With no Pavel Buchnevich and no Brandon Saad in tonight’s game, the Blues are missing their two biggest off-season acquisitions on home opening night. Head coach Craig Berube inserted Kostin for Buchnevich, and it seemed to work out. Tonight, Kyle Clifford goes in, bumping Barbashev up to the third line.
If Klim Kostin needed another chance to score a couple goals, tonight should be that chance. Berube’s rewarding Kostin’s work with a spot on the top line. Also of note is that Marco Scandella and Jake Walman’s positions have been flipped. Walman’s on the top pairing with Colton Parayko, and Marco Scandella is on the left side of Robert Bortuzzo.