The St. Louis Blues wrapped up one of the most challenging stretches of their season, playing nine games in 15 days, including three sets of back-to-backs (two with travel) and three instances of three games in four days. Seven of their opponents were in playoff spots, six of which ranked top three in their division. Despite these obstacles—and missing their top two defensemen—the Blues earned points in eight of nine games and made up six points in the standings.
Last Week’s Headlines
Colton Parayko Injury: The Blues' top defenseman will undergo a scope on his left knee after suffering an injury during Wednesday’s 3-2 shootout win over the Kings. He will be re-evaluated in six weeks. Parayko, 31, was having a career year with 15 goals and 35 points in 62 games.
Robert Thomas’ Point Streak Ends: Thomas saw his impressive 11-game point streak (5 goals, 10 assists) come to an end last week, but his contributions continue to be crucial for St. Louis.
Colten Ellis Signs Extension: The Blues secured goaltending depth by signing Ellis to a two-year, two-way contract. The deal carries an NHL value of $775,000 for both seasons and AHL salaries of $175,000 (2025-26) and $225,000 (2026-27).
Matthew Kessel Recalled: Recalled on March 7th from the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL), Kessel stepped into the lineup amid injuries to Parayko and others. He’s provided steady minutes on the blue line during the Blues’ weekend games.
Cam Fowler’s Family Addition: Blues defenseman Cam Fowler and his family welcomed a new baby, Beau Fowler. A big congratulations to the Fowler family!
Brayden Schenn: The Blues captain heated up this week, scoring twice in the 4-3 victory over Anaheim, including a crucial goal to secure the win. His leadership has been pivotal as the team finds its stride.
Trade Deadline Buzz: GM Doug Armstrong opted to stand pat with the NHL Trade Deadline passing on March 7th, signaling confidence in the current roster’s playoff push.
PING!!! 🚨 #stlblues pic.twitter.com/qDgogUIUAW
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) March 9, 2025
Top Performers of the Week
Cam Fowler: Led all Blues players with three assists in two games while averaging 20:12 of ice time.
Brayden Schenn: Scored two goals in three games, continuing to be a driving force offensively with 11 points in his last 12 games.
Nick Leddy, Alexey Toropchenko, Jake Neighbours, Zack Bolduc: Each tallied one goal and one assist in three games. Leddy notched his first goal of the season, Toropchenko scored for the first time since November 5, and Bolduc continued his strong rookie campaign. Bolduc’s recent surge—three goals and four points in his last five games—brings his season total to 11 goals and 24 points with a plus-15 rating.
Joel Hofer: Stopped 21 of 23 shots in the 2-1 overtime loss to LA, keeping the Blues in a tight checking game that brought the club to a 3-1-1 record through their first five games in March.
Looking Ahead: The Final Stretch of the Road Trip
The Blues get a much-needed four-day break before resuming play with another crucial three-game stretch:
Thursday, March 13, at Pittsburgh Penguins (6:00 p.m. CST): The Blues face a Penguins squad that finds itself in an unusual spot, holding on to the last-place position in the Metropolitan division. St. Louis will need to shake off any rust from the break and come out strong.
Saturday, March 15 at Minnesota Wild (7:00 p.m. CST): A key Central Division matchup that could have major playoff implications. The Wild currently sit in the first Western Conference Wild Card position and could play spoilers for the Blues who look to continue to scratch and claw their way into the postseason. This will be the third back-to-back set for the Blues in three weeks.
Sunday, March 16 vs. Anaheim Ducks (5:00 p.m. CST): The Blues return home to Enterprise Center to close out the week. After a grueling road trip, they’ll look to take care of business against an Anaheim team looking to bring their club above .500 in the standings this season.
Final Thoughts
Despite the challenges, the Blues have fought through adversity and kept pace in the Western Conference playoff race. With a critical three-game stretch ahead, securing points will be vital as they push toward the postseason. Stay tuned for next week’s edition of The Monday Blueprint as we continue tracking the Blues’ journey!