Blue Jackets at Blues
THE STORY: The Columbus Blue Jackets travel to St. Louis on Saturday for the fourth of six meetings with the Blues. It's the first contest of a home-and-home between the Central Division foes, with the latter game being played Sunday in Columbus. The Blues took the first two meetings before the Blue Jackets stole a 2-1 victory at home on Feb. 14. Columbus has won a season-high four straight and St. Louis enters as winners of eight of its last nine.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN-Ohio (Columbus), FSN-MW (St. Louis)
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (22-38-7): Columbus is enjoying its longest winning streak since a five-game run from Nov. 17-24, 2010, but is dealing with injury issues. D Fedor Tyutin could be out for the rest of the season with a broken right hand and F Derek MacKenzie missed Thursday’s game with concussion-like symptoms. G Steve Mason was also injured Thursday after being cut by teammate John Moore’s skate. Mason needed 15 stitches to close the wound and is doubtful to start Saturday.
ABOUT THE BLUES (43-18-7): St. Louis is vying with the Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers for the Presidents' Trophy. The Blues won their only Presidents' Trophy in 1999-2000. The goaltending tandem of Jaroslav Halak and All-Star Brian Elliott has backstopped the Blues to the best record in the NHL. The last time St. Louis gave up more than two goals in a game was on Feb. 22, a 4-2 defeat at the hands of the Boston Bruins. The Blues are thriving on special teams, killing 35 straight shorthanded situations over the last 12 games. St. Louis is 35-0-0 when scoring at least three goals.
OVERTIME:
1. The Blues have a league-best 60 points at home (28-4-4). They’re 20-1-3 in their last 24 home games.
2. Halak has won seven straight decisions, boasting a 1.40 goals-against average and .943 save percentage. Halak’s last loss was a 2-1 decision to Columbus on Feb. 14.
3. Blue Jackets C Derrick Brassard is riding a five-game point-scoring streak. He has a goal and five assists during that span.