**Jim Montgomery Tasked with Reviving St. Louis Blues' Struggling Offense**

In a crucial move to address their offensive woes, the St. Louis Blues have brought in Jim Montgomery as their new head coach. Montgomery, who was hired on Sunday, steps into the role with the primary objective of jumpstarting a team that currently ranks near the bottom of the NHL in key offensive statistics.

The Blues, holding a 9-12-1 record, are languishing in 30th place for goals per game at 2.36, 29th in shots per game with an average of 26.2, and 25th in power-play efficiency at 16.7 percent. The recent 3-1 loss to the New York Islanders marked the 13th time this season the team has been held to two or fewer goals. This pressing issue ultimately led to the firing of former coach Drew Bannister after 76 games, making way for Montgomery.

Doug Armstrong, the general manager of the Blues, emphasized the urgent need for an improved power play, pointing out that even a minor increase in efficiency could significantly boost their goal tally. He also highlighted the need for a more aggressive strategy in front of the net, asserting that the team needs to embrace the physical challenges to reap offensive rewards.

Montgomery's recent tenure with the Boston Bruins saw him leading the team to a historic single-season record of 65-12-5 in 2022-23, averaging 3.67 goals per game. Known for his successful stints with the Dallas Stars and as an assistant coach with the Blues from 2020-22, Montgomery's total NHL coaching record stands at an impressive 180-84-33 over 297 games.

Armstrong expressed confidence in Montgomery's ability to connect with top players and get the best out of them, citing his past successes in both Dallas and Boston. The new coach's history of working well with both seasoned veterans and younger players is seen as a critical advantage during this transitional period for the team.

The Blues hope Montgomery's experience and coaching acumen will spark an immediate turnaround, starting with their next game against the New York Rangers. Forward Pavel Buchnevich, reflecting on the team's recent performance, underscored the necessity of solving their offensive problems, noting that relying on goalkeepers to stop 50 shots per game is not a sustainable strategy.

As Montgomery takes the reins, the Blues look forward to revitalizing their offense and climbing up the standings. The team's leadership believes Montgomery is ideally positioned to bring the needed changes, with his past achievements and energetic approach making him a promising fit for the challenges ahead.