Heading into Tuesday's matchup against Montreal, Joel Hofer has established himself as the starting goaltender following his opening-night, 25-save shutout against the Dallas Stars. However, no single goaltender can carry the weight of an 84-game campaign. That is why St. Louis needs Stanley Cup-winning goaltender Jordan Binnington to play as a dependable backup option to keep the team's playoff aspirations alive this season.
Workload reality and historical splits
The physical demand of the now 84-game NHL schedule has made the need for a reliable backup goaltender mandatory, not optional. Players face long miles on the road, back-to-back games, and stretches of games that test their bodies. Overusing Hofer can risk muscle fatigue and mechanics for both the short and potentially even long-term.
Binnington has had a slow start this season, and while it is well above his career average, he has always struggled early in the season. Historically, the 33-year-old has posted usually around a .899 save percentage and a 2.92 goals-against average. He can dip again in December, but then tends to improve again. February is when the Blues usually see him spike to around a .914, while staying around .905 in March.
The veteran netminder has seen just shy of 22,000 minutes in the regular season, and at 33 years old, appears to be slowing down in the latter days of his professional career. The Blues will need to earn early-season points in the standings, but also need to give him some starts now so they can help him find his game, while also keeping Hofer fresh. The Blues will need both goalies ready for the hopeful postseason stretch run.
Binnington is playing in the final year of his contract. Shifting him from the starting goaltender in St. Louis to the backup role is a big change for any player. However, he has to stay ready even when he sits for long stretches. That takes focus and preparation. Binnington has been known for his competitive edge and will need to use that in a positive way this season. Hard work in practice and sharp play when he starts could push Hofer and give the coaching staff a reliable second option in net.
The bottom line
The Blues have seen how valuable the loss of early-season points in the standings can be later in the season when the standings get tight and the true scoreboard watching begins. For the 2026-27 season and the foreseeable future, Hofer is the starting goaltender. That being said, the Blues' playoff hopes still depend on Jordan Binnington playing well as the backup. A strong goaltending tandem, or even one that can allow the Blues to play their backup every third game, gives them a better chance to manage a long season and stay in contention. When both goalies are ready, St. Louis has more options and less risk of burnout down the stretch.
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