Preview: Blues vs. Stars

TEAM SNAPSHOTS

BLUES The St. Louis Blues won the first matchup in the home-and-home set by beating the Stars 4-1 in Dallas on Tuesday. After a 1-0 deficit in the first period, the Blues scored four unanswered goals to take control of the game.

Justin Faulk scored the game winner with a snap shot in the third, threading the puck through multiple skaters on its way past goaltender Jake Oettinger. Tuesday was Faulk’s first game back after missing time in COVID-19 protocols.

Colton Parayko, Ryan O’Reilly and Vladimir Tarasenko also added goals for the Blues. Charlie Lindgren got the win in the net – his fourth in as many appearances- and continued his stellar play since his call-up from Springfield.

The Blues continue to play well despite missing several key players, recording points in six straight games and nine of their last 10. They currently sit at 16-8-5 on the season, good for 37 points and second in the Central Division as of Thursday afternoon.

Jordan Binnington was cleared from COVID-19 protocols on Wednesday and practiced with the team Thursday as he gets ready for his return to play.

STARS The Dallas Stars will make their first trip to St. Louis on Friday since the 2019-20 season when they fell to the Blues in a shootout on Feb. 29, 2020.

The Stars are looking to find their footing again after an up-and-down stretch over the last few weeks. Beginning with their first matchup with the Blues this season on Nov. 20, the Stars won seven straight games but have since lost four in a row.

Dallas’ eight-game home winning streak was snapped with the Blues’ win on Tuesday night.

Riley Damiani scored Dallas’ lone goal in the 4-1 loss, the first of his career in his NHL debut.

Stars goaltender Ben Bishop announced his retirement this week due to health concerns after an accomplished NHL career. Drafted by the Blues in 2005, Bishop played 413 games in net for five different franchises.

Ahead of Friday’s matchup, Dallas is 13-11-2, worth 28 points and sixth place in the Central Division.

HEAD-TO-HEAD The Blues and Stars are an even 1-1-0 in the season series so far, both games being decided by scores of 4-1. Excluding the 2019 playoffs and the 2020 bubble, St. Louis has won five of their last seven matchups, with their last loss at home coming Feb. 8, 2020.

The finale to this week’s home-and-home set at Enterprise Center leaves one more matchup remaining in the season series – another bout in St. Louis on Jan. 9.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

BLUES Vladimir Tarasenko’s power-play goal in Dallas was his ninth of the season, eight of which have come in the third period. The recently-turned 30-year-old forward has eclipsed his point total from the last two years combined, with 26 on the season.

STARS Forward Jason Robertson recorded his 21st point of the season with an assist on Tuesday, and now shares the team lead in points and assists. Robertson is having another impressive season a year after finishing second place for the Calder Trophy, the NHL’s Rookie of the Year Award.

MILESTONE

Ivan Barbashev is set to play in his 300th career NHL game on Friday.