Blue Jackets at Blues
The St. Louis Blues and Columbus Blue Jackets are locked in a battle for playoff spots in the Western Conference. On Friday, the Blues host the Central Division-rival Blue Jackets, who trail St. Louis by one point for eighth place in the Western Conference. Columbus has won its last three games and Sergei Bobrovsky has allowed one goal in each of his last two starts. The Blue Jackets sent Steve Mason to Philadelphia at the trade deadline, showing confidence in Bobrovsky as the starter going forward.
Brian Elliott started the last two contests for St. Louis, snapping the Blues’ three-game losing streak with back-to-back road victories. Elliott’s previous start was in a 4-1 loss to Dallas on March 3. With only 35 games played, St. Louis has the advantage on other teams fighting to make the playoffs - most of whom have played 37. The Blues are better on the road than at home, posting an 11-7-1 away record while going 8-7-1 at Scottrade Center. Columbus is 5-10-2 on the road but has won its last two away games.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Columbus), FSN Midwest (St. Louis)
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (16-14-7): Finding themselves in the playoff hunt after a very strong March (10-2-4), Columbus was a buyer at the trade deadline, sending four players and a draft pick to the New York Rangers for Marian Gaborik, who had a goal and an assist in his debut with the team in Thursday’s 3-1 victory over Nashville. The Blue Jackets also sent a fifth-round pick to Calgary for Blake Comeau and received a third-rounder from Philadelphia, along with backup Michael Leighton, in exchange for Mason. Matt Calvert registered two points against the Predators and has five (three goals, two assists) in his last four games.
ABOUT BLUES (19-14-2): After winning the William Jennings Trophy last season for allowing the fewest goals, St. Louis has surrendered 98 thus far, prompting the team to acquire defensemen at the trade deadline. The Blues sent two players and a first-round pick to Calgary for Jay Bouwmeester after acquiring Jordan Leopold from the Sabres for a pair of picks. The trades made veteran blue-liner Wade Redden expendable, so St. Louis dealt him to Boston for a conditional pick in 2014. T.J. Oshie has missed the last two games with a lower-body injury and is out indefinitely. St. Louis has allowed one goal in its last 21 times short-handed.
OVERTIME
1. St. Louis won its previous two meetings with the Blue Jackets by a combined 6-2 score.
2. Blues F David Backes has recorded three points in the previous two games against Columbus and has 30 points in 37 contests against the Blue Jackets during his career.
3. Columbus is 7-5-3 against divisional opponents. These teams will meet once more at Columbus on April 12.
PREDICTION: Blues 3, Blue Jackets 2