Blues at Oilers
THE STORY: With the Edmonton Oilers finally getting some offense from players old enough to drink in the U.S., the club has become even more dangerous as it enters a Sunday night showdown with the visiting St. Louis Blues. Edmonton has won four straight games, including a 3-1 triumph over the Colorado Avalanche fueled by goals from 25-year-old Cam Barker, 35-year-old Ryan Smyth and 36-year-old Andy Sutton. It was a welcome result for the Oilers, who came into the night with nearly half their season goal total provided by two teenagers - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (five) and Taylor Hall (three). Edmonton faces a St. Louis club looking to wrap up its five-game road swing on a positive note. The Blues are 3-1-0 so far, but are coming off a 3-1 loss to the Calgary Flames two nights earlier.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Midwest, Rogers Sportsnet West
ABOUT THE BLUES (5-5-0): The Blues' baseball breathren captured the World Series title earlier this week, and head coach Davis Payne believes there's something his team can learn from the Cardinals' stunning triumph over the Texas Rangers. "To see them stick with it when it seemed like they were down and out, they stayed faithful and you look at where they are now," Payne said. "(It's a) great example."
ABOUT THE OILERS (6-2-2): Edmonton reacquired the popular Smyth in the offseason hoping he would provide some valuable leadership to the club's young corps of forwards. Not only has he done that with aplomb, he's also showing that he hasn't lost his offensive chops quite yet. Smyth finished with a goal and two assists against the Avalanche and has eight points through his first 10 games. If he continues to produce at that level, Edmonton could be playoff bound.
OVERTIME:
1. St. Louis won three of four encounters between the teams last season, with the Oilers' only victory coming in a 2-1 overtime triumph on Dec. 4.
2. Hall scored two goals in three games against the Blues last season, including one of his four game winners.
3. Injured Blues forward David Perron (concussion) traveled with the team on its road trip as he continues on the long road to recovery. Perron hasn't played since last November.