Blues’ goalie Binnington focused on
his game with Olympic selection looming
[December 09, 2025]
MONTREAL (AP) — Jordan Binnington knows the chatter is out there.
He’s leaning on the mindset that’s pulled him through tough
stretches before.
The goalie who backstopped Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off opened
the NHL season as the front-runner to start in February’s
Milan-Cortina Games. But a sluggish start — for both him and the St.
Louis Blues — has raised questions about where he fits in Canada’s
Olympic plan.
“I’m aware of what’s going on, and you want to put yourself in the
best position to make that team and make it easy for people making
the decision,” he told The Canadian Press. “At the same time, I feel
like I’ve been around the league for a decent amount of time and I
know that if I control my inner world and what I need to do to feel
at my best, then the rest will take care of itself.
“That’s where my focus goes.”
Sunday night was a step in that direction.
Binnington made 23 saves in a 4-3 victory over the Montreal
Canadiens, thwarting several Grade-A chances — including a
last-second look from Canadiens sniper Cole Caufield in the crease —
to earn his seventh win this season.
It was a strong outing amid a difficult campaign for the 32-year-old
from Ontario, who’s posting career-low stats across the board.
Binnington has a .875 save percentage, ranking 68th leaguewide and
sixth-last among goalies with at least 10 games played. His
minus-10.86 goals-saved above average, measuring how a goalie
compares to the league average, is also fifth-worst according to
analytics website Natural Stat Trick.
“Numbers aren’t necessarily where you want them to be,” the
6-foot-2, 172-pound netminder said. “I’ve been approaching it as
just focusing on my own process and what I need to feel good at the
right time. I’m building my game every day, and that’s all I can do
is control what I can control.
[to top of second column] |
Ottawa Senators' Brady Tkachuk, left, is unable to score past St.
Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington during the third period of
an NHL hockey game Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP
Photo/Jeff Roberson)
“The more I do that the more things will come out
and fall into place.”
Binnington said he hasn’t spoken to Canada’s management team about
the Olympic selection less than a month away — Doug Armstrong is
both the general manager for St. Louis and the Canadian team.
“We haven’t talked about it at all. I think nothing needs to be said
really, just do your job, focus here and the better the St. Louis
Blues do, the better that is for that situation as well,” he said.
One thing working in Binnington’s favor is his proven ability to
step up in big moments.
He led St. Louis to the Stanley Cup in 2019, rising from
minor-league goalie to season savior and playoff hero in a few short
months.
The fiery netminder — also known for his short temper — showed the
same clutch play during the 4 Nations final, turning aside 31 of 33
American shots in Canada’s 3-2 win, including a game-saving
desperation glove stop on Auston Matthews in overtime.
“If you’re looking at statistics, you would, you know … but
Binnington is such a winner,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “It
doesn’t matter the stage, he always has the ability to bounce back
because of his mental toughness, his belief in himself, and he was
outstanding (Sunday).”
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