(11-21-13) Blues-Bruins Gameday Lineup

By LOUIE KORAC
BOSTON -- When the Blues arrived in Boston in the early Wednesday hours after their 4-1 win at Buffalo, one player came to grips with an area he knows well.

Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, who played for Boston University and which is roughly two miles from where Shattenkirk and the Blues (14-3-3) will face the Bruins (14-6-1) at 6 p.m. today (FSN, KMOX 1120-AM), played three seasons for the Terriers (2007-10) and helped them win an NCAA title in 2009.

It'll be Shattenkirk's first trip to the area since he left school and go on to play for the Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League.

"First time playing back here since college," said Shattenkirk, who had 18 goals and 60 points in 121 games for the Terriers. "It's going to be a different experience, a lot of fun but it's also a big game. We know that (the Bruins are) probably one of the best teams in the East and a team that we have to prove ourselves against. It's going to be a fun night."

Shattenkirk was able to spend Wednesday night, the Blues' off night, in some familiar ground, soaking up some old memories.

"Yeah, I went to a couple of the old eating grounds and the rest of it," Shattenkirk said. "Didn't get to shoot up to school unfortunately.

"It's a great city. It's nice to be back. I love the atmosphere and just the entire feeling of the whole city."

Shattenkirk was able to get tickets for his parents (Pat and Barbara) as well as for some friends who will be in attendance tonight.

"It'll be fun to play in front of some familiar faces finally," Shattenkirk said.

- - -

Upon arrival at the team's hotel in Boston, some Blues players encountered a moment with someone that's quite familiar to the motion picture scene.

John Travolta, famously known to have starred in such movies as Grease, Saturday Night Fever and Pulp Fiction among others, was at the team hotel at the time the Blues came in.

"It was cool," Shattenkirk said. "We didn't even realize that he was there until Panger (Blues color analyst Darren Pang) mentioned something and he came over and chatted with us. He was just a very, very nice guy, very humble. It's always cool to meet someone like that."

One of the topics of conversation? Converting Travolta into a Blues fan.

"We mentioned we were big fans of his and hopefully he said he's going to try to switch over to the Blues and root for us a little bit," Shattenkirk said. "Hopefully he'll jump on the bandwagon."

- - -

When the Blues face the Bruins for only the third time in three seasons, they do so with a great test in front of them.

These are the types of games Blues coach Ken Hitchcock likes to call information games.

"Boston's probably one of five or six teams in the (NHL) that plays right through you," Hitchcock said. "It's a big test for us, we'll see where we're at.

"Whatever happens, we'll have a good evaluation moving back when we get those teams from the West. The big guns are coming down now with Dallas and Minny and Colorado. We've got some tough games ahead of us. I think this getting more information about our team is going to be helpful."

Playing through teams is what Boston likes to do, and the Blues will need to be up to the task.

"Puck management is everything," Hitchcock said. "They force mistakes, they make you play in uncomfortable areas and you've just got to go in there and compete.

"I think both teams live in a little fear of each other. We can do to them what they do to us and to other teams and vice versa. I think it'll be a well-played game. Both teams play a little bit different style but I think in my opinion, both teams play the right way."

- - -

Center Patrik Berglund (upper body) skated today for the first time since his last game, Saturday against Carolina.

Hitchcock said Berglund, who has one goal and six points in 18 games, would likely skate today and then be re-evaluated and possibly be back in the lineup Saturday against the Stars in St. Louis.

- - -

The Blues' probable lineup:

Alexander Steen-David Backes-T.J. Oshie

Jaden Schwartz-Vladimir Sobotka-Vladimir Tarasenko

Brenden Morrow-Derek Roy-Chris Stewart

Magnus Paajarvi-Maxim Lapierre-Ryan Reaves

Jay Bouwmeester-Alex Pietrangelo

Barret Jackman-Kevin Shattenkirk

Ian Cole-Roman Polak

Jaroslav Halak is in goal. Brian Elliott is the backup.

Healthy scratches include Carlo Colaiacovo and Adam Cracknell. Patrik Berglund (upper-body) is day to day. Jordan Leopold (hand) is on injured reserve.

- - -

The Bruins' probable lineup:

Milan Lucic-David Krejci-Jarome Iginla

Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Loui Eriksson

Carl Soderberg-Chris Kelly-Reilly Smith

Daniel Paille-Gregory Campbell-Shawn Thornton

Zdeno Chara-Dougie Hamilton

Matt Bartkowski-Johnny Boychuk

Torey Krug-Kevan Miller

Tuukka Rask will start in goal. Chad Johnson is the backup.

