After recording a win in his NHL coaching debut against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night, St. Louis Blues interim head coach Drew Bannister is expected to keep the same lineup for Saturday's matchup with the Dallas Stars (7 p.m., Bally Sports, 101 ESPN).
Bannister held an optional practice ahead of Saturday's game, but he used the same lines in Friday's practice at Enterprise Center.
That would mean Bannister's top line of Pavel Buchnevich, Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyou will remain in tact after the trio contributed six points (three goals, three assists) in Thursday's 4-2 win.
"That line was outstanding," Bannister said Saturday. "Robby had a really good game, and I think there were some bright spots for Jordan. That was one of the big reasons we wanted to get him back there. They've had a lot of success in the past. The one thing we have to do is get Jordan going in the right driection of playing to his potential, and I think this is the best way to get it going."
The Blues will host a Dallas Stars club playing on the second night of a back-to-back after they earned a come-from-behind win over the Senators on Friday.
"They're a team that is comfortable playing from behind. They can score goals," Bannister said of the challenge the Stars present Saturday. "They're dangerous, certainly off the rush, their power play executes at a high standard. Tonight, for sure, we need to be aggressive but we need to play over the top of them. Discipline is going to be a big factor for us going in there tonight."
