Canadiens at Blues game preview: Can the Blues bounce back, yada yada yada

Stop me if you’ve heard this one - the Blues lost a game in impressive fashion after a solid win. The formula for this one was a little different this time, though. It wasn’t a dominant offensive performance followed by a defensive collapse and an offensive dry spell. This time, it was a 3-0 shutout followed by a 3-1 loss, and for as much as Jordan Binnington kept the Blues in it against the Islanders, Jake Allen kept the Blues out of it on Tuesday. Welcome back, January Jake.

Binnington will be in net tonight as a reward for his solid performance in his last start, so hopefully he will continue to build upon the potential confidence that he’s building in the team and that the team’s showing in him.

With Alexander Steen on the IR, the Blues are putting Mackenzie MacEachern into that open roster spot. MacEachern has five goals since returning from an upper body injury seven games ago, and should fit into the fourth-line youth movement well.

At the midpoint of the season, the Blues are three games below .500. The Montreal Canadiens, who have surprised pundits all season long, sit at 22-16-5, good for 51 points and the second wild card slot in the East. The Blues are seven points out of the last wild card spot in the West, with time becoming of the essence. Continuing to follow up wins with absolute clunkers won’t get them up those standings. At least tonight the Blues have a chance to reset against the Habs.

Again.