Western conference rivals Vancouver Canucks and St. Louis Blues square off for the second time this season. The Blues won the first contest in a shootout back in mid-February. The two teams will play one more time before the end of the season. The Canucks have dropped out of first place in the Northwest Division and are seventh overall in the Western Conference with 32 points. St. Louis is ahead of them by two spots so this game could play a large part in the playoff picture.
St. Louis is hoping to get their fourth straight win. It would be their sixth win in seven games. Chris Stewart is leading the team with 15 points in his last nine games. Rookie goaltender Jake Allen is proving his worth to St. Louis. He has improved to 8-1-0 on the season. He recorded 27 saves in a Saturday overtime win against the Anaheim Ducks. He has a 2.09 goals-against average after winning his five starts since being called up March 6. He has become the team's No.1 goalie for the time being. Allen had 28 saves the last time the team faced Vancouver.
After a promising start to the season, the Canucks have struggled in the latest stretch of games. They have a quick turn around after losing Monday night to the Minnesota Wild. It is the 11th loss for the Canucks in their last 16 games. They did snap a power play drought that had reached 36 unsuccessful attempts to convert on the power play. Henrik Sedin knocked in a second-period power play goal against the Wild, ending the streak. The team has scored two goals or fewer in seven of their last eight games. They have only converted on 15 of 107 power play chances. They had led the NHL in that category in 2010-11 and ranked fourth in it last season.
The Blues could get Andy McDonald back after a 10-game absence with a knee injury. T.J. Oshie continues to remain sidelined with an upper-body injury.
