BLUES (38-18-4) at JETS (31-20-11)
TV: FS-MW, TSN3
Season series: The St. Louis Blues defeated the Winnipeg Jets 4-2 on Nov. 23 in Winnipeg. The Blues' Alexander Steen and Alex Pietrangelo each had two assists.
Blues team scope: St. Louis starts a five-game road trip after a 5-2 home loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday. A six-game road trip in mid-March will follow; the Blues will play 11 of their next 14 games on the road. St. Louis went 1-3-0 on its homestand and allowed 14 goals in the four games. The Blues are nine points behind the first-place Nashville Predators in the Central Division but hold a three-point lead on the third-place Chicago Blackhawks while having a game in hand.
The St. Louis power play is 3-for-20 in its past 10 games.
The Blues had an optional practice Wednesday before flying to Winnipeg. Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk (lower body) is weeks away from returning to the lineup.
Jets team scope: Winnipeg practiced Wednesday after a 4-2 home win against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday. Afterward the Jets acquired left wing Jiri Tlusty from the Carolina Hurricanes in a trade for two draft picks. Tlusty had 13 goals and 10 assists in 52 games with Carolina. Tlusty, 26, could play on the second line, which would allow coach Paul Maurice to shift Dustin Byfuglien back to defense. Maurice coached Tlusty with Carolina and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
To make room for Tlusty on the roster, the Jets placed right wing Blake Wheeler (lower body) on injured reserve. On Tuesday, Wheeler missed his first game since the 2011-12 season. Wheeler's absence likely means right wing Michael Frolik will remain on the top line with center Bryan Little and left wing Andrew Ladd.
By JEFF BARTL (STATS Senior Writer) 16 hours ago AP - Sports
Uncharacteristic mistakes have pushed St. Louis further behind in the Central Division race, and the Blues realize a quick fix is needed with the playoffs approaching.
They'll have plenty of chances to test their mettle against the Winnipeg Jets before the postseason.
St. Louis looks to avoid a third consecutive defeat by kicking off a five-game trip with a sixth straight win over the Jets on Thursday night.
The Blues (38-18-4) sit nine points back of first-place Nashville after dropping three of four on their homestand. They're on the brink of dropping three straight for the first time since a four-game skid from Dec. 18-27 after falling 4-2 to Pittsburgh on Saturday and 5-2 to Montreal on Tuesday.
St. Louis is three points ahead with a game in hand on third-place Chicago, but coach Ken Hitchcock is more concerned with finding a solution to his club's recent woes.
"We're a team that's made a lot of great inroads on playing a certain way, and now we're not interested in playing the way that's been successful here," Hitchcock said. "We want to play a different way right now, and it's really, really hurting us.
"Whatever is going on, we have not paid the healthy respect to what's important for us to win hockey games. Not one bit. It's something we need to address - now."
The Blues have played much better on the road lately, winning seven of eight. After facing the Jets (31-20-11), they take on Edmonton on Saturday before dates with Vancouver and Philadelphia - both battling for playoff position. The trip ends March 7 in Toronto.
"We have a tough road trip now where we're going to play tough teams in their buildings," said David Backes, who scored against the Canadiens. "We need to bear down and play our game and get wins."
Backes scored in a 4-2 victory over Winnipeg on Nov. 23 in the first meeting to help St. Louis win its fifth straight in the series. These clubs meet four times before the end of the regular season as the Jets push toward just their second playoff appearance in the club's 15-year history.
Rookie Michael Hutchinson made 26 saves to help Winnipeg snap a two-game skid with a 4-2 win over Dallas on Tuesday. He's started four of the last five games, but he's not concerned about playing time.
"Right now going down the stretch, the only thing that matters is getting the team in the playoffs," said Hutchinson, who is 18-7-4 with a 2.35 goals-against average in 28 starts and two relief efforts. "So whether it's myself or (Ondrej Pavelec) playing, as long as we can win games and get the team in the playoffs, that's the only thing that matters right now."
Coach Paul Maurice has been impressed with Hutchinson, but he still appears to be going on a game-by-game basis with his goaltenders. Pavelec started the first meeting with the Blues and stopped 25 shots.
"You know it's too early (to ask who is starting Thursday)," Maurice said. "If you ask me (Wednesday), I'll tell you it's too early for that."
Blake Wheeler played 227 consecutive games before sitting out Tuesday and has been placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury. Michael Frolik played in Wheeler's spot on the top line with Bryan Little and Andrew Ladd.
The Jets addressed Wheeler's injury Wednesday by acquiring forward Jiri Tlusty from Carolina for a 2016 third-round pick and conditional sixth-rounder in this summer's draft. It's unclear if Tlusty, who has 13 goals and 10 assists in 52 games this season, will play in this contest.
Jake Allen made 28 saves for the Blues in the first matchup, but it's unclear if he or Brian Elliott will be in net for this meeting.
