists, the line combined for five points in another important win over Calgary. The Blues followed up Tuesday’s win over the Flames with the sequel, pulling them within one point of the second wild-card spot in the NHL’s Western Conference playoffs, but with two more games played than the Flames.
Blues forward Brayden Schenn, left, embraces Dylan Holloway after Schenn scored a goal in the first period of a game against Calgary on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
“We needed to win both games to really get close,†Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “Now, we’re one point behind them. They have two games in hand, but they’ve got to go win those games to separate from us. We did what we needed to do here in these two games.â€
Colton Parayko scored the other goal for the Blues as he tied his career high with 10 goals in a season. Joel Hofer made 28 saves to win his second straight start.
The Blues (22-20-4) finished their four-game homestand with a 3-1-0 record, hoping to string together three straight wins for the first time this season when they face the Utah Hockey Club on Saturday night in Salt Lake City. St. Louis is the only team in the NHL without a three-game win streak this season.
On Thursday night, the Schenn line led the Blues.
Holloway pickpocketed MacKenzie Weegar behind the Flames’ net to set up Schenn in the slot to make it 1-0. Holloway drew a penalty before he set up Kyrou for his 20th of the season that gave the Blues a 3-0 lead. And Schenn added his second of the night, on a power play in the second period, to extend the lead to 4-1.
“I thought that that was the best game they’ve had,†Montgomery said. “(Three) games ago against Anaheim, they scored quite a bit, I didn’t think they were as dominant as they were tonight. I thought the (Robert) Thomas line was dominant, too, tonight at 5 on 5. When those big boys are going like they were tonight, we’re a lot to handle.â€
During the 10:49 of ice time at 5 on 5 for the line, the Blues were outshot 8-4, sure, but they controlled 62% of expected goals, 69% of scoring chances and 80% of high-danger chances, according to Natural Stat Trick. In the 13 games that the trio has been together, the Blues have allowed more expected goals than generated in just one game.
According to MoneyPuck, Holloway-Schenn-Kyrou rank among the best lines in the league in shot quality controlled. They are 17th in the NHL in expected goals percentage among the 120 lines with at least 100 minutes together. That leaves them a few ticks away from Edmonton’s Zach Hyman, Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or Florida’s Carter Verhaeghe, Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart. They are directly ahead of Toronto’s Matthew Knies, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, plus Ottawa’s Brady Tkachuk, Josh Norris and Drake Batherson.
The Blues’ No. 2 line certainly looks like a No. 1 unit.
The biggest surprise is Holloway, the 23-year-old is in his first season in St. Louis after signing an offer sheet with the Blues over the summer.
He came into the season with 18 career points in 89 games with the Oilers. Now at 34 points in 46 games, Holloway has nearly doubled his career output with Edmonton. He’s on pace for 61 points, which would make him the fifth Blue since 2000 under 24 years old to eclipse 60 points in a season. Holloway would join Thomas, Kyrou, Vladimir Tarasenko and Jaden Schwartz.
“I think we’re seeing a guy emerge as a real player in this league,†Montgomery said. “I think his confidence is through the roof. He knows he’s a good hockey player in the league and he’s going out expecting to be an impact player. He’s being that for us.â€
Schenn added: “He’s relentless. He comes to the rink every day and tries to get better. I’m not just saying that, I mean that. He’s a guy that wants to be the best version of himself, works extremely hard, goes to the hard areas. He has a tremendous amount of skill.â€
No forward in the NHL has more points at 5 on 5 than Holloway’s 11 since Dec. 23. Could he have imagined this kind of production when he signed with the Blues over the summer?
“I’ve very grateful just for the opportunity that I’ve been getting,†Holloway said. “How welcoming this team has been for me. It seems like it’s been a great fit so far, and I’m having a lot of fun. To answer your question if I imagined it, I got high standards for myself and it was definitely a goal of mine. I think it’s been great so far, and I’m really grateful for it.â€
Kyrou, meanwhile, has blossomed into one of the league’s best goal scorers since Montgomery took over on Nov. 24. He has 14 goals in his last 24 games, which is tied for sixth-most in the NHL behind serial scorers like Leon Draisaitl (15) and Brayden Point (15). Under Montgomery, Kyrou is scoring at a 48-goal pace.
“One, I want him buzzing and that means him skating,†Montgomery said. “Him skating without the puck is where he’s dangerous. I find he’s creating turnovers now. He’s winning one on one battles because his feet are moving. And then he’s so dangerous when he gets the puck, and he has a step on someone that he can make real gifted plays, whether he’s shooting it or whether he’s passing it.â€
Holloway added: “He’s electric. He’s so fast and skilled, demands the puck, wants the puck. Anytime you’ve got a player like that, it’s fun to play with him. I just try to read off of him. He’s been playing great hockey, and I think he’s an incredible player.â€
Schenn is the glue that holds it all together: physically, emotionally and defensively.
