Changes on the way to Blues’ lineup following loss in Winnipeg – St. Louis Post-Dispatch
CALGARY, Alberta — Changes are coming to the Blues’ lineup, following a 4-2 loss in Winnipeg on Tuesday night.
During practice on Wednesday afternoon in Calgary, the Blues shook up their bottom two forward lines, and their bottom defensive pair. Jakub Vrana and Sammy Blais skated on a line centered by Oskar Sundqvist. Alexey Toropchenko and Jake Neighbours were wingers on a line with Kevin Hayes in the middle.
On defense, Robert Bortuzzo skated alongside Marco Scandella, while Tyler Tucker was with Scott Perunovich.
Asked after practice about the potential changes, Blues coach Craig Berube wouldn’t confirm them but said “we’ll make a couple changes tomorrow” against the Flames. On Bortuzzo entering the lineup for the first time this season, Berube said, “Maybe, I don’t know yet.”
Blues forward Jakub Vrana (15) scores against Coyotes goalie Matt Villalta in a mock shootout following a preseason game Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, at Enterprise Center.
The top two lines remained the same as they were against the Jets. Brandon Saad, Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou were on the top line, with Pavel Buchnevich, Brayden Schenn and Kasperi Kapanen on the second line.
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The top-four defensemen also remained the same, as Nick Leddy was with Colton Parayko and Torey Krug with Justin Faulk.
The potential changes come after the Blues (2-2-1) registered a season-low 20 shots on goal and failed to score at five on five in Winnipeg. Buchnevich scored on a power play, while Thomas tallied after the Blues pulled Jordan Binnington.
The Jets scored twice in an 18-second span in the second period to grab control of the game, capitalizing on a pair of Blues mistakes in the defensive zone that left players unchecked in the slot.
“You go into Winnipeg and you get out of the first period 0-0, pretty good shape,” Berube said. “I just thought in the second, we made a couple mistakes and they scored. That’s puts you back on your heels a little bit.”
Buchnevich’s goal gave the Blues life entering second intermission, but Kyle Connor’s eventual game-winning goal in the third period left a sour taste in Berube’s mouth. It came at four on four following Vrana’s interference penalty while on a Blues power play, after Leddy turned the puck over in his own zone and as Binnington played the backdoor pass instead of Connor’s shot.
“In the end, the third period, we’re down a goal, we need to make a bigger push,” Berube said. “That four-on-four goal, that hurt. Can’t make that mistake. … You’re going to play in close, those mistakes kill you. We’ve got to clean them up.”
After taking the interference penalty, Vrana only played one more shift the rest of the game, a 41-second shift when he was released from the penalty box. He did not see the ice in the final 13:18 of the game and was removed from the second power play unit.
Blues defenseman Robert Bortuzzo shoots the puck in the first period during a game against the Kings at Enterprise Center on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022.
“He’s got to play better,” Berube said. “There’s not enough going on.”
Vrana has one goal and two assists on the season, and his three points are behind only Thomas’ four points on the Blues. But on Tuesday night, when Vrana was on the ice at five on five, the Blues were caved in. The Jets had substantial advantages in shot attempts (9-1) and shots on goal (6-1). Both were the worst ratios on the team against Winnipeg.
In his career, Vrana has been one of the best goal scorers on a per-minute basis but has not contributed to other areas of the game when he’s not scoring goals.
“One hundred percent,” Berube said. “Just can’t wait for opportunities and be an opportunistic player to score goals. There’s got to be more. There’s got to be more.”
Bortuzzo has spent all five games this season as a healthy scratch but could be replacing the 23-year-old Tucker in the lineup against the Flames after Tucker was on the ice for both second-period goals against.
