After several strong performances to end the month of December, Hofer has allowed seven goals on 59 combined shots (.881 SV%) over his last two games (0-2-0). He will return to the crease for only the second time in the last six games when the Blues host the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday. Hofer and the Blues are -122 home favourites.
Faulk has been out since December 29th due to a lower-body injury but was activated from the Injured Reserve Friday and is expected to return to the Blues' lineup Saturday. The 31-year-old was having an mediocre offensive season prior to his injury as he had two goals, 17 points, 10 PIMs and a +2 plus/minus in 35 games played.
Despite consecutive excellent performances for Binnington, the Blues turned to Joel Hofer between the pipes on Tuesday, a 5-1 loss to the Florida Panthers. Binninton has won two straight and allowed two or fewer goals in each of his last three contests (2-1-0), boasting a sparkling .949 SV%. Binnington will look to extend his win streak to three games but has a difficult task ahead as the Blues are +145 home underdogs on Thursday against the New York Rangers, who have lost two straight (0-1-1).
Joesph has been out for the Senators' previous 10 games but was activated from the Injured Reserve Tuesday and will be a game-time decision vs. Calgary. Ottawa moved Rourke Chariter to the LTIR in a corresponding move. Joseph is having his best career season to date with 19 points (6G/13A) in 25 games played alongside his +12 plus/minus and 27 PIMs.
Hofer will make his first start of 2024 but has become more of a regular fixture between the pipes for the Blues over the last two weeks due largely to a strong stretch of play. Hofer has allowed three or fewer goals in each of his last four appearances (2-1-0), posting a tremendous .949 SV% in the process. That said, the Blues will need to be heroic on Tuesday if they expect to get a victory against a Florida Panthers club that is riding a season-best seven-game winning streak and has outscored their opposition 22-7 over their last four games.
Hofer will make his first start of 2024 but has become more of a regular fixture between the pipes for the Blues over the last two weeks due largely to a strong stretch of play. Hofer has allowed three or fewer goals in each of his last four appearances (2-1-0), posting a tremendous .949 SV% in the process. That said, the Blues will need to be heroic on Tuesday if they expect to get a victory against a Florida Panthers club that is riding a season-best seven-game winning streak and has outscored their opposition 22-7 over their last four games.
The Blues have signed the Welsh-born Walker to a two-year, $1.55 million contract extension on Tuesday. Walker has spent the majority of the 2023-24 season with the Springfield Thunderbirds of the AHL, scoring 29 points (13G / 16A) in 30 games.
Walker earned his call up from Springfield after producing 29 points (13G/16A) in 30 games played and is expected to make his season debut Thursday vs. Vancouver. The 29-year-old left-winger appeared in 58 games for the Blues in 2022-23, where he had two goals, eight assists, 43 SOG, 25 PIMs and a +10 plus/minus.
Alexandrov has been reassigned to the Springfield Thunderbirds of the AHL, allowing the Blues to recall Jakub Vrana. Alexandrov was held without a point in 10 games with the Blues this season and will likely make his 2023-24 Thunderbirds debut after scoring 38 points (19G / 19A) in 41 games with the AHL club last season.
Faulk did not play the last game for the Blues due to a lower-body injury and has been placed retroactively on IR. Before his injury, Faulk had five points (2G / 3A) in his last seven games, averaging over 22 minutes on ice.
Faksa will re-enter the lineup for the Stars in favour of Ty Dellandrea, who is expected to be a healthy scratch. Faksa has not played the last two games and has zero points and only two shots on goal in his last four contests.
Binninngton saved 21 of 23 shots (.913 SV%) in a 2-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in his last outing and will look to rebound as the Blue's starter on Thursday. Binnington has a sub-.900 SV% in six of his last eight games (3-5-0), posting an ugly .867 SV%. The Blues will be hard-pressed to shut things down defensively as +134 home underdogs against the Vancouver Canucks are their league-best offence (3.84 GF / GP).
Holloway has been out since November 13th due to a lower-body injury but has been activated off the Long-Term Injured Reserve Wednesday and loaned to Bakersfield (AHL) for a conditioning stint. The 22-year-old sophomore got out to a bit of a slump prior to his injury as he had only a goal, no assists, 29 SOG, 13 PIMs and a -3 plus/minus in 14 games played.
