The Blues' new head coach, Davis Payne, right, talks to his bench during a game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday in St. Louis. (Bill Boyce/Associated Press)

Davis Payne has yet to solve the St. Louis Blues’ struggles on home ice or post an NHL win, but he has the players smiling.

The 39-year-old head coach had little time to prepare for his first test, a 6-3 loss to league-leading Chicago, after taking over from the fired Andy Murray on Saturday morning.

But Payne still managed to strike a chord with his charges, namely the Blues’ top scorer this season, right-winger Brad Boyes.

“A couple of times coming off a shift, and it wasn’t every guy, he tried to adjust things and get us to be in a different spot [on the ice to see the play differently] which was good,” Boyes said over the phone from St. Louis on Sunday. “He didn’t do it in a demeaning way. He was truly coaching, and that was nice to see.

“I think that’ll bring some good communication [with the players] and guys will respect him and listen to him.”

It seems to be happening already as St. Louis continues its three-game West Coast trip Thursday against the Anaheim Ducks at 7:30 p.m. PT. The Blues fell 2-1 in overtime at San Jose on Wednesday, spoiling a 42-save performance from Chris Mason.

“I think it’s a game we can consider progress,” Payne told reporters. “I think it’s a game we can take some pride in. We did a lot of things well. We did a lot of things that we’ve been trying to do. Much, much cleaner in the [defensive] zone.”

Gets players smiling

At Monday’s practice, Payne introduced a new scheme for the power play and discussed defensive-attack strategies. He also got players to crack a smile as he approached them individually.

“He was talking to me and Erik Johnson on the power play, and was just telling us, ‘Just play hockey.’ That we’re good players and just be creative. It’s nice to hear,” Blues forward T.J. Oshie told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch of Payne, who was promoted from the Blues’ American Hockey League affiliate in Peoria, Ill.

Payne, a former NHL forward who left the Rivermen with a .578 winning percentage (62-44-9) over two seasons, inherited a St. Louis outfit that has dropped a season-high six games.

The Blues are 12th in the Western Conference with a 17-18-7 record, including a 6-14-3 mark at home, and trail Nashville by 12 points for the eighth and final playoff spot.

Strong finish

Last January, St. Louis began an NHL-best 25-9-7 run in the second half under Murray that culminated in the team’s first playoff berth in five years.

“When we made that [post-season] push, we weren’t concerned about anything,” said Boyes, who has nine goals and 28 points in 41 games this season. “We were just worried about playing the game we had that night … not looking ahead or at the overall picture.

“This year there were some expectations: we have to get this done, we have to win right away. It might not have been as relaxed. I think that was part of [our poor record under Murray].”

First-round picks Oshie (2005) and Patrik Berglund (2006) also are performing well below last year's level, when they were part of helping the team overcome injuries to forwards Paul Kariya and Andy McDonald.

“It’s their second year in the league,” Boyes said. “You’ve got that excitement in the first year when things are going well. Second year, whether it’s higher expectations or whatever, it can be tough.

“Everyone’s looking to pick up their game. The veteran guys, myself included, need to be leaders and contribute on a daily basis again.”

Payne did a 'pretty good job' handling bench

Overall, Boyes was satisfied with the team’s effort against the Blackhawks and the response to Payne, who played 22 games for the Boston Bruins after being drafted by Edmonton in the seventh round in 1989.

“As far as handling the bench, he did a pretty good job,” said Boyes. “I thought our team battled and worked hard.”

The Blues take an 11-4-4 road record into Anaheim, where the 17-19-7 Ducks snapped a three-game slide with a 4-1 win over Detroit on Tuesday night.

St. Louis blanked Anaheim 5-0 on Oct. 17 at the Honda Center on the strength of two goals from McDonald, while Ty Conklin made 26 saves.

Nine of the Blues' next 15 games are away from Scottrade Center, including Saturday’s visit to Los Angeles.

“Spending more time together on the road definitely will help coach [Payne] get used to us and us get used to him,” Boyes said.