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Game Thread: Edmonton Oilers @ St. Louis Blues - This Train Is Bound To...

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The Oilers need 9 more points in the next 7 games, preferably against Detroit, Nashville, and Minnesota. Getting two out of a beaten up St. Louis team would just be a bonus.

Team Reports

Oilers Report: Even though he sucked all of the momentum out of the Sam Gagner - Ales Hemsky combo, coach Ralph Krueger goes back to Ryan Jones on the left wing and scratches Magnus Paajarvi. Both Corey Potter and Mark Fistric suffered injuries against the Stars, so Theo Peckham and Ryan Whitney get back into the lineup.

Blues Report: The Blues didn't have any of Andy McDonald, Alexander Steen or Vladimir Tarasenko in the lineup last night and that line has been the soft minutes killers for the Blues this year. David Backes and T.J. Oshie have provided cover while Hitchcock has allowed the soft minutes line 60+% Ozone starts.

Expected Line Combinations

Taylor Hall - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Jordan Eberle

Ryan Jones - Sam Gagner - Ales Hemsky

Ryan Smyth - Eric Belanger - Nail Yakupov

Ben Eager - Chris VandeVelde - Lennart Petrell

Justin Schultz - Nick Schultz

Ladislav Smid - Jeff Petry

Theo Peckham - Ryan Whitney

Devan Dubnyk

Scratches: Magnus Paajarvi, Mark Fistric, Corey Potter

Broadcast Information

Scottrade Center, 7:00 pm MST
TV - Sportsnet
Radio - 630 CHED

By The Numbers

  • Edmonton still has the best special teams in the league with an STE of 109.9 but falling. The Islanders are 2nd at 108, and St. Louis is 3rd at 107.9.
  • The Blues have the best shot differential in the league, the Oilers are 29th.
  • Ales Hemsky has 21 points in 25 career games against the Blues
  • Sam Gagner has 15 points in 17 career games against the Blues
  • St. Louis' even strength save percentage stands at .892, led by Brian Elliott's amazing .863. This is just one season after the Blues posted .941 and Elliot posted .945 - alchemy, folks. Alchemy.
  • With the collapse of the goaltender, note that no one is nominating Ken Hitchcock for the Adams Trophy, but everyone is nominating Joel Quenneville, because his two goalies' combined even strength save percentages are .944. The Adams trophy should be awarded to the goalie that wins it for the coach.