Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Facing elimination and desperate for goals, Blues fire up the line blender

St Louis Blues v Nashville Predators - Game Three

NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 30: Head coach Mike Yeo of the St. Louis Blues talks to his team during a timeout against of the Nashville Predators in the third period of Game Three of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on April 30, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

Getty Images

After leaving Nashville with as many losses (two) as goals scored, the Blues return to Scottrade tomorrow looking to keep their season alive.

Perhaps some new looks up front will get it done.

Head coach Mike Yeo juggled his trios at Thursday’s practice, with the biggest development being Vladimir Sobotka’s ascension to the top line with Paul Stastny and Vladimir Tarasenko.

“He’s had a really strong playoff for us,” Yeo said of Sobotka, per the Post-Dispatch. “He’s been very effective and it’s not hard to figure out why.”

Sobotka has two goals and five points through nine postseason contests, averaging 17:38 TOI per night. If today’s line rushes carry over to tomorrow’s Game 5, it looks like the guy he replaced on the No. 1 unit -- Jaden Schwartz -- will play with Patrik Berglund and Alexander Steen.

In the bottom-six forward group, there appears to be change on the horizon as well. Kyle Brodziak figures to draw back into the lineup after being a healthy scratch in Game 4. If so, he’ll skate alongside Scottie Upshall and Ryan Reaves.

It’s easy to understand why Yeo is shuffling the deck. Offensively, the club is in need of a spark -- or sparks, if you will. The third and fourth lines have provided next to no offense this postseason. Berglund and Perron, who combined for 41 goals in the regular season, are both stuck on zero through nine games.

If those guys can’t get it going, and soon, St. Louis’ season will be over.