(11-27-24) St. Louis Blues-New Jersey Devils Gameday Lineup

Blues looking to go 2-for-2 with Montgomery behind bench; Bolduc moves past first-ever NHL multi-goal game, now needs to build consistency with big performances; can Holloway-Sundqvist-Bolduc turn into impactful third line?

It couldn't have gone any better for the St. Louis Blues in their debut under Jim Montgomery on Monday.

A 5-2 win against the New York Rangers capped off a successful debut for the new Blues coach, who was hired on Sunday after Drew Bannister was fired.

The Blues (10-12-1) will now try and do it again heading into Thanksgiving when they close a three-game trip against the New Jersey Devils (15-7-2) at 6 p.m. (FDSNMW, ESPN 101.1-FM) looking for more of the offensive output they brought to the table on Monday.

The Blues had a shot-like mindset putting up a season-high 43 and they scored four goals in a game without the benefit of an empty-net goal for the first time since Oct. 24 (5-1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs).

"I thought we played a solid game," said Blues forward Jordan Kyrou, who scored Monday. "We got off a lot of shots, had a lot of Grade A chances, a lot of rush plays, a lot of plays in the o-zone. We were moving the puck, and we were connected pretty well.

"We've definitely got the players to do it, and [Monday] was a good start."

The Blues held an optional morning skate Wednesday, and since arriving, they have had one full practice (Tuesday). They'll have Thursday off before getting a second full practice on Friday trying to implement things Montgomery wants.

"There was two things: pace of practice, and then the 5-on-5 drill where we really wanted to focus on our puck pressure," Montgomery said after the first full practice. "Without the puck, we protect the middle of the ice, the most important part of the ice because that's where speed and goals come from. And then offensively, you want to attack the middle of the ice.

"It's more if we don't have plays available above the goal line, let's try and possess below the goal line. And it's at both goal lines, defensively too. If we can't go north, use the back of the net and let's go out the weak side."

- - -

One line Mongomery hopes can keep the swag going is the third line of Zack Bolduc, Oskar Sundqvist and Dylan Holloway.

Bolduc scored his first two goals of the season and first multi-goal game of his NHL career and Holloway had two assists, his second multi-point game of the season.

"I think how connected they were. I liked the speed, I liked how tenacious they were," Montgomery said. "They held onto pucks and they made plays."

Bolduc also had a career-high seven shots on goal and like Holloway, was flying all over the ice in all three zones.

"Building consistency in your game is the hardest thing to do in this league," Montgomery said. "It's a man's league and we're playing a really talented rush team tomorrow. He's got to enjoy the moment and move on like he said. It's tougher for the action and behaviors to become consistent than mentally the soft talk.

"In the morning skate (Monday), I talked to him about attacking inside the dots more. I said, 'You've got to look at the net and if you don't like your options, that's up to you, but I want you to have a rip-it attitude.'"

- - -

Defenseman Philip Broberg took contact for the first time on Tuesday and practiced in full recovering from a right knee injury sustained Nov. 2 against the Maple Leafs but is unlikely to return tonight.

The Blues will avoid one of the Devils' top players in forward Timo Meier tonight. Meier was suspended for one game due to a cross-checking incident Monday in a 5-2 win against the Nashville Predators.

Jordan Binnington will go for win No. 152, which would give him the franchise record for goalies. He is currently tied with Mike Liut, who happens to also be his agent.

- - -

Blues Projected Lineup:

Jake Neighbours-Robert Thomas-Pavel Buchnevich

Brandon Saad-Brayden Schenn-Jordan Kyrou

Dylan Holloway-Oskar Sundqvist-Zack Bolduc

Alexey Toropchenko-Radek Faksa-Nathan Walker

Ryan Suter-Colton Parayko

Scott Perunovich-Justin Faulk

Pierre-Olivier Joseph-Matthew Kessel

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

Healthy scratches include Corey Schueneman, Alexandre Texier and Mathieu Joseph. Nick Leddy (lower body) and Philip Broberg (lower body) are out.

- - -

Devils Projected Lineup:

Ondrej Palat-Jack Hughes-Jesper Bratt

Paul Cotter-Nico Hischier-Stefan Noesen

Nolan Foote-Erik Haula-Dawson Mercer

Shane Bowers-Justin Dowling-Tomas Tatar

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 Nick DeSimone and Kurtis MacDermid. Nathan Bastian (jaw) and Curtis Lazar (knee) are out. Timo Meier is suspended.