The St. Louis Blues return to Enterprise Center on Tuesday night seeking a response after a three-game losing streak, hosting the Detroit Red Wings at 7 p.m. CT. Both clubs enter with nearly identical records—St. Louis at 7-8-2 (16 points) and Detroit at 7-8-3 (17 points)—and both are riding three-game skids of their own.
The Blues closed a four-game road trip with a 3-1 loss at Nashville on Saturday, finishing the trip 1-2-1. They previously handled the Red Wings 5-4 in Detroit on Oct. 31, taking a 1-0 lead in the season series. Tuesday’s contest will be nationally televised on TNT and HBO Max, with local radio coverage on 101 ESPN.
A significant boost arrives on the blue line with the season debut of defenseman Logan Mailloux. The 23-year-old, sidelined since fracturing his right hand in a preseason fight, was activated from injured reserve and is projected to skate alongside Philip Broberg on the top pairing. Broberg has been the Blues’ most productive defenseman this season with 13 points (4 goals, 9 assists) and enters on a two-game point streak, including power-play assists in consecutive games.
Joel Hofer is expected to start in goal after a solid showing in the Nashville loss (26 saves on 28 shots). The Blues have been stronger at home (4-2-1) than on the road and will look to lean on that edge while simplifying their game, a theme emphasized by both head coach Jim Montgomery and forward Connor McMichael after the recent losses.
Detroit arrives shorthanded up front without suspended captain Dylan Larkin and on its own three-game slide, most recently a 4-0 shutout loss at Colorado. The Red Wings’ penalty kill has been a clear vulnerability (69 percent, near the bottom of the league), an area St. Louis can target with Broberg quarterbacking the top unit. Former Blue Justin Faulk returns to Enterprise Center for the first time since his March trade to Detroit; the club has planned a video tribute.
Projected Blues lines include Dylan Holloway with Robert Thomas and Jimmy Snuggerud (who leads the team with nine goals) on the top unit, while Jonatan Berggren returns after consecutive healthy scratches. With five of the next seven games at Enterprise Center, including Tuesday’s Salute to Military Night, the Blues have a clear opportunity to stabilize their record and build momentum at home.
Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. CT at Enterprise Center.
