Stars at Blues Preseason Preview/GameDay Thread

As a note, tonight’s game will be broadcast on Bally Sports Midwest’s app, and you have to a) subscribe to a cable package that has BSMW and b) live in the BSMW broadcast area. So if you’re not in either one of those groups, you’re out of luck for viewing. Tune into 101espn.com, 101 ESPN on the airwaves, or head over to stlouisblues.com (or the NHL app) to listen to Chris Kerber and Joey Vitale call the game.

Saturday night’s game, a 6-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild, gave Blues fans some grist for the speculation mill. How long will the dynamic line of Brandon Saad, Robert Thomas, and Vladimir Tarasenko be able to play together? Is James Neal the real deal after a hat trick in his Blues debut? Michael Frolik got into the scoring fun as well - come to think of it, the only old regular who scored for the Blues was Ivan Barbashev.

Tonight’s lineup against the Dallas Stars won’t be quite as new guy heavy as Saturday’s was, but Blues fans should be excited about one of the players out there - tonight marks Pavel Buchnevich’s debut for the team. The forward was acquired from the New York Rangers for Sammy Blais in a clear upgrade for the Blues, and fans have been anticipating getting a good look at him.

Buchnevich will be on the right side of a line that includes Jake Neighbors and Brayden Schenn. This will be Neighbors’ second game in a row - Saturday night he was on a line with Tyler Bozak and James Neal, which was one of the strongest lines on the ice. The line that Neighbors finds himself on tonight should be another productive one, but most important for Neighbors, it’s a vote of confidence in his abilities. Most prospects, even in pre-season, don’t get the opportunity that the coaching staff is giving Neighbors tonight.

Scott Perunovich will also be getting another look tonight, on the top defensive pairing with Justin Faulk. Again, this is an upgrade from where he was on Saturday night, which was on the second pairing with Robert Bortuzzo. Don’t be shocked if Perunovich, along with Neighbours, hangs around until the last preseason game

Jordan Binnington gets his first start tonight with Joel Hofer backing him up.