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The Blues defensive group has so far delivered what it couldn’t a season ago: scoring.

Through 12 games, the Blues defense is among the league leaders in scoring with seven goals (tied for seventh). Colton Parayko leads the ºüÀêÊÓƵ blue line with three goals, including his two one-timers on Saturday night against the Maple Leafs.

Overall, the Blues have received 21.9% of their goals this season from defensemen, which is the fifth-highest mark in the NHL. They have also gotten 31.4% of their points from defensemen, which is the second-highest mark in the league behind only Colorado, which rosters Cale Makar and his 21 points, tied for the league lead among all players.

The Blues also entered Monday as one of three NHL teams with multiple defensemen with at least eight points, as Philip Broberg has nine (but will be out four to six weeks with a lower-body injury) and Parayko has eight. Winnipeg with Josh Morrissey and Neal Pionk and Vegas with Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore are the others.

For Parayko, his offense on Saturday was generated by his booming slap shot. His first goal came on a low-to-high feed back to the right point, while his second was slid into his wheelhouse on the left side of the ice.

“Just keep doing what you’re doing,� Parayko said. “Just whatever comes your way, take advantage of those opportunities and try to make the right play.�

Both shots registered over 90 mph on the radar gun, which is a common occurrence for Parayko. According to NHL Edge data, Parayko is third in the league with nine shots of at least 90 mph, behind dynamic offensive defensemen Victor Hedman (11) and Roman Josi (10).

“He’s got a bomb,� Blues forward Jordan Kyrou said. “I think every goal I’ve ever seen him score is exactly like that.�

Last year, the Blues defense was toward the bottom of the league in production. They were 30th in percentage of goals from defensemen and 19th in percentage of points. They had just one power-play goal scored by a defenseman all season.

While Parayko’s went down as an even-strength goal as it went in the net just as a penalty expired, it was generated while ºüÀêÊÓƵ was on the power play.

As the Blues navigate their schedule without Broberg on the back end and Robert Thomas up front, they will need more production from different parts of their lineup.

Getting involved

Blues captain Brayden Schenn tied his season high with 25 shifts on Saturday against the Maple Leafs, and Blues coach Drew Bannister said Schenn “led the way� with his play.

“His physicality, his overall game, being on the right side of the puck,� Bannister said. “There’s a lot of responsibility as a centerman, he had offensive opportunities. His defensive game was great, but from start to finish, shift to shift, he just kept building his game.�

Schenn got in a fight with Toronto’s Jake McCabe in the first period to try and generate momentum, and finished the night with two shot attempts, one on goal and one hit.