Blues coach Craig Berube is putting faith in players, and it’s paying off

The Blues had lost three straight games to Arizona, and a few areas were starting to catch up with them.

Jordan Kyrou was suddenly cold. Ivan Barbashev remained frozen. The forecheck was missing. There were serious concerns about backup goaltender Ville Husso. And injuries were mounting.

So what did Blues coach Craig Berube do? He had conversations with Kyrou and Barbashev and told them to play better. He put a heavy player on every line to help ignite the forecheck. And he stuck by Husso.

With impressive performances from that group, the Blues were able to overcome an injury list that added Jaden Schwartz on Saturday night and win 5-4 in overtime over Arizona on a winning goal by Mike Hoffman. They’ve now won back-to-back games over the Coyotes, and this seven-game stretch between the teams is tied 3-3, with the final meeting set for Monday in Arizona.

“Every single line is going,” Barbashev said. “Even like the guys that didn’t play for a long time like (Jacob de la Rose), (Mackenzie) MacEachern, and today we had (Austin) Poganski. Those guys are going, and they’re doing a really good job for us out there.”

De la Rose joined the lineup when Robert Thomas went out with a broken thumb. MacEachern is playing because Blais is out with an upper-body injury. Poganski suited up for his second career NHL game when it was learned that Schwartz (lower-body injury) couldn’t play.

It looked like the Blues could be without another forward Saturday after Oskar Sundqvist crashed hard into the boards late in the Blues’ 4-1 victory Friday night.

Berube said about 1 1/2 hours before the puck dropped that Sundqvist “probably would play,” and he did.

“Sunny’s a warrior,” Berube said. “We all know that. He battles hard every night. I had a good feeling he was going to play tonight. I thought he played a heck of a game. He’s not 100 percent, but he does what he does, and he gets out there and gives you everything he’s got at both ends of the ice.”

Sundqvist’s presence in the lineup and his physical play always seem to inspire the Blues, especially with the circumstances after Friday’s scare.

“He took a tough hit last night,” Hoffman said. “He probably wasn’t feeling the greatest, but he went out there and did what he had to do.”

Despite giving up the first goal on the Coyotes’ first shot against Husso, the Blues built a 2-1 lead on goals by Kyle Clifford and Zach Sanford. You know, Clifford, who was a healthy scratch last week and now has three goals this season while averaging just 8:18 of ice time per game? And Sanford, who fans are ready to push out of the lineup the day Vladimir Tarasenko returns from injury?

“It’s good to see guys like Clifford get a goal, and it was good to see Sanford get a goal tonight,” Berube said. “We got contributions up and down our lineup tonight, which was nice.”

But two — Barbashev and Kyrou — have been particularly better since their chats with Berube.

Barbashev recently went nine games without a point, and not only was there no scoring, but there also was no emotion. It wouldn’t have been surprising if Barbashev had been taken out of the lineup, but instead he was promoted to play with Ryan O’Reilly and David Perron.

“He’s kind of looked a little bit uninspired at times, and I’ve talked to him,” Berube said last week. “We had a good conversation, so I’m hoping this inspires him a little bit, get a little bit more life in his game, a little bit more emotion in his game.”

Before his first game with the new assignment, Barbashev said, “I think my game has got to be on another level. It’s been a tough start, but it’s got to be better, it’s a simple as that. The conversation with Chief was pretty good for me.”

In two games since the move, Barbashev has two goals (including an empty-netter) and an assist, and he’s a plus-4 while posting the most minutes he’s played all season (17:11 and 17:58).

His goal Saturday, which was assisted by O’Reilly and Perron, gave the Blues a 3-2 lead in the second period.

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— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) February 14, 2021

“It’s been really nice,” Barbashev said. “I knew like those guys are tough players and really skilled. But what really makes it easier for me is they’re not asking me to make some good plays for them. They just play simple; together we play a really simple game. We work hard, and if we have opportunity to do something, we’re going to do it and try to score some goals.”

“I think he relishes the opportunity there and understands that if he forechecks hard, gets in there and creates loose pucks, there’s opportunities for him to score goals,” Berube said. “He’s done that, tonight, he got one. So the line has good chemistry right now, which is nice to see. That’s probably one of the reasons. You get excited when you move up like that and you play with a couple guys like O’Reilly and Perron. He’s doing a good job.”

