The St. Louis Blues just wrapped up one of their most action-packed weeks of the season-a three-game stretch that delivered drama, firepower, and no shortage of talking points.
From a near-miraculous comeback to a buzzer-beater against the champs and a wild finish in Columbus, the Blues put on a show. They walked away with one win and two losses, but the scoreboard only tells part of the story.
Let’s break down the top standouts from a week that had just about everything.
#3: Brayden Schenn - The Captain Turning Up the Heat
Brayden Schenn has always been the kind of player who leads with more than just words. Whether it’s dropping the gloves to defend a teammate or grinding out tough minutes in all situations, he’s the heartbeat of this Blues squad. But last week, he added something else to the mix: offense-and plenty of it.
Schenn notched four points across the three games, including a pair of third-period goals in Tuesday’s comeback bid against Dallas. Those goals helped erase a 3-0 deficit and nearly flipped the game on its head. Then on Saturday, he added two assists against Columbus, one of which came on the power play.
At a time when the Blues are navigating a retool and the trade deadline looms, Schenn’s recent surge is turning heads around the league. He’s showing he’s still got plenty in the tank-and that kind of leadership, paired with timely scoring, doesn’t go unnoticed.
#2: Jimmy Snuggerud - The Rookie with a Flair for the Moment
If you’re looking for a snapshot of the Blues’ future, look no further than Jimmy Snuggerud. The 19-year-old rookie didn’t just make noise last week-he made headlines.
With 7.6 seconds left in regulation on Thursday, he buried a one-timer to beat the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. It was the kind of goal that doesn’t just win games-it builds legacies.
The play itself was a thing of beauty: crisp puck movement, patience in the offensive zone, and a perfect feed from Pavel Buchnevich set up Snuggerud’s rocket from the right circle. It was a moment that showed poise beyond his years.
But he wasn’t done. Snuggerud added another goal on Saturday and finished the week with five points (2 goals, 3 assists) in three games.
That’s production you expect from a seasoned top-six forward, not a rookie still getting his feet wet. He’s now pacing toward a 20-goal season in his first full NHL campaign-a clear sign that the Blues’ youth movement is gaining serious traction.
#1: Special Teams - A Tale of Two Units
Under head coach Jim Montgomery, special teams have become a focal point-and last week, they were front and center. The power play?
Sharp, opportunistic, and consistently dangerous. The penalty kill?
Well, let’s just say it’s still a work in progress.
Let’s start with the positives. The Blues’ power play delivered in key moments, including Snuggerud’s game-winner against Florida and a Saturday tally from Jonatan Berggren. The man advantage kept the Blues in every game, helping to offset some of the defensive lapses and penalty-kill struggles.
Speaking of which, the PK unit had a rough go. On Tuesday, it gave up two second-period power-play goals to Dallas, which helped the Stars build a 3-0 lead before the Blues clawed back. Thursday saw more of the same, with Florida capitalizing twice on the man advantage-one of them a momentum-shifting goal by Matthew Tkachuk that erased a two-goal Blues lead.
Still, there were flashes of resilience. Montgomery pointed to a key kill against Florida that sparked the home crowd and gave the team a much-needed jolt. But in games this tight, one more successful kill here or there could’ve been the difference between a 1-2 week and a clean 3-0 sweep.
Looking Ahead: Road Test Before the Break
The Blues have two more games before the Olympic break, and both are on the road. First up is a showdown tonight with the Nashville Predators, followed by a rematch with the Dallas Stars on Wednesday. After that, it’s either off to the Olympics or three weeks of rest and regrouping.
They’ll return to action on February 26 when the Seattle Kraken come to town.
For now, the Blues are showing flashes of what they can be-resilient, exciting, and increasingly driven by a mix of veteran leadership and youthful energy. If they can tighten up the penalty kill and keep riding the hot hands of players like Snuggerud and Schenn, they could come out of the break with some serious momentum.