Husso will start Game 4 at Enterprise Center on Monday (9:30 p.m. ET; TNT, CBC, SN, TVAS) with Jordan Binnington out for the remainder of the best-of-7 series because of a lower-body injury sustained during a 5-2 loss in Game 3 on Saturday. Binnington was injured following a collision in the crease with teammate Calle Rosen and Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri at 6:45 of the first period.
The Blues are hopeful Binnington can return if they advance to the Western Conference Final. For now, Husso will again take center stage.
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"Ville is very capable of playing good hockey and has all year and his confidence has only gotten better the amount of days he's been in the NHL year-by-year and I'm sure he's looking forward to the challenge," St. Louis center Brayden Schenn said. "We're looking forward to seeing what Ville can do and when he's in the net. We're just as confident with 'Binner' there and just got to play hard in front of them.
"[Binnington's] mindset is to get back as soon as possible and that's all he can control right now."
Husso started the first round against the Minnesota Wild and played the first three games before being replaced by Binnington heading into Game 4. He made 37 saves in a 4-0 win in Game 1, his first Stanley Cup Playoff game, but the 27-year-old lost 6-2 in Game 2 and 5-1 in Game 3.
"A lot of faith, he's played great for us all year," Blues coach Craig Berube said. "Yeah, I thought he had a real good [Game 1]. He's got the ability to do a real good job for us. I think we've played well in the series, we're right there. It's a shot away here and there. We'll be ready to go tomorrow."
Husso is 1-3 with a 3.38 goals-against average and .891 save percentage in the playoffs after going 25-7-6 with a 2.56 GAA, .919 save percentage and two shutouts during the regular season. He supplanted a struggling Binnington as the starter for a large portion of the season.
"He's just a kid who seems pretty unflappable," defenseman Robert Bortuzzo said. "He's got great energy in the room. Just a true character who plays with a lot of passion and I'm sure he's champing at the bit to get in there. He was put in a tough spot last game, coming into a playoff game, but you can see how the fans reacted. I'm sure he's going to embrace that. And as a team we know what we got back there, so we're very comfortable."
Husso allowed four goals on 23 shots in the loss Saturday, but Berube said it was a tough spot to come into a game when a player isn't expecting to play.
"I don't have to say a lot to him," Berube said. " He's ready to go. He's done a great job this year of developing himself throughout this season with (goaltending coach) 'Davey' Alexander and he's become a better goalie over the season.
"We're here to win. That's it. Just go try to win."
