Senators at Blues
Jaden Schwartz could return to the lineup when the St. Louis Blues host the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday. Schwartz, who hasn't played since breaking his ankle on Dec. 9, was a full participant in Sunday's spirited practice, prompting coach Mike Yeo to tell reporters: "No easing him into it. He got the conditioning and he got the battle part of it and actually, he got through it, got through it well."
St. Louis, which sits third in the Central Division - four points behind first-place Winnipeg and three in back of Nashville, has missed Schwartz's production as his 14 goals and 35 points each are still third-most on the team despite his playing 19 fewer games than his teammates. Brayden Schenn will be happy to see his linemate return as he recorded 15 goals and 21 assists in his first 30 games this season but only four and seven since Schwartz left the lineup - although he has heated up lately. Ottawa lost 3-1 at Minnesota on Monday for its third straight setback and fourth in the last five games, and has the third-fewest points in the NHL, hardly resembling the team that was one goal away from reaching the Stanley Cup Final last season. The Blues won the first of the two meetings this season - a 4-1 triumph on Thursday in which Schenn and Alex Steen each recorded a goal and an assist, marking the eighth straight time the road team has won in the all-time series.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, TSN5, RDS2 (Ottawa), FS Midwest (St. Louis)
ABOUT THE SENATORS (15-21-9): Mark Stone (team highs of 18 goals and 44 points) missed Monday's game with a knee injury after recording three goals and seven assists in his last six contests. Matt Duchene scored against the Wild, giving him seven goals and seven assists in 31 games since being acquired from Colorado - including four of each over his last seven contests. Craig Anderson (12-15-5, 3.24 goals-against average, .899 save percentage) is expected to play after Mike Condon made 33 saves Monday in his first start since Dec. 30 and first action since relieving Anderson in an 8-2 loss to Chicago on Jan. 9.
ABOUT THE BLUES (28-18-3): Schenn (team-high 47 points) has scored in consecutive games for the first time since tallying in four straight from Dec. 5-10, and has two goals and four assists in his last seven contests. Vladimir Tarasenko (club-high 20 goals, 45 points) has recorded three goals in his last five games and seven points in eight contests this month. Paul Stastny (10 goals, 34 points) registered a goal and four assists during a three-game point streak before being kept off the scoresheet in Saturday's 5-2 loss to Arizona - St. Louis' fourth setback in its last six contests (2-3-1).
OVERTIME
1. The Blues have received 29 goals from their blue line this season as Alex Pietrangelo leads the way with eight but had their five-game streak with a defenseman scoring snapped on Saturday.
2. Ottawa is 1-7-2 in its last 10 games versus the Western Conference.
3. St. Louis went 2-for-3 on the power play Saturday after going 1-for-27 in its previous 12 games.