BLUES The St. Louis Blues are generating positive momentum lately, taking their fourth win out of their last six games as Joel Hofer and Thomas Greiss combined to shutout the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday night.
It could have marked Hofer’s first career NHL shutout had it not been for a skate issue needing extra attention in the locker room. Greiss was consequently subbed in for 2:36 during the second period, making one save to keep the Jets scoreless.
“I don’t really care about that (not getting credit for the shutout),” Hofer said. “I’m just happy to be here and get the win in front of the home crowd, it was great.”
The Blues’ Trade Deadline pieces continue to impress, with Jakub Vrana and Kasperi Kapanen both making contributions on the scoresheet to beat Winnipeg. Since their arrivals in St. Louis, Vrana, Kapanen and Sammy Blais have combined for 15 goals.
The Blues look to maintain their upward momentum when they begin a home-and-home set against the Detroit Red Wings, reuniting with several familiar faces at Enterprise Center on Tuesday night.
They’ll face the Wings with a record of 31-33-5, worth 67 points and sixth in the Central Division as of Monday afternoon.
RED WINGS The Detroit Red Wings have battled inconsistency this season and sit 10 points out of the Eastern Conference Wild Card after they fell on Monday night in Florida to start a back-to-back set.
After an offseason in which they added David Perron and Ville Husso from the Blues – among other moves – Detroit started strong but were unable to maintain their pace and eventually sold off multiple pieces at the Trade Deadline.
Husso has been a positive contributor for his new team, starting 51 games and earning a career-high three shutouts this season. With Husso starting on Monday night, it remains to be seen if he will appear in goal in his return to Enterprise Center.
Another former Blue on the Red Wings roster is Jake Walman, having a breakout season and earning a three-year contract extension as a result. Walman has 13 points on the Detroit blueline, leading the team with a plus-15 rating on the season.
The Wings continue to be led by Captain Dylan Larkin, who recently signed to an eight-year extension. Larkin has 66 points in 68 games this season, seven shy of his career high.
Detroit will take on the Blues in the second half of a back-to-back with a record of 30-30-9, worth 69 points and seventh in the Atlantic Division.
HEAD-TO-HEAD The Blues split the season series with Detroit last season, with the win coming in St. Louis thanks to Nathan Walker‘s first career hat trick. Overall, they are 7-2-4 in their last 13 matchups with their historic rivals.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
BLUES Brayden Schenn, who has six points in his last five games. Schenn crossed the 50-point threshold for the seventh time in his career on Friday in Washington, currently seven points shy of his 58 from last season.
RED WINGS David Perron, returning to St. Louis for the first time since signing with Detroit last summer. Perron recorded 465 points across 11 seasons with the Blues, including 16 in 26 playoff games en route to the 2019 Stanley Cup. Perron ranks second on the Red Wings in points, recording 16 goals and 25 assists (41 points) in 68 games.
BLUE NOTES
The Blues and Red Wings will battle twice in a row this week, completing the home-and-home set in Detroit on Thursday night. The Blues have won three straight home matchups with Detroit and earned points in six straight… The Blues have recorded at least one power-play goal in three of their last six games, going 5-for-16 (31.3 percent) on the power play in that span – the No. 6 figure in the NHL… Players that have suited up for both the Blues and Red Wings in the last two seasons include David Perron, Ville Husso, Nick Leddy, Oskar Sundqvist, Jake Walman and Jakub Vrana… Pavel Buchnevich posted five multi-point games in his 11-game point streak, which came to an end on Sunday vs. Winnipeg.
