ST. LOUIS BLUES NOTES:
CURRENT INJURIES
Scott Perunovich – Shoulder (Re-evaluated in 6 months, announced on Oct. 4)
Marco Scandella – Right Hip (Re-evaluated in 6 months, announced on Sep. 20)
2022-23 Total Man Games Lost: 117
Recent Transactions
December
19 – Activated forward Logan Brown from injured reserve
18 – Recalled forward Logan Brown from the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL)
18 – Assigned forward Will Bitten to the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL)
17 – Signed defenseman Marc-Andre Gaudet to a three-year, entry-level contract
15 – Assigned forward Logan Brown to the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL) on a conditioning assignment
BLUES VS. KRAKEN
-This will be the 2nd of 3 matchups between the Blues and Kraken this season
-The Blues won 4-3 at Seattle on Oct. 19, with a goal by Justin Faulk in overtime
-Their final meeting of the season will come on Feb. 28 in St. Louis
-The Blues are 4-0-0 against Seattle since they entered the NHL in 2021-22
-The Blues have won both of their games against the Kraken in Seattle since 2021-22
-The Blues have outscored the Kraken 15-5 in their 4 meetings, allowing more than 1 goal to the Kraken just once
-The Blues are 9-2-0 against the Pacific Division this season
-The Blues have won 4 straight games overall and are 4-0-1 in their last 5 games since Dec. 11 vs. Colorado, outscoring their opponent 16-9 during that stretch
-The Blues are 5-2-0 this season in the 2nd game of back-to-back sets (5 straight wins in that scenario), which shares the most wins in the NHL with Carolina (5-0-0) in the 2nd game of back-to-back sets
-Robert Bortuzzo is expected to dress in his 400th game as a Blue
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
12/23 – at Vegas
12/27 – vs. Toronto
12/29 – vs. Chicago
12/31 – vs. Minnesota
1/3 – at Toronto
A LOOK AHEAD
-The Blues have 5 games remaining in December (3 at home; 2 away)
-The Blues will continue their season-long 10-day, 5-game road trip Tuesday at Seattle (3-0-0 so far, outscoring opponents 13-6)
-The Blues will play their next 2 games, including Tuesday at Seattle, against the Western Conference, as well as 4 of their last 5 games to finish the calendar year
-The Blues will face 4 teams in their last 5 games who currently hold a playoff spot
BLUES COMEBACK AGAINST EDMONTON
-Thursday at Edmonton, the Blues came back to win despite being down 3-1 in the third period
-It was their 2nd multi-goal 3rd period comeback of the season
-Vladimir Tarasenko scored his 1st career shorthanded goal with just 20 seconds left in the game to tie it at 3-3
-Tarasenko’s goal to tie the game marked just the 4th time in franchise history the Blues have scored a shorthanded goal with under a minute left in regulation to tie the game
-Tarasenko’s goal also marked just the 13th time in NHL history a team scored a game-tying goal while shorthanded in the final 20 seconds
-The Blues account for 3 of the 13 instances, including the last 2 (Last: Nov. 3, 2021)
DEFENSEMEN CONTRIBUTING OFFENSE FOR BLUES
-The Blues defensemen have combined for 12 goals this season
-The Blues are 8-1-0 this season when a defenseman scores
-The Blues’ defense has contributed 5 power play goals this season, which shares 2nd in the NHL (1. Ottawa, 6)
-They have also contributed 5 game-winning goals, which shares 1st in the NHL with Boston, Carolina, Columbus, Florida, Minnesota, and Winnipeg
-Torey Krug leads Blues d-men with 5 goals, which also shares 14th in the NHL among all defensemen (1. Karlsson, 12)
-Torey Krug’s 4 power play goals share 2nd on the Blues (1. Kyrou, 6) and share 2nd in the NHL among all defensemen (1. Chabot, 5)
