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 and have gone 1-6-2 in their last nine games, including a heavy 6-1 loss to the Washington Capitals.
In search of solutions, the Blues decided on an unexpected lineup change. Jeremy Rutherford from The Athletic reported that Jordan Kyrou would be a healthy scratch for the game.
Head coach Jim Montgomery said about the decision: “Many players could have been scratched after last night’s game, and ultimately I decided on this group tonight.”
Benching Kyrou, who is tied for second on the team in goals and points, is a bold move. Kyrou entered this season after scoring 30 or more goals in each of the last three seasons and has not appeared to be a problem for the team. Additionally, he has been productive against the Buffalo Sabres, recording nine points in ten career games.
This news is encouraging for the Buffalo Sabres, as they will not have to face one of the Blues' top goal-scorers in the upcoming matchup.
Author's summary: The Blues’ decision to scratch Jordan Kyrou, a key scorer, signals their struggle, while offering the Sabres a strategic advantage on the ice.