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 have gone 1-6-2 in their last nine games, which included a heavy 6-1 loss to the Washington Capitals.
In search of a solution, the Blues have made a surprising decision. According to Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic, Jordan Kyrou will be a healthy scratch for the game. Head coach Jim Montgomery explained the choice:
“Many players could have been scratched after last night’s game, and ultimately I decided on this group tonight.”
Significance of Benching Jordan Kyrou
Kyrou, who is tied for second on the team in goals and points, entered the season with three consecutive 30+ goal campaigns. He has been a consistent contributor and does not appear to be the team's issue. Additionally, Kyrou has performed well against the Buffalo Sabres, tallying nine points in ten career games versus them.
Impact on the Buffalo Sabres
This move benefits the Sabres significantly, as they will not have to contend with one of the Blues’ top scorers during their matchup.
Author’s summary: The Blues' unexpected healthy scratch of top scorer Kyrou offers a strong advantage to the Buffalo Sabres, given Kyrou’s consistent offensive impact and history against them.