Sabres at Blues Preview: Schwartz injury will necessitate new lines

Jaden Schwartz being out for six weeks is not the news most Blues fans want this holiday season. Hell, it’s not news that any Blues fan wants this holiday season. He’s an integral part of the top line and a key part of the team on and off of the ice. Whatever adjustments the Blues make won’t be enough to make up for his loss.

On top of that, Alex Pietrangelo is day to day and won’t play tonight either.

But, on the upside, the Blues are on a three game winning streak and the Sabres are awful. Sitting at dead last in the Atlantic Division (again,) the Sabres are just 2-7-1 in their last 10. They managed to eke a point out in a 3-2 OTL against the Blackhawks Friday night, so good for them. About the only two players having success this season are Evander Kane, who leads the team with 13 goals and 26 points, and Jack Eichel, who is second on the team in points with 8 goals and 15 assists.

The Sabres also haven’t beaten the Blues at Scottrade since December 27th, 2009. The Blues have yet to lose on the back end of a back to back this season.

The lines for tonight’s game haven’t been released but will be added here when they are - Robert Bortuzzo will probably more than likely return, and Vladimir Sobotka, who had his sixth goal of the year yesterday, may also be seeing time on the top line due to Schwartz’s injury.