On Nov. 24, the St. Louis Blues made a coaching change, replacing Drew Bannister with Jim Montgomery (whom the Boston Bruins fired five days earlier). The Chicago Blackhawks followed suit on Dec. 5, dismissing Luke Richardson and promoting Anders Sorensen from their AHL affiliate.
As both clubs prepare to play in the Winter Classic at Wrigley Field on Tuesday, here is how they have performed since making changes behind the bench:
St. Louis
Record since change: 8-5-3
After the Blues’ 3-1 loss to the New York Islanders on Nov. 23, which ended up being Bannister’s final game, forward Pavel Buchnevich cut straight to the point.
“We score two goals a game,” he told reporters. “We can’t win the games like that. … Our team has good players, and we’re not scoring. We’ve got to figure out offence. Offence is our biggest issue. Impossible to win with one and two goals. Just impossible.”
St. Louis had the 30th-ranked offence under Bannister, scoring two or fewer goals in 13 of its first 22 games, including one goal in seven of those games. Progress has been made since Montgomery took over the team. Shot quality is up considerably over the past 16 games. The Blues have been fourth in the NHL in expected goals per game since Nov. 25. (They were 28th through Nov. 23.)
The most noticeable improvement has come in the cycle game, where the Blues are averaging 11.3 scoring chances per game in all situations under Montgomery — third-best in the league over the past month. Bannister’s Blues were in the bottom half of the league in that category at 9.09 cycle chances per game (22nd). As a result, St. Louis is spending more time in the offensive zone.
The line of Dylan Holloway, Brayden Schenn and Jordan Kyrou has been particularly effective at generating off the cycle, out-chancing opponents 14-4 at 5-on-5. (Kyrou’s 30 cycle chances in all situations, which have led to three goals, are tied for seventh in the league since St. Louis’ coaching change.)
Top-line centre Robert Thomas, who missed 12 games earlier this season because of a fractured ankle, has hit another gear as well. Thomas leads the Montgomery-led Blues with 19 points and is averaging 12.5 offence-generating plays per game. Only Connor McDavid (16.9), Nathan MacKinnon (16.1), Jack Hughes (14.8) and Leon Draisaitl (13.1) are averaging more since Nov. 25.
Chicago
Record since change: 4-7-0
The Blackhawks enter the Winter Classic on a four-game losing streak, having been outscored 21-10 in that stretch. Chicago likely will miss the playoffs for the seventh time in eight years, so Sorenson’s primary objective for the rest of the season is getting the most out of Connor Bedard, who stagnated under Richardson. He is off to a solid start with five goals and 13 points in 11 games.
Bedard has seen an increase in ice time under Sorenson, who has played his star skater for 20:17 per game — up from 19:33 per game under Richardson. Most notably, Bedard is more involved in moving the puck up ice with Sorenson at the helm, generating 23.2 possession-driving plays per game, which is four more than he did before the coaching switch.
“He’s one of those guys we have to get him up the ice and get skating,” Sorenson told reporters earlier this month. “That’s when he’s at his best. We all see what he can do when the puck’s on his stick. We have to get a way for him to get the puck in motion.”
Sorenson has also flanked Bedard with wingers who complement him — Tyler Bertuzzi and Taylor Hall. Richardson was reluctant to play those three forwards together, doing so for only 36:48 at even strength despite the trio’s strong underlying numbers (58.2 xGF%). They have skated alongside each other for 38:30 over the past four games, scoring four times.
Hall, Bedard and Bertuzzi are expected to play together Tuesday. The Blackhawks hope that line will help them win an outdoor game for just the second time in seven tries.
