Brandon Saad's impending contract termination has opened a door for Alexandre Texier on the St. Louis Blues' roster. With coach Jim Montgomery expressing confidence in Texier, he has been placed on a line with Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich ahead of their season opener against the Colorado Avalanche. Texier, eager to capitalize on this opportunity, acknowledges that he needs to simplify his game and focus on positioning to maximize his contributions.

Despite a challenging season with only eight points so far, Texier aims to regain his footing, having recently overcome a series of setbacks including injuries and being a healthy scratch. Montgomery noted the potential of Texier when he previously collaborated with Thomas and Buchnevich, highlighting their synergy on the ice. With the Blues seeking a wild card spot, Texier's performance will be crucial as he aims to prove his worth to the team.

The St. Louis Blues have placed veteran forward Brandon Saad on waivers, intending to send him to the minors. General Manager Doug Armstrong indicated that if Saad clears waivers, he will be assigned to the Springfield Thunderbirds of the AHL. With a $4.5 million cap hit for another year, his trade prospects appear slim, leading to his current waiver situation.

This season, Saad has struggled, failing to score in 40 out of 43 games, accumulating only 16 points through seven goals and nine assists. His production has led to minimal trade interest from other teams, prompting Armstrong to express a need to create space for younger players like Alexandre Texier.

In a thrilling Winter Classic at Wrigley Field, Cam Fowler marked his 1,000th NHL game with two goals, leading the St. Louis Blues to a decisive 6-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. The Blues showcased a dominant performance, with Justin Faulk contributing a goal and two assists, while Jordan Kyrou, Dylan Holloway, and Alexandre Texier also found the net. This win marked St. Louis' third victory in four games.

Meanwhile, the Blackhawks continued their struggle, suffering their fifth consecutive defeat, having been outscored 27-12 during this slump. Taylor Hall and Tyler Bertuzzi managed to score for Chicago in front of a lively crowd of 40,933.

In other NHL action, Kirby Dach's goal propelled the Montreal Canadiens past the Vegas Golden Knights, snapping their six-game winning streak. The Canadiens scored three unanswered goals after trailing 2-0, showcasing their resilience. Jakob Chychrun's goal helped the Washington Capitals defeat the Boston Bruins, while the Toronto Maple Leafs secured a win over the New York Islanders, moving into a tie for first place in the Atlantic Division.

The Detroit Red Wings celebrated Todd McLellan's 600th coaching victory with a win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, while the Philadelphia Flyers shut out the San Jose Sharks. The Colorado Avalanche continued their winning streak by defeating the Winnipeg Jets, and the Dallas Stars edged past the Buffalo Sabres. The Anaheim Ducks managed to overcome a late comeback from the New Jersey Devils, and the Minnesota Wild triumphed over the Nashville Predators. The Columbus Blue Jackets also secured a shootout victory against the Carolina Hurricanes.

In a thrilling Winter Classic matchup at Wrigley Field, Cam Fowler marked a significant milestone by scoring twice in his 1,000th NHL game, leading the St. Louis Blues to a decisive 6-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. The game drew a jubilant crowd of 40,933, showcasing the festive spirit surrounding this iconic venue.

Fowler, who was acquired from Anaheim just weeks prior, opened the scoring with a power-play goal early in the first period. He later added another goal in the second period, contributing to a strong offensive performance by the Blues. Justin Faulk also shone with a goal and two assists, while Jordan Kyrou, Dylan Holloway, and Alexandre Texier each found the back of the net, helping St. Louis secure its third win in four games.

On the other side, the Blackhawks struggled, suffering their fifth consecutive loss, with their offense being outscored significantly during this slump. Taylor Hall and Tyler Bertuzzi managed to score for Chicago, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Blues' commanding lead. Interim coach Anders Sorensen's squad now sits at 4-8-0 under his leadership, highlighting the challenges they face as they approach the midpoint of the season.

Key moments included a crucial save by Jordan Binnington on a breakaway from Hall, which helped the Blues maintain their momentum. St. Louis has now improved to a perfect 3-0 in outdoor games, all of which have been Winter Classic victories, showcasing their prowess in unique settings.

Looking ahead, both teams are set to play at home on Friday, with the Blues taking on the Ottawa Senators and the Blackhawks facing the Montreal Canadiens.

In a thrilling Winter Classic matchup at Wrigley Field, Cam Fowler celebrated his 1,000th NHL game by scoring twice, leading the St. Louis Blues to a decisive 6-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. The Blues showcased their offensive prowess, with Justin Faulk contributing a goal and two assists, while Jordan Kyrou, Dylan Holloway, and Alexandre Texier also found the net. This win marked St. Louis' third victory in four games, while Chicago's struggles continued, suffering their fifth consecutive loss and being outscored 27-12 during this stretch.

The game began with an early advantage for St. Louis, capitalizing on a power play opportunity just 48 seconds into the first period after Chicago's Louis Crevier was penalized for delay of game. Fowler opened the scoring, marking his second goal in nine games since joining the team from Anaheim. Faulk extended the lead with a shot from the point in the second period, and Fowler further solidified their dominance with another goal before the end of the period.

In other NHL action, the Montreal Canadiens ended the Vegas Golden Knights' six-game winning streak with a 3-2 comeback victory, highlighted by Kirby Dach's decisive goal. Montreal rallied from a 2-0 deficit, showcasing resilience with three unanswered goals. Meanwhile, the Washington Capitals defeated the Boston Bruins 3-1, thanks to Jakob Chychrun's standout performance and Aliaksei Protas's two goals, including a late empty-netter. The Toronto Maple Leafs also continued their strong form, beating the New York Islanders 3-1, with notable contributions from David Kampf, Steven Lorentz, and John Tavares.