Some changes for Avalanche rookies
Tyson Jost and
Alexander Kerfoot, both natural centers: Jost will move from center to left wing, and Kerfoot will move from left wing to center.
Looking for a spark to ignite a cold offense and put an end to a losing streak that's reached two games, coach
Jared Bednar is making those moves Thursday when the Avalanche play St. Louis at the Pepsi Center.
Also,
Jonathan Bernier will start in goal and defenseman
Patrik Nemeth returns to the lineup after missing one game with a shoulder injury.
Chris Bigras will be scratched for the first time.
The lineup:
FORWARDS
Tyson Jost -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Mikko Rantanen
Sven Andrighetto -- Matt Duchene -- Nail Yakupov
Gabriel Landeskog -- Alexander Kerfoot -- J.T. Compher
Colin Wilson -- Carl Soderberg -- Blake Comeau
DEFENSE
Nikita Zadorov -- Erik Johnson
Patrik Nemeth -- Tyson Barrie
Mark Barberio -- Anton Lindholm
GOALIES
Jonathan Bernier
Semyon Varlamov
Jost moves from the fourth and third lines to the first unit with
Nathan MacKinnon and
Mikko Rantanen. Kerfoot goes from the second line to the third with
Gabriel Landeskog and
J.T. Compher.
"Those are two pretty amazing players, so it'll be fun." Jost said after the morning skate. "I'm excited for the opportunity. It's going to be a challenge, but I'm up to that challenge. That's where I want to be, in the top six. I'm not going to complain if I'm in the bottom six or top six, but I'm used to being in the top six. I'm comfortable there and I'm excited to get things going tonight."
Jost returned to the lineup Tuesday in Nashville after missing two games with a knee injury and bone bruise, sustained when he fell awkwardly after being cross-checked by Boston's
Adam McQuaid on Oct. 11. He played 15 minutes against the Predators and had one shot on goal.
"I was pretty scared," he said of the injury. "When I was down on the ice, a lot of things were going through my mind. I thought I wasn't going to play for the rest of the season because it was so painful. I'm very fortunate."
Kerfoot, who starred at Harvard, had one shot on goal and no points in the past three games while on a line with
Matt Duchene and
Nail Yakupov, who has six shots and no points in that stretch.
"One of the reasons we didn't put (Kerfoot at center) right away is because we thought it would be an easier transition for him to start on the wing," Bednar said. "Kind of get his feet underneath him and get used to the opponents and whatnot.
"(Center) is where he's played his whole life. I feel like he's getting closed out on the boards a little bit and not finding as much space as he's used to. Part of that is the competition and level of play. After losing a couple of games and wanting to move our lines around a little bit to try and find a spark, it's a good opportunity for him to get back in the middle of the ice and see how he handles it."
The Blues are coming off a 5-2 home win against Chicago on Wednesday and didn't have a morning skate.
They were 4-0-1 against the Avalanche last season and are 6-1-3 in their past 10 games at the Pepsi Center. They've also killed 30 of the Avalanche's 31 power plays in the past 12 games.
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