Blues need to run it back if they are serious about gaining ground; Neighbours a game time decision after leaving practice early Wednesday but took part in morning skate; Bolduc will go back in for Texier; Saad could be a healthy scratch
ST. LOUIS – Jake Neighbours is officially a game time decision for the St. Louis Blues (21-20-4) in their rematch against the Calgary Flames (21-15-7) on Thursday (7 p.m.; FDSNMW, ESPN 101.1-FM).
Neighbours left practice on Wednesday with an upper-body injury, what coach Jim Montgomery called precautionary. But the forward was on the ice for the optional morning skate and looked good.
“He’s taking morning skate right now and we’ll have more confirmation after,” Montgomery said. “That’s why he’s going out there.”
Neighbours, who has 21 points (11 goals, 10 assists) in 45 games this season, would likely go back to the top line, but should for some reason he not be able to go, expect Brandon Saad to go to the top line.
Saad will be a healthy scratch otherwise tonight along with Alexandre Texier, to be replaced by Zack Bolduc and Nathan Walker.
“Our team is not at the level where we keep the same lineup,” Montgomery said. “Our lack of consistency when we have success is something that it’s just going to be based on if guys are doing the right things out there and giving us a good opportunity at success. You play well, you’re going to play, win or lose.”
The Blues pulled within three points of the Flames for the second wild card after their 2-1 win against Calgary Tuesday and really need to double down with another regulation win tonight. Otherwise, it makes Tuesday a wash.
“I expect another hard, low-scoring game,” Montgomery said. “I expect Calgary to have more energy than they did last game. I expect them to be better than they were last game and they were really good last game. They give up the third-least amount of 5-on-5 goals and it’s because they’re really committed to checking and making life hard on you, especially in your own end. They defend well up ice so they don’t have to defend that much in their own end.”
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The other change for the Blues is Joel Hofer will start in goal after Jordan Binnington made 26 saves on Tuesday.
“We’re going to have ‘Hof’ in nets because we like the rotation with our goaltenders and the consistency with which they have played,” Montgomery said.
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Blues Projected Lineup:
Jake Neighbours-Robert Thomas-Pavel Buchnevich
Dylan Holloway-Brayden Schenn-Jordan Kyrou
Nathan Walker-Oskar Sundqvist-Zack Bolduc
Alexey Toropchenko-Radek Faksa-Mathieu Joseph
Cam Fowler-Colton Parayko
Philip Broberg-Justin Faulk
Ryan Suter-Tyler Tucker
Joel Hofer will start in goal; Jordan Binnington will be the backup.
Healthy scratches include Scott Perunovich, Brandon Saad and Alexandre Texier. Nick Leddy (lower body) is out. Torey Krug (ankle) is out for the season.
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Flames Projected Lineup:
Jonathan Huberdeau-Nazem Kadri-Martin Pospisil
Blake Coleman-Mikael Backlund-Matt Coronato
Rory Kerins-Yegor Sharangovich-Jakob Pelletier
Ryan Lomberg-Kevin Rooney-Walker Duehr
Kevin Bahl-Rasmus Andersson
Joel Hanley-MacKenzie Weegar
Jake Bean-Brayden Pachal
Dustin Wolf will start in goal; Dan Vladar will be the backup.
Healthy scratches include Andrei Kuzmenko, Daniil Miromanov and Tyson Barrie. Connor Zary (knee) is out.
