Blues Shake Up Top Line Ahead of Crucial Matchup Against Golden Knights

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — St. Louis Blues head coach Jim Montgomery announced Sunday that he will split up his top line of Jake Neighbours, Robert Thomas, and Pavel Buchnevich for Monday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena. The decision comes after the Blues failed to secure a three-game winning streak, falling 4-2 to the Utah Hockey Club on Saturday.

“(I’m) trying to get a workman-like attitude on every line,” Montgomery said during a press conference. “Mixing it up sometimes creates a spark of ‘I individually have to do more, I’m not going to rely on the guy next to me.’ That’s all.”

During Sunday’s practice in Vegas, Montgomery experimented with new line combinations. Thomas and Neighbours were paired with Brandon Saad, who is expected to return to the lineup after being a healthy scratch for the past two games. Buchnevich, meanwhile, skated on the right wing alongside Alexey Toropchenko and Oskar Sundqvist, a trio Montgomery briefly deployed during the Utah game.

The Dylan Holloway–Brayden Schenn–Jordan Kyrou line will remain intact for Monday’s matchup, signaling Montgomery’s confidence in their recent performance. On defense, Montgomery is also making adjustments. While Cam Fowler and Colton Parayko will continue as the team’s top pairing, the bottom two pairs saw changes during Sunday’s practice. Ryan Suter and Philip Broberg skated together, while Tyler Tucker and Justin Faulk formed another duo.

Montgomery’s lineup shake-up reflects his urgency to reignite the Blues’ momentum as they face a tough opponent in the Golden Knights. The Blues currently sit in a precarious playoff position, making every game critical as the season progresses.

Below is the projected lineup based on Sunday’s practice:

Forwards:
Dylan Holloway – Brayden Schenn – Jordan Kyrou
Brandon Saad – Robert Thomas – Jake Neighbours
Alexey Toropchenko – Oskar Sundqvist – Pavel Buchnevich
Nathan Walker – Radek Faksa – Mathieu Joseph

Defense:
Cam Fowler – Colton Parayko
Ryan Suter – Philip Broberg
Tyler Tucker – Justin Faulk

Goalie:
Jordan Binnington

Montgomery emphasized that additional changes could be made before Monday’s game, depending on player performance and health. The Blues will look to bounce back against the Golden Knights, who are also fighting for playoff positioning in the Western Conference.