Game Day: More lineup changes expected for Blues as they host Craig Berube, Maple Leafs
The Blues will once again make wholesale changes to their forward lines ahead of Saturday night's game against the Maple Leafs.
All four forward lines are expected to be different vs. Toronto than they were in a 2-1 loss in Philadelphia on Thursday night. On defense, Pierre-Olivier Joseph will return to the lineup in place of Scott Perunovich.
Jordan Binnington will start in goal.
The Blues will still be without Kasperi Kapanen (upper-body), Nick Leddy (lower-body) and Mathieu Joseph (lower-body).
Former Blues coach Craig Berube will make his return to 最新杏吧原创 on Saturday night.
Projected Blues lineup on Saturday vs. Toronto, 6 p.m.
Brandon Saad - Pavel Buchnevich - Jake Neighbours
Dylan Holloway - Brayden Schenn - Jordan Kyrou
Alexey Toropchenko - Radek Faksa - Zack Bolduc
Alexandre Texier - Oskar Sundqvist - Nathan Walker
Ryan Suter - Colton Parayko
Philip Broberg - Justin Faulk
Pierre-Olivier Joseph - Matthew Kessel
Jordan Binnington
Joel Hofer
Scratches: Scott Perunovich, Kasperi Kapanen (upper-body), Mathieu Joseph (lower-body).
Injured reserve: Nick Leddy (lower-body), Robert Thomas (fractured ankle), Torey Krug (ankle surgery).
With his assist during Thursday night鈥檚 2-1 loss in Philadelphia, Broberg notched his ninth point of the season, surpassing his previous best of eight points set two years ago with the Oilers.
The Blues selected Burns in the third round of the 2023 draft.
Joseph, Kessel, Perunovich? Blues keep looking for right mix on third pairing
The carousel on the Blues鈥 third defensive pairing continues to spin.
When Pierre-Olivier Joseph went back in the lineup on Saturday night against the Maple Leafs, it marked the third straight game (and the fourth time in the last five games) that the Blues have changed their third defensive pairing as they rotates Joseph, Matthew Kessel and Scott Perunovich in and out of the lineup.
On Saturday night, it was Perunovich鈥檚 turn to sit as a healthy scratch as Joseph and Kessel were together in the Blues鈥 4-2 victory.
鈥淚 think all three of them have played some real good games, really strong games for us,鈥 Blues coach Drew Bannister said. 鈥淚 think it just comes down to consistency and grabbing that job so we don鈥檛 feel like we have to rotate those players in and out. Whether it鈥檚 Scotty or P.O or 鈥楰ess,鈥 I think, at times, they鈥檝e played very well for us.鈥
Blues defenseman Matthew Kessel, left, disrupts Jets center Adam Lowry in a game on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, at Enterprise Center.
Christian Gooden, Post-Dispatch
Perunovich played three of the four games on the most recent trip, but was on the ice for three goals against and in the penalty box for another. On Thursday in Philadelphia, Ryan Poehling split Kessel and Perunovich before dishing off to Garnet Hathaway for an early Flyers goal.
Joseph was out of the lineup against the Flyers after eating a minus-4 rating in the Blues鈥 8-1 loss to the Senators on Tuesday night. It was Joseph鈥檚 first scratch after playing in six consecutive games.
Kessel, meanwhile, was scratched for the first two games of the trip, in Toronto and Montreal, but played in Ottawa and Philadelphia.
鈥淓ven going back to last year, how well 鈥楰ess鈥 played for us,鈥 Bannister said. 鈥淧.O how he had a great training camp for us and earned ice time. Scotty not getting the ability to play early on in the season for us and then coming into Toronto and having an outstanding game and earning more ice time. I think when they get those opportunities, they play well, they have to make sure as a group, they follow it up.鈥
Overall, each player is different. Kessel is more of a physical defenseman who can make plays with the puck, but isn鈥檛 asked to do much offensively. Joseph is a long, lanky defenseman who can skate well and break up plays. Perunovich is an undersized, offense-first defenseman that is often used on the power play when he is in the lineup.
鈥淎ll three of the players bring a certain quality to their game that is different,鈥 Bannister said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what we鈥檙e looking for is bringing their best game and what they can bring to the team.鈥
In a small sample size, Perunovich had the best underlying numbers of the three of them entering play Saturday, as the Blues had controlled 58.82% of shot attempts, 60.87% of shots on goal and 51.95% of expected goals when Perunovich was on the ice at 5 on 5. But he鈥檚 often looked hesitant while defending, and hadn鈥檛 notched a point in his three games.
