The St. Louis Blues are stepping into a serious test Thursday night at Enterprise Center, where the Vegas Golden Knights arrive with one of the league’s hottest offenses and plenty of confidence. It’s the second game of a five-game homestand, and this one already feels like a measuring stick for the Blues in 2026-27.
Vegas comes in as the NHL’s top goal-scoring team, having piled up 43 goals in 11 games. The Golden Knights sit first in the Pacific Division at 8-3-0, and Mitch Marner and Jack Eichel have been driving the attack in “Sin City.” Against that kind of firepower, the Blues are going to need more than a strong shift here and there.
Philip Broberg is one of the names that jumps out immediately. The Blues highlighted his speed with a simple message - “Vroom vroom 🏎️ #stlblues” - and that pace is going to matter against Marner and Eichel, who will be pushing the tempo all night.
Broberg followed up a solid multi-point outing in the homestand opener against the Winnipeg Jets, and he’ll need to be sharp again if St. Louis is going to keep up.
In goal, the assignment looks clear: Joel Hofer needs to get the start for Jim Montgomery. The source points out that if Jordan Binnington were to face this Vegas offense, it would be a “massacre,” so Hofer is the one who has to give the Blues a chance. He has been raising his game this season, and No. 30 has been taking full advantage of the opportunity in front of him.
Then there’s Mason McTavish, who was held off the board in the Blues’ 2-1 win over Winnipeg and saw his six-game point streak come to an end. That kind of run doesn’t usually stay quiet for long, and St.
Louis will need him right back in the middle of things against a Vegas top six that can tilt the ice in a hurry. McTavish leads the Blues with nine points and shares the team lead in goals with five alongside Jimmy Snuggerud.
If the Blues are going to pull this one out, those three have to be central to it.
In Other News...
Blues Are Already Getting Early Answers On A Tough Roster Debate
Ten games into the season, the Blues are already getting a clearer read on a roster question that was going to hang over them early. At 5-4-1, they have seen enough to start separating the players who are driving the team forward from the ones still fighting to hold their spots, and the performance gap has become hard to ignore. Dylan Holloway, Mason McTavish and Philip Broberg have given the club the kind of steady, energetic minutes that make lineup decisions easier, while the group around them continues to settle into the system.
The other side of that evaluation is just as important, because not everyone has kept pace as the roster has taken shape. Theo Lindstein and Dalibor Dvorsky have seen their roles shrink as the Blues look for more reliable answers, and the goaltending picture has added another layer to the debate. St. Louis is still early in the process of sorting out its best mix, but the first stretch of the season has already pushed some decisions closer to the surface. [Read more 🡒]
Philip Broberg Is Becoming The Blues Defenseman Theyve Been Missing
Philip Broberg has quickly gone from useful addition to essential piece for the Blues, giving their blue line a steadier, more modern look at a time when they needed it. His value has shown up in more than one area, too, with his play helping stabilize the defense while also adding something extra when the puck goes the other way.
Brobergs ability to fit beside different defensemen has made him even more valuable, because he has not needed a specific partner or a sheltered role to make an impact. The most interesting part is how his presence has changed the balance of the group, especially on special teams, where the Blues have been searching for a smoother blend of offense and responsibility from the back end. [Read more 🡒]
Blues Catch A Break With Vegas Missing A Star Tonight
Vegas will be without Mitch Marner for its game against the Blues tonight, a development that changes the look of a matchup St. Louis already knew would be a tough one. Marner is away as he and his partner await the birth of their second child, leaving the Pacific Division leaders to adjust on the fly against a Blues team looking for every small edge it can find.
Alexander Holtz is expected to step into Marners spot and make his NHL season debut, giving Vegas a different kind of look in a spot usually occupied by one of its most dynamic forwards. The Golden Knights still have a busy stretch ahead with games against Columbus, Ottawa and New Jersey on the calendar, so this is a temporary wrinkle more than a long-term concern, but it gives St. Louis a clearer path than it might have had against a full-strength lineup. [Read more 🡒]