Buffalo Sabres Opponent Outlook: St. Louis Blues

Unlike the Buffalo Sabres, the St. Louis Blues were absolutely one of the teams to beat last season, finishing the season fourth overall in the NHL.

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The Blues finished the season tied for first in the Western Conference with the Anaheim Ducks. Both teams had 109 points and records of 51-24-7, with Anaheim notching one more regulation/overtime win for the tiebreaker. The Blues went 27-12-2 at home and 24-12-5 on the road.

They also won 9 of 13 shootouts they were involved in, and there’s no doubt that they played competitive in pretty much every aspect of the game.

Vladimir Taranseko led the Blues with 73 points in 77 games last season, including a team-high 37 goals. Alexander Steen led the team with 40 assists, notching 64 points overall.

Jaden Schwartz, meanwhile, put up 63 points, while David Backes registered 58 on the season. Kevin Shattenkirk led the team with 25 power-play points, including four goals.

Last season, the Blues defeated the Buffalo Sabres twice, by a combined score of 9-1.

Jori Lehtera had three goals against Buffalo, a natural hat-trick including a shorthanded tally. But it was Jaden Schwartz who led the team against the Sabres, with four points total (1-3). Steen also had four points, all assists, Tarasenko put up three points, and Backes had a pair of points.

For the Sabres, Tyler Ennis had Buffalo’s lone goal against the Blues last season, assisted by Matt Moulson and Drew Stafford.

Brian Elliott had 28 saves in St. Louis’ first win, while Jake Allen stopped all 23 shots faced in the shutout to give St. Louis its 12th win 13 games to close out the season series. Both Michal Neuvirth and Jhonas Enroth suited up for the Buffalo Sabres, stopping 23 of 29 and 27 of 29 shots each, respectively.

This offseason saw a bit of change in the roster for St. Louis; their only trade was a big one, as they sent forward T.J. Oshie to the Washington Capitals in exchange for forward Troy Brouwer, goaltender Phoenix Copley and a 2016 3rd-round draft pick.

Over the years, Oshie had been a notable piece of the Blues, but will now take his talents to Washington, where he’ll get a fresh start and a chance to play in the Eastern Conference for the first time in his career.

Adam Cracknell went to Vancouver, Chris Porter to Philadelphia; Magnus Paajarvi, Dmitri Jaskin, Jake Allen and Vladimir Tarasenko all re-signed with the Blues.

Another player who signed in St. Louis: former Buffalo Sabres defenseman Andre Benoit. Forward Kyle Brodziak also signed with the Blues, while defenseman Robert Bortuzzo also re-upped with the club.

Brent Regner, Zbynek Michalek and Barret Jackman are three other departures, while another former Buffalo Sabres defenseman, Chris Butler also re-signed with the club.

Both of the ex-Sabres defensemen were placed on waivers. Benoit will begin the season in St. Louis’ AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves. Butler could also be headed that way.

The Blues and Sabres will face off twice within a four-day span this year. It all begins on November 19th in St. Louis, and ends on November 23rd at First Niagara Center.

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