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(10-13-26) Blues-Senators Gameday Lineup

The St. Louis Blues kick off a three-game road swing with a test against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Center, aiming to build on their recent momentum after a hard-fought 5-3 comeback victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Blues (2-2-1) have shown defensive resilience, particularly on the penalty kill, where they’ve posted a strong 14-for-15 record (93.3%) under new assistant coach Greg Cronin, ranking fourth in the NHL. However, their power play remains a work in progress, sitting at 29th in the league with just 9.3% efficiency (1-for-11) under Vinny Prospal’s guidance.

Coach Jim Montgomery highlighted improvements in defensive structure, including better D-zone coverage and forecheck turnovers, though offensive consistency—particularly in net-front positioning and reloads—has hindered their offensive zone time. Meanwhile, the Senators (5-1-0) are off to a surprising start without star forward Brady Tkachuk, including a 4-1 win over the New Jersey Devils earlier this week.

The Blues’ lineup adjustments on the power play, featuring Adam Jiricek and Cam Fowler at point, aim to generate more high-danger chances after averaging just over two per game recently. The matchup also includes added intrigue after Blues defenseman Ross Johnston engaged in an early second-period fight with Blue Jackets enforcer Mathieu Olivier, adding physicality to an already competitive series.

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