-Justin Faulk’s 2 game-winning goals share the 7th most among all defensemen in the NHL (1. 6 players, 3)
BLUES CONSISTENT UNDER ARMSTRONG
-Since Doug Armstrong took over the reigns as the Blues General Manager in 2010-11, the Blues have posted a 537-308-100 record
-Their 537 wins since then rank 5th in the NHL (1. PIT, 560)
-The Blues have made the postseason 10 out of the 12 seasons since Armstrong became GM, 1 of 5 teams in the NHL to clinch 10 or more playoff berths since 2010-11 (PIT, 12/WSH, 11/BOS & NSH, 10)
-Armstrong is also just 1 of 2 GMs to clinch 10 or more playoff berths since 2010-11 (David Poile, 10)
-Since 2010-11, the Blues rank 7th with 2.92 goals per game (1. VGK, 3.19) and rank 3rd in the NHL with 2.59 goals against per game (1. BOS, 2.45)
-The Blues also share the 3rd best penalty kill (82.7%) under Armstrong (1. BOS, 83.4%), and have the 6th best power play (20.8%) in the league (1. WSH, 21.5%)
BLUES STAY STRONG UNDER BERUBE
-Since taking over on Nov. 18, 2018, Berube has led the Blues to a 171-95-37 record (379 points)
-The Blues 379 points since Nov. 21, 2018 (Berube’s first game), rank 10th in the NHL (1. TBL, 417), while their 171 wins also rank 10th (1. TBL, 198)
-Their 3.23 goals per game share 7th in the NHL under Berube (1. TBL, 3.55)
-The Blues have posted a mark of 2.87 goals against per game under Berube, which ranks 10th in the NHL (1. BOS, 2.49)
-The Blues also have the 4th best power play in the NHL at 23.7% since Berube became head coach (1. EDM, 27.1%)
-On Dec. 11 vs. Colorado, Berube became the 4th Head Coach in Blues history to reach 300 games behind the bench (1. Quenneville, 593 / 2. Hitchcock, 413 / 3. B. Sutter, 320)
-Last season on Dec. 29 vs. EDM, Berube became the 7th different coach in NHL history to win 200 games and play in at least 1,000 career games
Wins as Coach / Games Played
Craig Berube – 246 / 1,054
Randy Carlyle – 475 / 1,055
Bob Pulford – 363 / 1,079
Craig MacTavish – 301 / 1,093
Red Kelly – 278 / 1,316
Brent Sutter – 215 / 1,111
Larry Robinson – 209 / 1,384
BINNINGTON REACHES CENTURY MARK
-On Dec. 12 vs. Nashville, Binnington stopped all 25 shots he faced for his 100th career win and his 12th career shutout
-Binnington became the 6th goaltender in franchise history to record at least 100 wins with the club (Liut/Allen/Joseph/Fuhr/Elliott)
-Binnington recorded his 100th win in his 184th career game, becoming the 3rd fastest in franchise history to reach 100 wins with the team
-With his shutout in his 100th career win, Binnington also moved into a tie for 6th on the Blues all-time franchise list with 12 shutouts, 1 of just 7 goaltenders to record at least 12 shutouts with the Blues
-Since Nov. 10, Binnington has 9 wins, which shares 3rd in the NHL (1. Jarry/Shesterkin, 10)
-In his last 4 starts (since Dec. 11), Binnington is 3-0-1, with a 1.70 GAA, a .940 SV%, and 1 shutout -Binnington has appeared in 24 games this season, which matches the most games played by a goaltender in the NHL (Hart/Shesterkin/Hellebuyck)
Fastest to 100 career wins with the Blues:
- Brian Elliott – 175 GP
- Jake Allen – 176 GP
- Jordan Binnington – 184 GP
BUCHNEVICH STEPPING UP FOR BLUES
-Pavel Buchnevich ranks 2nd on the Blues with 10 goals (1. Kyrou, 16) and ranks 5th with 23 points (1. Kyrou, 32)
-Buchnevich has 7 points in his last 6 games (4g, 3a)
-Buchnevich also has 21 points in his last 17 games (9g, 12a), recording at least 1 points in 13 of those 17 games
-Buchnevich shares 2nd on the Blues this season with 4 power play goals (1. Kyrou, 6)
-Buchnevich recorded 4 points (2g, 2a) on Nov. 19 vs. Anaheim, the 2nd 4-point game of his career (also: Mar. 17, 2021 w/ NYR: 2g, 2a vs. PHI)
