Observations from Blues' 3-0 Win Vs. Sabres

Observations from Blues' 3-0 Win vs. Sabres

The St. Louis Blues rebounded strongly after a poor performance the night before, shutting out the Buffalo Sabres 3-0 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo. The team played with renewed energy and focus after key lineup adjustments by coach Jim Montgomery.

Coaching Decisions and Accountability

Coach Montgomery made a bold statement by making Jordan Kyrou and Oskar Sundqvist healthy scratches, with Kyrou’s absence drawing the most attention. He also appeared to bench Robert Thomas late in the second period. The move clearly reinforced that effort and accountability apply to every player, regardless of their status on the roster.

“It’s holding players accountable, no matter who it is.”

Unusually, on the second night of back-to-back games, Montgomery still had the team take a morning skate to reset after the lackluster effort in Washington.

Game Highlights

Goaltender Joel Hofer recorded his first shutout of the season and the third of his career, showing calm and precision in net.
Mathieu Joseph and Nick Bjugstad contributed important secondary scoring, helping the Blues secure the win.
The fourth line and defenseman Justin Faulk delivered consistent, strong performances at both ends of the ice.

Team Response

“Montgomery wanted guys digging in, life, juice, compete and battle from his players — and got it.”

The message was clear and effective. The Blues fought harder for loose pucks, battled on the boards, and looked more cohesive, signaling a significant improvement from their previous outing.

Record Context

With this result, the Blues improved to a 5-8-2 record, marking their second victory in the last ten games. Depending on one’s perspective, they have now won two of their past three, showing signs of renewed determination.

Author’s Summary: The Blues answered their coach’s challenge with a disciplined, inspired performance that earned them a much-needed shutout win over the Sabres.

The Hockey News — 2025-11-07