Faksa remains out; Sundqvist in for Texier; Blues want, need to build better home record, hope for repeat start in rematch with Devils

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues were hopeful of getting another body back against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday but it will have to wait at least one more game.

Forward Radek Faksa will miss his fourth straight game with a lower-body injury sustained in the third period of a 4-3 overtime win against the Vancouver Canucks on Dec. 10.

It was the result of a skate blade cut near the groin area, but after skating on Tuesday morning, the Blues (15-14-3) have decided to wait.

"He's getting closer," Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. A real good sign today."

With Faksa still out, Nathan Walker will stay at center on the fourth line and get Brandon Saad there.

Oskar Sundqvist will come back in after being a healthy scratch and go in for Alexandre Texier.

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The Blues have certainly played better under Montgomery, going 6-2-2 in 10 games and have shored up a number of areas, but one area that needs shoring up is the home record.

The Blues are just 6-7-1 at Enterprise Center after a 3-2 win against the New York Rangers on Sunday and would like to continue to build on home ice. They're 1-2-0 under Montgomery.

"Home record's not where we want to be," Blues center Robert Thomas said. "Really important for us, especially in front of our fans. We want to play harder and obviously get results. That's what we all need at the end of the day. We've had a ton of road games lately and we've done really well so we're trying to bring that back home.

"Whenever you can go on the road and win consistently like we have in the last 8-10 games, that builds a lot of momentum for your team. It would be nice if we get a 4-5 game homestand to bring it home to carry that momentum. That'll come at some point in our schedule. The road games are harder to win. So when you can get that kind of momentum going, it's exciting."

But if the Blues want to be a playoff team, "You've got to win at home," Thomas said.

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The Blues have been one of only 33 games this season in which the Devils (20-10-3) have lost in regulation. They won 3-0 in Newark on Nov. 27 when Jordan Binnington, tonight's starter, set the record for most Blues wins by a goalie.

"Real good start, the three goals quickly, bad second period; 'Binner' was fantastic, broke [Mike] Liut's record," Montgomery said. "Third period I liked. We came out and we checked well, played with a lead.

"(Devils have) speed, and they play well. They track back, they defend their own zone well, they attack your net well. It's a good hockey team, it's a good challenge for us."

The Blues jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period before settling in for the win, absorbing the Devils' push.

"I think the start's the biggest thing," Thomas said. "They took it to us for two periods after that and we were able to hold on. If we get off to a huge start, it'll be good for us tonight."

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Blues Projected Lineup:

Jake Neighbours-Robert Thomas-Pavel Buchnevich

Alexey Toropchenko-Brayden Schenn-Jordan Kyrou

Dylan Holloway-Oskar Sundqvist-Zack Bolduc

Brandon Saad-Nathan Walker-Mathieu Joseph

Cam Fowler-Colton Parayko

Philip Broberg-Justin Faulk

Ryan Suter-Scott Perunovich

Jordan Binnington will start in goal; Joel Hofer will be the backup.

Healhy scratches include Alexandre Texier and Pierre-Olivier Joseph. Nick Leddy (lower body) and Radek Faksa (lower body) are out.

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Devils Projected Lineup:

Ondrej Palat-Jack Hughes-Jesper Bratt

Timo Meier-Nico Hischier-Dawson Mercer

Paul Cotter-Erik Haula-Stefan Noesen

Tomas Tatar-Curtis Lazar-Nathan Bastian

Brenden Dillon-Dougie Hamilton

Jonas Siegenthaler-Johnathan Kovacevic

Luke Hughes-Brett Pesce

Jacob Markstrom will start in goal; Jake Allen will be the backup.

Healthy scratches include Kurtis MacDermid, Justin Dowling and Colton White. The Devils report no injuries.