-Buchnevich set career-highs with 30 goals, 46 assists, and 76 points last season
BUCHNEVICH CLOSING IN ON CENTURY MARK WITH BLUES
-Pavel Buchnevich sits just 1 point shy of recording 100 points as a Blue
-Buchnevich has recorded 99 points (40g, 59a) in 96 games as a Blue
-If Buchnevich can reach 100 points in his next 4 games, he would become just the 8th player in Blues franchise history to record at least 100 points in their first 100 games or fewer with the team
-If he can reach 100 points in his next game, he will be the 6th fastest in franchise history to reach 100 points with the team
THE TARASENK-SHOW
-Last night at Vancouver, Tarasenko recorded 3 assists, marking the 7th time in his career he has recorded 3 assists in a game (2nd time this season; also Oct. 19 at Seattle)
-It was also Tarasenko’s 144th career multi-point game, which ranks 5th on the Blues all-time franchise list (4. Unger, 153)
-Vladimir Tarasenko has 12 points in his last 12 games (5g, 7a)
-Tarasenko ranks 3rd on the Blues with 25 points (1. Kyrou, 32)
-Tarasenko also shares 3rd on the Blues with 9 goals (1. Kyrou, 16) and shares 3rd on the Blues with 7 even-strength goals (1. Kyrou, 10)
-He also ranks 4th on the Blues with 17 even-strength points (7g, 10a) (1. Kyrou/Thomas, 20)
-Tarasenko also ranks 5th on the Blues all-time franchise list in goals (261) and points (549)
BRAYDEN IS SCHENN-SATIONAL
-Brayden Schenn ranks 4th on the Blues with 24 points this season (7g, 17a) (1. Kyrou, 32)
-He also ranks 2nd on the Blues with 17 assists (1. Thomas, 22)
-Schenn has 4 points in his last 4 games (1g, 3a) and has 7 points in his last 8 games (1g, 6a)
-Schenn ranks 3rd on the Blues with 19 even-strength points this season (6g, 13a) (1. Kyrou/Thomas, 20)
-Schenn scored the overtime winner on Dec. 12 vs. Nashville, the 9th overtime goal of his career
-Schenn has 24 power play goals since the start of the 2019-20 season, which ranks 2nd among all Blues in that span (1. Perron, 26)
-Schenn dressed in his 800th career NHL game on Dec. 3 at Pittsburgh
-Schenn recorded his 300th point as a Blue on Friday at Calgary
KYROU IS RED HOT
-Jordan Kyrou has a 4-game point streak (6g, 4a)
-Kyrou has also posted 3 straight multi-point games (6g, 3a)
-Jordan Kyrou scored twice, including his first career overtime winner, on Nov. 26 at Florida
-Kyrou posted his first career hat trick last night at Vancouver (3g, 1a)
-Since Kyrou’s debut in 2018-19, he has the 3rd most multi-goal games among Blues with 12 (Perron, 14 / Tarasenko, 13)
-Kyrou posted 6 goals and 9 points on the Blues three-game Western Canada road trip (Dec. 15-19), which marks the most goals by a Blue during a three-game Western Canada road trip (Previous: Brett Hull – 5g, 4a in 3 GP from Feb. 12-17, 1991 & Brad Boyes – 5g, 1a in 3 GP from Mar. 8-11, 2008)
-Kyrou leads the Blues with 16 goals and also leads the team with 6 power play goals
-Kyrou also leads the Blues with 32 points and 11 power play points
-Since Nov. 14, Kyrou has posted 27 points (12g, 15a) in 18 games, which ranks 3rd in the NHL over that span (1. McDavid, 32 points / 2. Thompson, 31 points)
-Kyrou posted a career-long 8-game point streak (5g, 8a), from Nov. 14-26, including a career-long 6 game assist streak from Nov. 16-25 (2g, 8a)
THOMAS CONTINUING STRONG SEASON
-Robert Thomas leads the Blues with 22 assists and ranks 2nd with 30 points this season (1. Kyrou, 32)
-Thomas has a 3-game point streak (2g, 3a) and has 11 points in his last 10 games (4g, 7a)
-In his last 20 games, Thomas has recorded 23 points (6g, 17a), recording at least 1 point in 16 of those 20 games
-He also leads the Blues with 8 power play assists and ranks 2nd on the Blues with 10 power play points (1. Kyrou, 11)
