With Cam Fowler (personal) returning from a one-game absence, Kessel will be the odd man out of the lineup against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 24-year-old Kessel is averaging 13:04 time-on-ice and has three points (0G / 3A) in 28 games this season.

Matthew Kessel will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins, allowing Fowler to return from a one-game absence due to personal reasons. The 33-year-old Fowler is averaging 21:49 time-on-ice and has 25 points (7G / 18A) in 51 games this season.

The Blues have points in nine of their last 10 games (7-1-2) and will roll with Binnington between the pipes on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 31-year-old Binnington saved 21 of 24 shots (.875 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks. Binnington has been solid since returning from the 4-Nations Face-Off, posting a 2.12 GAA and .915 SV% in six games (5-1-0). The Blue enter Thursday's contest as -123 road favorites against a Penguins squad riding a two-game winning streak.

Binnington will get the nod between the pipes for the 43rd time this season when the Blues travel to Anaheim on Friday. The Blues franchise netminder is enjoying a nice run of form since returning from a successful Four Nations break, posting a 4-1-0 record and a .923 SV%. He was particularly sharp in Los Angeles on Wednesday, stopping 21 of the 23 shots he faced in a 3-2 shootout victory over the Kings. Binnington is a good bet to stay in the win column on Friday as the Blues enter action at -150 on the money line.

Kessel averaged 13:05 time-on-ice and scored three points (0G / 3A) in 27 games with the Blues earlier this season but has not played a game with the club since January 31st. The 24-year-old defenseman has 17 points (5G / 12A) in 29 games with the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL) this season.

Parayko leads all Blues' players in time-on-ice this season, averaging 23:51 per game, and will likely be out of the lineup for the duration of the season. The 31-year-old Parayko represented Canada at the 4-Nations Face-Off and has been enjoying a great season in St. Louis, scoring 35 points (15G / 20A) in 62 games.

Ellis was a third-round pick, 93rd overall, of the Blues in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The 24-year-old goalie has yet to play an NHL game but has had an impressive season in the AHL, posting a 2.41 GAA and .926 SV% in 31 games (19-7-3) with the Springfield Thunderbirds.

The Blues had a four-game winning streak before losing 6-3 to the Dallas Stars on Sunday. They will attempt to return to the win column on Wednesday with Binnington between the pipes against the Los Angeles Kings. The 31-year-old Binnington saved 25 of 26 shots (.962 SV%) in his most recent start, a 4-1 win over the Kings. He has a 2.81 GAA and .899 SV% in 43 appearances this season (18-20-4). The Blues enter the action on Wednesday as +133 road underdogs against a Kings squad amid a four-game losing streak (0-3-1).

The Blues had a four-game winning streak before losing 6-3 to the Dallas Stars on Sunday. They will attempt to return to the win column on Wednesday with Binnington between the pipes against the Los Angeles Kings. The 31-year-old Binnington saved 25 of 26 shots (.962 SV%) in his most recent start, a 4-1 win over the Kings. He has a 2.81 GAA and .899 SV% in 43 appearances this season (18-20-4). The Blues enter the action on Wednesday as +133 road underdogs against a Kings squad amid a four-game losing streak (0-3-1).

Hofer has not recorded a victory since a 4-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on January 16th, a five-game stretch (0-3-1), where he has posted a 3.35 GAA and .892 SV%. He will attempt to return to the win columns when he tends the twine on Thursday against the Washington Capitals. The Blues, riding a two-game winning streak, enter the action on Thursday as +143 road underdogs against a Capitals squad with points in seven of their last eight games (5-1-2).

Binnington had a heroic performance in the 4Nations Face-Off to help the Canadian team defeat the Americans and continued that strong play in his return to NHL action on Sunday, saving 28 of 29 shots (.966 SV%) in a 3-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche. The 31-year-old netminder will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Seattle Kraken. He has a 2.84 GAA and .898 SV% through 40 games this season (16-19-4). The Blues enter Tuesday's contest as -142 home favorites against a Kraken squad coming off a 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Binnington had a heroic performance in the 4Nations Face-Off to help the Canadian team defeat the Americans and continued that strong play in his return to NHL action on Sunday, saving 28 of 29 shots (.966 SV%) in a 3-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche. The 31-year-old netminder will likely return to the crease on Tuesday against the Seattle Kraken. He has a 2.84 GAA and .898 SV% through 40 games this season (16-19-4). The Blues enter Tuesday's contest as -142 home favorites against a Kraken squad coming off a 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.