Then there’s Kyrou.

In the first 10 games of the season, the 22-year-old had five goals and 12 points and was a plus-6. In his next three games, however, he had no points and was a minus-4. Were the Coyotes keying on Kyrou, or was he simply not playing well?

“Both,” Berube said. “I think that teams are keying on him obviously, and they understand how quick and skilled he is. But you know, I think it’s normal for any young player to have inconsistent play at times. But I thought his practice the last few days was excellent. His speed was excellent, and his competitiveness was excellent. So I think he realized what was missing, and we talked to him about it and I think you’re going to see a better player.”

Two games after his chat with Berube, Kyrou has a goal and an assist. He had an incredible cutback play Friday, setting up the eventual winner by Justin Faulk. Then he tied the score Saturday at 4-4 with 5:37 left in regulation.

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“Young players, they’re going to have ups and downs throughout the season, and he did a good job of rebounding in practice,” Berube said. “I thought he had real good practices and went into the game, in my opinion. He’s really taking advantage of his opportunities out there, which he did last night, and tonight scored a huge goal. The other night set up a winner. He’s doing a good job in those aspects, but he’s a young guy and he’s going to have ups and downs throughout the year. He rebounded well, which is good to see.”

Kyrou’s goal set the stage for Hoffman’s overtime winner from one of his favorite spots on the ice.

“Yeah, either one of those flanks on either side in the (offensive) zone is probably your preferred spot,” Hoffman said. “So I was lucky enough to have some time and space, catch those guys a little bit tired in the (defensive) zone and able to get my shot off.”

It was three-on-three, but the play developed because the Blues were aggressive.

“That’s the way we want to play hockey,” Berube said. “(Vince Dunn) made a real good play there keeping that puck alive and forcing the turnover. Obviously, Hoff had a great shot and scored. It’s a good win, good win.”

The goal made a winner out of Husso for the second time in his young NHL career, after giving up yet another quick goal. In four of his appearances this season (three starts and one in relief), he’s allowed a goal on one of the first three shots against.

“I should be ready right away and they score on the first shift,” Husso said. “I need to be sharper in the next game when it starts. I need to make those first saves and not let the D down right away.”

Berube said the defense let Husso down, with Krug unable to control the puck, setting up the goal.

“The first shot tonight’s pretty tough,” Berube said. “It’s a partial breakaway. I don’t fault Husso on that at all. We’ve got to do a better job in front of him in those situations. We’ve got to defend well and have real good puck management there. We can’t give up a partial breakaway in the first shift of the game. It’s tough on your goalie.

“Ville’s a battler and you have to be if you want to play in the NHL. Goals are going to go in on you and you’ve got to rebound and you’ve got to forget about the one that went in and you’ve got to focus on the next play, and that’s what he’s doing.

Husso made 13 saves in the second period, allowing the Blues to take a 3-2 lead into the third.

“Yeah, he looked really sharp,” Barbashev said. “When the game goes on, he’s getting better, and I think today he made really big saves in the second (period) especially and he kept us in the game. They had a lot of chances, but he was there for us.”

The Blues were able to get a win while giving Jordan Binnington the night off. And beyond Clifford, Sanford, Barbashev and Kyrou, they’re doing it with players like de la Rose anchoring the fourth-line forecheck and Poganski making a play like he did, setting a screen on Sanford’s goal.

“To get the contributions throughout the lineup is why this team is as strong as it is,” Hoffman said. “If some guys aren’t going one night, other guys will pick up their slack. That’s what you saw here tonight, goals throughout the lineup, and that’s what makes us a good team.”

Meanwhile, there’s been another positive development in the Blues’ trip to Arizona: Tarasenko is with them.

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— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) February 12, 2021

He may not be back in the lineup for a few weeks, but five months after his third shoulder surgery, he was on the ice Friday, giving and receiving passes and taking light shots.

“It was awesome,” Sanford said. “I’ve been on the ice with him for a while, but he can still rip the puck like he always could. It’s good to have him back out on the ice with us and include him as part of those practices again.”

“Yeah, great, I’m glad he’s on the trip,” Berube said. “It’s important that he gets back and getting the feeling with the guys back with us as a group. It’s good to see him out on the ice with us.”

(Photo of Oskar Sundqvist: Joe Camporeale / USA Today)