Projected Lineup: Oct. 31 at Philadelphia
Following a lopsided and disappointing loss to the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night, Blues Head Coach Drew Bannister is making a bunch of changes to the lineup for Thursday’s matchup with the Philadelphia Flyers (6 p.m. CT, FanDuel Sports Network, 101 ESPN).
“We can’t go back with the same old, so that was the thought process of moving guys around,” Bannister said following Wednesday’s practice in Philadelphia. “Get some workers and some shooters on a line.”
Every forward line combination is expected to be different on Thursday as the Blues look to wrap up a four-game road trip with a win, which would give them a .500 road trip.
Lineup changes include Pavel Buchnevich now centering a top line of Alexandre Texier and Jake Neighbours, while Dylan Holloway moves up to the second-line center position between Brandon Saad and Jordan Kyrou. Holloway is tied with Jake Neighbours for the team lead with four goals through 10 games.
Other changes include Brayden Schenn moving to the wing on a new-look third line with Radek Faksa and Zack Bolduc, while Nathan Walker draws back into the lineup for the first time Oct. 19 in place of Kasperi Kapanen, who left Tuesday’s game with an upper-body injury and is considered day to day.
Scott Perunovich returns to the third defense pair with Matthew Kessel, replacing P.O Joseph.
“Early on, it’s going to be important for us to come out and settle ourselves into the game right away,” Bannister said. “We’ve forced our game, I think. We have to value our work more than our skill early on in the game, and I think the skill will take over as the game goes on. But work. It’s got to be work in the first period.”
PROJECTED LINEUP
Forwards
Alexandre Texier – Pavel Buchnevich – Jake Neighbours
Brandon Saad – Dylan Holloway – Jordan Kyrou
Brayden Schenn – Radek Faksa – Zack Bolduc
Alexey Toropchenko – Oskar Sundqvist – Nathan Walker
Defense
Ryan Suter – Colton Parayko
Philip Broberg – Justin Faulk
Scott Perunovich – Matthew Kessel
Goalie
Jordan Binnington