Jordan Caron is a healthy scratch for the Bruins. Dennis Seidenberg (lower body) and Adam McQuaid (lower body) are injured.

Roman Polak getting offensive

Blues defenseman adding goals, points; in

the end, don't open the 'Roman Polak Door'

By LOUIE KORAC
BOSTON -- When Roman Polak scored his first goal against the San Jose Sharks on a pinch driving the net, nothing was really made of it.

When Polak stepped into a play again and scored on a laser-like pass from Alexander Steen to help the Blues earn a big point against the Phoenix Coyotes recently, some eyebrows were raised but brushed off. And when Polak did it again, this time reading the patience of Chris Stewart and stepping into another offensive zone opportunity to help the Blues beat the Carolina Hurricanes, people started taking notice in the 6-foot, 236-pound defenseman's offensive instincts.

But has this been in the making for the Czech Republic native?

(St. Louis Blues/Mark Buckner)

Defenseman Roman Polak (left) prides in his defense but has added an

offensive element to the Blues this season.

Polak, who after 20 games has three goals and two assists, which would put him just shy of his career-best 21 points but would shatter his career-high in goals with four, is on pace for 12 goals and 20 points this season.

Does he expect this pace to keep up? No, but having more than just Alex Pietrangelo, Kevin Shattenkirk and Jay Bouwmeester contribute the points from the back-end seems to be paying off in a big way for the Blues.

"He's a lot more involved in the offensive game," said Blues center Vladimir Sobotka, a fellow Czech Republic native. "He's doing a great job finding a seam. he's got a great shot when he shoots.

"... He's got three goals. That's what we're asking of our d-men, to jump in the play and join the rush."

Which is precisely what Polak is doing. And he's doing it well.

Polak is reading and anticipating plays in the offensive zone. He's jumping in on the rush to aid the forwards, and he's shooting the puck more, which helps open up ice for some of the Blues' offensive weapons to get in the mix.

It's all part of a collective plan by Blues coaches to have their defensemen become more offensive.

"I think it's just the system we're playing this year," said Polak, drafted by the Blues in the sixth round in 2004. "(The coaches) actually said they need the 'D' to join the rush more. We're helping our forwards. When the forwards are going behind the net with the puck, it's always coming to the 'D' for a shot. It just works right now, but I don't think I've changed anything. It's the way we play. They wanted us to do it and I think all the d-men are doing that."

It's no coincidence that forwards are looking for Polak coming down the slot.

"That's the play we're working on," Sobotka said. "When he sees the space as a d-man, you're going to go in there and try to get open and try to get that pass and shoot on net."

"It's an easy read for me," Polak said. "They just have great patience on the boards and they see me coming. I just made eye contact and they know I'm going to skate there and I just shoot it and it went in. I don't think it's anything special though.

"Maybe I'm shooting the puck more, I don't really know. I don't think I've changed anything from last season or years before that. I've focused more on having my head up when I'm shooting. Maybe that helped me in the summer."

Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said it's all about patience for the eighth-year defenseman (sixth full season).

"I think he's smarter," Hitchcock said of Polak, whose career-high in goals (four), assists (17) and points (21) came during the 2009-10 season. "I thought last year and the year before, he kind of forced it. He went down when there was no place people could get him the puck. I think he's just being more patient, reading the play better. He's not forcing the play. I think it's in his whole game. I think that's why he's played so well this year.

"He's played so well this year because he's not forcing the play offensively or defensively, so he's not gambling on pinching, he's not joining the rush when there's no opportunity to get him the puck. He's really been patient and I think it's showing in his good play now."

Polak was given an offensive role and utilized it a lot when he went back to his native Czech Republic and played for HC Vitkovice. Perhaps he brought some of those offensive instincts back to the NHL.

"I played first PP there," Polak said. "Basically I was like the offensive-defenseman and I was joking about it.

"It worked well, but it's a different rink. It's a bigger rink and I think it's kind of slower, too, because it's bigger, so you have more time for everything. I was skating the puck there and played offensively. I could do basically whatever I wanted there. If I screwed up, nobody said a word so I just tried and tried more and it worked."

(St. Louis Blues photo)

Blues defenseman Roman Polak (46) aggressively punishes opposing

forwards around the goal.