Joseph and Kessel, meanwhile, are much more active in getting pucks towards the net. Joseph (11.17 attempts per hour at 5 on 5) and Kessel (10.97) were second and third among Blues defensemen in shot attempts, while Perunovich (1.91) was an outlier the other way.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just consistency from game to game from all three,鈥 Bannister said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e three very good defenders that can really help our team out and we鈥檙e going need them moving forward.鈥
All three players should be fighting for a chance to stick in the lineup, because the back end is likely to change whenever Nick Leddy is ready to play again.
Injury updates
The Blues again were without forwards Kasperi Kapanen (upper-body) and Mathieu Joseph (lower-body), and defenseman Nick Leddy (lower-body) on Saturday night.
Kapanen skated during a very optional Blues morning skate but missed his second game after being injured on Tuesday in Ottawa.
Joseph has not played since last Saturday in Montreal, when he suffered an injury that forced him to be sent back to 最新杏吧原创 for further evaluation. Bannister said the MRI results were promising, and Joseph is labeled as day-to-day.
Leddy will miss his eighth straight game. He was on the trip to practice with the Blues but was sent home during it for more treatment back in 最新杏吧原创.
鈥淯ntil they can really participate in a practice, I don鈥檛 see them being ready until we see them out with the group and playing with contact,鈥 Bannister said.
Blues defenseman Philip Broberg continues torrid offensive start, moves up to top power play
Friday was the first day in November, and Blues defenseman Philip Broberg already has set a career high.
With his assist in the team鈥檚 2-1 loss Thursday night in Philadelphia, Broberg notched his ninth point of the season, surpassing his previous best of eight points set two years ago with the Oilers. He is tied for the team lead with nine points through the first 11 games.
Broberg collected the puck inside the Flyers鈥 zone close to the right half-wall, protected it from defenders and whirled a shot on Philadelphia goaltender Samuel Ersson. Ersson kicked it out to his right, where Nathan Walker was ready to pounce.
鈥淛ust trying to take it into the zone, got it back and just sling it to the net,鈥 Broberg said. 鈥淎 lucky bounce and it went into the net.鈥
Blues defenseman Philip Broberg, left, is challenged by Minnesota鈥檚 Brock Faber as he pushes the puck across the blue line in a game on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, at Enterprise Center.
Zachary Linhares, Post-Dispatch
Broberg (two goals, seven assists) has been a revelation for the Blues during his opening month with them after he was acquired this summer when Edmonton did not match general manager Doug Armstrong鈥檚 two-year offer sheet.
Now, he鈥檒l get more opportunity at the top of the first power-play unit. That鈥檚 where he practiced Friday afternoon with Justin Faulk in the left circle, Jordan Kyrou in the slot, Pavel Buchnevich in the right circle and Jake Neighbours at the net-front.
鈥淐ertainly seen a lot of growth in his game on the power play,鈥 Blues coach Drew Bannister said of Broberg. 鈥淎gain, the lack of success that we鈥檝e had on the power play, we felt like we have to make a few changes. As much as it is simplifying it a little bit more and getting our guys to shoot more pucks. Sometimes, that鈥檚 an easy way to get out of things. As a group, we can be more in the mindset of shooting pucks and not looking for the perfect play.鈥
The Blues rank 23rd in the league on the power play, and the top unit has not scored a goal in three weeks.
With the promotion to the top power-play unit, perhaps Broberg could be in line for more ice time in 6-on- 5 situations. In Philadelphia on Thursday, Broberg did not play in the final 2:24 of the third period.
鈥淎t the end of the day, I think the 6-on-5 situation is a little bit of a feel of guys who have had success in the past,鈥 Bannister said. 鈥淚 go back to we鈥檝e seen growth in his game on the power play where maybe that wasn鈥檛 the opportunity he had in Edmonton and he鈥檚 still feeling it out. But certainly see positive progress in him and the plays he鈥檚 making, the way he鈥檚 playing 5 on 5.鈥
Broberg opened the season with a six-game point streak. That was the longest streak by a defenseman to begin his Blues career, and tied the longest streak by a defenseman (Steve Duchesne in 1997-98).
