The St. Louis Blues don’t get much time to savor Friday’s 4-0 win over the Dallas Stars. Less than 24 hours later, they’re right back at it, this time against another Central Division heavyweight in the Colorado Avalanche, who opened their season Wednesday with an 8-4 win over the Los Angeles Kings.
Friday’s result was a strong early statement for the Blues, a useful step if they’re going to push themselves into the league’s top tier and stay in the playoff mix in a division that doesn’t offer many easy nights. But the challenge ramps up immediately, and the Blues will have to answer it without a full morning skate.
Coach Jim Montgomery is set to address lineup decisions and other updates at 6:45 p.m. CT before puck drop at 8 p.m. on Blue Note+ and ESPN 101.1-FM.
One change is already known: Alexey Toropchenko will not play. He’ll be replaced by either Dillon Dube or Zach Dean, though Dube is the likelier option given his experience and the altitude factor in Colorado.
Jordan Binnington will get the start in goal after Joel Hofer’s 25-save shutout on Friday. Hofer will back him up as the Blues turn to their No. 1 netminder on the second night of a back-to-back.
There’s also a possible wrinkle on defense depending on whether the league adds any further discipline to Brandon Carlo’s kneeing/game misconduct penalty on Stars center Roope Hintz early in the third period. If nothing else comes down, Justin Barron - claimed off waivers from the Nashville Predators last week - will be a healthy scratch. If the league does act, Barron would make his Blues debut.
The Blues’ projected lineup has Dylan Holloway centering Robert Thomas and Jimmy Snuggerud on the top line, followed by Pavel Buchnevich with Mason McTavish and Connor McMichael. Jake Neighbours, Dalibor Dvorsky and Jonatan Berggren are slotted together next, with Ross Johnston, Pius Suter and Dillon Dube rounding out the forward group.
On defense, Philip Broberg and Adam Jiricek are projected together, with Theo Lindstein and Colton Parayko as the second pair. Cam Fowler and Brandon Carlo are listed on the third pair.
St. Louis remains without Alexey Toropchenko, who is out with an upper-body injury.
Tyler Tucker, dealing with a knee injury, will be re-evaluated in six weeks, while Logan Mailloux, out with a hand injury, will be re-evaluated in eight weeks. Both are on injured reserve.
Colorado’s projected lineup brings Artturi Lehkonen, Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas together up front, with Gabriel Landeskog, Brock Nelson and Nazem Kadri on the second line. Jaden Schwartz, Fedor Svechkov and T.J. Hughes make up the third line, and Parker Kelly and Nicolas Roy are listed as the fourth-line duo.
The Avalanche’s defense features Devon Toews and Cale Makar, Brett Kulak and Sam Malinski, and Josh Manson with Brent Burns. Noah Juulsen is also on the blue line.
Mackenzie Blackwood is expected to start in net, with Scott Wedgewood backing him up. Colorado has no healthy scratches. Logan O’Connor and Zachary L’Heureax are out with lower-body injuries.
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