Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington nearing more and more franchise milestones

LAS VEGAS In the very near future, Jordan Binnington could find himself inching toward the top of most Blues goaltending leaderboards.

When Binnington played on opening day in Seattle, he passed Curtis Joseph for third in franchise history in games played.

When he started Friday in Las Vegas, Binnington tied Joseph with his 275th start, behind only Mike Liut (339).

Binningtons four season-opening wins are the most in Blues history.

With 146 victories, Binnington is two away from tying Jake Allen for second, and five away from career leader Liut.

When he makes 455 more saves or about 19 more games such as the 24-save performance he submitted Friday against the Golden Knights Binnington will pass Joseph for second in career saves.

Not that hes thinking about chasing down or passing Joseph, who Binnington admired when he was younger.

I try not to think too much about it, really, Binnington said.

Obviously, I definitely looked up to him growing up, love the way he played and competed.

I know he was a big part of the organization when he was here.

Its just the same mentality for me, not looking too far ahead, focusing on the moment.

As stuff like this happens and comes up, its very cool to acknowledge.

As the Blues have opened the season with two uneven games from period to period, Binnington has again been there to support them.

In Seattle, he made 21 saves across the first 3112 minutes, allowing his teammates to storm back with three goals late in the second period en route to winning 3-2.

In Las Vegas on Friday night, he made half of his 24 saves in the second period, keeping the Blues within striking distance of the Golden Knights despite being outshot in each of the first two periods and eventually losing 4-3.

According to both Natural Stat Trick (6.64) and MoneyPuck (6.98), no NHL goaltender has faced more expected goals against early in the season.

Its our job, right? Binnington said.

Just give the team a chance to win.

Every night that (I) can hold it down until the boys get going, or some nights, they score three in the first and youve got it hold it down later.

Its kind of the fun part of the job, one of the fun parts is navigating through that.

Obviously, first game of the season, you never know whats going to come of it.

It was nice, you could feel once we got that first, it really started to pick up and momentum changed.

We really played right through the rest of the game.

Binnington and partner Joel Hofer are two of the biggest keys to the Blues season.

Last year, the pair buoyed the club despite underlying metrics that placed the Blues possession at 5 on 5 toward the bottom of the league.

They combined for a .913 save percentage and were up there with Winnipeg, Florida, Boston and the Rangers for best goaltending tandem in the NHL.

For Binnington, replicating last seasons success starts with staying in the moment, a mantra hes repeated in recent seasons.

But how does he do it? Its ongoing, Binnington said.

You feel different every day, and youve got to adapt to how youre feeling and figure out what you need and what works for you.

I dont think theres ever a solid answer.

Sometimes, that means working on different aspects of his game from day to day.

Maybe dealing with net-front traffic.

Possibly working on breakaways.

Perhaps fine-tuning his play on shots from the slot.

I just think just building each day to progressively get better and evolve to be the best I can be, Binnington said.

I think its just an ongoing process of that compounding over time is what my focus is.

Upcoming decisions? The Blues could be welcoming back a handful of forwards during their upcoming homestand, as Brandon Saad, Alexandre Texier and Oskar Sundqvist could return.

Saad missed the opening trip of the season while awaiting the birth of his daughter, who was born Thursday.

Texier has been out the last two games because of an upper-body injury and Blues coach Drew Bannister deemed Texier day-to-day.

Sundqvist, meanwhile, could be cleared for contact as he recovers from knee surgery.

With one certain addition in Saad, and other possible ones in Texier and Sundqvist, the Blues will have to determine how that impacts their lineup and who comes off the roster.

Zack Bolduc began the season as a healthy scratch and is waivers exempt should the Blues want to send him down to AHL affiliate Springfield.

While the fourth line of Alexey Toropchenko, Radek Faksa and Nathan Walker has impacted both Blues wins this season, they have the least amount of ice time per game.

Hopefully, everyones back and theyre healthy, Bannister said.

Well look at our lineup then, and well make our decisions.

Heading home The Blues flew back to St.

Louis on Saturday, and will not practice Sunday in advance of their home opener, against Minnesota at 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday.

Golden Knights 4, Blues 3 St.

Louis 1 1 1 3 Vegas 2 1 1 4 First Period 1, St.

Louis, Buchnevich 2 (Kyrou, Broberg), 6:47.

2, Vegas, Eichel 1 (Barbashev, Stone), 8:02.

3, Vegas, Barbashev 3 (Stone, Eichel), 18:13.

Penalties Kyrou, STL (Hooking), 9:42.

Second Period 4, Vegas, Theodore 1 (Schwindt), 2:55.

5, St.

Louis, Buchnevich 3 (Faulk, Kyrou), 7:29 (pp).

Penalties Theodore, LV (Slashing), 6:01; Bolduc, STL (Slashing), 11:51.

Third Period 6, Vegas, Roy 1 (Theodore, Pietrangelo), 12:53.

7, St.

Louis, Thomas 1 (Parayko, Buchnevich), 15:04.

Penalties Hanifin, LV (Delay of Game), 15:48.

Shots on Goal St.

Louis 7-6-922.

Vegas 9-13-628.

Power-play opportunities St.

Louis 1 of 2; Vegas 0 of 2.

Goalies St.

Louis, Binnington 1-1-0 (28 shots-24 saves).

Vegas, Hill 2-0-0 (22-19).

A 17,861 (17,367).

T 2:25..

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