Only six NHL defensemen entered Friday with more points than Broberg.
鈥淚 think I鈥檓 feeling comfortable,鈥 he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 just looking to help the team in any way I can.鈥
The Broberg-Faulk pairing has played the fourth-most time at 5 on 5 in the NHL and have only been on the ice for three goals against. That鈥檚 the fewest for any pair with at least 140 minutes, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Kyrou still in drought
Blues forward Jordan Kyrou鈥檚 goal drought reached 10 games when he went scoreless Thursday. Kyrou finished the game with nine shot attempts, which included two posts hit during his first shift of the second period.
The 10-game drought is the fourth-longest of his NHL career, and longest since he went 10 games without a goal in November and December last season. During the 10 games since he scored twice in the season opener in Seattle, Kyrou has seven assists.
鈥淐an鈥檛 get any closer than hitting the post, right?鈥 Kyrou said. 鈥淛ust got to keep shooting and they鈥檙e going to go in here soon.鈥
Since Oct. 9, Kyrou is the only forward in the league that has at least 30 shots on goal but zero goals.
There are 63 forwards with at least 50 shot attempts in that same span. Only Kyrou (59 attempts) and Cutter Gauthier (65 attempts) have not scored in that time.
Kyrou had a season-high 10 shot attempts Saturday in Montreal.
鈥淭he only way to do that is to keep shooting the puck and getting those chances in the slot,鈥 Kyrou said. 鈥淛ust keep ripping 鈥檈m.鈥
When factoring in Kyrou鈥檚 shot quality and his historical shooting talent, analytics site MoneyPuck estimates Kyrou should have scored 1.8 more goals at this point of the season.
鈥淚 like the fact that he鈥檚 shooting the puck,鈥 Bannister said. 鈥淚 think that鈥檚 something we need to see more from our team. Eventually, one inch one way or the other, that puck goes in the net.
鈥淚 think Jordan has the right mentality that shooting the puck is the way to get himself out of this. I don鈥檛 think overpassing or overthinking things (helps).鈥
Berube returns
Former Blues coach Craig Berube, now guiding the Toronto Maple Leafs, returns Saturday night to Enterprise Center with his team.
The Blues are expected to honor Berube, the only coach in franchise history to win the Stanley Cup.
The Blues scored four total goals in their three losses to Montreal, Ottawa and Philadelphia, forcing them to be perfect in other aspects of the game in order to even try to come away with points.
KINGSTON, Ontario 鈥 Quinton Burns wears his game on his face.
Not in a grimace or a scowl, a smile nor a laugh. On this October Friday night, the stitches tell the story of Burns鈥 game playing for Kingston in the Ontario Hockey League. There are eight stitches on his chin, the receipt for blocking a shot that rode up to his face. There are a handful more on the bridge of his nose, the result of the first of two fights Burns got into against Oshawa.
Burns is just fine with his rough-and-tumble style of play. And so are the Blues.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the right way to play hockey,鈥 Burns said to the Post-Dispatch.
鈥淚 think that鈥檚 how you make it to the next level and something you have to keep if you want to keep climbing the ladder. Just comes from within myself, the way I was raised. I鈥檝e always had it, I think.鈥
The Blues selected Burns in the third round of the 2023 draft, taking the physical defenseman with one of their 18 picks across the last two drafts. Burns, listed at 6 feet 2 and 199 pounds, brought his hard-nosed game to the ice against Oshawa, racking up a minor for a check to the head, a minor for elbowing, two fighting majors and a 10-minute misconduct.
While the OHL does not count 10-minute misconducts in its official stats, Burns鈥 14 PIMs that night are part of his league-leading 34 penalty minutes.
The Blues鈥 Quinton Burns, right, controls the puck in a game between their prospects and those of the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights.
Laurie Skrivan, Post-Dispatch
鈥淎t the end of the day, hockey is still an intimidating sport,鈥 Blues assistant general manager Tim Taylor said.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e trying to intimidate their better players not to play their best. How do you do that? By being physical and get them uncomfortable, so to speak.
