St Louis Blues News

Joel Hofer was the first goalie off the ice at St. Louis' morning skate Thursday.

Hofer is likely to get his second start of the season on Thursday and will look to rebound after allowing six goals on 42 shots in his only game thus far, a 6-2 loss to the Arizona Coyotes. Hofer expected to challenge Jordan Binnington for starts this season but that endeavor has temporarily paused as Binnington has demanded the net with a blistering start, registering a 1.69 GAA and .945 SV% in four games (2-1-1). The Blues are +162 road underdogs but should be able to give the Calgary Flames a run for their money as they have been outscored 25-17 to start the season (2-4-1).

Joel Hofer
Binnington will start Tuesday's game in Winnipeg.

Binnington appears to be the Blues' starting goalie for the fourth time in five games on Tuesday as they take on the Winnipeg Jets. Binnington has been remarkable to start the season, showcasing a tremendous 1.26 GAA and .959 SV% in three games (2-0-1). The Blues have failed to give Binnington the goal support he needs thus far as the team ranks fourth-worst offensively, averaging only 2.00 goals per game. The Blues enter action as +175 road underdogs against a Jets team that ranks mid-pack offensively (3.20 GF/GP) despite being outscored 21-16 thus far on the season (2-3-0).

Jordan Binnington
Buchnevich (upper-body) is on the ice for warmups and is expected to play on Tuesday.

Buchnevich missed the Blues' previous two contests with an upper body but will return to he lineup on Tuesday in Winnipeg. The 28-year-old forward has missed 27 games due to injury in the last two seasons and will likely be enduring another injury-riddled campaign. He has yet to pick up a point in two games after producing over a point-per-game with 67 points (26G/41A) in 63 games played in 2022-23.

Pavel Buchnevich
Pavel Buchnevich (upper body) will be a game-time decision on Tuesday vs. Winnipeg.

Buchnevich has missed the Blues' previous two contests with an upper body but will be a game-time decision on Tuesday vs. Winnipeg. The 28-year-old forward has missed 27 games due to injury in the last two seasons and will likely be enduring another injury-riddled campaign. He has yet to pick up a point in two games after producing over a point-per-game with 67 points (26G/41A) in 63 games played in 2022-23.

Pavel Buchnevich
Jordan Binnington was the first goalie off the ice at the Blues' morning skate.

Binnington appears to be the Blues' starting goalie for the fourth time in five games on Tuesday as they take on the Winnipeg Jets. Binnington has been remarkable to start the season, showcasing a tremendous 1.26 GAA and .959 SV% in three games (2-0-1). The Blues have failed to give Binnington the goal support he needs thus far as the team ranks fourth-worst offensively, averaging only 2.00 goals per game. The Blues enter action as +175 road underdogs against a Jets team that ranks mid-pack offensively (3.20 GF/GP) despite being outscored 21-16 thus far on the season (2-3-0).

Jordan Binnington
Pavel Buchnevich (upper body) will be a game-time decision on Tuesday vs. Winnipeg.

Buchnevich has sat out the last two games with an upper-body injury but might return to the lineup on Tuesday. Buchnevich hasn't yet had the opportunity to make his presence felt in the Blues' lineup, going pointless in two games thus far. If he can play, he will likely replace Brandon Saad on the top line and top powerplay unit.

Pavel Buchnevich
Nikita Alexandrov will make his season debut Thursday vs. Arizona.

Alexandrov has yet to dress in any of the Blues first two games but Is set to make his season debut Thursday vs. Arizona. The 23-year-old forward appeared in 28 games in 2022-23, picking up three goals, four assists, 28 SOG and eight PIMs. He is set to line up on the Blues' fourth line alongside Oskar Sundqvist and Jake Neighbours.

Nikita Alexandrov
Joel Hofer will make his first start of the season Thursday vs. Arizona.

