Joel Hofer

Hofer picked up his second career start in the NHL Saturday, giving up three goals on 24 shots in a 3-2 loss to Carolina. It looks like Ville Husso is ready to return and that was enough to put Hofer back in the minors.

Hofer, 21, was making his second career start in this one. While he was not outright picked apart in Saturday's showing, he still came up just short, with Brendan Smith's late third-period goal snapping a 2-2 tie and sending the Blues on their way to defeat. Hofer has yielded three goals in each of his first two NHL starts. Hofer has played well enough in the early going to warrant a bit of streaming interest in a pinch. The Blues will meet up with Edmonton on Sunday as they look to salvage the end half of a weekend back-to-back.

Hofer has only appeared in one game for St. Louis this season, which was back on November 4th against the San Jose Sharks. During that game he allowed three goals on 26 shots to post a save percentage of .885. He came out of that matchup with a win. Hofer will start the first portion of this back-to-back for the Blues, with Binnington playing on Sunday against the Edmonton Oilers.

Hofer had a night to remember as the rookie picked up the win in his first career start. He picked up an assist on Robert Thomas' empty-net goal which made him the first Blues goalie since Jason Bacashihua back in December of 2005 to notch a helper in his first career start. Hofer shut the door with six saves in the final period to secure the victory for his team.