-Thomas also shares 1st on the Blues with 20 even-strength points (6g, 14a) (Kyrou)
SEATTLE KRAKEN NOTES:
LAST GAME
Winnipeg 2 at Seattle 3
Goals: Eberle, Donato, McCann
Goalie: Grubauer (15/17)
PP: 0/2 PK: 1/3 Shots: Winnipeg 17 – Seattle 35
CURRENT INJURIES – (Man Games Lost: 83)
Chris Driedger (ACL; IR) – 30 games – month-to-month
Joonas Donskoi (upper body; IR) – 30 games – day-to-day
TRANSACTIONS IN PAST 7 DAYS
Dec. 12, 2022: Recalled D Gustav Olofsson from Coachella Valley (AHL); Claimed F Eeli Tolvanen off of waivers from Nashville; Placed F Karson Kuhlman on waivers
Dec. 13, 2022: F Karson Kuhlman claimed off of waivers by Winnipeg
Dec. 18, 2022: Reassigned D Gustav Olofsson to Coachella Valley (AHL)
UPCOMING GAMES
Thursday, Dec. 22: Seattle at Vancouver, 7 p.m. PT
Wednesday, Dec. 28: Calgary at Seattle, 7 p.m. PT
Friday, Dec. 30: Edmonton at Seattle, 7 p.m. PT
Sunday, Jan. 1: NY Islanders at Seattle, 5 p.m. PT
Tuesday, Jan. 3: Seattle at Edmonton, 6 p.m. PT
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
• Tonight is the Seattle’s second of three meetings with St. Louis this season and the final one at Climate Pledge Arena this year. The game is also the team’s final home game before the NHL’s Christmas break, which will begin on Dec. 23.
• If Ryan Donato were to score tonight, it would give him goals in four consecutive games for the first time in his career.
• Yanni Gourde has six points (one goal, five assists) in his last six games played dating back to Dec. 6 vs. Montreal.
• An assist tonight would give Gourde an assist in five consecutive games, extending his career-best assist streak.
• Will Borgen has already set a career high with 36 blocked shots this season and is just six hits shy of tying his career best of 89 that he set last year.
• The Kraken have had 16 different players score at least three goals this season. Entering play Monday, no team had had more players on its roster score three or more goals.
• Additionally, the Kraken were one of six teams (Arizona, Calgary, Dallas, Florida, NY Islanders) this season to have four different defensemen score at least three goals entering play Monday. Jamie Oleksiak (four), Vince Dunn (four), Adam Larsson (three) and Justin Schultz (three) have all scored at least three times for the Kraken this year.
• Martin Jones’ 13 wins were tied for the sixth-most in the NHL this season entering play Monday.
• The Kraken are outshooting their opponents 771-701 at five-on-five this season. Their 53.2 percent shot share was good for seventh in the NHL entering play Monday according to Natural Stat Trick.
SINGING THE BLUES
• Oliver Bjorkstrand has 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in 10 career games against the Blues. He recorded his 100th NHL point against St. Louis on Nov. 1, 2019.
• Andre Burakovsky has 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in his last 14 games against St Louis. Since Jan. 1, 2020, only Nathan MacKinnon (23), Cale Makar (19) and Mark Stone (16) have recorded more points against the Blues.
• Ryan Donato has totaled seven points (two goals, five assists) in his last seven games against the Blues.
• Jordan Eberle scored his 200th NHL goal on Jan. 15, 2019 against St. Louis.
• Philipp Grubauer has won four of his last five starts against St. Louis dating back to Jan. 2, 2020, posting a 2.21 goals-against average, .917 save percentage and one shutout during that span.
• Jared McCann and Jamie Oleksiak both scored their first NHL goals against the Blues – McCann on Oct. 16, 2015 and Oleksiak on Oct. 28, 2014.
FAMILIAR FOES
• Tonight will mark the second matchup of the season against St. Louis for former Blues Vince Dunn and Jaden Schwartz.
