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There is unexpected motion, there are anticipatory passes, geometric precision off the boards. Preceding the zone entry, there is speed through the neutral zone. It’s an orchestra of offense that can be pretty to watch.

Perhaps just a bit … too pretty for Blues coach Craig Berube.

“I thought that they passed up some opportunities to shoot pucks,� Berube said before Saturday’s game against Seattle. “Looking for too many cute plays, maybe, for me. I think they can possess the puck more in the offensive zone, just grind it out a little bit more. Just wait, wait, wait on things, wait for a breakdown instead of forcing it.�

Pavel Buchnevich (one), Robert Thomas (five) and Jordan Kyrou (nine) combined for 15 shot attempts Thursday in Dallas, nearly a third of the Blues’ 48 total shot attempts in their 2-1 loss in a shootout. According to Natural Stat Trick, they had nine of the team’s 25 scoring chances and combined for 0.56 expected goals at all strengths.

In the first period, they set up Kyrou for a couple prime chances in the slot that were stopped by Jake Oettinger. In the third period, the trio almost won the game with Thomas’ attempted buzzer beater on an open net, but the shot was deflected by Stars forward Wyatt Johnston.

But things took a turn Saturday, when Buchnevich suffered an upper-body injury in the first period that forced him out of the Blues’ game at home against Seattle. Then in the second period Kyrou scored his first goal of the season, on an assist from Thomas. The game went to a shootout and Thomas' goal in that session gave the Blues a 2-1 victory.

The Blues’ coaching staff assembled the line at the start of training camp hoping that the team’s best three offensive players could gel together. There’s the play-making ability of Thomas. There’s the high-volume shooting from Kyrou. There’s the all-around game from Buchnevich, who does it all in all three zones.

It’s a line tied together by expectations after combining for 81 goals and 124 assists a season ago — and combining to take up $22.05 million of the Blues’ salary cap.

“You can see chemistry,� Thomas said. “You’re moving the puck around quicker, it’s on and off your tape. It’s into areas more rather than just tape-to-tape passes. That’s when you really see chemistry. (We had) a couple of really good plays. We had one in the first period where we banked it off the wall, put it behind the net, hit the slot. That shows chemistry. That’s what we’re looking for from each other.�

During training camp, Berube talked about how good the top line could be, but said the Blues needed them to find their way to the interior and finish plays around the net.

“There’s certain plays and situations we work on all the time, how we want to play our (offensive)-zone and what we want to do,� Berube said. “It’s a matter of those guys doing what we tell them to do and get to them spots. They’ve got to score dirty goals, too. It’s not always going to be off the rush or clean plays, or things like that. We need them to score goals on the inside.�

On Thursday night, the line played 10:37 together at five on five, mostly against Dallas’ top defensive pairing and top line. The Stars held a 16-11 advantage in shot attempts, an 8-4 edge in shots on goal and 0.69-0.17 edge in expected goals.

“That line, if they’re not playing a cute game and they’re playing straight north game and north in the offensive zone, north to the net, get to the net, shoot pucks, they’re going to have success,� Berube said.

Blue notes

Blues prospect Jimmy Snuggerud scored twice in his season opener Friday with Minnesota, including the overtime game-winner, as the Golden Gophers beat St. Thomas. Snuggerud also had an assist and a team-high five shots on goal.

He is a sophomore in college and was a first-round draft pick by the Blues in 2022 who could turn pro at the end of his season in Minnesota.

• AHL affiliate Springfield began its season Saturday night by losing at home to Hartford 3-1. It was the first professional game for prospects Zach Dean and Zack Bolduc.