Polak's heavy shot from the point hasn't gone unnoticed by Blues coaches.

"I know the one thing from our standpoint, we've always toyed with the idea ... his first year here or his second year, they used him on the power play as a shooter," Hitchcock said. "With a player that shoots the puck that hard and that well, you want to take advantage of it. And I think with the game right now getting slowed down with him, I think there's an opportunity in the next not too distant future where you could use him on the power play, especially late in games when you're defending the lead or whatever. There's no reason why he can't play back there."

But make no mistake about it, Polak won't abandon his defensive responsibilities. Come into the Blues' zone and try to open the 'Roman Polak Door,' it could get nasty -- and ugly for the opponent.

"I have to focus on that. It's my game," Polak said. "That's what got me here in the NHL. I'm not going to change it. I'm not going to start being offensive."

(11-21-13) BLUES NOTEBOOK

Sobotka recalls being traded from Boston

to St. Louis; Halak back in goal; Berglund out

By LOUIE KORAC
BOSTON -- It's been more than three years since Vladimir Sobotka made his return to Boston to face the team that traded him away as a 23-year-old.

But when Sobotka steps onto the ice to face the Bruins Thursday night, it will stir some old memories once again.

"Yeah, I have great memories," Sobotka said after an optional skate Wednesday. "I still have friends on this team ... I talk a little bit with David Krejci, but I'm a Blues player right now and I love it there. I couldn't ask for more or better."

Sobotka, acquired by the Blues for defensive prospect David Warsofsky, scored his first goal as a Blue in that return on Nov. 6, 2010 to the TD Garden, site of Thursday's game between the Blues (14-3-3) and the Bruins (14-6-1).

He was drafted by the Bruins in the fourth round of the 2005 NHL Draft but never really got much a real chance with the Bruins. He played 134 games for Boston over four seasons but was never really a given a top-20 role, shuffling back and forth between the Bruins and their American Hockey League affiliate, the Providence Bruins.

"It was frustrating," Sobotka admitted. "I tried my best and it didn't work out for me and then I got traded. It's worked out really well for me. That trade really helped me."

Since joining the Blues, Sobotka has 23 goals and 77 points in his fourth season. He's become so valuable to the Blues these days, they're playing him as a No. 2 center.

Sobotka's role as a defensive-minded checker, faceoff specialist, solid skater and distributor of the puck makes him arguably the team's most valuable player in terms of overall game.

"Character," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said, describing Sobotka. "I think he's had a good skill level, but I think there was no real role for him (in Boston). I think people didn't know if he was a two or a three. I think we've all found that he's probably a two, which is really nice for us. But he's got more skill than people think and I think he's got the tenacity and grittiness to play against top players. He's found a home with us.

"It's a lot like you see with other players. Not different than Patrick Sharp. There was no room in Philadelphia for him on a consistent basis and he goes three years later and he's playing well in Chicago. That happens with younger players. Vladi's really found a home in St. Louis and he's been a big contributor for us."

Sobotka would love nothing more than to help beat the Bruins again, and he's always glad to return, even as the villain now.

"I think it's going to always be exciting to play here," Sobotka said. "In Boston, they have good fans."

* Good rebound in Buffalo -- The Blues didn't expect it. Nobody did. But when they fell behind to the Sabres 10 seconds into the game, there was no panic, no need to go into chase mode.

An unfortunate bouncing puck saw Tyler Ennis put the Sabres in front, and the worst team in hockey had only their fourth first-period goal in 23 games this season.

But the Blues regrouped quickly when Brenden Morrow scored the first of his two goals 59 seconds later and would eventually get a grip on the game and the two points.

"I thought once we go the third goal, we really managed the game properly," Hitchcock said. "Other than 10 minutes of hockey in the Washington game (Sunday) for the last three weeks or so, we've played awfully good hockey. I think the guys were rewarded for an effort that wasn't a lot different than the effort that was in Washington. We had a lot of scoring chances, we out-chanced them pretty badly. I think getting those two goals from Morrow, especially that third one really helped ease the tension of being in a close hockey game."

For the first time this season, the Blues won a game in which Alexander Steen, David Backes and T.J. Oshie did not score a goal when the team scored more than two goals.

Derek Roy's line with Morrow and Chris Stewart accounted for two big goals.

"We've had different guys step up," Hitchcock said. "We had Roy's line step up in Buffalo and then we had obviously Sobotka's line play very well in Washington.

