St. Louis Blues Host Chicago Blackhawks for Do-or-Die Game 7
Blues Lineup
Via the St. Louis Post-Dispatch‘s Jeremy Rutherford, coach Ken Hitchcock suggested that lineup changes are possible for Game 7:
"“Hitchcock said there ‘possibly’ could be lineup changes for Game 7. Asked specifically about changes on defense, he said, ‘Possibly. Anywhere. Whatever we think can work we’re going to do tomorrow.’”"
The most likely change would seem to involve Joel Edmundson getting back into the lineup. While Kevin Shattenkirk was pretty obviously the Blues’ worst defenseman in Game 6, the scapegoat in this situation will probably be Robert Bortuzzo, who has 10 hits over three games but doesn’t have the same puck-moving skills that Edmundson possesses.
It’s also easy to see Ken Hitchcock shaking up his fourth line just to give the Hawks a bit of a different look in Game 7. The Blues’ best play in Game 6 was a Scottie Upshall goal, set up by none other than Steve Ott, but since Ott has played such minimal minutes since returning to the ice for Game 3, he’d seem to be the most vulnerable among himself, Upshall, and Kyle Brodziak. If Hitchcock decides to shake things up, Dmitrij Jaskin (three goals in 10 career games vs. Chicago), Ryan Reaves, Magnus Paajarvi, or even Ty Rattie could be candidates to step into the lineup. Considering Rattie’s skill and strong performance in spot duty this season (four goals and two assists in 13 games), perhaps he’s a darkhorse for a spot on Monday.
Here’s what Monday’s lineup could look like:
Jaden Schwartz–Jori Lehtera–Vladimir Tarasenko
Alexander Steen-Paul Stastny–Troy Brouwer
Robby Fabbri–Patrik Berglund–David Backes
Scottie Upshall–Kyle Brodziak–Steve Ott
Jay Bouwmeester–Alex Pietrangelo
Joel Edmundson-Kevin Shattenkirk
Carl Gunnarsson-Colton Parayko
Next: Blackhawks Lineup