鈥淲hen you allow good players to be comfortable, they鈥檙e good players. When you don鈥檛, that鈥檚 what a guy like Burns can do.鈥
Getting scrappy
Against Oshawa, Burns laid out Beckett Sennecke (No. 3 pick by Anaheim in this summer鈥檚 draft) as he came from behind the Kingston net, forcing one of Sennecke鈥檚 teammates to stick up for him. In the second period, Burns caught Zackary Sandhu with an elbow up high while defending the rush. They dropped the gloves on the way to the penalty box.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to be taking penalties, but I鈥檓 going to stick up for myself and stick up for my teammates,鈥 Burns said. 鈥淚 was just trying to get us life there. I was just trying to get some energy going after we got off to a rocky start. Obviously, I don鈥檛 want to be in the box and be undisciplined, but stuff like that is going to happen.鈥
Those are Burns鈥 only fights of this season, but he had nine previously in his OHL career. Burns also had a fight during the Blues prospect tournament in September, and another during his only NHL preseason game in Dallas.
Kingston coach Troy Mann said that one of the areas for improvement with Burns is his discipline. Mann referenced a recent play when Burns was whistled for cross-checking while killing a penalty, but officials also called an Erie player for slashing.
鈥淲as it a generous call to even it up?鈥 Mann asked. 鈥淧otentially. But those moments, he鈥檚 got to understand, 鈥業鈥檓 out here killing a penalty. I can鈥檛 take a cross-checking penalty here. As much as I want to be physical in front of the net and battle and get this guy out of the way so my goalie can see the next shot, there is a fine line there.鈥 So little things like that. Those are the detail moments where you鈥檙e not trying to take the edge out of his game, but just that fine line.鈥
In the Blues鈥 system, Burns provides an element that is different from first-round drafted defensemen such as Theo Lindstein or Adam Jiricek, or even current AHLer Michael Buchinger. So they are just fine with him toeing the line between intimidating and in the box.
Blues prospect Quinton Burns, right, practices on Monday, July 1, 2024, at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights .
Allie Schallert, Post-Dispatch
鈥淚n all honesty, a coach wants him on the ice because he scares guys and he changes complexions of hockey games,鈥 Taylor said. 鈥淔or us, he鈥檚 not with us yet, we just want him to go like a mad man and do everything he possibly can to get better. At the same time, we want him to develop.鈥
Learning curve
While his offensive skillset will likely not be his calling at the next level in the AHL or the NHL, Burns still entered the weekend with 13 assists in 13 games. Burns quarterbacks the Frontenacs鈥 second power play unit, but only two of his helpers are on the man advantage.
In the defensive zone, Mann said Burns鈥 skating allows him to spend less time hemmed in.
鈥淥nce he gets to the American League level, I think he鈥檚 going to learn that pretty quickly that his job as a defenseman is to use his feet, but at the same time move the puck to the forwards and let them do their jobs as well,鈥 Mann said.
Burns said he鈥檚 been working with Blues development coach Glen Wesley on his game and said the Blues have preached simplicity.
鈥淭hey want me to be simple,鈥 Burns said. 鈥淭hey want me to move the puck very quickly, and that鈥檚 something I鈥檝e been working on and trying to do is puck on and off your stick, making a good first pass. That鈥檚 the biggest thing for development is defending well and making a good first pass.鈥
Burns, 19, has a chance to make the Canadian World Juniors team because, in part, he does bring a different element to the team than other top-rated Canadian defensemen. He attended Team Canada鈥檚 World Junior Summer Showcase this year and figures to be a bubble player to participate in the WJC.
In the last two years, 14 Canadian defensemen have been selected in the first two rounds of the NHL draft. The Blues like that the thought of making the Canadian roster is a carrot dangling in front of Burns.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not really on my mind,鈥 Burns said. 鈥淥bviously, it鈥檚 in the back of your head, but I鈥檓 very focused on this team right now and doing whatever I can to help here. You worry about this, good things will happen.鈥
Burns also is captaining Kingston this season, one of two Blues prospects wearing the 鈥淐鈥 for their OHL team (Lukas Fischer in Sarnia is the other one). Burns said he prefers to lead by example, and Mann said he liked Burns鈥 competitive drive and desire to win.
鈥淰oices can get old fast, so I think just the more you show it in practice and in games, it鈥檚 the way to lead,鈥 Burns said.
Mann: 鈥淗e鈥檚 not at the pro level, but I would say he鈥檚 a good pro already in terms of body maintenance and doing the right things to at least give him a chance to be successful. And that鈥檚 what I love about him the most.鈥
The Blues already signed Burns to an entry-level contract, and he is expected to turn pro next season, likely with AHL affiliate Springfield.
