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 tough record this season at 4-8-2 and have gone 1-6-2 in their last nine games, including a 6-1 defeat against the Washington Capitals the night before.
Blues Search for Solutions
In an attempt to shake things up, the Blues decided on an unexpected move. Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic reported that Jordan Kyrou would be a healthy scratch for the game. Head coach Jim Montgomery explained the decision:
“Many players could have been scratched after last night’s game, and ultimately I decided on this group tonight.”
Impact of Scratching Kyrou
Kyrou is currently tied for second in goals and points on the Blues and entered this season following three straight 30+ goal campaigns. He has been productive against the Sabres, tallying nine points in 10 career games against them. Benching him represents a significant choice by the coaching staff.
Good News for the Buffalo Sabres
This decision favors Buffalo, as they avoid facing one of the Blues' top goal-scorers in the upcoming game.
“He hasn’t looked like the problem for the Blues,” Jeremy Rutherford noted of Kyrou's performance.
Author’s summary: The Blues’ decision to scratch top scorer Jordan Kyrou surprises many and gives the Buffalo Sabres a strategic edge in an important matchup.