"We've had some good performances from other people, but we still need that (Backes) line to be effective and to create scoring chances. There's going to be nights that they don't get it, but as long as they keep creating all the scoring chances, then good things are going to happen."

* Halak back in goal -- Jaroslav Halak bounced back well after being pulled in the 4-1 loss Sunday against the Capitals in which he allowed three goals on six shots.

After Halak allowed Ennis' goal on the first Sabres shot Tuesday, he shut the door, stopping the last 23 shots he would face to improve to 11-3-2.

Halak will be back in goal against the Bruins Thursday.

"We was solid," Hitchcock said. "He was competing again in the net. He was positionally strong, very good at out-letting the puck. He really moved the puck well out of traffic areas on forecheck exits and stuff like that. (He was) back engaged like he was before and we'll see in Boston.

"He's going to get a great test. He's going to see more heat against the Bruins, more traffic, more tenacity than he's seen in a little while. It's going to be a game where we're really going to need our goalie."

* Berglund out -- Center Patrik Berglund (upper-body injury) will miss his third straight game Thursday.

Berglund, who has one goal and six points in 18 games, could return to the lineup when the Blues return home to face the Dallas Stars Saturday.

"He feels better again today," Hitchcock said of Berglund. "He didn't skate (Wednesday). We'll see (Thursday) morning. If he's able to skate tomorrow, then that's Step 1. But he definitely won't play against the Bruins. We're hopefully scheduling him for when we get back home."

* Matchup with defending Eastern Conference champs -- Boston will be playing its third game in four nights and are coming off a 2-1 win against the New York Rangers, a game in which Tuukka Rask stopped 43 shots.

The Bruins, who won the last matchup between these teams 4-2 in St. Louis Feb. 22, 2012, have no players with double-digit goals but seven players with double-digit points.

"They have depth," Hitchcock said of the Bruins. "They have a lot of depth and they have a lot of competing depth. They play a game where they play right through you. You can't back off from the competitive nature of the hockey game. It's going to be a fun game to coach in. Both Claude (Julien) and I know each other very well. He's done a great job here at getting his players to play hard and committed every night. That's why they're so successful.

"I think from our standpoint, we've got to put our best game on the ice from a tenacity standpoint, and I think we've got to make it as uncomfortable for them as we can. I think we're capable of that, but we're really going to get a test. I think the test for us is going to be through the center ice position. They have four really good centers. Each guy has a personality to him and I think we're really going to have to match that strength at the center ice that they have."

The Blues have won five in a row in Boston and are 7-1-2 here dating back to 1996. The last loss came in Jan. 30, 2001.

Blues rebound after tough opening seconds, top Sabres 4-1

Morrow scores twice, Stewart assists on both

after battling flu, Halak sharp with 23-save effort

By LOUIE KORAC
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Starting the game down a goal 10 seconds into the game Tuesday against the team with the worst record in the league was not what the Blues had in mind.

But that was the predicament for the Blues when Tyler Ennis and the Buffalo Sabres struck before 17,710 spectators could even get settled into their seats at First Niagara Center.

However, instead of wilting against a team going through a cultural change in their front office and behind the bench, the Blues turned up the heat and they turned to a trio of players that contributed in different fashions.

(St. Louis Blues)

Brenden Morrow (10) scored twice Tuesday night in a 4-1 victory against

the Buffalo Sabres.

Brenden Morrow had his first two-goal game as a Blue, Chris Stewart turned a 24-hour period of battling the flu with one of his better workmanlike efforts of the season, assisting on both Morrow goals and Jaroslav Halak, after being pulled in his last start, was strong with 23 saves as the Blues rebounded from a loss at Washington Sunday with a 4-1 victory against the Sabres.

It was a case of Stewart saving his energy, and Morrow was the beneficiary.

After missing the Blues' morning skate Tuesday with flu-like symptoms, Stewart was told to stay at the team hotel to rest.

Without any disgusting details, it was a rough Monday night and Tuesday morning for Stewart but well worth it with the end result that enabled the Blues to recover from a loss Sunday.

"I've probably been struggling for the last 24 hours," Stewart said after getting his fifth and sixth assists of the season. "I haven't felt like that in a while. ... It hit me hard, probably as soon as we got in here. It started going through the team a little bit and that time of the year. We've got a little time here before the Boston game (Thursday), get some rest, get hydrated and get back after it."

The Blues (14-3-3) also got a power-play goal from Vladimir Tarasenko, and Magnus Paajarvi scored his first goal with with the Blues, who are off to their best start in franchise history after 20 games.

