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 are 1-6-2 over their last nine games, including a 6-1 loss to the Washington Capitals the previous night.
Blues’ Decision to Scratch Jordan Kyrou
In search of solutions, the Blues made a surprising choice by healthy scratching Jordan Kyrou. Jeremy Rutherford from The Athletic reported the move, quoting 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 the Decision
Benching Kyrou, who is tied for second on the team in goals and points, is notable. He entered this season with three consecutive 30-plus goal campaigns and has not been the issue for the Blues. Kyrou has also been effective against the Sabres, recording nine points in 10 career games versus Buffalo.
Benefit for the Buffalo Sabres
For the Sabres, this is positive news, as it removes one of the Blues’ top goal-scorers from the lineup, potentially easing their defensive task.
Author's summary: The Blues’ decision to bench top scorer Jordan Kyrou offers a surprising shift while providing the Sabres a key advantage heading into their matchup.