San Jose Sharks
(7-4-3)
vs
St. Louis Blues
(9-5-1)
at
Sottrade Center
Game Time 7:00 pm
TV- NBCSN Radio- KMOX
St. Louis, MO- The Blues completed a 3-0 road trip which included stops in Detroit, Calgary, and Vancouver. The Blues took all 6 points on their trip and find themselves back on somewhat of a positive track. Though the Note secured all of the possible points on the trip, it is easy to see it very well could have ended differently. The Blues needed a shoot out in Vancouver and an overtime winner from Alex Steen against Detroit at the Joe. For the most part the Blues are playing their game and that is a bright spot. One thing that concerns me is their lack of put away effort. The Blues gained a big lead in Calgary and ended up letting off of the gas pedal. This let up allowed Calgary to score two goals and get back into the game; a game in which they had no business being in from the start.
Moving forward, the Blues are back home and hope to put on a better performance for the home fans against San Jose tonight at 7:00 pm. The Blues ended the last home stand with an 0-4 mark and a 5 game losing streak. Since finding their way in Detroit, the Blues have looked better, but tonight will be no easy task. The Sharks started the season 7-0, and was one of the hottest teams in the league. Since then, they have fallen back to earth and struggled to score goals as of late. The Blues will need a good game against this talented Sharks team if they want their winning ways to continue.
To start Allen or Halak? Arguments could be had for either goaltender at this point. Halak is healthy and needs to get back to being the teams A1 goalie. Allen is coming off a three game winning streak on the road in some of the hardest buildings in the NHL. Who ever Hitchcock goes with tonight will need to be on top of their game. Hopefully he chose correctly when he decided to go with Allen’s hot hand over Halak’s freshly healed injury. Patrik Marleau has been one of the hottest players in the NHL this season: netting 10 goals and 5 assists for 15 points. The David Backes line will be tasked tonight to keep him and his line mates in check. The Blues had the solution in the first round of the playoffs last year against the Sharks. Can they bring the physical play and puck possession style that will be needed tonight?
The Blues had a delayed flight and didn’t land in St. Louis until 6:30 am…. 12 1/2 hours before the puck drops against the Sharks. Will the long night in the airport affect the game? We will definitely see tonight!
Starting Line Up for tonight should look pretty similar to the game in Vancouver.
Forwards:
Perron-Backes-Oshie
Schwartz-Berglund-Stewart
McDonald-Steen-Tarasenko
Sobotka-Nichol-Reaves
Defensive Pairs:
Cole- Pietrangelo
Jackman- Shattenkirk
Redden-Polak
In Goal
Jake Allen
Expected Scratches:
D’Agostini, Russell, Elliott
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