أغر؟´«أ½

Net Front Presence

Blues cap remarkable playoff push, prepare to face Jets

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Post-Dispatch Blues beat reporter Matthew DeFranks joined columnist Jeff Gordon to discuss the team’s charge into the postseason and its chances against Winnipeg.

أغر؟´«أ½ Post-Dispatch

Post-Dispatch Blues beat reporter Matthew DeFranks joined columnist Jeff Gordon to discuss the team’s charge into the postseason and its chances against Winnipeg.

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The NHL announced Wednesday night that the Blues will open the postseason on Saturday night at 5 p.m. CT with Game 1 against the Jets at Canada Life Centre.

It will be the first playoff game across the NHL, and will be televised nationally on TNT. Dallas and Colorado will follow أغر؟´«أ½-Winnipeg at 7:30 p.m. CT.

The league released the entire playoff schedule on Thursday.

Blues-Jets first round schedule

Game 1: Saturday at Winnipeg, 5 p.m.

Game 2: Monday at Winnipeg, 6:30 p.m.

Game 3: Thursday at أغر؟´«أ½, 8:30 p.m.

Game 4: April 27 at أغر؟´«أ½, 12 p.m.

Game 5: April 30 at Winnipeg, TBA

Game 6: May 2 at أغر؟´«أ½, TBA

Game 7: May 4 at Winnipeg, TBA

How one practice hit displayed Pavel Buchnevich's mental reset, post-break resurgence

Much like the Blues themselves, Buchnevich has rebounded since the 4 Nations break to the tune of 23 points in 22 games.آ 

Jets, last road team to win in أغر؟´«أ½, snapped Blues win streak. Next? A first-round series.

Winnipeg finished their season Wednesday with the best record in the NHL, securing the Presidents’ Trophy and the top seed in the Western Conference.

How four qualities led the Blues back to the playoffs for the first time since 2022

The Blues exploded for four goals in the first period and had seven players with multi-point nights to set up a date with league-leading Winnipeg in the first round.

The end result was how the plan was supposed to unfold for Blues general manager Doug Armstrong.

Contend for a playoff spot in the NHL while developing young talent at lower levels. Check, check. But how the Blues got to a postseason berth was not a straight line. Here are some of the moves made by Armstrong that led أغر؟´«أ½ back to the playoffs for the first time since 2022.

Hiring Jim Montgomery

This was the biggest move Armstrong made this season, firing Drew Bannister and hiring Jim Montgomery on Nov. 24 after the Blues started the season 9-12-1. Montgomery was fired by the Bruins less than a week before the Blues scooped him up and signed him to a five-year contract.

Under Montgomery, the Blues defense became one of the best in the NHL. Dylan Holloway produced at a point-per-game pace. Zack Bolduc scored all 19 of his goals this season with Montgomery behind the bench. The power play was top five in the league since the Winter Classic.

The Blues went 35-18-7 under Montgomery, a .642 points percentage that was the eighth-best in the NHL across that time.

Acquiring Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg

In August, Armstrong and the Blues successfully acquired Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg from Edmonton via offer sheets, and the two former first-round picks developed into key contributors this season.

Holloway became one of the Blues’ most dangerous players offensively, putting up 63 points in 77 games to explode past the 18 points he totaled in 89 games with the Oilers. His $2.29 million cap hit became one of the best bargains in the league, as Holloway, Brayden Schenn and Jordan Kyrou formed a potent second line.

Broberg, meanwhile, became a bona fide top-four defenseman and finished the season with 29 points in 68 games. Early on, he was the Blues best defenseman, and he helped steady the أغر؟´«أ½ blue line when Colton Parayko missed 17 games with a knee injury.

Trading for Cam Fowler

When the Blues picked up Cam Fowler from Anaheim in mid-December, no one could have imagined Fowler’s fit in أغر؟´«أ½ would have been this seamless. The Blues traded a 2027 second-round pick and ECHL defenseman Jeremie Biakabutuka to Anaheim for Fowler and a 2027 fourth-round pick on Dec. 14. The Ducks also agreed to retain 38.46% of Fowler’s salary, turning his $6.5 million cap hit into a $4 million one in أغر؟´«أ½.

Since the Blues traded for Fowler, he’s been one of the most productive defensemen in the NHL. His 36 points are ninth among NHL defensemen, and his 28 even-strength points are fifth. In the 51 games with أغر؟´«أ½, Fowler has been on the ice for 56 Blues goals at 5 on 5. No other defenseman in the NHL has been on the ice for more goals for since then, and the Blues are plus-23 with Fowler on the ice at 5 on 5, per Natural Stat Trick.

Fowler will likely skate on the top pairing with Colton Parayko during the playoffs.

Terminating Brandon Saad’s contract

The Blues waived forward Brandon Saad on Jan. 28 during an underwhelming and uneven season in أغر؟´«أ½, and then mutually agreed to terminate his contract two days later. Saad walked away from about $5.425 million to terminate his contract, and the Blues were free of his deal for both this season and next.

