The St. Louis Blues return to action tonight against the Eastern Conference-leading Washington Capitals. This is another tough test for the Blues, as they enter tonight's game on a four-game point streak.
Since returning from break, they have faced off against the NHL-leading Winnipeg Jets and the now the runner-up, Washington. What a way to get back into the swing of things.
Let's discuss this one.
Another tough game, a potential streak-ender
The Blues have a big decision to make over the next couple of days. Are there unknown intentions going to come to light, and will it be in time to make a difference? For now, they have to just focus on one thing, and that is winning hockey games to stay in contention for that last wildcard spot in the Western Conference.
At 27-26-6, for 60 points, the Blues are still five points behind Vancouver for the WC2 spot. That seems so far away, but this team has snagged seven of a possible eight points over their last four games.
Washington, who have risen from the ashes this season, are the best team in the Metropolitan Division, as well as the entire Eastern Conference. At 38-12-8, for 84 points, they have been firing on all cylinders all season.
If the Blues do not continue playing perfect hockey, this could be the game to snap their four-game point streak.
Who to watch for?
It is not often that you would want to root for a player to score against the team you care about, but this is one of those cases that you just have to let it happen. Alex Ovechkin, the "Great 8", is only 12 goals away from breaking one of the "unbreakable" Wayne Gretzky records. He will inevitably break it, and I'm sure that I am in the majority in saying that it needs to happen before the end of this season. Ovechkin, at 39-years-old, has 30 goals on the year as well as 17 assists.
This is also a very special night for Blues Captain Brayden Schenn. He will become the 403rd person in NHL history to reach 1000 career games played. Interestingly enough, his brother Luke, who plays for Nashville, just hit 1000 games as well earlier this season. That is the first time in NHL history that two brothers reached this milestone in the same season.
The puck drop is at 6:00 PM CT.