The combination has allowed the Blues to wander through a top-line experiment around Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich. It’s allowed them to overcome shoddy special teams and post a plus-17 goal differential under Montgomery that’s sixth-best in the league. It’s blurred the line between secondary and primary scoring at the top of the lineup.
“I think we’ve been really connected as a line,†Kyrou said. “We’ve been all over the puck without the puck, we’re all hounding, creating turnovers, supporting each other and just playing fast.â€
The Blues' Brayden Schenn speaks with the media on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, after a second straight win over Calgary at Enterprise Center. (Video courtesy St. Louis Blues)
The Blues' Brayden Schenn speaks with the media on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, after a second straight win over Calgary at Enterprise Center. (Video courtesy St. Louis Blues)
The Blues' Dylan Holloway speaks with the media on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, after a second straight win over Calgary at Enterprise Center. (Video courtesy St. Louis Blues)
Blues coach Jim Montgomery speaks with the media on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, after a second straight win over Calgary at Enterprise Center. (Video courtesy St. Louis Blues)
The Blues' Jordan Kyrou speaks with the media on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, after a second straight win over Calgary at Enterprise Center. (Video courtesy St. Louis Blues)
Photos: Blues dominate the Flames in 4-1 win
Blues forward Jordan Kyrou celebrates with forward Dylan Holloway after scoring a goal in the first period of a game against the Flames on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Seeger Gray, Post-Dispatch
Blues forward Mathieu Josesph removes his helmet and waits for the singing of the "Star-Spangled Banner" before a game against the Calgary Flames on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Blues goalie Joel Hofer takes the ice before a game against the Calgary Flames on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Blues forward Dylan Holloway passes the puck past Flames forward Jonathan Huberdeau in the first period Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Seeger Gray, Post-Dispatch
Blues defenseman Colton Parayko flies over Calgary Flames forward Martin Pospisil in the second period of a game against the Calgary Flames on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Seeger Gray
Blues forward Brayden Schenn, left, embraces Dylan Holloway after Schenn scored a goal in the first period of a game against Calgary on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Blues goalie Joel Hofer holds the puck after making a save in the second period of a game against the Calgary Flames on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Seeger Gray
Blues forward Alexey Toropchenko checks Flames forward Kevin Rooney nearly over the boards in the first period of a game against the Calgary Flames on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Blues forward Alexey Toropchenko tries to get the puck past Calgary Flames forward Jonathan Huberdeau in the first period of a game against the Calgary Flames on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Seeger Gray
Flames forward Ryan Lomberg battles Blues forward Brayden Schenn after the play stopped in the second period of a game against the Calgary Flames on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
The Blues’ Brayden Schenn skates with the puck as he looks for a pass it in front of the net in the first period of a game against Calgary on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Blues forward Jordan Kyrou is checked into the boards by Flames defender MacKenzie Weegar in the second period of a game against the Calgary Flames on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Flames players celebrate a goal by Yegor Sharangovich in the second period of a game against the Calgary Flames on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Blues forward Mathieu Joseph looks for a pass across the ice in the second period of a game against the Calgary Flames on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Blues forward Nathan Walker fights with Calgary Flames defender Brayden Pachal in the third period of a game against the Calgary Flames on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Seeger Gray, Post-Dispatch
Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist battles Flames forward Jake Bean for possession of the puck in the third period of a game against the Calgary Flames on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Blues forward Brayden Schenn deflects a puck over the glove of Flames goalie Dustin Wolf in the second period of a game against the Calgary Flames on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
The Blues’ Zack Bolduc, front, is grabbed by Calgary’s Matt Coronato in the third period of a game on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Seeger Gray, Post-Dispatch
Blues forward Radek Faksa shoves Flames defender MacKenzie Weegar to the ice in the third period of a game against the Calgary Flames on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Blues forward Alexey Toropchenko skates the puck across the blue line in the third period of a game against the Calgary Flames on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
The Blues’ Nathan Walker, left, battles with Calgary’s Walker Duehr in a game on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Seeger Gray, Post-Dispatch
Blues forward Jordan Kyrou attempts a backwards pass as he is pressed by Flames forward Jakob Pelletier in the third period of a game against the Calgary Flames on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Blues forward Jake Neighbours passes the puck past Calgary Flames forward Jonathan Huberdeau in the third period of a game against the Calgary Flames on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at Enterprise Center.
Seeger Gray, Post-Dispatch
Blues 4, Flames 1
Calgary 0 1 0 — 1
St. Louis 3 1 0 — 4
First Period—1, St. Louis, Schenn 9 (Holloway), 4:55. 2, St. Louis, Parayko 10 (Thomas, Fowler), 13:53. 3, St. Louis, Kyrou 20 (Tucker, Holloway), 15:40. ±Ê±ð²Ô²¹±ô³Ù¾±±ð²õ—None.
