GDT Game 12: 10/28/17 | 7:00 PM CT | vs Columbus | FSMW/KMOX

[theohall]

If one is looking for the marquee game of Saturday's 12-game NHL schedule, the answer is probably Scottrade Center in St. Louis.

There, the 7-3-0 Columbus Blue Jackets take on the 8-2-1 St. Louis Blues in the second half of a back-to-back for both teams. It's a matchup between teams who are off to excellent starts because they've shown the ability to play different styles.

In Friday night wins, that style was defense first. After ceding an early goal to Winnipeg, Columbus equalized at 10:23 of the third period on Cam Atkinson's fourth goal, then won 2-1 at 2:38 of overtime when Josh Anderson tallied his third goal on a wrister from the high slot with the help of teammate Brandon Dubinsky's screen.

Anderson's skate-off goal came less than a minute after goalie Sergei Bobrovsky made the last of his 29 saves, robbing Blake Wheeler on a point-blank chance to rescue his teammates from a botched defensive assignment.

"After the first 10 or 12 minutes, once we started killing the penalties, it woke us up," Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella. "We didn't give them much, but when we did, (Bobrovsky) made the key saves. I'm thrilled about the win."

St. Louis also took a 2-1 victory, although it won in Carolina and didn't need extra hockey. Brayden Schenn potted the game-winner at 10:41 of the third period, stealing the puck to start the sequence and then slamming home the rebound of Jaden Schwartz's shot.

Acquired in the offseason from Philadelphia for Jori Lehtera, Schenn has been strong so far. He has 10 points in 11 games and played a 200-foot game Friday night, winning seven of 10 draws and collecting a team-high six hits.

"It was a patient game where they waited for their chances," Schenn said to FS Midwest. "They play it tight. There weren't a whole lot of chances tonight, but we grinded it out and got the two points. That's what matters."

Having played the last six seasons in Philadelphia, Schenn got plenty of exposure to Columbus' personnel. Much like Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper did before his team's shutout win earlier this month when he praised the Blue Jackets' versatility, Schenn noted that they can play at any pace.

"They play a little different, a little more physical," he said. "But they can skate and they check. Tortorella likes to play like that, so you have to keep it simple."

The Blues used backup Carter Hutton on Friday night, meaning that Jake Allen (5-2-1, 2.70) should get the start in this one. Allen last played Wednesday night, kicking out 23 of 25 shots in a 5-2 victory over Calgary.

It's not known if Bobrovsky (6-2-0) will play back-to-back or get spelled by backup Joonas Korpisalo (1-1-0, 3.50). Bobrovsky has faced St. Louis eight times in his career, going 4-4-0 with a 2.37 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage.

St. Louis, which has spent most of the season's first month on the road, gets to settle in at home for a while. It plays six of the next seven games in front of its fans, including four in a row.

[gaijin]

Let's start the homestand off right.

[theohall]

Forwards
Jaden Schwartz - Brayden Schenn - Vladimir Tarasenko
Alexander Steen - Paul Stastny - Vladimir Sobotka
Magnus Paajarvi - Oskar Sundqvist - Beau Bennett
Scottie Upshall - Kyle Brodziak - Dmitrij Jaskin

Defense
Joel Edmundson - Alex Pietrangelo
Carl Gunnarsson - Colton Parayko
Robert Bortuzzo - Vince Dunn

Goalie
Jake Allen

[Robb_K]

Nice drive to thew net from behind it, by Bennett. He's been looking good lately.
Sobotka has made a couple good shots, as well.

[Robb_K]

Great glove save by Allen! Keeping it scoreless.

[Robb_K]

Another great save by Allen, avoiding a shorty.

Blues had a few good chances on the PP, but no luck.

[Robb_K]

Nice set up by Sobotka to Stastny. That was their 3rd play like that. Nice to see them developing some chemistry.

Another nice save by Allen!

[Robb_K]

Sobotka driving the net slaps in a rebound!!! Blues lead 1-0!!!

[Robb_K]

Sloppy game so far. Lucky that The Jackets were a lot sloppier than The Blues. But only several blocked shots and great saves by Allen kept Columbus off the scoreboard. I hope The Blues can score more on their good chances in the remaining 2 periods.

[Robb_K]

Good PK so far. Great diving clear by Brodziak.

[Robb_K]

Nice kill! No shots!

[Robb_K]

Edmundson's drive tipped by Upshall!!! Blues lead 2-0!!!

[Robb_K]

Allen makes 3 consecutive great saves, to preserve the 2-goal lead!

[Robb_K]

Allen makes yet another super save, while doing the splits. He's got to be The 1st star, so far.

[Robb_K]

Super spin-around move by Dunn deep in his own zone, to escape a Jacket, and get the puck out of his zone on a breakout pass!

[Robb_K]

Blues get the power play with only 3 minutes left in the period. Let's make it a 3-goal lead!

[Robb_K]

I was hoping for a 3-0 lead going into The 3rd. But Allen has played spectacularly to keep Columbus off the board. So, 2-0 is okay. But, I hope The Blues come out skating hard and controlling play in The 3rd, because The Jackets were pressuring hard, and The Blues were playing poorly in their own zone, unable to get the puck out.

[Robb_K]

Edmundson on the 2 on 1 makes the right decision, taking the shot and wristing it in!!! Blues lead 3-0!!!

[Robb_K]

Another penalty on The Blues. They've been giving up the puck in their own zone all game. Lucky Allen has been hot.

Great kill, as there were no shots nor real chances!

[Robb_K]

Wasn't Sundqvist tripped or hooked on that drive???