Blues at Lightning
THE STORY: The St. Louis Blues have dropped two straight since their season-high five-game winning streak. The Blues, who will need one victory to reach 100 points for the first time since the 2000-01 campaign, will visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. The Blues top the league in goals-against and the Lightning stand at the bottom. St. Louis is 6-2-1 in its last nine road games. Tampa Bay's playoff hopes are dim after a 1-3-1 stretch.
TV: 7 p.m. ET; FS-MW (St. Louis), SunSports (Tampa).
ABOUT THE BLUES (45-19-8): The Blues are 1-1-1 on a seven-game road trip after dropping a 2-0 decision at Carolina on Thursday. St. Louis put up 40 shots against the Hurricanes, but was 0 for 5 on the power play. The Blues also lost forward Andy McDonald indefinitely with a shoulder injury. Center Jason Arnott is also day-to-day with various bumps and bruises. That may give 2010 first-round pick Jaden Schwartz a chance to play in his first NHL game. Goalie Jaroslav Halak, who sat out against Carolina, could play in his 200th career game on Saturday.
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (32-31-7): Tampa Bay’s playoff hopes took a very damaging blow following Thursday's 3-1 loss to the struggling Toronto Maple Leafs. The Lightning, who sit seven points behind eighth-place Washington, have just 12 games left. Steven Stamkos was held scoreless by the Leafs to fall one point behind Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin for the league lead. Stamkos has 50 goals, one away from his career high and two shy of Vincent Lecavalier’s team record. Forward Nate Thompson suffered an upper-body injury against Toronto and is doubtful against the Blues.
OVERTIME:
1. St. Louis has killed 54 of 55 power plays in its last 16 games.
2. Tampa Bay goalie Dwayne Roloson, who stopped all 18 shots in relief Thursday, is expected to play his 597th NHL game.
3. The Blues skated to a 3-0 win over Tampa Bay at home on Nov. 12.