MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. — P.O. Joseph, Scott Perunovich and Tyler Tucker all will be in the lineup for the St. Louis Blues when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets in preseason action at Enterprise Center (7 p.m.; stlouisblues.com, Blues App, Victory+, ESPN 101.1-FM).
All three are battling for a roster spots as the regular season in Seattle is one week away.
Joseph will be paired with Ryan Suter tonight, and Perunovich and Tucker will be paired together, likely battling for two spots on the opening night roster.
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“Last game we saw guys competing for their jobs, that want to be here and stay here and be part of this organization, this team and what we’re trying to do,” Blues coach Drew Bannister said. “I don’t expect anything differently from our whole group.”
The Blues (1-3-0 in the preseason), haven’t decided if they will keep eight defensemen or seven on the 23-man roster but indications are they will keep eight, meaning two of the three can only make it out of training camp.
“I think all three of them bring a different aspect to the game,” Bannister said. “I’ve been really impressed with how P.O.’s played, his length, his ability to skate, to close and great stick, can get up in the play. ‘Perun’ has been good with the puck, the things that we’re looking for is away from the puck, but I see a conservative effort from him. I thought ‘Tucks’ in both games, he’s been real good, he’s been physical, what we would have expected from ‘Tucks.’
“All three are fighting for their jobs. It’s going to be tough. They’re going to make decisions tough for the staff here, but I see three guys that want to be on this hockey team, that want to help be a part of what we’re trying to do here and that are trying to impose their games the best they can because they’re three different players in my opinion. But all three players have played well and come into camp in good shape. Right now they’re just trying to win a spot on the roster.”
Tucker has been down this venue before here, and feels that this competition is no different than what he’s been through in the past.
“No, I don’t think so,” he said. “Obviously it’s good to compete with these guys. I a lot of them I know very well, played with them the past couple of years. Just excited for the opportunity. Getting in the game here tonight, so hopefully play good and show them what I can do. It’s the best league in the world. Just happy to be here, come here and compete every day. Hopefully things work out.
“There’s a lot of bodies, a lot of good hockey players. A lot of guys you can learn from. Just taking it day by day, working hard, competing and showing them what I can do.”
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The Blues are gearing up for regular-season mode and are icing a heavier lineup than usual with three preseason games remaining to gear up for the start of the season, which will include a three-game road trip.
“Just continue to build on, especially the last 40 minutes last game, so build that and push the needle,” Bannister said of Saturday’s 3-2 overtime win against the Chicago Blackhawks. “We’re a week away from starting the season, so we have to start building our game and get better here.
“We’re disappointed in the first three games, so there’s not a lot we can take out of that other than can get better, but I thought in Game 4 … I thought the last 40 minutes talking about building our game, guys stuck with it, stayed on script and they got rewarded.”
The doctors dictate that. It has nothing to do with us as a coaching staff to force him back. The training staff and the doctors, they have a date that he can really kind of start to grind it out, get into more physical contact. When he gets that green light, I would still think he’s probably a few days to a week away before he’s game ready. I think we’re still a little a ways away from that happening.
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Oskar Sundqvist will not play in the preseason, but the veteran forward continues to skate at a very high level and is getting closer to returning to full active play.
Sundqvist, who tore his right ACL March 25 against the Vegas Golden Knights, has that one final hurdle to clear and that’s to get cleared for contact. But the Blues can afford to have him take his time with some of the exceptional play by other forwards.
“The doctors dictate that,” Bannister said. “It has nothing to do with us as a coaching staff to force him back. The training staff and the doctors, they have a date that he can really kind of start to grind it out, get into more physical contact. When he gets that green light, I would still think he’s probably a few days to a week away before he’s game ready. I think we’re still a little a ways away from that happening.”
Sundqvist isn’t likely to be ready for the opening of the season obviously but when he is cleared for contact, it won’t be long before he’s playing again.
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Blues Projected Lineup:
Jake Neighbours-Robert Thomas-Jordan Kyrou
Zack Bolduc-Pavel Buchnevich-Brayden Schenn
Alexandre Texier-Nathan Walker-Alexey Toropchenko
Brandon Saad-Zach Dean-Kasperi Kapanen
Philip Broberg-Justin Faulk
Ryan Suter-P.O. Joseph
Tyler Tucker-Scott Perunovich
Joel Hofer is projected to start in goal; Jordan Binnington would be the backup.
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Blue Jackets Projected Lineup:
Yegor Chinakhov-Adam Fantilli-Dmitri Voronkov
Dylan Gambrell-Sean Kuraly-Mathieu Olivier
Gavin Brindley-Luca Del Bel Belluz-James Malatesta
Mikael Pyyhtia-Jake Gaudet-Trey Fix-Wolansky
Jake Christiansen-Jordan Harris
Denton Mateychuk-David Jiricek
Staislav Svozil-Cole Clayton
Danil Tarasov and Jet Greaves are the goaltenders.
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