Blues at Blue Jackets
THE STORY: St. Louis has won five straight over Columbus, including both meetings this season. The Blues trail the Detroit Red Wings by three points for top spot in the Western Conference and have two games in hand. St. Louis has four more meetings with the lowly Blue Jackets this season, including Tuesday in Columbus. The Blues' Jaroslav Halak is 5-2-1 with a 2.94 goals against average against the Blue Jackets, while Brian Elliott is 3-0-1, 2.45 versus Columbus.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Midwest (Blues), FS Ohio (Blue Jackets)
ABOUT THE BLUES (34-14-7): St. Louis has won four straight thanks to an offensive outburst from left winger David Perron, who has scored in a career-best four straight games and accumulated seven points in that span. The 23-year-old forward is lighting the lamp on the power play, scoring three of the Blues’ four power play goals over the last two games. St. Louis had been in a 0-for-10 drought with the man advantage over its previous six games.
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (16-34-6): Jeff Carter has three points in five games after missing a month with a shoulder injury. The 27-year-old center is two years into an 11-year, $58-million contract, which doesn’t include a no-trade clause. Speculation about the Blue Jackets moving Carter before the trade deadline has picked up steam. The Columbus Dispatch reported over the weekend Carter has not asked for a trade, but the Jackets seem intent on dealing him. Team executives were in Washington scouting the San Jose Sharks and Capitals on Monday.
OVERTIME:
1. The Blues are 28-7-7 since Ken Hitchcock took over as coach Nov. 6.
2. Columbus has scored on the power play in five straight games, tying a season high.
3. Blue Jackets defenseman James Wisniewski has three points in two contests since missing 17 games with a broken ankle.