GDT Game 2: 10/6/18 | 7:00 PM CT | vs Blackhawks | FSMW/KMOX

[theohall]

ST. LOUIS -- Members of the new-look St. Louis Blues admitted that it might take some time to mesh after a disappointing 5-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets in the season opener on Thursday night.

But it seems like that process will have to happen on the fly as the Blues host the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night.

Six of the Blues' 12 forwards are either newcomers or rookies. That includes the acquisition of centers Ryan O'Reilly and Tyler Bozak and left winger Pat Maroon.

"Every day you have to keep getting closer," O'Reilly said. "I feel that team over there (the Jets) has been together a bit longer and you kind of see just a little cleaner at times. The guys know and can anticipate what the other players are doing a bit more, and that's what we want to get to. We want to have confidence in each other."

But O'Reilly doesn't think the Blues are far away.

"I definitely think it's next game," he said. "I think we get a few and guys start feeling confident in each other and it starts rolling from there."

Blues coach Mike Yeo called the season-opening effort disappointing, but said the team wasn't going overboard with the result.

"I think there's a lot to learn from the game about our group and playing against a good team like that," Yeo said. "I think we had some opportunities, but didn't capitalize. We're not going to accept saying that at the end of a bunch of games this year. There were a number of points during the course of the game we could have done things differently, better, and with a better mindset than we did that would have served us well."

On Friday, the Blues sent defenseman Niko Mikkola down to the AHL and recalled veteran forward Chris Thorburn.

Thorburn gives the Blues, who began the season with just 12 forwards, an extra body up front. The non-conventional roster formation was necessary in part due to defenseman Robert Bortuzzo sitting out the season opener while serving the final game of a suspension from last season. Bortuzzo's return made the need of an extra defender unnecessary.

The Blues take on a Blackhawks team that's riding high after a season-opening 4-3 overtime win at Ottawa. Right winger Patrick Kane roofed a backhander 38 seconds into overtime for the game winner after the Blackhawks tied it in the third period.

"We just kind of stayed with it," Kane told NHL.com. "It's kind of a good feeling to be down like that and have a comeback win, especially for the first game of the season. Gives us a little confidence. I think, overall, everybody was pretty pumped up after the game and happy to get the two points the first game of the season."

The Blues took three of four games against the Blackhawks last season, but Chicago comes into this meeting with confidence.

"It's huge, I think, especially coming back like that and getting the first one out of the way is very important," Blackhawks right winger Alex DeBrincat told NHL.com. "It really helps us gain confidence and just helps us move along."

[glen a richter]

Blues 3 - Bozak, Tarasenko, Parayko
Hawks 2

[Robb_K]

Fantastic pass by Maroon to Parayko for the blaster!!! Blues lead 1-0!!!

Seconds later, great save by Allen!!!

[Robb_K]

Tarasenko slaps in his own rebound!!! Blues lead 2-0!!!

[Robb_K]

Not a bad period, all in all. Blues have good energy. Keep it up!

[Robb_K]

The Blues had 3 chances to clear or take possession and skate or pass the puck out, and failed. After that I KNEW that they would give up a goal. And now that nice 2-goal lead is gone.

[Robb_K]

Let's see a well-played PP now, and a goal to get the lead back!

[Robb_K]

Bad discipline for The Blues, yet another "too many men" penalty to kill a PP. Bah!

[theohall]

So.... Yes, the Blues 1st PP unit scored with Parayko on the ice, not Dunn.

The Blues 2nd power play unit - 27/20/10/17/57... 4 of the 5 still together even though they were responsible for the 2nd worst power play in the NHL last season. You know 10/17/33 look really good in 5-on-5 play so why in the H E Double Hockey Sticks don't they stay together when there is more time and space on the power play vice icing that disaster of a unit?

Oh... Parayko scores a power play goal. Blues are down 3-2 and get a power play. Parayko gets zero ice time on the power play. #YeoMustGo

That 2nd period power play with Dunn on the ice didn't look good. Dunn isn't skating to get the defense moving. He's essentially stationary just passing the puck to either wing and expecting them to do all the work. Yes, Dunn scored vs the Jets - it wasn't on the power play. When has Dunn been the most effective on the power play, going back to last season? In a 2D 3F setup. He hasn't done well as the lone d-man driving the power play. The 2 guys making the 1st unit work are O'Reilly and Bozak who actually skate to create shooting and passing lanes. Dunn wasn't doing any skating. Not liking what I'm seeing from Dunn these first two games.

Meanwhile, even though there was almost no special teams play in the 2nd period and the Blues veteran lines were the ones failing in their own zone, Thomas got benched. 1:30, 2 shifts total ice time for Thomas in the 2nd when he hadn't done anything wrong. Yeo not benching veterans who are making mistakes, but benching the rookie who isn't doing anything wrong. #YeoMustGo

[theohall]

3rd period starts and even though 10/17/33 are playing well together, Yeo busts up that group. #YeoMustGo.

You don't break up the line that's working.

[Robb_K]

Parayko with a hard drive, hits the post!

[Robb_K]

Blues NEED to score on this PP!

[Robb_K]

Tarasenko's great shot was in the net!!! Review from Toronto caught it! Blues tie it up!!!

[Robb_K]

Butler scores!!!! Seconds after their review goal!! Blues lead 4-3!!!

[Robb_K]

Nice save by Allen!

[Robb_K]

NOW I'm glad Butler is in the lineup, despite my wanting Schmaltz, instead.

[Robb_K]

Great kill - NO shots!

[glen a richter]

Meanwhile, fantastic opening day win by San Antonio, 4-0. Ville Husso with the shutout, nice contribution by some of the kids.

[Robb_K]

A frustrating tie. But, The Blues have a chance to get the two points. Let's win it in OT!

[glen a richter]

Sucky. Among other things, this team needs Edmundson back.