Neighbours To Get Another Crack On Top Line With Thomas, Buchnevich

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Jake Neighbours has been here before, so when his name and number were up on the board next to Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich, it came as no surprise.

It looks like Neighbours will line up again there when the Blues play the final two games of their four-game homestand against the Calgary Flames, starting Tuesday.

Neighbours, who has been playing with Oskar Sundqvist and Zack Bolduc as of late, will flip spots with Brandon Saad; he last played with Thomas and Buchnevich in a 7-4 win against the Nashville Predators on Dec. 27. Tuesday will be their 15th game together

“It’s familiar. For me, I think I’ve played a couple strong past couple games,” Neighbours said. “Just try and go up there and do what I can to help them. I’m pretty familiar with them, they’re pretty familiar with me, so it should be a pretty easy transition.

“I can get in on the forecheck for them, turn over some pucks, be physical, create space for them. I think I’m someone who plays systematic offense pretty well. They’re more creative and I like to roll around and do what they do so well and for me, it’s just about getting to the net, getting them the puck and when I do have it, making the right play, being strong on it, but most of the time just looking for them.”

Blues coach Jim Montgomery, after Saturday’s 2-1 loss against the Columbus Blue Jackets in which he called upon the team’s consistency, isn’t moving Saad off because of poor play. It’s more so to inject something different into a line that will on most nights get the most ice time and see the most situations.

“Jake does all the little things well, and you need a guy like that,” Montgomery said. “He’s a guy that’s going to go in, do all the dirty work, be at the net front, reload, do the forecheck, all that stuff. He’s really responsible in his own end.

“Saad’s been there and Saad does some of those things and Saad’s really good off the rush because of his speed and his ability to make plays of the rush. So there’s a balance there. Sometimes it’s going to be, depending on who we’re playing, some nights it’s doing to be depending on how well they’re playing.”

Neighbours has 21 points (11 goals, 10 assists) in 44 games this season; the assists are up (one off his season total in 77 games last season) but the goal scoring (27 goals last season) are down but not for lack of effort or opportunities; he has just one goal the past 14 games.

“I try and impact the game in a lot of ways other than just scoring goals,” Neighbours said. “It’s important for me to stick with those habits and those details and continue to be an effective player in other areas. Obviously it’s frustrating. You want to score more. You want to help your team at the end of the day. I haven’t been finding the back of the net too much. I’m trying, not for a lack of effort. Hopefully they just start going in soon.

“I think just good in the O-zone, hanging onto pucks, delays, cutbacks, things like that. I think I’ve just been strong. I’ve had some good looks, felt good about my game, just not getting the results right now. Hopefully it starts coming.”

And that’s why Montgomery wasn’t hesitant on making the switch.

“We’ve felt Jake’s game really in the last three to four games, his effort being on pucks, coming up with loose pucks, being physical, has really had an uptick,” Montgomery said. “That’s why we thought it was good to maybe make the switch.”