60 minutes? Is that all?
Just the facts
When: Tonight, 8 PM
Where: Enterprise Center – St. Louis, MO
How to follow: NESN, 98.5 The Sports Hub
Opposing perspective: Bluenote Hockey
Know your enemy
- 21-18-1, 43PTS, 5th in the Central Division
- Robert Thomas: 16G-27A-43PTS; Pavel Buchnevich: 13G-19A-32PTS; Jordan Kyrou: 12G-18A-30PTS
- Jordan Binnington: 14-11-1, 3.01 GAA, .907 save percentage
Game notes
- The Bruins’ road trip continues tonight with a stop in St. Louis to face a Blues team that isn’t very good but I’m still mad about 2019.
- As we all know, the B’s have been on a bit of a weird skid lately: they beat Tampa, 7-3, but have lost three games in a row since then. However, all three losses have been beyond 60 minutes, so despite not winning a game, they’ve actually accumulated a win and a half’s worth of points (3) in the standings. WEIRD.
- While a win or loss against St. Louis will not define the Bruins’ season (this time), it’ll have a big impact on Jim Montgomery’s plans for the All-Star Break, per Elliotte Friedman. When he sends his entire fourth line out for the inevitable shootout, we’ll know he had a vacation home booked.
Looking at the NHL standings, you can do the math: Rick Bowness (WIN), Peter Laviolette (NYR) & Rick Tocchet (VCR) are three of All-Star coaches. Tomorrow’s NJ/FLA and BOS/STL games decide between Paul Maurice and Jim Montgomery. Points percentage determines who goes.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) January 12, 2024
- As far as I can tell, Brandon Bussi is still with the big club, so who knows who will be starting in net tonight. I’d imagine Linus Ullmark isn’t available, but will Montgomery go with Swayman again or give him a rest before the Devils come to town Monday?
- Speaking of Bussi, his Providence Bruins scored twice in the latter half of the third to tie the game and then beat Scranton Wilkes-Barre in OT on Friday, so…at least one of the teams can win beyond 60 minutes.
- Jordan Kyrou, who was booed by his own fans after Craig Berube was fired, has been on a nice run of late. The forward had a hat trick in the Blues’ win over the Rangers on Thursday and had two assists in four games prior to that.
- Former Bruin Torey Krug is still in St. Louis and still performing pretty well (if you ignore the contract). He has 19 points (1G-18A) in 40 games.
See ya tonight!