Blues Face Ducks in Critical Wild Card Clash Sunday Night

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The St. Louis Blues, who have a record of 7-2-1 in their last 10 games, are poised to potentially tie for the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference when they host the Anaheim Ducks Sunday night at 7 p.m. at Enterprise Center.

The Blues come off a dominating 5-1 victory against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday, although travel complications delayed their return to St. Louis. Despite the tight schedule, Head Coach Jim Montgomery has opted for consistency in his lineup, reinstating Jordan Binnington as goalie for the match.

“I really like the way the chemistry of the lines, the pairings, the feeling you have when the same group is going together,” Montgomery stated, emphasizing the importance of team momentum as they approach a critical juncture in the season.

The projected lineup for the Blues features forwards Jake Neighbours, Robert Thomas, and Pavel Buchnevich, alongside Dylan Holloway, Brayden Schenn, and Jordan Kyrou. The third line has Mathieu Joseph paired with Oskar Sundqvist and Zack Bolduc, while Alexey Toropchenko, Radek Faksa, and Nathan Walker round out the forward unit. On defense, Cam Fowler and Nick Leddy lead with Philip Broberg, Justin Faulk, Ryan Suter, and Tyler Tucker supporting them.

The Ducks are also preparing to combat the Blues, having made their way to St. Louis for the match. Their expected lineup includes Frank Vatrano, Ryan Strome, and Troy Terry on the front line, while Trevor Zegras, Leo Carlsson, and Alex Killorn form the second line. Cutter Gauthier is set to join Mason McTavish and Nikita Nesterenko, whereas Jansen Harkins, Isaac Lundestrom, and Brett Leason complete the group. The Ducks’ defense comprises Jackson LaCombe, Radko Gudas, Olen Zellweger, and Jacob Trouba, with Pavel Mintyukov and Drew Helleson finishing the unit. Lukas Dostal is projected to be in goal.

The game, initially scheduled for a 6 p.m. ET start, was moved back due to the Blues’ travel issues. As the game approaches, both teams are keenly aware of the implications this matchup holds for their playoff aspirations.

Regardless of injuries affecting both rosters, including Robby Fabbri and Brock McGinn for the Ducks, the stakes remain high. Fans can catch the game on FanDuel Sports Network and 101 ESPN.