鈥溾楤urnsie鈥 knows what he鈥檚 all about already, so it鈥檚 good,鈥 Taylor said.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a defined player at that checking role. The sooner they figure it out, the better they grasp the pro game.鈥
Slumping Blues provide themselves with little margin for error in loss to Flyers
PHILADELPHIA 鈥 The standings have provided little cushion, and the scoreboard little give for the Blues in the opening month of the regular season. As the Blues dropped their third straight game with a 2-1 loss to the Flyers on Thursday night, the margins shrunk even more.
The Blues scored four total goals in their three losses to Montreal, Ottawa and Philadelphia, forcing them to be perfect in other aspects of the game in order to even try to come away with points. They, of course, have not been perfect.
鈥淵eah, it is tough, but that鈥檚 the way it is when you鈥檙e in a position like we are where we haven鈥檛 played well,鈥 Blues coach Drew Bannister said. 鈥淭he mistakes are amplified and it鈥檚 not easy to get out of these little slumps. We鈥檝e got to work for it.鈥
On Thursday night, a Jordan Kyrou turnover in the neutral zone led to Bobby Brink鈥檚 game-winning goal with 3:01 left in the third period. Kyrou carried the puck towards the red line before overskating it, sending Scott Laughton the other way. Laughton touched the puck to Brink, who executed a give and go with Joel Farabee while crashing into the net.
An error eliminated whatever space there was left to work with, and the Blues ended their road trip 1-3-0.
鈥淚 just had the puck, I just tried to skate with it a little,鈥 Kyrou said. 鈥淚t kind of hopped on me, and I should have just been more direct there.鈥
Bannister: 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 just recognition of, one, the score of the game and the ice, too. The ice is getting bad at the end of the game. You just have to make a simpler play and just get it in. We were having success putting pucks behind their D and getting it back. Things were happening for us in the offensive zone at that time.鈥
Nathan Walker scored the only goal of the game for the Blues, tying it up at 1 about midway through the third period. Walker cashed in on a rebound generated by Philip Broberg鈥檚 shot after Broberg protected the puck in the offensive zone.
Jordan Binnington made 19 saves, and was beat in the first period by Garnet Hathaway on the rush.
For the first time this season, the Blues own a losing record, even if it was 鈥渁 step in the right direction鈥 from the losses in Montreal and Ottawa, as Broberg said.
鈥淥ur compete level was a lot higher," Bannister said. "We won more puck battles. We were getting to the interior. We put a lot of pucks to the net and credit to them, they were able to block a lot and we missed some pretty good opportunities.鈥
The Blues had 28 shots blocked on Thursday night, the most of the season and the most since 最新杏吧原创 had 29 blocked in March 鈥 also in Philadelphia.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e a good shot-blocking team, but at the end of the day, we鈥檝e got to get shots through and get them through the goalie,鈥 Walker said. 鈥淚 think that鈥檒l create rebounds, which will obviously create chances, which leads to goals. It鈥檚 probably something we鈥檒l bring up.鈥
Bannsiter said the Flyers 鈥渞eally collapsed鈥 in the defensive zone to make life difficult for the Blues.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not from a lack of trying,鈥 Bannister said. 鈥淲hen there鈥檚 a lot of bodies there, it can hit and go one way. It just didn鈥檛 seem to bounce our way right now.鈥
Thursday night more closely resembled the team鈥檚 performance to begin the road trip in Toronto than it did the previous two games, when they were outscored 13-3.
最新杏吧原创 controlled 59.4% of the game鈥檚 shot attempts at 5 on 5, its second-highest share of the season. It allowed a season-low 21 shots on goal and surrendered just six high-danger chances, according to Natural Stat Trick. The penalty kill was a perfect 3 for 3.
The indicators were there for at least a point. Instead, zero.
Hathaway scored at 11:12 of the first period, benefitting from Ryan Poehling鈥檚 work transporting the puck through the Blues. Poehling evaded both Jake Neighbours and Pavel Buchnevich in the neutral zone, and then split Matthew Kessel and Scott Perunovich. Hathaway, meanwhile, beat a coasting Alexandre Texier to the front of the Blues net.
Walker scored in his return to the lineup after he was a healthy scratch for four straight games, jumping onto the ice for Zack Bolduc, and heading straight to the net. Broberg鈥檚 shot from the right wing ricocheted off Samuel Ersson鈥檚 left pad and to Walker.
