When the puck drops tonight at 7 p.m. CT, the St.
Louis Blues will be looking to do something they haven’t managed to pull off all season: win three straight. They’ll open a three-game road trip in Edmonton against a red-hot Oilers team, and while the Blues are coming off back-to-back statement wins, the real test now is consistency.
Let’s be clear-this isn’t just about chasing a streak. It’s about proving that the Blues can string together not just wins, but the kind of disciplined, structured hockey that head coach Jim Montgomery has been preaching all year.
The Blues Are Starting to Buy In
The Blues’ recent wins weren’t flukes. A 3-0 shutout of the Hurricanes followed by a gritty 3-2 shootout victory over the Lightning-snapping Tampa Bay’s 11-game winning streak-showed flashes of the team’s potential when they commit to the game plan. And while Montgomery isn’t getting carried away, there’s a clear sense that something might be clicking.
“No, because we’re caring that we’re playing the right way,” Montgomery said when asked if the recent success changes the stakes. “You’re not always going to get the results, but if we feel like we’re playing the right way, the results will come.”
That’s the mindset he’s been trying to instill all season: process over outcome. And it’s a critical one for a team that’s struggled to build momentum.
The last time they had a chance to win three straight-back on Jan. 7-they opened a road trip with a 7-3 loss to Chicago that exposed some serious defensive lapses. Since then, the Blues have gone 0-4-0 in their next four attempts to notch a third consecutive win, getting outscored 24-9 in those games.
What Changed Last Week
The difference in their recent wins? Defensive urgency. Montgomery pointed specifically to the third period against Tampa Bay as a turning point.
“The thing I really liked is how well we checked in the third period,” he said. “We checked fast, we played defense fast in all three zones and it led to us having a lot more O-zone time.
That was the period that led to us having the most O-zone time and I felt that everybody was on the same page and everybody checked really fast. The next step is playing offense really fast.”
That kind of defensive buy-in is what separates playoff-caliber teams from the rest of the pack. It’s not just about blocking shots or clogging lanes-it’s about playing with pace and purpose, turning defense into offense. If the Blues can replicate that effort against Edmonton, they’ll give themselves a real shot.
Edmonton Brings the Heat-Even Without Draisaitl
Of course, tonight’s opponent isn’t exactly easing into the matchup. The Oilers are coming off a 6-0 demolition of the Vancouver Canucks and are playing the second half of a back-to-back. Even without Leon Draisaitl-who’s on a personal leave to attend to a family matter in Germany-Edmonton is still a force.
Connor McDavid, as usual, is leading the charge. With 83 points (30 goals, 53 assists) in 49 games, he’s locked in a head-to-head battle with Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon for the league scoring title. McDavid’s 30 goals are second only to MacKinnon’s 36, and his ability to tilt the ice remains unmatched.
Montgomery knows the challenge, but he’s keeping the focus inward.
“Just like the last two games, we haven’t really focused on Carolina or Tampa Bay,” he said. “There’s certain things you need to know about all these teams.
We’re really focused on our competitive levels, our pace of how we’re playing and how we’re managing the game. It is [getting better, the competitive levels].
Now the consistency to go with that, that’s the next layer.”
Lineup Notes and Holloway’s Return
The Blues held an optional skate this morning and didn’t confirm their lines, but there are a few notable developments. Dylan Holloway is expected to return to the lineup after missing 15 games with a high ankle sprain. He’s posted 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) in 33 games this season, and his activation didn’t require a roster move, which suggests he’s slotting right in.
Holloway was skating on a line with Dalibor Dvorsky during Saturday’s practice and also took reps on the power play-an indication that Jonatan Berggren could be the odd man out tonight.
Here’s a look at the projected Blues lineup:
Forwards:
- Otto Stenberg - Brayden Schenn - Jimmy Snuggerud
- Dylan Holloway - Dalibor Dvorsky - Jake Neighbours
- Pavel Buchnevich - Nick Bjugstad - Jordan Kyrou
- Alexey Toropchenko - Oskar Sundqvist - Nathan Walker
Defense:
- Philip Broberg - Colton Parayko
- Tyler Tucker - Justin Faulk
- Cam Fowler - Logan Mailloux
Goaltenders:
- Jordan Binnington (starter)
- Joel Hofer (backup)
Scratches: Jonatan Berggren, Robby Fabbri, Matthew Kessel
Injuries: Pius Suter (high ankle sprain), Robert Thomas (lower body), Mathieu Joseph (elbow infection)
Oilers Projected Lineup (No Draisaitl):
Forwards:
- Vasily Podkolzin - Connor McDavid - Zach Hyman
- Trent Frederic - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Kasperi Kapanen
- Isaac Howard - Jack Roslovic - Matthew Savoie
- Andrew Mangiapane - Curtis Lazar - Mattias Janmark
Defense:
- Mattias Ekholm - Evan Bouchard
- Darnell Nurse - Ty Emberson
- Jake Walman - Spencer Stastney
Goaltenders:
- Connor Ingram (starter)
- Calvin Pickard (backup)
Scratches: Leon Draisaitl, Alec Regula, Tristan Jarry
Injuries: Adam Henrique (upper body)
The Blues are showing signs of life, and tonight is a chance to prove those signs are more than just flashes. Against a high-flying Oilers team-even one missing a key piece-St.
Louis will need to lean into the structure, pace, and defensive discipline that got them here. If they do, they might just break through that elusive three-win ceiling.