At the time, Armstrong said waiving Saad would allow for more ice time for Alexandre Texier, and Texier did play immediately after the Blues moved on from Saad. But the bigger impact was that younger forwards like Zack Bolduc and Dylan Holloway averaged more than a minute more of ice time after Saad’s departure. It’s also worth wondering where Jimmy Snuggerud would have fit in had Saad still been around on the roster.

Standing pat at the trade deadline

The March 7 trade deadline came and went without any moves by the Blues, even though they were one of the most talked about teams entering the deadline. The Blues went 5-1-1 in the seven games before the trade deadline, potentially leading Armstrong not to sell.

Captain Brayden Schenn was in rumors for weeks heading into the deadline, but held a no-trade clause. Neither Schenn nor Armstrong would say whether Schenn was asked to waive it, but Schenn remained in أغر؟´«أ½ nonetheless and led the Blues into a playoff spot.

Cutting ties with fringe players

At different points throughout this season, the Blues have purged their roster of players that weren’t likely to make an impact the rest of the season. They waived forward Kasperi Kapanen on Nov. 18. They sent defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph to Pittsburgh in December and Scott Perunovich to the Islanders in January, both for nothing in return.

But the absences on defense in particular allowed more ice time for Tyler Tucker, and he helped the Blues through Colton Parayko’s absence by absorbing more penalty-killing minutes.

أغر؟´«أ½ Blues

How one practice hit displayed Pavel Buchnevich's mental reset, post-break resurgence

• Matthew DeFranks

أغر؟´«أ½ Blues

Jets, last road team to win in أغر؟´«أ½, snapped Blues win streak. Next? A first-round series.

• Matthew DeFranks

أغر؟´«أ½ Blues

How four qualities led the Blues back to the playoffs for the first time since 2022

• Matthew DeFranks

The hit that could have altered the Blues season was one that was hardly seen at all.

It was Feb. 18, the first day back at practice during the 4 Nations Face-Off break. The Blues were eight points out of a playoff spot. Two of their best players were still playing for Canada. Thinking about the playoffs was only for the optimists.

And on the ice, the Blues got back to work. That meant an hourlong practice — about twice as long as typical in-season sessions — and battles drills to readjust the Blues to the NHL grind. Alexey Toropchenko made sure to welcome Pavel Buchnevich back to the season with a reverse hit in the corner that punctuated a back-and-forth exchange with the two Russians and ended with stick taps and smiles from everyone on the ice, Buchnevich included.

After the practice, Blues coach Jim Montgomery called it “the highlight of practice,â€‌ and he would later say on March 1 that that moment was a turning point when the Blues as a team realized “work equals fun.â€‌

For Buchnevich himself, the hit was an example of just how much the break helped him personally reset. He provided some perspective after the game on Tuesday night.

“You expect from me more, and you doesn’t play good, you start getting inside yourself,â€‌ Buchnevich said. “You not as positive on the ice, around the team. You try to be inside. I feel like that’s how I’ve been before the break. After the break, everybody come happy, make some jokes.

“I try to hit (Toropchenko) a couple times, doesn’t get it. Go for a third one and he hit me. I fell and probably two weeks before that, I will probably snap and do something stupid. But there is everyone laughing, and after that, bring energy and physicality. Good physicality, not to hurt guys, but good physicality in practice. People love it.

“Even lately, (associate coach Steve Ott) commented, â€کLet’s go hit Torpo.’ It’s a fun part, and enjoy it together.â€‌

Much like the Blues themselves, Buchnevich has rebounded since the 4 Nations break to the tune of 23 points in 22 games. Three of his four three-point games were after the break, including Tuesday’s one-goal, two-assist performance in a 6-1 win over Utah.

In the first 54 games of the season, Buchnevich had just 34 points as he struggled to find consistency on the top line alongside Robert Thomas.

“I’m talking about myself, if you struggle, you’re overthinking everything on the ice,â€‌ Buchnevich said. “You’re just thinking stuff what you shouldn’t do. After break, keep it away from your shoulder and start playing like a kid. You love the game, believe in the system and everybody pump you up on the bench, in the locker room. It’s a big help.â€‌

On Tuesday night, Buchnevich set up Brayden Schenn’s first-period goal by springing Jimmy Snuggerud on a breakaway. He scored on a setup by Jake Neighbours that capped a give-and-go with Buchnevich. Then, Buchnevich also assisted on Snuggerud’s goal by shooting a puck to the net-front on the power play to create a scramble.

Buchnevich’s 0.75 points per game across the entire season were his fewest since he arrived in أغر؟´«أ½ in 2021, but he also enters the postseason with six goals in the past eight games.

As for that practice hit back in February?

“I can take it,â€‌ Buchnevich said with a smile. “I can take it.â€‌

Suter cashes in

With the Blues qualifying for the playoffs on Tuesday, defenseman Ryan Suter earned a $500,000 bonus for playing at least 60 games and making the playoffs. It meant Suter maxed out his bonuses — also $225,000 for playing 10 games, $400,000 for playing 30 games, $500,000 for playing 40 games and $600,000 for playing 60 games — with the Blues this season.

Suter earned $775,000 in base salary and an additional $2.225 million in bonuses for $3 million total this season from أغر؟´«أ½. Suter was also being paid $1.433 million by the Stars and $833,333 by the Wild after they both bought him out of contracts.

