Observations from Blues' 3-0 Win vs. Sabres
The St. Louis Blues rebounded strongly after a poor performance against the Washington Capitals by shutting out the Buffalo Sabres 3-0 at KeyBank Center on Thursday. The team responded well to the coach’s tough decision to healthy-scratch one of their key players, Jordan Kyrou.
Key Performances
- Joel Hofer stood out with his first shutout of the season and the third of his career.
- Secondary scoring came from Mathieu Joseph and Nick Bjugstad, contributing significantly to the victory.
- The fourth line and Justin Faulk also delivered strong performances.
Coaching Decisions and Accountability
Blues coach Jim Montgomery made the surprising move to bench Jordan Kyrou and Oskar Sundqvist as healthy scratches, with Kyrou’s absence being the most notable. Additionally, Robert Thomas was reportedly benched for the final 9:18 of the second period. Montgomery emphasized holding all players accountable, regardless of status.
"It’s holding players accountable, no matter who it is."
Team Mindset and Recovery
After their dismal Wednesday game, the Blues demonstrated determination by attending a morning skate before facing the Sabres. Montgomery demanded more effort, energy, and competitiveness from his players, which was clearly visible in their improved play.
"Montgomery wanted guys digging in, life, juice, compete and battle from his players and got it."
With this win, the Blues improved their record to 5-8-2. Depending on perspective, it was either two wins in three games or just their second win in the past ten games (2-6-2).
Summary
The Blues showcased resilience and team accountability, overcoming a tough prior loss through disciplined coaching and strong individual contributions.
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