Panthers at Blues Preview: The Schwartz may be with us tonight

I’d be lying if I didn’t say that getting the motivation to write these previews wasn’t getting more difficult. It’s tough to write the gameday equivalent of SSDD, but let’s face it, it is same shit, different day. With the exception of the occasional win, the Blues have been victims of their own hubris. Oh, you won a game 1-0? By all means, don’t try in your next one. Especially if it’s a home game. Your fans love to see blowout losses where no effort is given. Thanks.

By something that may be a miracle, if miracles are now things that are defined as “barely escaping failure,” the Blues are no longer last in the Central. Good job, Blackhawks, you’re beating us by a point.

The Florida Panthers, with an 11-11-6 record, are last in the Atlantic but still have four more points than the Blues. They’re also a meh 3-4-3 in their last ten (the Blues are an even meh-ier 3-6-1). The Panthers do have the league’s fourth best powerplay, which means that the Blues should be careful about taking random penalties. Hopefully David Perron has learned his lesson from his benching Sunday, because I never want to see Jordan Nolan in the lineup instead of him ever, ever again.

Another notable returning to the lineup include Jaden Schwartz, who is back after a 11 game hiatus as punishment for getting thwacked by a Vladimir Tarasenko shot. He also missed two games earlier this season for the same thing. Learn your lesson, Jaden.

Jake Allen starts, while Jordan Binnington backs up, waiting for his turn to participate in the next Blues goalie controversy.

Soon, Jordan. You have until at least mid-January before that kicks in.