blues vs ducks: The St. Louis Blues travel to Anaheim to face the Ducks on April 3 after a narrow 2-1 overtime loss left coach Jim Montgomery calling for change. Montgomery confirmed roster adjustments in his pregame availability at Honda Center and cited recent results and upcoming scheduling as drivers. The game is set for April 3, and both teams enter with fresh lineup notes and immediate questions about readiness.
Blues Vs Ducks: Lineups and early reactions
Blues Head Coach Jim Montgomery confirmed multiple changes to his lineup at Honda Center after the loss in Los Angeles. Montgomery opened with the warning that “there are going to be changes, ” and then listed the moves: Jonathan Drouin, Oskar Sundqvist, Nathan Walker and Tyler Tucker are in; Pavel Buchnevich, Alexey Toropchenko, Jack Finley and Justin Holl are out. On Buchnevich’s absence, Montgomery described it as a “maintenance thing” with back-to-back games coming up against Colorado, adding that the club wants to ensure the player is “at his best for those to games. “
Montgomery also confirmed the projected forward groupings and defensive pairs for the night: Dylan Holloway—Robert Thomas—Jimmy Snuggerud; Jonathan Drouin—Dalibor Dvorsky—Jordan Kyrou; Jake Neighbours—Pius Suter—Jonatan Berggren; Otto Stenberg—Oskar Sundqvist—Nathan Walker. On defence: Philip Broberg—Logan Mailloux; Theo Lindstein—Colton Parayko; Cam Fowler—Tyler Tucker. Those alignments reflect the coach’s response to recent results and roster availability.
Ducks response and roster notes
The Ducks begin a five-game homestand carrying the sting of a late collapse in their last game, when they conceded two goals in the final two minutes to lose 4-3 to the San Jose Sharks. “It hurt, ” Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville said of the late goals, noting the team had played well for much of the night. Forward Alex Killorn described final-minute breakdowns as decisive: “A couple of breakdowns at the end of the game, ” Alex Killorn said. “Other than that, it was a pretty good game. “
Rookie Nathan Gaucher made his NHL debut in that loss, logging 7: 08 of ice time centering the fourth line between Mason McTavish and Frank Vatrano. “He gives us some size, ” Joel Quenneville said, noting Gaucher’s right-handed shot and occasional faceoff work. Gaucher summed up the speed of the NHL: “(The game) goes fast, ” he said, and his recent stretch in the minors—14 points in 18 games prior to the call-up—preceded the opportunity.
What to watch and next steps
Puck drops at 10: 00 p. m. ET Friday. Immediate storylines: whether Montgomery’s changes produce a short-term lift for the Blues, how Pavel Buchnevich’s “maintenance thing” affects availability for the upcoming Colorado back-to-back, and whether the Ducks can regroup at home after conceding late goals. Line chemistry with the newly confirmed groupings and Gaucher’s next shifts will be key tracking points for both clubs during the five-game homestand.
Expect coaches to monitor performance closely and make further adjustments as the night unfolds; the matchup will clarify whether the recent tweaks put the Blues on a different course and how the Ducks respond at Honda Center. blues vs ducks remains a matchup defined by roster moves, immediate reactions from both benches, and clear next checkpoints on each team’s schedule.
