TEAM SNAPSHOTS
BLUES The St. Louis Blues are looking to rebound in front of their home crowd on Thursday before setting off on a three-game road trip. Falling 4-1 to the Dallas Stars on Monday, Robert Thomas absence was felt in the difficulty they faced capitalizing on scoring chances.
With Thomas participating in practice on Tuesday and Wednesday, his return may come when the Blues take on the Carolina Hurricanes at Enterprise Center.
“I think we need to (put more shots on net). You don’t get too many ‘grade-A’ (scoring chances) in this League, and anytime we get those chances we could fire the puck a little bit more,” said Brandon Saad.
The Blues were on their second day off from game action Wednesday, the first two-day break since getting three from Nov. 4-6. In the weeks since, they played 13 games in 22 nights – no other NHL team played more than 11. Holding their own to an 8-5-0 record in that span, the Blues hope that a lighter schedule load as the calendar flips to December can help them keep this pace and climb up the standings.
They’ll enter Thursday’s game with a record of 11-11-0, worth 22 points and sixth place in the Central Division.
HURRICANES After winning a competitive Metropolitan Division but falling in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs last year, the Carolina Hurricanes are once again setting out to be a top contender in the League.
Boasting one of the League’s top defenses a year ago, Carolina added veteran Brent Burns to their blue line this offseason to help offset Tony DeAngelo’s departure for Philadelphia. The Hurricanes allowed the fewest goals out of any NHL team last year, earning goaltenders Frederik Andersen – currently on injured reserve – and Antti Raanta the Jennings Trophy.
The ‘Canes are looking to keep bouncing back from a five-game losing streak just prior to Thanksgiving, four of which came in overtime. Since then, they have won two in a row – including another overtime battle with Pittsburgh on Tuesday. Carolina’s seven extra-time decisions share the League lead.
Led in scoring by a trio of young forwards – Martin Necas, Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov – the Hurricanes are now 12-6-5, worth 29 points and third place in the Metropolitan Division as of Wednesday afternoon.
HEAD-TO-HEAD The Hurricanes proved a tough matchup for the Blues a season ago as Carolina won both matchups. Over the last four home matchups, however, the Blues are 3-1-0 against Carolina.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
BLUES Justin Faulk, who spent eight years in Carolina before coming to St. Louis ahead of the 2019-20 season. Faulk has 15 points in 22 games this season, on pace for a career high (currently 49 points in 2014-15).
HURRICANES Andrei Svechnikov, who leads the Hurricanes with 14 goals in 23 games this season. The 22-year-old forward has six points in his last five games and recorded four points across two games against the Blues last year.
BLUE NOTES
Thursday’s game marks the annual Hockey Fights Cancer Night – presented by Siteman Cancer Center. The night honors all who have been affected by cancer… The Blues are 4-1-0 in their last five games at Enterprise Center… Robert Thomas shares No. 2 in the NHL with six power-play assists this season, and shares No. 2 with 10 total assists since Nov. 10… Jordan Binnington’s next win will be his 100th. He will become the sixth goaltender in franchise history to reach the mark.
