ST. LOUIS -- Hockey – yes, hockey – returned to Enterprise Center on Thursday night. And so did Jordan Binnington.
Despite the stellar recent play of Ville Husso, coach Craig Berube made the surprising move of opening the unofficial second half of the season with Binnington in goal against the New Jersey Devils.
The move backfired in a 7-4 loss to the New Jersey Devils. At 26-14-5, the Blues are in a battle for playoff position in the ultra-competitive Central Division. The appearance of New Jersey began a stretch in which seven of the Blues’ first eight games coming out of the All-Star break are against teams that are currently out of playoff position – and not expected to make the playoffs.
So this is a time to bank points, as many points as possible, as the hockey intensifies. It didn’t happen Thursday.
Given Binnington’s struggles, having him start the Blues’ first game in 12 days was a calculated risk by Berube. Since returning from the COVID list Dec. 19 against Winnipeg, Binnington had been 3-4-0 with a 4.44 goals-against average and a .878 save percentage.
Those numbers will inflate after Binnington was responsible for five of the seven New Jersey goals. He has allowed 18 goals in his last three outings.
The Blues had won 12 of their previous 13 against New Jersey, now seventh in the Metropolitan Division at 17-26-5 this season.
The Devils hadn’t won here since Dec. 30, 2008, when Chris Mason was the top goalie, Patrik Berglund was the leading goal-scorer and Andy Murray was head coach for the Blues.
The game originally was scheduled for Dec. 27, but was among three games postponed when the NHL decided on an extended Christmas break due to COVID concerns.
Berube, he of the new three-year contract extension, wanted the Blues to get off to a quick start against New Jersey. Instead they came out as if they hadn’t played in, well, 12 days.
They were sluggish, late to the puck and generally outskated in the opening period by New Jersey, which posted the first seven shots of the game.
P.K. Subban – remember him? - scored from distance after a giveaway by Justin Faulk to give the Devils a 1-0 lead just 2:12 into the game. It looked like the puck may have deflected off a Blues player en route to the net.
Next, Michael McLeod did his impression of Connor McDavid, skating through and around Vladimir Tarasenko, Robert Thomas and Marco Scandella – in that order – to reach the crease to poke the puck past Binnington just 4:53 into the game. So it was 2-0 Devils.
New Jersey had the benefit of playing two games since the All-Star break. They were limber and energetic.
