BLUES VS. SHARKS
When: Monday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. CT
Where: Enterprise Center
Watch: FOX Sports Midwest, FOX Sports GO
Listen: 101 ESPN, NHL App
Season Series presented by BJC Healthcare
The St. Louis Blues will play their first game at Enterprise Center in 10 months on Monday night when they host the San Jose Sharks (7 p.m., FSMW, 101 ESPN).
Health and safety officials from the City of St. Louis have determined that having less than 300 people at the game is the safest and most responsible way to start the season, so the Blues have invited frontline workers to the first four home games.
“I think it’s great that the frontline workers are going to be here, that’s awesome,” Blues Head Coach Craig Berube said. “I think it will be nice to be in front of some fans for sure, and it will be nice to be at home playing at Enterprise Center again. I think our guys are looking forward to it.”
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
The San Jose Sharks opened the season with a 4-3 win against the Arizona Coyotes but lost their most recent game, 5-3, on Saturday.
San Jose, who finished eighth in the Pacific Division last season with 63 points (29-36-5), made several changes in the offseason.
For the first time in 15 years, Joe Thornton is not wearing a Sharks uniform. Thornton played 1,104 games with the Sharks, recording 1,055 points. In October, he signed a one-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Sharks also lost center Melker Karlsson (signed in Sweden) and goalie Aaron Dell (signed with Toronto).
Patrick Marleau is back after a three-year absence, and goalie Devan Dubnyk was acquired in an offseason trade with Minnesota. Other additions include winger Matt Nieto and center Ryan Donato.
Bob Boughner begins his first full season as Head Coach after having the interim tag removed in September.
HOT VS. SAN JOSE
– Jaden Schwartz has 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) in 19 regular-season games against the Sharks.
– Jordan Binnington is 5-2-0 against San Jose with a 2.27 goals-against average and a .915 save-percentage.
– The Blues have won three straight games against the Sharks at Enterprise Center.
THEY SAID IT
“It should be a wakeup call. It’s a tough League and you have to show up every night, you’vev got to compete every night and you have to play the right way. We’re a structured hockey team, we play good defense, and we didn’t do any of that (Friday).” – Craig Berube after a lopsided loss to Colorado
“We usually come back the game after. We always bounce back, but you don’t want to let that happen… 8-0, that’s a bit excessive. We all know that, we’re gonna be better.” – Carl Gunnarsson on Blues’ ability to bounce back after losses
