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BUFFALO, N.Y. — In the three games entering Thursday night’s game in Buffalo, the Blues power play moved Jordan Kyrou to a position on the ice he’d never played before: the bumper.

The bumper is positioned in the slot and, with a lot of teams shifting to a diamond formation on the penalty kill, directly in the center of the defending players. They are crucial in being an outlet when teammates are pressured, in recovering loose pucks and at getting shots off quickly before the defense collapses.

During Tuesday night’s 3-2 loss to Boston, the Blues' first power-play unit scored its first goal in more than a month off a play that involved Kyrou at the bumper. Pavel Buchnevich floated a pass from the right wing into the slot for Kyrou, and Kyrou’s quick one-timer generated a rebound for Brayden Schenn to stuff on the backdoor.

“He’s able to get in and out areas really quick,� Blues coach Drew Bannister said of Kyrou. “When you’re the bumper, you have to be able to support on both sides and even up top from down and in plays. But he’s a shooter.

“Just where we’re working the puck off a lot of times, he’s on his forehand, so we saw that in the previous game when he had some pretty good looks. They get the one goal off the rebound. We’ll stick with what’s kind of been working for us, and I thought both units looked good last game.�

The bumper position has mostly been Buchnevich’s role across the past few seasons, but with the Blues power play sinking to being league's worst before Tuesday night, the Blues tried different concepts. Kyrou said he has never played in the bumper in the NHL, AHL or junior hockey.

“Try to look for some one-Ts there, little quick shots,� Kyrou said. “With a lot of teams doing the diamond nowadays, a lot of goals are being scored from there. It’s just another look for us.�

In the three games with Kyrou in that spot and on the ice, the Blues have 10 shots on goal in about 10 minutes. Overall, the Blues average about 40 shots per 60 minutes on five-on-four power plays, or roughly 6.67 across a 10-minute segment.

While Kyrou, Buchnevich, Schenn and Justin Faulk have remained together through that period, the Blues have rotated through Scott Perunovich, Colton Parayko and Jake Neighbours as the fifth member of the unit.

The Blues power play entered Thursday scoring on 15% of their chances, which was 26th in the NHL.

“I think it’s more of a support area,� Kyrou said. “You’re always an out for anyone on the walls and behind the net. Wherever guys get the puck, I’m an out in the middle or just giving them another option.�

Kapanen back in

Blues forward Kasperi Kapanen returned to the lineup after he was a scratch Tuesday vs. Boston. Thursday was his second game since suffered “a small concussion,� Kapanen said, on a hit by Zack MacEwen in Ottawa on Oct. 29.

Kapanen said he feels “back to myself and better than ever.�

“Stuff with your head, you’ve got to be careful and then take time,� Kapanen said. “I think I handled it well, and the team handled it well. I feel great again.�

Kapanen played on the fourth line with Oskar Sundqvist and Mathieu Joseph. Bannister said he liked the speed on the wings that Kapanen and Joseph bring and how that can create a forecheck for the Blues.

“I’ve played quite a bit with Sunny, so I know what to expect,� Kapanen said. “He’s awesome in our D-zone, and he takes care of that aspect. He’s really good at draws. Whenever he gets the puck, I’m just going to try to be open and gain speed and hold on to pucks in our zone, and I know he’s probably going to be around the net.�

Saad moves up

After playing fourth-line minutes Tuesday vs. Boston and practicing on the fourth line Wednesday in Maryland Heights, Brandon Saad skated on the second line Thursday with Schenn and Dylan Holloway.

“I think he’s going to challenge himself and that line,� Bannister said. “Certainly, we’re looking for more scoring five on five. I think Saader brings that. I expect him to have a big game for us.�

Saad has two goals on the season and played 8:57 against the Bruins. That was the lowest total in his career that wasn’t injury-related.

Bannister said he wanted to “get him in a position to have success, and now it’s up to the player to take that opportunity and dictate his play.�

“I have a ton of belief in Saader and what he does and what he can bring to the team,� Bannister said. “When he’s on his game, he’s a tough player to play against and he obviously scored some timely goals for us last year in the last six to eight weeks when he was really going.