BLUES VS. PANTHERS
When: Tuesday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m.
Where: Enterprise Center in St. Louis, MO
Watch: Bally Sports Midwest, Bally Sports app
Listen: 101 ESPN, NHL App
Tickets: Online at ticketmaster.com
Ville Husso provided one of the best performances of his young career on Saturday in Sunrise, FL.
The 26-year-old netminder faced 51 shots and made a career-high 48 saves in his second consecutive start with Jordan Binnington on the COVID-19 list. Husso’s performance helped the Blues earn a valuable point in a 4-3 shootout loss to the League-leading Panthers.
“I need to step up and play at a good level every night. It’s nice to get some back-to-back games,” Husso said after Saturday’s matchup. “I haven’t played those for awhile. I think it’s easier for me to get dialed in right away for games when you play back-to-back games. It was a tight game, kind of disappointing. But (we got) one point. They’re a good hockey team, too, and we got one point so we need to look at the positive side.”
Husso and the Blues will get another chance to face Florida on Tuesday when the teams complete a home and home set at Enterprise Center (7 p.m., BSMW, 101 ESPN).
The Blues will be without Binnington, Justin Faulk and Tyler Bozak, who are each still in COVID-19 protocols. David Perron, Robert Thomas, Klim Kostin and James Neal are all expected to be out with injuries, meaning the Blues could play with just 17 skaters in Tuesday’s game.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The Blues have points in three of their last four games against the Panthers. Ryan O’Reilly has 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) in 24 career games against Florida, while Vladimir Tarasenko has 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in 13 matchups with the Panthers.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
BLUES Ville Husso’s 48 saves on Saturday were the most saves by a goaltender in a game this season and the third-most by a Blues goaltender on the road. Curtis Joseph holds the team record with 51, while Jason Bachashihua ranks second with 49.
PANTHERS Sam Reinhart, who has six points (three goals, three assists) in his last three games. Reinhart is playing in his first season with Florida after a July trade from the Buffalo Sabres.
