The St. Louis Blues have had some great goaltenders in their history. Glenn Hall, Curtis Joseph, and Brian Elliott are just some of the names who excelled between the pipes while wearing the Blue Note. Currently, Jordan Binnington and Joel Hofer have formed one of the best goalie tandems in the NHL. In recent weeks, however, an uncomfortable question has surfaced, and it is one the Blues may have to consider. Should Hofer be getting the majority of the starts over Binnington for the time being?
St. Louis Blues Goalie Situation
This is the second season Binnington and Hofer have been the tandem for the Blues. Last year was a success, as Binnington and Hofer helped the Blues remain in playoff contention until their 80th game of the season. The tandem was so dominant, that it would have shocked no one if the Blues had extended Hofer’s contract over the summer. With Binnington already under contract, the idea of having the tandem locked up for several seasons was an exciting one.
This season, Binnington has played in 25 games. He is 8-13-3 with a .896 save percentage and a 3.00 goals against average. Meanwhile, Hofer has played in 12 games. He is 7-3-1 with a .909 save percentage and a 2.63 goals against average.
There is a clear difference between these two sets of statistics. However, the season as a whole is not the reason why we are suggesting Hofer get more starts. Binnington has played in 17 more games than Hofer. That means Binnington is facing significantly more shots than Hofer. The more shots a goalie faces, the likelihood increases that more pucks will find their way into the net.
Blues Goalies in December
The St. Louis Blues goalie situation has taken a turn this month, and is why they may need to consider a change. Binnington has played in seven games. He is 1-4-1. He have given up 15 goals in those seven games. Furthermore, he was pulled from a game in Tampa Bay where he struggled and let in some soft goals.
Hofer has played in four games. He is 3-0-1. In his four games, he has given up seven goals. In addition, when Hofer replaced Binnington in Tampa Bay, he did not allow another goal, giving the Blue Note the opportunity to climb back in the game.
While the record and goals against stands out, what stands out even more is the difference in how the team is playing depending on who is in net. For whatever reason, the Blues seem to play better when Hofer is in net. That is more than likely a coincidence. Binnington is the ultimate competitor who is not afraid to stand up for his teammates (or himself with a water bottle if Nazem Kadri is involved).
Binnington is simply in a slump right now while Hofer is on a hot streak.
Ride the Hot Goalie Right Now
Binnington will overcome this slump and return to his usual form. However, in the meantime, the Blues should ride the hot hand and give Hofer the majority of the starts right now. This should not be looked at as an uncomfortable moment for the Blues goalie situation. On the contrary, it should be looked at as a vote of confidence for Hofer. The youngester has performed so well that the team is comfortable giving him extra starts for the time being.
The Blues are also looking to compete for a playoff spot despite being in a retool. They are right in the mix in the Western Conference. The team is already on a small losing streak. A bigger losing streak could push the team further out of the playoff picture. If the Blues turn to Hofer right now and he continues to perform well, that can keep the Blues in the picture. Then, when Binnington works out of his slump, he can return to his usual workload.
The Winter Classic
If the Blues do decide to ride the hot hand and give Hofer more starts, Binnington should still get the nod for the Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. The veteran deserves the honour. The Blues play two games before they head to Chicago. Hofer can play the first two at home, then Binnington gets the start at Wrigley. This would follow the plan of giving Hofer the majority of the starts for the time being while also giving Binnington a start he deserves.
Main Photo: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
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