JETS (28-26-5) at BLUES (38-12-6)
TV: TSN-JETS, FS-MW
Last 10: Winnipeg 7-3-0; St. Louis 6-3-1
Season series: This is the fourth of five games between the Winnipeg Jets and St. Louis Blues.
Each of the first three was decided by a single goal. Olli Jokinen scored in the shootout to lift
the Jets to a 4-3 win on Oct. 18 before the Blues responded with a pair of victories, Alexander
Steen and Kevin Shattenkirk being credited with the game-winning goals. Steen has four goals
against the Jets this season.
Big story: The Blues, who have the best goal differential in the NHL at plus-60, continue their
run at the Presidents' Trophy in the final game before the Olympic break. The Jets resume their
chase of the second wild-card spot into the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the Western Conference.
Team Scope:
Jets: A four-game road trip comes to a close for Winnipeg, which won the first two by 2-1 scores
and held that same lead entering the third period Thursday against the Washington Capitals.
However, a three-goal rally by the Capitals dealt the Jets a 4-2 loss, and an important two points
that would have drawn them even with the Vancouver Canucks went by the board.
It was just the third loss in 12 games since Paul Maurice took over as coach. The Jets haven't
lost consecutive games under him and don't want to start now.
"We have to take what we can from this game and finish strong before the break," defenseman Zach
Bogosian said in the Winnipeg Free Press. "We obviously don't have anything to save it for so
we've just got to give an all-out effort in St. Louis. They're a good team and it will be a good
challenge for us."
Blues: Pending the result of the Chicago Blackhawks' game at the Phoenix Coyotes late Friday, it's
possible St. Louis could be playing for first in the Central Division. Either way, the Blues will
be shooting for their 22nd home win, which would tie for most in the West and trail only the
Pittsburgh Penguins for the League lead. After forward Brenden Morrow played in his 900th NHL game
Thursday, defenseman Barret Jackman is set to play in his 700th on Saturday. Brian Elliott is
scheduled to start in goal.
The Blues come off a 3-2 overtime win against the Boston Bruins in a potential Stanley Cup Final
preview. After allowing a third-period lead to to slip away for the third game in a row, T.J.
Oshie scored unassisted 3:29 into overtime for the win.
"We don't want to make a habit of this," Oshie said of allowing leads to slip away. "We work hard
to get the lead and we've got to hold it, especially in our home barn."
Who's hot: Jets captain Andrew Ladd has one goal and four assists during a four-game point streak.
Blues forward Jaden Schwartz has two goals and three assists during a three-game point streak.
Oshie has goals in consecutive games.
Injury report: Winnipeg defenseman Grant Clitsome (back) and forwards Evander Kane (hand), Matt
Halischuk (forearm) and Jim Slater (sports hernia) are on injured reserve.
St. Louis forward Vladimir Tarasenko (flu-like symptoms) was out of the lineup Thursday but practiced
Friday and expects to play against the Jets. Forward Vladimir Sobotka (leg) is on injured reserve.
Lifted from: Jets @ Blues Preview
HEAD TO HEAD
Jets|59|28-26-5|14-11-4|14-15-1|7-3-0|2.71|2.83|14.3|83.6|11.7|30.9|30.2|45.7
Blues|56|38-12-6|21-5-3|17-7-3|6-3-1|3.32|2.30|22.6|85.2|12.8|29.9|26.5|51.0
STARTING GOALIES
A. Montoya|Jets|17|952|10-4-1|34|469|2.14|.928
J. Halak|Blues|39|2180|24-8-4|82|967|2.26|.915
SCORING LEADERS - BLUES AND JETS
B. Little|59|18|29|47|+8|44|5|1
A. Steen|45|28|18|46|+15|28|5|7
B. Wheeler|59|22|24|46|+0|40|6|3
T. Oshie|56|14|32|46|+16|30|3|4
D. Backes|51|20|22|42|+12|78|8|3
D. Byfuglien|59|13|29|42|-16|62|5|1
J. Schwartz|54|18|23|41|+22|19|3|1
A. Ladd|59|13|28|41|+8|51|2|1
A. Pietrangelo|56|6|34|40|+13|14|2|0
K. Shattenkirk|55|8|28|36|+11|20|5|4
D. Roy|54|8|26|34|+1|24|4|2
V. Tarasenko|53|18|15|33|+10|12|5|3
O. Jokinen|59|13|19|32|-10|32|2|1
M. Scheifele|59|11|21|32|+8|10|1|2
J. Bouwmeester|56|4|28|32|+16|14|1|0
M. Frolik|58|12|18|30|+5|12|1|2
E. Kane|42|15|14|29|+2|50|1|4
C. Stewart|56|15|11|26|+3|105|3|3
D. Setoguchi|58|10|14|24|+0|16|2|3
J. Trouba|42|7|15|22|+9|23|0|1
INJURIES & SCRATCHES
Evander Kane|Hand|Post Olympics
Jim Slater|Sports Hernia|Post Olympics
Matt Halischuk|Broken Forearm|Injured Reserve
Grant Clitsome|Back|Injured Reserve
Vladimir Sobotka|Leg|IR
STREAMS
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