Halak bounced back after allowing three goals on six shots and being pulled in the first period Sunday. Halak stopped 23 shots in earning his 11th win.

"I was hoping to get a few shots early in the game but not the way it was," Halak said. "I started feeling more comfortable as the game went along."

The Blues improved to 13-2-0 against the Sabres dating back to 1999, including 8-1-0 in Buffalo. They also improved to 31-9-5 against Eastern Conference foes since the 2010-11 season, the best inter-conference record in the NHL.

Ken Hitchcock also earned his 619th coaching victory, which is one off eighth place all time behind Ottawa Senators general manager Bryan Murray. Hitchcock helped his cause by going back to Halak two days after pulling him in the first period against the Capitals.

"First, Jaro stepped up and made some big saves," Hitchcock said of his goalie. "I don't think there was much difference in the scoring chances. They were pretty closer even. I thought we scored on our chances, they didn't on theirs. Getting the third goal was a big benefit for us, but even in saying that, we needed Jaro today. He was good. He was right back to task where he was before."

Tyler Ennis scored and Ryan Miller stopped 27 shots for the Sabres, who fell to 1-2-0 under interim coach Ted Nolan.

"I think our youth really showed tonight," said Nolan, whose team fell to 0-15-0 when trailing after two periods. "This is one of the better teams in the National Hockey League that can really expose your flaws. ... We knew it was going to be tough. We've just got to keep teaching, keep learning. You could tell some the difference between some of the young players we have and some of the mature players they have. It's just part of maturing."

Ennis opened the scoring before the 17,710 spectators could get settled in, as he was able to one-time a centering feed from Ville Leino past Halak 10 seconds into the game. Leino got to a bouncing puck after Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester couldn't handle it. It was the Sabres' fourth goal in the first period in 23 games.

"We learned to have a start. Sometimes we've been starting slow," Ennis said. "This time we started fast and scored. Then we kind of let off the gas. Those are the things we need to fix."

But the Blues applied heavy pressure and struck 59 seconds later when Morrow took Stewart's no-look backhand feed and snapped a shot past Miller to tie the game 1-1.

"They scored a quick one there, 10 seconds in and it kind of caught us by surprise," Stewart said. "We answered back quick there and set the tempo for the game."

The Blues took a 2-1 lead with 35.9 seconds left in the first period when T.J. Oshie's second-effort play following a Mike Weber blocked shot enabled Tarasenko to hammer a shot home from the low slot. It was the 14th time in 20 games the Blues have scored a power-play goal.

Buffalo has now been outscored 31-4 in the first period of games this season.

Morrow got his second of the game when Stewart stripped Cody McCormick behind the Buffalo goal and fed Morrow, who made no mistake in beating Miller with 5:51 left in the second period.

Morrow was asked if Stewart should get the flu more often. He laughed it off but praised his linemate.

"He was an F-1 out there tonight. It didn't look like he was under the weather at all," Morrow said. "He had some good jump out there and was turning pucks over and made some good plays tonight."

After a not-so-stellar game against the Capitals, the line with former Sabre Derek Roy, Stewart and Morrow was a plus-6 and accounted for two big goals.

"(Morrow) can score. He's been able to score all the time," Hitchcock said. "He's not going to miss on those opportunities. It's nice to see for him.

"That line was good. That line was good in the offensive zone, so it's good to see. I think the puck pursuit part of their game was there. The two down-low goals are the ones we want to score. ... It was nice to see another line step up today."

Halak preserved a 2-1 lead in the second period as the Sabres were coming on, and the Blues goalie made two key stops from close range on Leino.

(St. Louis Blues)

The Blues' Jaden Schwartz (9) gives chase to Buffalo's Tyler Ennis during

Tuesday's 4-1 Blues victory.

"It's not the way you want to start (the game), especially me," Halak said. "First shot on net and it went in, but I just needed to refocus after that first goal and tried to stay sharp. After getting pulled last game, you just want to get out there and you want to help the guys.

"I started feeling comfortable as the game went on, especially in the second when I made some saves there. It got my confidence back. ... I gave up a rebound to (Leino) and I just wanted to get there with my pad. Lucky for me that he didn't raise it over my pad and I was able to get there. That was a key save for me. It could have been 2-2, but instead it [became] 3-1 and it was a huge goal for [Morrow]."

