Jim Montgomery made it very clear prior to last Thursday’s 4-1 win against the Calgary Flames that just because a particular lineup wins a game, or even strings together consecutive wins, that doesn’t mean that particular lineup is set in stone for the next game.
He made changes after last Tuesday’s 2-1 win against the Flames because, “Our team is not at the level where we keep the same lineup,” Montgomery said. “Our lack of consistency when we have success is something that it’s just going to be based on if guys are doing the right things out there and giving us a good opportunity at success. You play well, you’re going to play, win or lose.”
Well, following a 4-2 loss against the Utah Hockey Club on Saturday, a chance to win a third straight game this season for the eighth time but the Blues fell to 0-7-1 in those situations, there will be more changes today when the Blues (22-21-4) take on the Vegas Golden Knights (29-14-3) on the front end of a home-and-home at 5 p.m. today (FDSNMW, ESPN 101.1-FM) at T-Mobile Arena.
Brandon Saad, a healthy scratch the past two games and five games this season, will replace Zack Bolduc, who played just 7:04 on Saturday but took a tripping penalty 200 feet from his own goal that led to Utah’s tying goal in the first period, and among the switches is Pavel Buchnevich, who does have 29 points (11 goals, 18 assists) in 45 games this season, moving down the lineup. He has no points the past four games and when it looks like the defensive side of the puck isn’t there as well, something that has been a staple of his as a two-way forward, well it gets one’s attention, and it’s received the attention of the coaching staff.
As for the changes, Montgomery told reporters, “Trying to get a workman-like attitude on every line. Mixing it up sometimes creates a spark of, ‘I individually have to do more, I’m not going to rely on the guy next to me.’ That’s all.”
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Blues Projected Lineup:
Dylan Holloway-Brayden Schenn-Jordan Kyrou
Brandon Saad-Robert Thomas-Jake Neighbours
Alexey Toropchenko-Oskar Sundqvist-Pavel Buchnevich
Nathan Walker-Radek Faksa-Mathieu Joseph
Cam Fowler-Colton Parayko
Ryan Suter-Philip Broberg
Tyler Tucker-Justin Faulk
Jordan Binnington is projected to start in goal; Joel Hofer would be the backup.
Healthy scratches include Scott Perunovich, Zack Bolduc and Alexandre Texier. Nick Leddy (lower body) is out. Torey Krug (ankle) is out for the season.
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Golden Knights Projected Lineup:
Ivan Barbashev-Jack Eichel-Mark Stone
Victor Olofosson-Tomas Hertl-Pavel Dorofeyev
Brett Howden-William Karlsson-Alexander Holtz
Tanner Pearson-Nicolas Roy-Keegan Kolesar
Noah Hanifin-Alex Pietrangelo
Brayden McNabb-Shea Theodore
Nicolas Hague-Zach Whitecloud
Adin Hill is projected to start in goal; Ilya Samsonov would be the backup.
Healthy scratches include Ben Hutton and Kaedan Korczak. Cole Schwindt (lower body) is out.