Hofer will make his season debut for the Blues tonight against the Arizona Coyotes. Heading into the season, many believed that Hofer might give Jordan Binnington a run for the starting position, but Binnington has been lights out, posting a 0.92 GAA and .969 SV% in two games (1-0-1). There is still plenty of time for Hofer to outperform Binnington throughout the season, forfronted with a good opportunity to record his first victory tonight as the Blues are -109 home favourites. Last season, Hofer posted a 3.22 GAA and .905 SV% in six games with the Blues (3-1-1).

Joel Hofer
Joel Hofer was the first goalie off the ice at morning skate Thursday.

Hofer will likely make his season debut for the Blues tonight against the Arizona Coyotes. Heading into the season, many believed that Hofer might give Jordan Binnington a run for the starting position, but Binnington has been lights out, posting a 0.92 GAA and .969 SV% in two games (1-0-1). There is still plenty of time for Hofer to outperform Binnington throughout the season, forfronted with a good opportunity to record his first victory tonight as the Blues are -109 home favourites. Last season, Hofer posted a 3.22 GAA and .905 SV% in six games with the Blues (3-1-1).

Joel Hofer
Pavel Buchnevich (upper body) will be out Thursday vs. Arizona.

Buchnevich has been officially ruled out for the Blues' Thursday night matchup against the Arizona Coyotes. Despite being held without a point or shot in his two games played this season, the talented Russian winger will unquestionably return to the top line and top powerplay unit for the Blues when he is ready to play.

Pavel Buchnevich
Pavel Buchnevich (upper-body) is day-to-day and doubtful for Thursday vs. Nashville.

Buchnevich's status for Thursday night remains unlikely but he seems to be progressing towards a return as he recovers from an upper-body injury. In his two games played this season, Buchnevich has been ineffective, being held without a point or shot on goal. He should slot back onto the top line and top powerplay unit when he returns to the lineup.

Pavel Buchnevich
Binnington will start Saturday vs. the Kraken.

Binnington allowed one goal on 34 shots in the Blues' overtime loss in Dallas on Thursday. It was an outstanding start to the season for Binnington, who had the worst season of his career in 2022-23. Tonight he'll face the Kraken, who he was 1-1-0 with a 3.49 GAA and .883 SV% against last season.

Jordan Binnington
Binnington will likely start Saturday vs. the Kraken.

Binnington allowed one goal on 34 shots in the Blues' overtime loss in Dallas on Thursday. It was an outstanding start to the season for Binnington, who had the worst season of his career in 2022-23. Tonight he'll face the Kraken, who he was 1-1-0 with a 3.49 GAA and .883 SV% against last season.

Jordan Binnington
Binnington will start in Dallas on Thursday.

Binnington is the likely starting goalie in the Blues' season opener against the Dallas Stars. His stats have declined each year since leading the Blues to the Stanley Cup and reached career-worsts in 2022-23, where he posted a 3.31 GAA and .894 SV% in 61 games (27-27-6). Binnington, who has an annual cap hit of $6 million, will presumably receive the lionshare of time in the crease but any mistep could prompt rookie Joel Hofer to get a more thorough look between the pipes. Binnington lost both contests against the Stars last season (0-2-0) despite a strong 2.04 GAA and .930 SV%. That said, the Blues are +186 road underdogs against the Stars.

Jordan Binnington
Jordan Binnington was the first goalie off the ice at the Blues' morning skate.

Binnington is the likely starting goalie in the Blues' season opener against the Dallas Stars. His stats have declined each year since leading the Blues to the Stanley Cup and reached career-worsts in 2022-23, where he posted a 3.31 GAA and .894 SV% in 61 games (27-27-6). Binnington, who has an annual cap hit of $6 million, will presumably receive the lionshare of time in the crease but any mistep could prompt rookie Joel Hofer to get a more thorough look between the pipes. Binnington lost both contests against the Stars last season (0-2-0) despite a strong 2.04 GAA and .930 SV%. That said, the Blues are +186 road underdogs against the Stars.

Jordan Binnington
Faksa (face) is questionable to play in the Stars season opener on Thursday.

Faksa took a hard hit along the boards during last Tuesday's preseason game and had to get stitches on his face. He was not in concussion protocol, so there's a good chance that Dallas' fourth-line centre is available for opening night.

Radek Faksa