Flames at Blues
The St. Louis Blues are trying to avert a repeat of last year's season-ending swoon as they wind up a three-game homestand against the Calgary Flames on Thursday. St. Louis, which lost its final six last season, has dropped two in a row and five of six overall (1-3-2) to fall four points behind Central Division-leading Nashville, albeit with two games in hand.
The Blues also will be without leading goal scorer Vladimir Tarasenko, who was hurt in Tuesday's loss to Vancouver. The Flames are trying to hold off reigning Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles for third place in the Pacific Division, leading by three points with five games to play. Calgary improved to 2-1-0 on its five-game road trip with back-to-back victories at Nashville and Dallas but faces a nemesis in St. Louis, which is 5-0-1 in the last six meetings overall and has won five straight at home against the Flames. St. Louis scored three third-period goals in a 4-0 win at Calgary on March 17.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, RSW (Calgary), FSN Midwest (St. Louis)
ABOUT THE FLAMES (42-28-7): Calgary erupted for five goals in each of its last two victories behind leading scorer Jiri Hudler, who was named the NHL's Second Star of the Month on Wednesday. Hudler had two goals and three assists in the past two games to cap a steller March in which he topped the league in scoring with 23 points on 10 goals and 13 assists, including nine multi-point performances. Forward Johnny Gaudreau earned his second Rookie of the Month honor after amassing seven goals and nine assists in 15 games to boost his total to 60 points - tops among first-year players.
ABOUT THE BLUES (46-23-7): Tarasenko, who has 36 goals and 35 assists, will miss his first game of the season and coach Ken Hitchcock was vague about a timetable for his return, saying only that his star forward is day-to-day. Alexander Steen, who scored twice in last month's win at Calgary and is second on the team to Tarasenko with 62 points, is expected to sit out his second straight game with a lower-body injury. "When stuff like that happens, you just continue to move forward," forward Steve Ott said of the injuries. "The next guy gets an opportunity."
OVERTIME
1. Blues rookie G Jake Allen will be opposed by G Jonas Hiller, who is looking to win his third straight start.
2. Flames F Sean Monahan has 16 points in his last 15 contests but has been held off the scoresheet in five games versus St. Louis.
3. The Blues killed off 42-of-46 penalties in March.