St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko (55) and Winnipeg Jets forward Adam Lowry will battle in Game 4 of the Western Conference First Round on Sunday in St. Louis. (Jeff Curry-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/f39d5fb2-9686-470e-80e5-07b8020bba4d.jpeg] St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko (55) and Winnipeg Jets forward Adam Lowry will battle in Game 4 of the Western Conference First Round on Sunday in St. Louis. (Jeff Curry-Imagn Images) MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- There have been 279 hits thrown in the Western Conference First Round Series between the St. Louis Blues [http://thn.com/stlouis] and Winnipeg Jets [http://thn.com/winnipeg]. But the battering and bruising that took place in Game 3, a 7-2 Blues win [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/st-louis-blues/latest-news/three-takeaways-from-blues-7-2-win-against-jets-in-game-3-of-western-conference-first-round], that brought St. Louis back into the series, now trailing it 2-1, was a prime example of why having extra days off in this series has been and will continue to be imperative. The Jets have have 134 hits in the series, including 68 in Game 3, while the Blues have 145, including a playoff franchise record 63 in their win on Wednesday. There were two days off in between Games 2 and 3, another two days off between Games 3 and 4, which is Sunday at noon (FDSNMW, MAX, truTV, TBS, SN, TVAS, CBC, ESPN 101.1-FM) and there will be two more days off in between Games 4 and 5, which is Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. Brayden Schenn had nine of the Blues' 53 hits in the opener, a 5-3 Winnipeg win, while Jake Neighbours had nine hits in Game 3. There are a plethora of bodies being thrown around, and when it's all said and done, there will be some battered humans whoever has to quickly recover to move on. But the fact the teams from after Game 2 to a Game 5 will play those three games in nine days. "The more time you have to rest, the better you'll feel," said Blues defenseman Tyler Tucker. "It goes a long way. Obviously it's weird scheduling. I don't think it's ever been like that, but yeah, it definitely helps. "I think everyone's trying to bring as much physicality as they can obviously in the playoffs. Having the extra days of rest, guys are probably throwing more than they're used to, but I think we're doing a good job of being physical and being hard to play against." Nevertheless, the extra days is throwing players for a loop. "A physical style is good for both teams," Blues center Radek Faksa said. "It's maybe why the series is so physical because we've got some rest. But I've never experienced something like that. It's my 10th season and we've never had so much spacing in the playoffs. It's always like every other day, right? So it's new for all of us. Obviously you have to take advantage of it, rest up and prepare us as best as possible for the next game." From a coaching perspective, Blues coach Jim Montgomery understands what's happening out there, but winning in the fashion and style they did on Wednesday makes you eager to jump right back out there. "You don’t mind the two days because you know the energy level for both teams -- but I’m just worried about my team -- is going to be sky high because you have a lot of time to recuperate and recover," Montgomery said. "At the same time, sometimes when you win a game like we did, you want to get right back at it because you have that momentum and that attitude. The more time between games, the more it dissipates. "The bruises do get better and that’s why the energy level, I think that might be why we have the heaviest hits by a lot, I think in this series. You have a little more juice in the tank." - - - The Blues appear to be making another lineup change, inserting forward Mathieu Joseph in replacing Alexandre Texier. Joseph was a healthy scratch for Games 2 and 3, while Texier, who replaced veteran Ryan Suter after the Blues skated with 11 forwards and seven defensemen in Game 2, played just 7:10 in Game 3. "Sometimes you have a gut feel, if it’s going to be more of a checking game," Montgomery said. "It might be. ... 'Mojo' does a lot of penalty killing for us. Just another weapon in our arsenal." As for sitting Suter, who played in all 82 regular-season games and the first two games of this series, Montgomery said, "Certain elements of our D core that we were looking for, I thought other D men, the attributes fit the style of game we wanted to play better. We figure, it’s going to be a long series all along and it’s just like, I said to 'Mojo' and 'Sutes', ‘When you come out, you’re not coming out, it’s not done for the series. You’re going to get back in.’ When asked about those attributes, Montgomery said, "I don’t really want to talk about them." Also, Blues forward Dylan Holloway (lower-body injury) remains status quo, with Montgomery saying, "not a player tomorrow." But he did acknowledge that he may be skating on his own, also joking, "I think he has like a mini rink in his house." From the Winnipeg side, defenseman Dylan DeMelo will return after sitting out Game 3 with an illness, and forward Gabriel Vilardi (upper-body injury) is a game time decision. - - - Blues Projected Lineup: Pavel Buchnevich-Robert Thomas-Jimmy Snuggerud Jake Neighbours-Brayden Schenn-Jordan Kyrou Mathieu Joseph-Oskar Sundqvist-Zack Bolduc Alexey Toropchenko-Radek Faksa-Nathan Walker Cam Fowler-Colton Parayko Philip Broberg-Justin Faulk Nick Leddy-Tyler Tucker Jordan Binnington will start in goal; Joel Hofer will be the backup. Healthy scratches include Alexandre Texier, Ryan Suter and Matthew Kessel. Dylan Holloway (lower body) remains out. Torey Krug (ankle) is out for the season. - - - Jets Projected Lineup: Kyle Connor-Mark Scheifele-Alex Iafallo Nino Niederreiter-Vladislav Namestnikov-Cole Perfetti Morgan Barron-Adam Lowry-Mason Appleton Brandon Tanev-David Gustafsson-Jaret Anderson-Dolan Josh Morrissey-Dylan DeMelo Dylan Samberg-Neal Pionk Logan Stanley-Luke Schenn Connor Hellebuyck will start on goal; Eric Comrie will be the backup. Healthy scratches include Dominic Toninato, Haydn Fleury, Colin Miller and Ville Heinola. Gabriel Vilardi (upper body) is a game time decision. Nikolaj Ehlers (lower body) and Rasmus Kupari (concussion) are out.
