Blues vs. Flyers: A Dream Debut Awaits

The ice at Enterprise Center is set to be the stage for a memorable night in St. Louis as the St. Louis Blues (6-8-3) prepare to host the Philadelphia Flyers (8-5-3) on Friday, November 14th. While the matchup between two Original Six franchises is always a compelling event, the primary storyline revolves around a young defenseman's dream finally coming true.

The Main Event: Hunter Skinner's NHL Debut

For 24-year-old defenseman Hunter Skinner, Friday night is the culmination of a long and patient journey. Acquired from the New York Rangers in the blockbuster trade that sent Vladimir Tarasenko and Niko Mikkola to Broadway in February 2023, Skinner has been a mainstay with the Springfield Thunderbirds of the American Hockey League. He logged 147 games in the minors, consistently working his game and waiting for the call.

"Since I was a little kid," a beaming Skinner said, according to The Hockey News. "It’s a dream-come-true. I’m super-excited for tonight." The anticipation is high, not just for Skinner, but for his entire family, who will be in attendance to witness his first NHL shift.

Blues head coach Jim Montgomery is fully aware of the significance of the moment. "If this is not the greatest day in his life, it’s in his top three," Montgomery noted. "Everybody remembers their first game, you dream of it. There’s nothing like your first game in the NHL." The coach saw Skinner's potential during training camp and is looking for a specific type of performance. "What we’re wanting to see is he has poise with the puck, but he’s hard too. He plays the game with physicality and emotion, which our team can use."

Skinner will slot into the lineup on the third defensive pairing alongside fellow Michigan native Matthew Kessel, replacing Tyler Tucker, who will be a healthy scratch for the first time this season. Skinner's journey has been one of perseverance, and he's ready to seize his opportunity.

Lineup Shuffle and Team Momentum

Skinner's insertion is part of a larger lineup shakeup for the Blues. In addition to Tucker, veteran forward Nick Bjugstad will also watch from the bench for the first time this season. Coach Montgomery explained that the move is part of a reset, noting that some players weren't having the same impact on building team momentum.

On the positive side, Mathieu Joseph returns to the lineup after missing Tuesday's game with a lower-body injury. His speed and tenacity will be a welcome boost for a Blues team that has shown signs of life recently.

Speaking of signs of life, the Blues are playing their best hockey of the young season, putting together a record of 3-1-1 in their last five games. "There’s signs, but we’ve got to see consistency coming out the right way," Montgomery stated. This game against the Flyers and the upcoming back-to-back against the Vegas Golden Knights are crucial tests as they head into a five-game road trip.

Key Matchups and What to Watch

While Skinner's debut is the human interest story, the on-ice battle will be fierce. The Flyers boast a high-powered offense with young stars like Matvei Michkov, Trevor Zegras, and Travis Konecny. The Blues' top-four defensemen—Colton Parayko, Philip Broberg, Cam Fowler, and Justin Faulk—have been logging heavy minutes and will be tested by this group.

In goal, it will be a battle of netminders looking to build on strong starts. Jordan Binnington gets the nod for the Blues, looking to continue his solid play. For Philadelphia, Samuel Ersson will start, looking to steal a game on the road.

Blues Projected Lineup:
Forwards: Pavel Buchnevich-Robert Thomas-Jimmy Snuggerud | Dylan Holloway-Dalibor Dvorsky-Jordan Kyrou | Brayden Schenn-Pius Suter-Mathieu Joseph | Alexey Toropchenko-Oskar Sundqvist-Nathan Walker
Defensemen: Philip Broberg-Colton Parayko | Cam Fowler-Justin Faulk | Matthew Kessel-Hunter Skinner
Goaltender: Jordan Binnington
Healthy Scratches: Nick Bjugstad, Alexandre Texier, Tyler Tucker

Flyers Projected Lineup:
Forwards: Matvei Michkov-Sean Couturier-Travis Konecny | Owen Tippett-Christian Dvorak-Trevor Zegras | Tyson Foerster-Noah Cates-Bobby Brink | Garnet Hathaway-Rodrigo Abols-Nicolas Deslauriers
Defensemen: Cam York-Travis Sanheim | Nick Seeler-Jamie Drysdale | Emil Andrae-Noah Juulsen
Goaltender: Samuel Ersson
Healthy Scratches: Nikita Grebenkin, Adam Ginning, Egor Zamula

As the puck drops, all eyes in St. Louis will be on Hunter Skinner. For the Blues, it's a chance to build on their recent success and climb the standings. For the Flyers, it's an opportunity to continue their solid road play. It's a classic matchup with a modern twist, and one that promises plenty of action.