Blues' Top Six Looks Great, Bottom Six Needs Improvement Through Two Games Of The 2026-27 NHL Season

Although it's still early in the 2026-27 NHL season, it's still interesting to look at early-season statistics.

When looking at the St. Louis Blues' offensive group, one distinction is easy to make: the top six has looked great, but the bottom six has really struggled at 5-on-5.

According to MoneyPuck.com, the Blues' top line of Dylan Holloway, Robert Thomas and Jimmy Snuggerud has posted an expected goals percentage of 64.7 percent. The second line of Connor McMichael, Mason McTavish, and Pavel Buchnevich has an expected goals percentage of 50 percent. 

On NaturalStatTrick.com, the Blues' top six forwards rank one through six in expected goals for percentage, with Buchnevich at the top at 67.09 percent and McTavish sixth at 58.06 percent.

On the flip side, the Blues' bottom six hasn't found controlling the play and the chances as easy. The third line of Jake Neighbours, Dalibor Dvorsky and Jonatan Berggren has posted an expected goals percentage of 23.1 percent. Dvorsky does have two goals at 5-on-5, but the overall play from that line has been lacking.

The fourth line of Dillon Dube, Pius Suter, and Zach Dean has played just one game together, and it was a blowout loss to the Colorado Avalanche, so it feels a bit unfair to grade them yet. Still, even then, an 11.1 expected goals percentage is putrid. With three natural centers, the Blues were hoping for better defensive play and puck control. 

As mentioned earlier, the season is still so young, and these stats will balance out. It's unrealistic to expect the top six to keep chugging along at or above 60 percent in expected goals, but it's also unrealistic to think the bottom six won't bounce back and be hemmed in their own zone as they have been. 

Up against the 0-3-0 Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday, the bottom six has a perfect opportunity to start correcting things. The Blackhawks have surrendered 15 goals, averaging five per game, while scoring just five. They rank 30th in goals allowed and 32nd in shots allowed. 

It's vital for coach Jim Montgomery to be patient and let the chemistry build, but he will also be wary that waiting too long to change things is just as detrimental.

It's a fine line, but Montgomery has proven he can find the balance.

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