The St. Louis Blues are set to start a four game homestand, with the Seattle Kraken coming to town first. After notching their first shutout victory of the year, beating Buffalo 3-0, all eyes are on head coach Jim Montgomery and what he decides to do next after benching Jordan Kyrou.
Thee are a couple of players that should be playing, and not be benched, in this one that you might want to pay attention too. Let's talk about it.
Jimmy Snuggerud
The Blues played a complete game in their win against Buffalo, and they must follow it up against the Kraken. They are going to have to dig deep with their offensive group, as their opponent has only allowed the 8th-least amount of goals this season, with 38.
Enter Jimmy Snuggerud, who can really make an impact on this game. With only a goal and an assist in his last five appearances, he needs to try and contribute offensively. With the benching of Jordan Kyrou last game, nobody is safe and everyone should be playing for their place on this team.
Jordan Kyrou
Speaking of Kyrou, after his healthy scratch was a success against Buffalo, he will be filtered back in. With the message sent to him most of all, expect a big game from No. 25.
Kyrou has been on a bit of a cold streak after rattling off a seven-game point streak earlier in the year. In 11 games against the Kraken over his career, he has been lethal with eight goals and two assists for 10 points. All eyes are on him and how he responds.
Pavel Buchnevich
Everyone, and I mean everyone, has been bewildered by the play of Pavel Buchnevich. Many screamed through their keyboards that it should have been No. 89 in the press box, not Kyrou.
This might be Buchnevich’s last chance to keep himself out of that spotlight, as I’m sure that he would be next to sit. With a pair of goals and four assists for six points over 15 games and a -9 on the stat sheet, it has not been a great year for him.
The Blues are going to need much more out of Buchnevich, and that has to happen against the Kraken.