Blues have lost three straight, Montgomery puts team through hard, rugged practice that had players sucking air at the end

With their season on the line, the Blues are 1-4 in their last five games, and no one seems to have the solution.

The Vancouver Canucks and St. Louis Blues squared off on Monday night in a Western Conference battle between two teams desperate to make the playoffs. The Blues entered this game only two points behind the Canucks in the standings and Vancouver began the game three points behind the Calgary Flames for the final wild card spot in the West.

ST. LOUIS — In Utah last weekend, St. Louis Blues coach Jim Montgomery benched linemates Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich. He followed that up by separating the two for the next game against the Vegas Golden Knights and the start of the teams’ rematch Thursday night.

NEW YORK — Defenseman K’Andre Miller had a goal and an assist and Igor Shesterkin made 35 saves as the surging New York Rangers routed the Philadelphia Flyers 6-1 on Thursday night.

Our staff identified 13 buyers, nine sellers and 10 teams that could go either way (or do some buying and selling) at the trade deadline.

Vegas was more determined on pucks; Blues looked a step slow; Thomas/Buchnevich were not good enough, have to get going

Nico Hischier is week to week for the Devils because of an upper-body injury.

To finally break the gravitational pull of .500, the Blues will need more from Thomas and Buchnevich. Thomas has a goal, two assists and a minus-3 rating in his last six games. Buchnevich has no goals, two assists and a minus-4 rating over the same span.

Brayden Schenn feels some teammates need to individually come prepared to play, reason why Blues are getting off to too many slow starts, including Saturday.

The Blues won the previous game between these teams 4-3 in overtime Dec. 10. Goaltender Joel Hofer made 22 saves to earn the victory and Robert Thomas (goal, two assists) and Dylan Holloway (goal, assist) paced the offense.

Blues defenseman Philip Broberg, front, reacts to his shot bouncing off the goal post in the third period of his team's 2-0 loss to Dallas on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, at Enterprise Center. Blues coach Jim Montgomery keeps seeking ways to spur stronger starts from his sputtering team.