• Dunn was drafted by St. Louis in the second round (56th overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft and totaled 102 points (32 goals, 70 assists) in 267 regular-season games with the Blues. Dunn was Seattle’s selection from St. Louis in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft.
• During Dunn’s four-season tenure with St. Louis, only one St. Louis defenseman score more goals than his 32 (Alex Pietrangelo; 44), and his 70 assists and 102 points were both the third-most among St. Louis blueliners during that span.
• Schwartz was taken by St. Louis in the first round (14th overall) of the 2010 NHL Draft and went on to play for the Blues for 10 seasons (2011-12 to 2020-21) before signing with Seattle as a free agent.
• Schwartz recorded 385 points (154 goals, 231 assists) in 560 regular-season games with the Blues and remains ranked in the top 20 in St. Louis franchise history in goals (16th), assists (14th), points (14th) and games played (18th).
• Both Dunn and Schwartz were a part of St. Louis’ Stanley Cup-winning team in 2019.
• Assistant Coach Dave Lowry played for St. Louis from 1988-19 to 1992-93.
CHEERS TO BENIERS
• Matty Beniers leads all NHL rookies this season in goals (11) and points (24), and his 13 assists were tied for third entering play Monday.
• Beniers is ranked in the top five on Seattle’s roster in goals (second), assists (tied fifth) and points (third) this season.
• He enters tonight’s game having totaled 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in his last 13 games played, dating back to Nov. 19 vs. Los Angeles. His 15 points during that span leads all rookies and all Kraken skaters.
• Beniers scored the game-winning goal in the Kraken’s game on Dec. 1, a 3-2 overtime win against the Washington Capitals. It was the first overtime goal of his career and his second game-winning goal of the season (Last: Nov. 1 at Calgary).
• Beniers’ overtime goal came seven seconds into overtime, the fastest overtime goal in franchise history. According to NHL Stats, it was also the fastest goal by a rookie from the start of a regular-season overtime in NHL history. Walter Jackson (0:08 on March 7, 1933) held the previous record.
• Entering play Monday, Beniers was one of three rookies (Nils Lundkvist, Fabian Zetterlund) to score an overtime goal this season and is also one of three rookies (Pontus Holmberg, Shane Pinto) to score two game-winning goals this year.
• Entering play Monday, Beniers was the only rookie this season to have two three-point games, doing so on Nov. 23 vs. San Jose and on Nov. 27 at Anaheim.
• Beniers’ six multi-point games led all rookies and were tied with Andre Burakovsky for the team lead entering play Monday.
• Beniers is also averaging 17:13 of ice time per game this season, which is the second-most among rookie forwards (Noah Cates; 18:10) and ranks fourth among Kraken forwards.
• The 20-year-old is currently on pace to finish the season with 30 goals, 36 assists and 66 points. Thirty goals would be the most by a rookie since Patrik Laine and Auston Matthews had 36 and 40 goals, respectively, during their rookie season in 2016-17.
EBS AND FLOW
• Jordan Eberle enters tonight’s game having recorded 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in his last 16 games played dating back to Nov. 8 vs. Nashville.
• His 17 assists and 25 points both rank second on Seattle’s roster, trailing Andre Burakovsky’s 18 assists and 28 points.
• Among players from the 2008 NHL Draft class, Eberle ranked third in scoring this season entering play Monday, trailing only San Jose’s Erik Karlsson (41 points) and Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos (36 points).
• Eberle’s 620 career points also ranked third among 2008 draftees, again trailing Stamkos (1,008) and Karlsson (701).
• Eberle was originally selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2008 NHL Draft. He is one of 23 players from the ’08 class that are still playing in the NHL, a list that includes Kraken teammate Justin Schultz.
• The 32-year-old is currently on pace to finish the season with 22 goals, 46 assists and 68 points. Forty-six assists would be the most of his career, surpassing his current career high of 42 that he set in 2011-12 while playing for the Oilers.
• Sixty-eight points would be the second-most of his career, eight points shy of his career-best 76 points that he had in 2011-12.
