Observations from Blues' 3-0 Win Vs. Sabres

The St. Louis Blues responded strongly after a poor performance against the Washington Capitals, securing a 3-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on Thursday.

Key Performances

Joel Hofer delivered a standout performance, achieving his first shutout of the season and the third of his career.
Mathieu Joseph and Nick Bjugstad contributed important secondary scoring.
The fourth line and Jayden Faulk had solid games, supporting the team effort.

Coaching Decisions and Accountability

Blues coach Jim Montgomery enforced accountability by healthy-scratching top players Jordan Kyrou and Oskar Sundqvist, with Kyrou's absence being the most surprising. Montgomery also likely benched Robert Thomas during part of the second period.

“It’s holding players accountable, no matter who it is.”

This decision sent a clear message to the team to improve effort and performance.

Team Attitude and Effort

Despite playing the second game of back-to-back nights, the Blues held a morning skate — an uncommon step demonstrating their focus and commitment.

“Montgomery wanted guys digging in, life, juice, compete and battle from his players and got it.”

After being dominated in battles for loose pucks and 1-on-1 contests against the Capitals, the Blues noticeably improved these aspects against the Sabres.

Season Context

The Blues' record stands at 5-8-2. Depending on perspective, this victory is either two wins in three games or only the second in their past ten outings (2-6-2).

Summary

St. Louis turned around after a rough game with disciplined coaching and stronger effort, earning a convincing 3-0 win fueled by solid goaltending, secondary scoring, and renewed team intensity.

Author's note: The Blues demonstrated how accountability and focus can quickly transform a team’s performance on the ice.

The Hockey News — 2025-11-07