GDT #52: Blues vs Coyotes | 7:00 pm CT | BSMW, 101 ESPN

[theohall]

TEAM SNAPSHOTS
BLUES The St. Louis Blues have not played a game in 11 days but will return to the ice on Saturday with a home bout against the Arizona Coyotes.

They may look like a slightly different team after trading Vladimir Tarasenko and Niko Mikkola to the Rangers on Thursday for Sammy Blais, Hunter Skinner and draft capital. Blais - returning to the team who drafted him after two years in New York - is anticipating that he will make his (second) Blues debut in the divisional matchup.

Two other major returns could include Ryan O'Reilly and Pavel Buchnevich - out for the last 14 and four games, respectively. Both have been practicing coming out of the break and are optimistic that they will suit up against Arizona.

The Blues open their February schedule with a four-game homestand, playing at Enterprise Center in seven of their nine games this month. Struggling at home this season, the Blues have an opportunity to return to their usual standard of play with this dense home schedule coming out of the All-Star Break. The homestand continues against the Florida Panthers, New Jersey Devils and Colorado Avalanche next week.

They'll begin the final 31 games of the regular season with a record of 23-25-3, worth 49 points and sixth place in the Central Division.

COYOTES The Arizona Coyotes came out of the break on the right foot, beating the Minnesota Wild 3-2 at Mullett Arena on Monday.

Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun tied the game midway through the third period with his second goal of the night, followed four minutes later by Jack McBain's game winner. The loss was Minnesota's third in a row - and sixth of their last eight games - as they fight to hold onto a Western Conference playoff spot.

It was Chychrun's first multi-goal game of the season, missing time early on but remaining a name that rival NHL executives may have their eyes on at the Trade Deadline on March 3. Chychrun is up to 27 points in 35 games this season, second among Arizona defensemen.

Before taking on the Blues, the Coyotes will kick off a road back-to-back in Chicago on Friday, continuing the trip in St. Louis and Nashville for four total games in a row vs. Central Division opponents.

They'll visit the Blackhawks with a record of 17-28-6, worth 40 points and seventh place in the Central.

HEAD-TO-HEAD The Blues fell to the Coyotes in a difficult shutout at Mullett Arena just before the break, their only matchup thus far this season. The Blues went 3-1-0 against the Coyotes last season, though the lone loss came at Enterprise Center.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
BLUES Robert Thomas, sharing the team lead with 21 points at Enterprise Center this season. Thomas leads the Blues with 31 total assists this season, and his 43 points through 48 games slightly outpace his production at this point last year.

COYOTES Jakob Chychrun, whose 27 points since his season debut on Nov. 21 rank No. 9 among all NHL defensemen. Chychrun has 11 points in 20 career games against the Blues, sharing his season high with a plus-3 rating in the Jan. 26 matchup.

BLUE NOTES
Just two of the Blues' nine games in February will come against Central Division opponents... Jordan Binnington's next win in goal will give him sole possession of No. 4 on the all-time franchise leaderboard, currently tied with Grant Fuhr at 108... The Blues went 6-for-6 on the penalty kill in their last game, the first time killing off all of at least six penalties in a game since Jan. 20, 2021. Four different Blues (Niko Mikkola, Noel Acciari, Justin Faulk and Colton Parayko) played at least five minutes shorthanded for the first time since Jan. 15, 2021.

[gaijin]

At this point, I am almost more interested in what personnel moves the Blues may make than I am about the outcome of the games themselves.

[theohall]

With the way the team has been "playing" I feel the same way. More interested in who goes and what Armstrong acquires.

[theohall]

Projected lines:

Saad-O'Reilly-Buchnevich
Schenn-Thomas-Kyrou
Barbashev-Acciari-Blais
Toropchenko-Walker-Pitlick

Leddy-Parayko
Krug-Faulk
Tucker-Rosen

Binnington

I just wish this team would learn to forecheck properly. Not talking about slamming guys into walls, but at least forcing defenders to adjust passes just by at least bumping them. Yes, I'm mostly referring to Thomas and Kyrou.

[glen a richter]

Hopefully moving Mikkola leads to a more permanent role with the big club for Tucker.

[glen a richter]

Given the trajectory of the season and that more trades are most likely forthcoming I'd love to see Bolduc get some time after his current season is over. I'd also like, and I know this would end his NCAA eligibility, to see Snuggerud sign his ELC and get some games at the end of the season too.

[theohall]

Opening of this game.... seriously weak goal with zero defensive pressure and absolutely zero forechecking on the shift of of a line change with ROR coming on the ice.... ROR got a minus simply for getting off the bench.

[theohall]

Gee.... what a shock... after the first commercial break after the Blues have already given up a goal - what does Panger say?? The Blues need to get their forecheck going immediately followed by Buchnevich tripping someone....

And I totally agree with his comments on Acciari. Too bad the rest of the team doesn't flipping get it.... ooooo.... surprise Coyotes score again - in something the Blues should've stopped on the PK.

[theohall]

Given the first 16 minutes of the current game... the Blues don't deserve any consideration of being a competitor for anything....

Looks like the "tank is on"

[theohall]

With .50 to go in the first... Thomas had a great opportunity to shoot on the PP... but passed it back out of the zone... Flipping shoot... for pete's sake.

The one guy no one expects to shoot is Thomas and with that clean a look he should've shot... I can't think of a single center in the NHL that shoots less than Robert Thomas.

[theohall]

Blues 1st goal by Saad - great example of a bad goal allowed by the other team... if #3 sticks on his man (Saad) instead of stick checking and skating away from Saad - the goal probably doesn't happen.

[theohall]

OK... Blues 5th goal... fantastic forecheck by Kyrou and Schenn to set that up.

[theohall]

That call on ROR at 10:30 of the 3rd... WTF?????

[theohall]

Yes. Blues won in OT. Blues play in the 2nd, 3rd, and OT was solid. If they can figure out how to start games, or play complete 60s.... they wouldn't be in the middling situation they currently are.

Still not sold on Pitlick... yes, he got an assist on an important goal for Rosen, but that was more about horrible D than a good play by Pitlick.

I still don't know WTF to think about this team. It's Arizona and it took 6-5 in OT at home....

[glen a richter]

Good to see Blais score a goal. A few solid games to show his run in NY was just a blip on the radar and they can flip him for a pick and recall someone from Springfield for the rest of the season.

Nice to see O'Reilly get in on the scoring, show he's healthy for his imminent trade to Toronto.

I wish they could unload the Krug and Parayko contracts too but what can you do?