The St. Louis Blues will enter Game 6 Friday night facing elimination. After dropping Game 5 to the Winnipeg Jets, the Blues must win two games in a row if they want to advance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. To give the Blue Note their best shot at winning, the team will need more from star forward Jordan Kyrou.
Blues Need More From Kyrou
Kyrou This Series
Kyrou has had a quiet series so far. The 2022 All-Star has just two points in the series, both goals. Kyrou scored a power-play goal in Game 1, a game the Blues ultimately lost. His other goal came in Game 3 to increase the Blues lead in a convincing 7-2 win.
Other than those two goals, it has been a quiet series for Kyrou. With the exception of Game 1, Kyrou has recorded two shots or less in each game of the series. In addition, he was on the ice for three of the Jets Game 5 goals. Granted, one was an empty-net goal. Regardless, Kyrou is not producing at the level the Blues need from their core of players. Aside from Kyrou, the rest of the core is producing. They have a total of six goals through the first five games.
Kyrou’s Past Playoffs
Kyrou’s first taste of playoff action as a legitimate scorer in the NHL came in 2022, a postseason that saw the Blues reach the second round before a heartbreaking exit. Part of the reason the Blues got to the second round was the play of Kyrou. In 12 playoff games, Kyrou scored seven goals. He looked comfortable on the ice. He ranked third on the team in goals, behind just Ryan O’Reilly and David Perron.
The Difference
The difference between Kyrou in 2022 and 2025 is Kyrou’s role with the Blues. In 2022, Kyrou was very much a key part of the team. However, he was not a core member. The Blues were led by guys like O’Reilly, Perron, and Vladimir Tarasenko. The Blues core from the 2019 team that won the Stanley Cup (minus a few) was still very much together.
This year, Kyrou is part of the core. He is a guy the Jets and opponents throughout the season have prepared for. He lead the team in goals and was a big contributor on their 12-game winning streak. Kyrou is one of the main guys on the team, but is struggling to perform on the big stage.
What Needs to Change?
Kyrou has looked uncomfortable on the ice at times. Other times, he has looked invisible. Despite playing alongside forwards such as Jake Neighbours and Brayden Schenn, Kyrou has gone unnoticed for the most of the series.
To change his, and the Blues, fortunes, Kyrou needs to adjust his play. The Blues offence has found success against Connor Hellebuyck this series by having traffic in front of the net. Being a sniper, Kyrou typically does not need to go to the net in order to have a scoring chance. However, now would be a good time to start looking for a dirty goal in front of the net. Kyrou will not win any size competitions against Jets players, but he is a strong skater who can maneuver the puck to the net.
Kyrou would also benefit simply from taking more shots. As mentioned earlier, he has recorded two shots or less in all but one game this series. Given Kyrou’s shooting ability and Hellebuyck’s past struggles in the playoffs (including this series at times), there is no reason for Kyrou to not take more shots. Good things happen when the puck is thrown on net.
The Blues Need #25
Kyrou is a big reason why the Blues are playing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He has grown as a player the last few seasons. Now is when the Blues need Kyrou the most. Can the forward find away to help the team in an elimination game?
If he can, to paraphrase Jack Buck, “We will see you Sunday night.”
Main Photo: Terrence Lee- Imagn Images
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