My St. Louis Blues player to watch against the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday is forward Kasperi Kapanen.
Kapanen, who had an assist in a 4-3 overtime loss against the Boston Bruins on Saturday, gets a bump in the lineup into the top six tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers and will skate with Brayden Schenn and Jake Neighbours.
It was Kapanen's first point in five games, which doesn't boost a lot of numbers as far as a rise into the lineup, but his work ethic and things he does away from the puck, which was evident in naming him THN's player of the game Saturday, is something that hasn't gone unnoticed and will flip spots in the lineup with Brandon Saad.
"Small adjustment. I thought 'Kapi' was real good last game," Blues interim coach Drew Bannister said. "We want to reward guys when they're playing well for us and try and strengthen our group and see if we can continue to find chemistry with our lines."
Kapanen has eight points (three goals, five assists) in 16 games against the Flyers and can utilize his speed aspect to try and generate more offense, which was evident on the way he set up Kevin Hayes for the goal that tied the game 1-1 in the first period Saturday.
"He's close. I would agree with you," Bannister said. "I think the offense, the chances have been there, but what I liked about his game is I thought he was more direct, he played a more north game, he challenged D with his speed wide, which we want to see more of, but I saw a concerted effort to defend. He was blocking shots. Going back to the previous game too late in the game, he was putting himself on the line and we want to see that from our guys, and if he's willing to do that, he's going to play more and he's going to play more up in the lineup."
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