• Eberle leads all Kraken skaters in career goals (270), assists (350), points (620) and games played (888).
BENNY AND THE VETS
• Since Nov. 13 vs. Winnipeg, forwards Matty Beniers, Jordan Eberle and Jared McCann have played on a line together, totaling 153:09 of ice time at five-on-five together during that span.
• According to Natural Stat Trick, since Nov. 13 when that line is on the ice during five-on-five play, the Kraken are outscoring their opponents 15-3, outshooting them 80-68 and have 78 scoring chances to their opponents’ 54.
• In the Kraken’s last game on Dec. 18 vs. Winnipeg, when the Beniers/Eberle/McCann line was on the ice at five-on-five, the Kraken outscored the Jets 2-0, outshot them 4-2 and had six scoring chances while not allowing one against.
• One of Beniers, Eberle or McCann have scored in 13 of the last 15 games the Kraken have played dating back to Nov. 13.
SETTING THE PACE
• With 30 games played this year, the Kraken are roughly 37 percent of the way through their second season. Heading into tonight’s matchup with the Blues, nine of the 20 veteran skaters on the Kraken’s active roster are on pace to surpass their career highs in scoring.
• Will Borgen, Andre Burakovsky, Morgan Geekie and Daniel Sprong are all on pace to set new career highs in goals, assists and points.
• Borgen has already tied his career high with two goals this season.
• Ryan Donato (18), Jared McCann (41) and Jamie Oleksiak (13) are both on pace to finish the 2022-23 season with a new career high in goals.
• If the pace holds, it would mark the first time in his career that McCann would surpassed the 40-goal threshold.
• Adam Larsson (eight) is on pace to tie his career highs in goals.
• Oliver Bjorkstrand (30), Vince Dunn (36), Jordan Eberle (46), Yanni Gourde (42), Justin Schultz (40), Carson Soucy (14) and Brandon Tanev (25) are all pacing to finish the year with new career highs in assists.
• Vince Dunn (46), Adam Larsson (27), Jared McCann (59), Jamie Oleksiak (23) and Brandon Tanev (36) are all playing at a pace to surpass their career highs in points.
ON THE DL
• This season defensemen Vince Dunn and Adam Larsson have played 498:18 together during five-on-five play, starting every game of the season on a pair.
• Only Los Angeles’ Drew Doughty and Mikey Anderson (566:59) and Carolina’s Brady Skjei and Brett Pesce (499.57) have spent more time together at five-on-five according to Natural Stat Trick.
• From the start of the 2021-22 season, no two Kraken defensemen have spent more time together at five-on-five than Dunn and Larsson (1085:08). Will Borgen and Carson Soucy, who have played 398:14 at five-on-five together, rank second.
• According to Natural Stat Trick, the Kraken have scored 27 five-on-five goals when Dunn and Larsson are on the ice together. Only New Jersey’s Dougie Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler (30) and San Jose’s Erik Karlsson and Jayson Megna (28) have been on the ice for more of their team’s five-on-five goals.
• The pair’s plus-nine goal differential at five-on-five is tied for the fourth-most in the league among defensive pairs this season according to Natural Stat Trick.
• Additionally, according to Natural Stat Trick, the Dunn/Larsson pairing ranks seventh in the NHL with 21.3 expected goals at five-on-five.
• Dunn is pacing to finish the year with 36 assists and 46 points, both of which would surpass his current career bests (28 assists, 35 points). Larsson is on pace to tie his career bests with eight goals and set a career high with 27 points.
• The duo is pacing to finish the season as each other’s most consistent defensive partner. Prior to this year, the most amount of time Larsson had played with one partner was in 2015-16 when he played 1227:12 at five-on-five with Andy Greene.
• Dunn’s 586:49 of five-on-five ice time with Larsson last year is the most he has played with a single partner to date.
• Dunn and Larsson have been on the ice for the most five-on-five goals (49) of any defensive pairing in franchise history. The Soucy/Borgen pair ranks second with 18.
• Of any two Kraken defensemen that have played at least 300 minutes together at five-on-five, Dunn and Larsson rank second with a 51.50 percent Corsi rating, trailing only Will Borgen and Carson Soucy (51.53).