鈥淚t was a great play,鈥 Walker said. 鈥淗e just made a great read, taking it back in the zone. It was a good change too b Boldy as well, putting me in a good spot. Broby kind of looked at me when he shot it off the goalie鈥檚 pad and he did that with a purpose. That鈥檚 a very smart hockey play by him and I was just fortunate enough that the puck didn鈥檛 bounce off my stick.鈥
That set up Brink鈥檚 goal as the game-clinching one.
鈥淲e had a hard-fought game,鈥 Kyrou said. 鈥淕reat goal by Walks鈥 line got us back in it. I could have just been more direct there.鈥
The Blues offense 鈥 currently without top-line center Robert Thomas 鈥 ranks as a below-average one through the opening 11 games. According to Natural Stat Trick, per hour at 5 on 5, the Blues rank 22nd in shot attempts, 21st in shots, 24th in expected goals, 15th in scoring chances and 18th in high-danger chances. They are 22nd in goals scored.
鈥淚t鈥檚 tough,鈥 Kyrou said. 鈥淚 think we鈥檙e definitely fighting it a little bit right now. We鈥檝e just got to stay with it and just keep going and we鈥檝e got to grind.鈥
最新杏吧原创 isn鈥檛 helped by a power play that ranks towards the bottom of the league and went 0 for 2 on Thursday night. The Blues (15.4%) are 23rd in the NHL, and produce the third-least amount of shots (per hour) on the power play in the league.
And the skinny numbers on the board leave the Blues with a thin target to hit.
鈥淚 think we played pretty good today, and obviously would like to win the game,鈥 Broberg said. 鈥淟ike I said, you鈥檝e just got to regroup. 鈥 I know this group will come back even stronger for next game.鈥
St Louis Blues' Jordan Binnington knocks away the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Philadelphia.
Chris Szagola - freelancer, ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Flyers鈥 Tyson Foerster, left, skates the puck away from the Blues鈥 Brayden Schenn, right, during the second period Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Philadelphia.
Chris Szagola , ASSOCIATED PRESS
Blues goalie Jordan Binnington, right, knocks away the puck from the Flyers鈥 Ryan Poehling during the second period Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Philadelphia.
Chris Szagola, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Philadelphia Flyers mascot Gritty comes out as Dorothy from "The Wizard of Oz" ahead of the first period of an NHL hockey game against the St Louis Blues, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Philadelphia.
Chris Szagola - freelancer, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Philadelphia Flyers' Garnet Hathaway, second from right, celebrates his goal with teammates against St Louis Blues' Jordan Binnington, left, during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Philadelphia.
Chris Szagola - freelancer, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Philadelphia Flyers' Samuel Ersson, left, makes the save on the shot by St Louis Blues' Jordan Kyrou, center, during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Philadelphia.
Chris Szagola - freelancer, ASSOCIATED PRESS
St Louis Blues' Nathan Walker, center, celebrates his goal with teammates during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Philadelphia. The Flyers won 2-1.
Chris Szagola - freelancer, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Philadelphia Flyers' Samuel Ersson, left, makes the save against St Louis Blues' Jake Neighbours, right, during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Philadelphia. The Flyers won 2-1.
Chris Szagola - freelancer, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Philadelphia Flyers' Samuel Ersson, left, celebrates the win with Travis Sanheim, right, after an NHL hockey game against the St Louis Blues, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Philadelphia. The Flyers won 2-1.
Chris Szagola - freelancer, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Philadelphia Flyers' Samuel Ersson, left, unable to stop the shot by St Louis Blues' Nathan Walker, right, for a goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Philadelphia. The Flyers won 2-1.
Chris Szagola - freelancer, ASSOCIATED PRESS
St Louis Blues' Brayden Schenn looks on while taking a knee on the ice during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Philadelphia. The Flyers won 2-1.
Chris Szagola - freelancer, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Philadelphia Flyers' Samuel Ersson, left, celebrates the win with Travis Konecny right, after an NHL hockey game against the St Louis Blues, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Philadelphia. The Flyers won 2-1.
Chris Szagola - freelancer, ASSOCIATED PRESS
'Our mindset has to be that we're going to win games 1-0,' Blues coach Drew Bannister says
'All 20 guys need to pull in the same direction': Bannister talks on Blues' success and mistakes so far this season
