St. Louis Blues Make Surprising Healthy Scratch
The Buffalo Sabres returned to the ice Thursday night to face a struggling St. Louis Blues team. The Blues have a disappointing 4-8-2 record this season, including a 1-6-2 stretch in their last nine games. Their most recent outing saw a heavy 6-1 loss to the Washington Capitals.
Blues' Strategic Decision to Scratch Jordan Kyrou
In search of solutions, the Blues chose to bench Jordan Kyrou, a move that caught many by surprise. Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic reported this decision, quoting Blues head coach Jim Montgomery:
“Many players could have been scratched after last night’s game, and ultimately I decided on this group tonight.”
Implications of Scratching a Key Player
Kyrou, tied for second in both goals and points on the Blues, has consistently performed well, with three straight seasons scoring 30 or more goals. He has also been effective against the Sabres, tallying nine points in 10 career games.
Benefit for the Buffalo Sabres
This move is favorable for Buffalo, as they will not have to contend with one of St. Louis’s top offensive threats during the matchup.
Summary: The Blues’ decision to bench key player Jordan Kyrou amid struggles offers a significant advantage to the Buffalo Sabres facing them.