It's an abbreviated week for the NHL as the league prepares to shut down for the Olympic break, and there are only two St. Louis Blues games--both on the road--on the docket. A few Blues are bound for the Olympics but, for many players, it'll be a few weeks to recuperate and prepare for the stretch run of the season. While the playoffs are looking to be out of reach, finishing strong can set players up for success next year.
The Blues are 3-6-1 in their last 10 games and, officially, last in the Central Division. Their 20-26-9 record is better than only the Vancouver Canucks, the worst team in the league. For the draft inclined, it may be a good time to start firing up Tankathon to see how the Blues' lottery odds are shaping up.
@ the Nashville Predators, 2/2
How did we get here? The Predators, for all their faults and a weak roster, have pushed themselves back into the playoff picture. Granted, they haven't been great (5-3-2 in their last 10 games), but they're only three points back of a wildcard spot. Part of their success has been other teams falling off (the Chicago Blackhawks are bad after all, and nobody could've predicted how awful the Winnipeg Jets would be), but credit to the Preds for pushing through adversity.
@ the Dallas Stars, 2/4
The tug of war for home ice in the Central Division between the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild continues, as they've been going win-for-win the last week or so. The Stars have gotten back on track, winning four in a row, and are 6-4-0 in their last 10 games. As Blues fans well know, the Stars are a powerhouse, and have already beaten the Blues twice in the past two weeks.