TEAM SNAPSHOTS
BLUES The St. Louis Blues fell to the Pittsburgh Penguins in overtime on Saturday, their fifth consecutive loss in a difficult stretch of play. Justin Faulk scored a big goal with less than three minutes remaining in regulation and Jordan Binnington made an impressive 45 saves, marking what the Blues felt was a better effort than their previous game.
"Yeah," answered Binnington when asked if he felt that Saturday's game was a step in the right direction. "It's just playing for each other, knowing your motivation and just bringing it every night."
General Manager Doug Armstrong continued his busy month over the weekend, trading Ivan Barbashev to the Vegas Golden Knights for prospect Zach Dean. In a move made just before Saturday's game, Armstrong also claimed forward Kasperi Kapanen from Pittsburgh. Kapanen recorded a hat trick against the Blues earlier this year and is expected to make his debut - wearing David Backes' former No. 42 - in Tuesday's game.
The Blues wrap up their Feburary slate with their third straight home game - playing seven out of nine games this month at Enterprise Center.
They'll face the Kraken with a record of 26-28-5, worth 57 points and sixth in the Central Division.
KRAKEN Thanks to a seven-game win streak to start out the New Year, the Seattle Kraken have found themselve in the hunt for a playoff spot in their second season as an NHL franchise.
Currently holding the second Western Conference Wild Card spot, the Kraken are four points up on Calgary and two points back from Edmonton - with a game in hand over both Pacific Division opponents.
They will have to reset their momentum after a three-game losing streak last week, though. Seattle fell in a shutout to the Sharks, a tight battle with Boston and a tough 5-1 loss to Toronto entering Tuesday's game in St. Louis.
Vince Dunn struck first for Seattle in Sunday's tilt with the Maple Leafs, but the lead was quickly erased as Mitch Marner's three points led the way for a loss at Climate Pledge Arena.
With Friday's Trade Deadline looming, Seattle could be in the market for another contributor to try and solidify their first playoff appearance in franchise history.
They'll visit Enterprise Center with a record of 32-21-6, worth 70 points and fourth in the Pacific Division.
HEAD-TO-HEAD The Blues are 1-1-0 against the Kraken this season, winning early on and falling on Dec. 20, with both matchups taking place at Climate Pledge Arena. As Tuesday wraps up the season series, the Blues are 4-1 in their five total matchups with the NHL's newest club.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
BLUES Justin Faulk, who led the Blues with two points on Saturday. Faulk buried the overtime game winner in Seattle early this year and has four points in his last four games.
KRAKEN Vince Dunn, former Blue and currently No. 2 on the Kraken with a career-high 43 points this season. Tuesday will be Dunn's third game back in St. Louis since heading to Seattle in the 2021 Expansion Draft.
BLUE NOTES
Tuesday's game will feature special warm-up jerseys as the Blues continue to Celebrate Black History. The sweaters were designed by Central Visual and Performing Arts High School student Zariah Taylor and will be available via auction to benefit the school and Blues for Kids. Taylor will also sing the national anthem prior to the game... The Blues won both home games against Seattle last season, outscoring them 6-2 in those two games... The Blues are 12-for-12 on the penalty kill all-time against the Kraken... 11 of the Blues' 15 games in March will come against Central Division opponents... Zach Dean, acquired by the Blues in the Ivan Barbashev trade on Sunday, joins Zachary Bolduc as Blues prospects from the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft (selected No. 30 overall by Vegas).
The Seattle Kraken will try to finish their difficult February on a high note when they visit the reeling St. Louis Blues Tuesday.
The Kraken have lost three straight games to fall to 3-6-1 this month. They took a 1-0 lead over the Maple Leafs at home Sunday before buckling after Toronto defenseman Mark Giordano scored to tie the game, and the Maple Leafs went on to win 5-1.
"Our response to the first goal against wasn't good enough against a team with good ability," Kraken coach Dave Hakstol said. "Our energy and the start of our hockey game was good. As I said, we have to have a better response. ... That goal goes in, we got to be stiffer, not just the next few shifts, with the rest of the period."
The Kraken will look to toughen defensively against the Blues at Enterprise Center. Hakstol believed the Maple Leafs outmuscled his team at key points of their game.
"They put pucks into the scoring area, and they've got a lot of good skill, but they've also got some heavy guys with hard sticks in there and they put pucks inside of there," Hakstol said. "For me, there's some of those struggles where we're reaching instead of getting in and getting under, being physical at the puck. When you reach against a team like this, you get yourself in trouble."
The Blues are winless (0-3-2) since the team traded captain Ryan O'Reilly and fellow center Noel Acciari to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
"It's no secret guys are frustrated," Blues defenseman Justin Faulk said. "We all know where we're at. ... It's not going well, and if guys aren't frustrated and guys aren't upset with mainly themselves, that's a bigger issue."
But Blues coach Craig Berube saw signs of progress in their 3-2 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday.
"I thought that we got a good response tonight. Competitive," Berube said. "We were physical. Played hard. Just offensively, we've got to get more done. But overall, I was pretty pleased with the effort."
On Sunday the Blues traded forward Ivan Barbashev to the Vegas Golden Knights for forward prospect Zach Dean. Prior to that, the Blues claimed forward Kasperi Kapanen off waivers from the Penguins.
Kapanen is expected to make his St. Louis debut against the Kraken.
"Here's a guy that's got a lot of talent," Berube said of Kapanen. "Great speed. A lot of upside. You know, new lease, new team. I like the speed aspect of it. He's produced in this league. I know he's not having a great year this year offensively. But I'm excited."
Blues defenseman Colton Parayko missed Monday's practice after blocking a shot in Saturday's game. But Berube called his absence just a "maintenance day."
The teams split their first two games this season, with the Blues winning 4-3 in OT in Seattle on Oct. 19 and the Kraken winning 5-2 on Dec. 20 in Seattle.
Faulk scored twice, Brayden Schenn had a goal and an assist and Jordan Binnington made 32 saves in the Blues victory. In the second meeting, five different Kraken scored and Martin Jones made 22 saves to get the win.