Dvorsky down

The Blues assigned forward Dalibor Dvorsky to AHL affiliate Springfield (Massachusetts) on Wednesday afternoon, as the Thunderbirds still have two regular-season games remaining. Dvorsky played one game during this stint in the NHL, filling in on the third line April 9 in Edmonton.

Springfield has clinched a playoff berth and is currently lined up to play against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in a best-of-three first-round series.

أغر؟´«أ½ Blues

How four qualities led the Blues back to the playoffs for the first time since 2022

• Matthew DeFranks

Benjamin-hochman

Hochman: With 1st NHL goal, Jimmy Snuggerud earns steak and has stake in Blues’ playoffs

• Benjamin Hochman

أغر؟´«أ½ Blues

Jake Neighbours among four Blues players to play in all 82 games this season

• Matthew DeFranks

The story of this season’s Blues could not be told without involving the Winnipeg Jets.

Who was the team to snap the Blues’ franchise-record 12-game win streak? The Jets.

Who was the last team to beat the Blues inside Enterprise Center, as two months will elapse between that loss and a Game 3 in أغر؟´«أ½? The Jets.

Now, it’s that very same Jets team that the Blues will face in the first round of the playoffs. Winnipeg finished their season Wednesday night with the best record in the NHL, securing the Presidents’ Trophy in addition to the Central Division crown and the top seed in the Western Conference. They entered their season finale with 114 points, which was tied for the most in a season for any Jets team — all three iterations of them.

The Blues went 1-2-1 against the Jets this season, with last week’s 3-1 loss at Canada Life Centre as the most recent game between the two teams. The Jets beat the Blues 3-2 on Oct. 22, the Blues won 4-1 in Winnipeg on Dec. 3 and Winnipeg came back to win 3-2 in a shootout on Feb. 22, the first game back from the 4 Nations Face-Off break.

“You just have to get in, and there’s momentum swings throughout the playoffs,â€‌ Blues captain Brayden Schenn said after Tuesday’s playoff-clinching 6-1 win over Utah. “Just an exciting time. At the same time, everyone looks at Winnipeg and that’s the first-place team in the league. We’ve got a lot of work to do. They’re a good team. They don’t give up much.â€‌

The Blues witnessed that firsthand last week, when the Jets held them to a season-low 15 shots on goal, including just 12 at five on five. أغر؟´«أ½ was dominated in both shot volume (65.7% of shots at five on five belonged to Winnipeg) and shot quality (73.7% of expected goals to Winnipeg), according to Natural Stat Trick, as their win streak was snapped.

But the Blues also submitted one of their best games of the season against the Jets way back in December. It was coach Jim Montgomery’s fourth game behind the Blues bench, and he stopped that day’s morning skate to urge his team for more pace and pride on the ice.

The Blues won 4-1, boosted by a second period in which they outshot the Jets 19-3. The 16-shot difference was the biggest of the season in any period, by either the Blues or their opponent.

The Jets are led by goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who looks likely to win his second straight Vezina Trophy as the league’s best goaltender. He entered Wednesday leading the league in wins (46), save percentage (.924) and shutouts (eight), and was second in goals against average (2.02). According to MoneyPuck, Hellebuyck has saved 37.8 goals above expected, which also leads the league.

But it’s been four years since Hellebuyck has won a playoff series, and in each of his past two postseason appearances, he’s delivered a sub-.900 save percentage. He was toasted by Colorado last year to the tune of a 5.23 GAA in five games. In 2023, he lost the last four games of the series to Vegas by allowing 18 goals in those losses.

There are 11 active goalies that have played 45 career playoff games. Hellebuyck’s .911 save percentage is ninth among them.

In front of Hellebuyck, though, the Jets actually have worse defensive numbers than the Blues in a number of categories per hour at five on five, including shot attempts, shots, expected goals and high-danger chances, per Natural Stat Trick.

Forward Kyle Connor had a career season with 96 points (entering Wednesday), topping 40 goals for the second time in his career. Mark Scheifele’s 86 points were also a career-high for him. Josh Morrissey’s 61 points were tied for eighth among NHL defensemen.

The Jets will be without forward Nikolaj Ehlers (63 points in 69 games) as he was announced as week-to-week on Tuesday due to a lower-body injury following a collision with an official.

“All teams are good, and we’re one of them,â€‌ Buchnevich said. “We got some streak going before, 11, 12 games in a row, make some noise in the league. I feel like some teams scared of us.â€‌

Schenn: “It’s going to be an exciting series, and we’re looking forward to the challenge.â€‌

أغر؟´«أ½ Blues

How four qualities led the Blues back to the playoffs for the first time since 2022

• Matthew DeFranks

Benjamin-hochman

Hochman: With 1st NHL goal, Jimmy Snuggerud earns steak and has stake in Blues’ playoffs

• Benjamin Hochman

أغر؟´«أ½ Blues

Jake Neighbours among four Blues players to play in all 82 games this season

• Matthew DeFranks

Get your questions ready and join in at 1 p.m. Wednesday for our weekly Blues chat.

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