What do line combinations and marriages have in common?

Let Blues coach Craig Berube explain.

“It’s like a marriage, sometimes it gets stale,” Berube said with a smile.

“Sometimes, you get a boost of excitement when you get a new guy on your line, a different type of player. I think that’s always good, changing them up a little bit. Even when things are going well, and you’re winning games, sometimes even changing them up a little bit is good for the team, and good for the players.”

In the last week, that meant a divorce of Pavel Buhcnevich from Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou.

Instead, Berube re-arranged the top line to include Brandon Saad with Thomas and Kyrou, while Buchnevich formed a trio with Brayden Schenn and Jake Neighbours.

The switch, put in place before the Blues beat Nashville on Thursday, has resulted in a pair of lines capable of driving play at five on five, and given Thomas and Kyrou a boost after eight straight games of playing with Buchnevich.

“When you’re winning, I think it’s hard to change things up,” Berube said. “But it’s also talking to the guys and talking to the linemates and seeing where they’re at and how they’re feeling and things like that. You kind of get a sense of what’s going on with them, and how they’re liking their line. Maybe they’re not. Maybe ‘Well, I think we could be doing better, blah, blah, blah.’ Then, maybe you want to make a change.”

Saad, Thomas and Kyrou have combined for four goals in the last two games (although both of Kyrou’s have come on the power play), but they’ve been more impressive in possessing pucks and generating offense .

At five on five in the last two games, with Saad-Thomas-Kyrou on the ice, the Blues have a 24-13 edge in shot attempts and have outshot teams 15-9. They have controlled nearly three-quarters of the game’s expected goals and have not allowed a goal .

Against Nashville on Thursday, Saad drove to the net for a goal in the second period, while Thomas deflected one at the net-front in the third period. Kyrou, meanwhile, tied a career high with eight shots on goal.

In his 12-year NHL career, Saad has been used a versatile player, able to move up and down the lineup and contribute with different types of players. How does he have to adjust to playing with Thomas and Kyrou?

“Just always be ready for the puck, really,” Saad said. “Really skilled players, they see the ice really well, a lot of speed so it’s a lot of fun to play with them. It’s being in around the net, playing my game, not changing too much, but always expect the puck when you’re out there with them.

“Just being in the right areas, expecting the puck. I think, for me, it’s getting in on the forecheck, hunting pucks down, distributing to them and then just letting them do their thing.”

Trying Saad with the two likely future pillars of the organization is the latest attempt from Berube to find a potent combination at the top of the lineup.

This season, four different forwards have played at least 20 minutes at five on five with Thomas and Kyrou. Buchnevich (146:34) has spent the most time with the pair, but with below-average possession figures despite his well-rounded overall game. Vladimir Tarasenko (83:13) teamed with Thomas and Kyrou briefly in October and again in December without overwhelming results.

Ivan Barbashev (49:01) helped the line find success before Christmas, but it was disbanded after a poor game against the Blackhawks on Dec. 29. That brings us to Saad.

“I think we’ve used a number of different guys there, and a lot of times, it works depending on different situations and different times of the year,” Berube said. “Right now, with 'Saader' there, he’s doing a good job of keeping pucks alive for those guys, being around the net, driving pucks deeps like I talked about. So they get in the (offensive) zone and they can get going there.

“Different guys do different things, but those two guys are talented enough they can play with anybody.”

Saad said: “Anytime you’re put in a good situation to have production and play with some good players, you’re going to have success. Just taking advantage of the opportunity.”

Saad himself has had an up and down season . He’s had three streaks of at least four games without a point. He also had a three-game goal streak in October, and scored in all four games during the Blues’ most recent trip.

Saad is in the second season of a five-year contract that carries a $4.5 million salary-cap hit.

“I think just not overthinking too much, just letting it flow out there, getting around the net, taking pucks to the net, that’s my game,” Saad said. “The more I do that, the more havoc I’m going to create. I think I’m doing a better job of that.”