Location: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Game-time: 9:30 pm Central
TV: FSMW (HD)
Radio: KMOX 1120 AM

Stat Pack

St Louis Blues: 14th in Western Conference & 5th in Central Division – 41 Points

Los Angeles: 8th in Western Conference & 3rd in Pacific Division – 53 Points

Power Play:
St. Louis (Road): 19.1%, (9th)
Los Angeles (Home): 23.8%, (T-3rd)

Penalty Kill
St. Louis (Road): 88.8%, (1st)
Los Angeles (Home): 73.5%, (29th)

Goals Scored per Game vs. Goals Against per Game
St. Louis (Road): 2.60 GF/G (16th) | 2.40 GA/G (6th)
Los Angeles (Home): 3.16 GF/G (8th) | 2.79 GA/G (19th)

Hot & Cold
Los Angeles: Drew Doughty (1 Goal, 8 Points (6 PPP) in last 10 games ) | Alex Frolov (Pointless in 7 of last 8 games)
St. Louis: David Backes (5 Assists and 14 PIM  in last 5 games) | TJ Oshie  (1 Assist in last 8 games)

Food For Thought

The Blues wrap up their warm weather trip to California this week with a tilt against the LA Kings. History is certainly not with the Blues in this one. In the last three seasons the Blues are 5-5-0 against LA. However, three of those victories came in the 07-08 season. From 08-09 season forward the Blues are 2-4-0 allowing 21 goals and scoring only 11. The Blues have only won three times in LA since the lockout.

It certainly seems the Blues have their work cut out for them. LA is a pretty tight team allowing only 27.6 shots per game (2nd best in the NHL) on average for the season. At home they are 4th best allowing a meager 26.5 shots a game. The Blues only average 27.5 shots on the road. A team that doesn’t shoot enough vs a team that lmits shots, not a recipe for Blues success.

What can be the recipe for success is a little rest yesterday and opening up the game flying like they did against San Jose. The Blues need to be concerned with flow vs match up early on, at least from the forward lines. I am all for putting Jackman and Polak on the ice against the Kopitar line, but I want to see three lines rolling consistently during play. Save the match ups for when you can get them easily. More so I mean I don’t want to see so many changes right after a faceoff or very early in a shift. Let the players do their job.

Difference Makers:

The Penalty Kill

LA has the second worst home penalty kill, the Blues have the best Road squad. Can LA shut down the Blues road power play to make this an even strength battle? Can the Blues keep LA’s power play off the scoreboard to give them a chance to win at even strength? The Blues have given up power play goals at home to weak power play teams. Can the Blues return the favor? If they can, they have a good chance at taking two points.

Player Notes:

Paul Kariya is on the trip with the Blues, but there really hasn’t been an indication if he will play tonight or not. Keith Tkachuk is still back in St. Louis recovering from his mouth injury.

LA will be without the services of Justin Williams (cut leg). Randy Jones (neck / head) could possibly return to the line up for tonight’s game. Jones is certainly someone to watch out for. In 18 games this season he has 12 points from the blue line.

I would assume Chris Mason gets the start. He has been solid and has had a day off after facing over 70 shots in two games. Payne is going to give Mason every chance to prove he is the number one goalie, at least that’s what it appears like for the time being.

LA has multiple Olympians as well. Goalie Jonathan Quick (USA). Defensemen Jack Johnson (USA) and Drew Doughty (Canada).  Forwards Dustin Brown (USA) and Michal Handzus (Slovakia).

I will come back with updates later today when they become available.

Keys to the Game

1. Special Teams
-  I am not removing this from the #1 Key to the Game till either the power play improves or the even strength play levels out. Right now this is the only way the Blues are going to be able to get leverage on an opponent.

2. Trust in Each Other
- The team needs to relax and know that they have back up and support. Go forth and make plays knowing the other four guys on the ice are doing their jobs.

3. Shoot the Puck
- Blues take few shots and LA allows few shots. The opposite needs to occur tonight.

Who to Watch for?

Drew Doughty

Doughty is the Kings second leading scorer with 9 Goals and 32 points. Image via frozenroyalty.net.