Sharks at Blues
The San Jose Sharks continue their quest for first place in the Pacific Division when they visit the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday. San Jose kicked off its four-game road trip - its final trek of the regular season - with its eighth straight victory, a 4-3 shootout triumph in Chicago on Monday that kept it six points behind division-leading Vegas with six games remaining.
The Sharks squandered a late third-period lead before Kevin Labanc scored the decisive goal in the fourth round of the bonus format as the club improved to 4-0-1 in its last five road contests. The Blues also are surging as they've recorded five consecutive victories to put themselves right in the middle of the race for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference. St. Louis is coming off a 2-1 win at Columbus on Saturday in which Vladimir Tarasenko scored to pull within one tally of his fourth straight 30-goal season. The Blues are looking to avenge a 2-0 loss at San Jose on March 8 and avoid being swept in the three-game season series.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS California (San Jose), FSN Midwest (St. Louis)
ABOUT THE SHARKS (44-23-9): Evander Kane has been paying dividends since being acquired from Buffalo at the trade deadline, registering eight goals and five assists in 13 games. The 26-year-old left wing tallied for the second straight contest on Monday, giving him seven goals in his last six games and drawing him within two of the second 30-goal season of his career. Tomas Hertl netted his 21st tally of the campaign against the Blackhawks, tying the career high he set in 2015-16.
ABOUT THE BLUES (42-28-5): Carter Hutton could be back in the crease as soon as Tuesday as he declared himself ready to return from a neck injury that has sidelined him for nine games. "I'm ready to rock," the netminder told the team's website. "I'm excited to get back and chip in." Hutton's return could provide a well-deserved night off for Jake Allen, who was named the NHL's Second Star of the Week on Monday after going 3-0-0 with 1.00 goals-against average and .961 save percentage in three contests.
OVERTIME
1. The Sharks' winning streak is their longest since a nine-game run from Nov. 13-Dec. 4, 2008.
2. St. Louis assigned G Ville Husso to San Antonio of the American Hockey League.
3. San Jose signed C Dylan Gambrell to an entry-level contract on Monday.