The Blues head into Columbus still searching for the right spark, and the list of priorities is pretty clear. After dropping their home opener at Enterprise Center for the third straight season - this time a 3-2 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks, finished off by Darnell Nurse - St. Louis is sitting at 1-2-1 and needs a clean response against a Blue Jackets team that has started to reshape its own reputation early this season.
For the Blues, the biggest question is whether the top line can finally drag the offense out of the mud. Robert Thomas, Dylan Holloway, and Jimmy Snuggerud have not done much damage so far, and that lack of production has fed into the scoring drought around them.
Thomas, especially, is under the microscope after what the article describes as his first 30 seconds as Blues captain being underwhelming for fans, a stretch that could also be weighing on general manager Alexander Steen. If St.
Louis is going to get back in the win column, that trio has to lead the way.
The matchup also brings a major defensive test, and it comes in the form of Matthew Knies. Columbus acquired him from Toronto in a blockbuster right before the season for Kirill Marchenko, and he has wasted no time making noise.
Through three games, Knies has two goals and two assists for four points, and the article notes that he looks ready to blow past the 66 points he posted as a career high last season with the Maple Leafs. The Blues’ blue line has held up reasonably well despite being pieced together on the fly, but injuries to Logan Mailloux and Tyler Tucker have opened the door for Adam Jiricek and waiver pickup Justin Barron, and that group will have to be sharp to keep Knies from taking over.
Health is the other major concern, and it is becoming harder to ignore. Dillon Dube is the latest Blues player to land on the injured list after taking a hard hit into the boards against San Jose.
He is out for this game with a neck injury and will be looked at again in eight weeks. The article describes the play as a nasty collision that could have been much worse, and the Blues can’t afford many more hits to an already thin roster.
The assignment in Columbus is straightforward enough: play 60 minutes of hard-nosed hockey, but do it safely.
In Other News...
Blues Already Have Two Offensive Problems Fans Can't Ignore
The Blues have barely had time to settle into the season, but the early offensive picture is already hard to miss. Their top line of Dylan Holloway, Jimmy Snuggerud and Robert Thomas has been asked to drive play and set the tone, yet the group has not given the club much on the scoreboard through four games. St. Louis is still trying to find rhythm at even strength, and the lack of finishing touch has fed into a broader problem that has carried over to the power play.
There is at least some reason for patience beneath the rough start. The numbers at five-on-five have been more encouraging than the goals column, suggesting the chances are there even if the results have not shown up yet. Joel Hofer has given the Blues a steady presence in net, which buys a little time for the offense to sort itself out, but until the top line starts converting and the man-advantage looks sharper, this will remain one of the first places fans look for answers. [Read more 🡒]
Blues Enter Stretch That Will Show What This Team Really Is
The early part of the season has already told the Blues a little bit about themselves. They opened with a 4-0 win, then settled into the kind of mixed results that tend to follow a fast start, with losses to Colorado, Chicago and San Jose leaving more questions than answers about how steady this group really is. For a team trying to sort out its identity, the margin for error is getting thinner by the night.
Columbus is the first test in a stretch that feels like a separator, the kind of run that can turn an encouraging start into something more meaningful if St. Louis handles it well. The Blues also have to keep navigating a growing injury situation, with several regulars unavailable, and that only adds to the challenge of a schedule that is about to get much less forgiving. If this team is going to look like a playoff contender, it will have to start showing it right here. [Read more 🡒]
Blues Hit With Another Injury Setback As Depth Gets Tested
The Blues are dealing with another hit to their depth after forward Dillon Dube was sidelined with a neck injury, leaving the club to shuffle its lineup again as it tries to navigate a stretch already shaped by multiple absences. St. Louis has been leaning on its lower end of the roster more heavily, and the next wave of adjustments now includes giving Zach Dean a look on the fourth line while Justin Barron remains in the mix on defense for a second straight game.
It comes as the Blues are also working through a new defensive zone coverage system under assistant coach Greg Cronin, which makes the timing of the injuries even more demanding. With the lineup in flux and responsibilities spreading to younger or less established players, the next few weeks will give St. Louis a clearer read on who can absorb tougher minutes while the staff keeps sorting out the back end. [Read more 🡒]