BLUES Despite scoring two goals in the third period, the St. Louis Blues were unable to complete a comeback win in Minnesota on Saturday, falling 5-3 to their division rivals. A short special teams lapse ended up being the difference, with the Wild scoring two shorthanded goals in a 20-second span in the first period.
Playing his second game after missing four with an injury, Pavel Buchnevich got on the scoresheet in Minnesota with his 26th goal of the season to keep up his career-best scoring pace. His 1.10 points per game this season marks a career high, an increase of his previous-best 1.04 from last year.
Jake Neighbours and Sammy Blais also provided goals, the latter continuing his resurgent play since coming back to St. Louis. After notching his ninth goal and 25th point in 29 games back with the Blues, Blais was nominated for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for his perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.
The Blues have one more opponent to face this season, playing the Dallas Stars in each team’s building over a back-to-back this week. With Dallas still jockeying for playoff seeding, they will be a good test for the Blues looking to keep building momentum into next season.
The Blues will start the back-to-back at home with a record of 37-36-7, worth 81 points and one point shy of clinching their 15th straight winning season.
STARS Looking to take hold of the No. 1 spot in the Central Division for the playoffs, the Dallas Stars are surging as they close out the regular season.
The Stars have won six of their last seven games entering Wednesday and Thursday’s back-to-back set, the last two being a tight shootout win over Vegas and a 6-1 victory over the Red Wings.
Dallas got their work done early in Detroit, getting goals from six different skaters in the first 35 minutes of action on Monday as they rolled past the Red Wings. Jason Robertson – continuing his career year – added his 46th goal of the year and 26th on the power play.
Though Robertson’s elite play has been a key driver to the Stars’ strong season, they have also been able to keep much of their roster consistent and healthy throughout the year. Dallas has eight players who have played all 80 of their games this season, including their Top 3 point scorers in Robertson, Joe Pavelski and Jamie Benn.
Currently just a game in hand shy of Colorado for the No. 1 seed in the division, the Stars head to St. Louis with a record of 45-21-14 for 104 points. Ahead of Tuesday’s games, Dallas projects to face Minnesota in the first round of the Playoffs.
HEAD-TO-HEAD The Blues fell 4-1 to the Stars in St. Louis earlier this year, their only matchup thus far. The Blues are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games against Dallas, including two wins at Enterprise Center last season.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
BLUES Justin Faulk, who tallied two assists on Saturday in Minnesota to build his career-high total to 38 on the season. Faulk’s 49 points this year matches his career high, leading the Blues with five points in the last three games.
STARS Jason Robertson, leading the Stars with career highs in goals (46), assists (60) and points (106). Robertson has 15 points in his last six games, No. 1 in the NHL in that span.
BLUE NOTES
Torey Krug is expected to dress in career game No. 700 on Wednesday, the same day he celebrates his 32nd birthday… If the Blues win either of the final two games of the season, they will secure their franchise-record 15th consecutive winning season, which would mark the third-longest active such streak in the NHL. Their 28 winning seasons between 1989-90 and 2021-22 shares the League lead… The Blues’ 68 goals since March 9 shares the League lead, while Jordan Kyrou‘s 11 goals in that span shares No. 7 among all skaters.