Paajarvi's blast from the top of the left circle beat Miller high to the short side 6:10 into the third period to give the Blues a 4-1 lead. Bouwmeester's assist gave him points in five straight and six of seven games. He has 16 points in 20 games.

Paajarvi can relax after getting the first one out of the way. He even celebrated by double-pointing to his back in reference to getting the monkey off his back.

"I've been always relaxed, but it's always nice to get the monkey off I guess," Paajarvi said. "The last game was a little bit rusty and today was rusty, too, but better. I'm always calm out there. It was nice to get a goal.

"I saw last year somebody do it and it just came up. It was just a reflex. But it was nice. We played up and down today, but we got the good ones."

(11-19-13) Blues-Sabres Gameday Lineup

By LOUIE KORAC
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The longer Barret Jackman wears a Blues jersey, the more likely he climbs some prestigious franchise names and records that go along with those players.

When the Blues (13-3-3) face the Buffalo Sabres (5-16-1) today at 7 p.m. (FSN, KMOX 1120-AM) at First Niagara Center, Jackman will play in career game No. 663, which will put him alone in fourth place on the Blues' all-time games played list.

Jackman, 32, will pass Garry Unger and only trail Bernie Federko (927), Brian Sutter (779) and Brett Hull (744).

"Hopefully I have that many more games in a Bluenote," Jackman said. "... I take a lot of pride in wearing the Bluenote. ... I feel very honored to be a part of it.

"For me to be here for this long is pretty special for me and my family as well."

Jackman has 23 goals and 153 points to go with 902 penalty minutes and he's a plus-41 in his career after the Blues selected the defenseman 17th overal in the 1999 NHL Draft.

Barring injury, Jackman can catch Hull next season and Sutter in 2015. Catching Federko will take some creativity but Jackman said he'll keep things quiet with Federko once he's got him within sight.

"I'll keep the trash talk to a minimum until I can pass those other two guys and then I'll start chirping Bernie," Jackman joked.

- - -

The Blues continue their trip to the Eastern Conference, with tonight's game the middle of three away from Scottrade Center.

After a 4-1 loss to begin the trip at Washington Sunday, the Blues hope to get back to their winning ways against a Sabres team that went through a front office culture change last week with the firing of their general manager (Darcy Regier) and head coach (Ron Rolston) and replaced them with interin coach Ted Nolan as well as bringing in St. Louis native Pat LaFontaine as president of hockey operations.

"We had the proper energy, but I think we gave (Washington) too many chances off the rush and that put us in a little bit of peril," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. "We didn't play normal as far as the proper pressure position game. We probably over-pursued. We got a lot of scoring chances, but we over-pursued and that's kind of the wrong team (to do that against). We gave up some odd-man rushes in the first period and they make plays on odd-man rushes.

"I liked our spirit. We kept going. I thought for sure when it was 3-1, we were going to win the hockey game. That fourth goal kind of took the wind out of our sails a little bit because we were really coming on. It's a good lesson-loss and hopefully we can step back and play. But this is not the Buffalo team that was here 10 days ago. This is now a veteran hockey club that's not going to make the errors they made 10 days ago. This is going to be a different team and I think our players, when they look at the lineup that they're dressing tonight compared to what was here a little while ago, I think the players really see a big difference."

The Blues know plenty about culture changes. They went through it again two seasons ago when Hitchcock was brought in to replace the fired Davis Payne one month into the season.

"I think they start working a lot harder," right winger T.J. Oshie said of the Sabres. "They have a new coach to impress with their play and how hard they can work.

"It's going to be a tough one. They're going to be working hard tonight, they're going to come out in the first period, the first couple shifts with a lot of energy so we've got to match that and focus on playing our game and approach this like it would be any other game.

"That was a tough one in Washington. At points, I think we were there, but at most points, they beat us. They beat us for most of the game in every aspect. Hopefully some of the guys took it a little personal the way that we showed up. Tonight we should be firing on all cylinders."

- - -

Blues center Derek Roy returns to Buffalo to face his former teammates for the first time since being traded in 2012 to the Dallas Stars for right winger Steve Ott and defenseman Adam Pardy. Roy spent eight seasons in Buffalo after being drafted by the Sabres in the second round in the 2001 NHL Draft but never got the chance to return last season with either the Stars or Vancouver Canucks in the lockout-shortened season.

"I had a meeting with Darcy before and I told him I didn't want to be traded," Roy said, recalling his time with the Sabres. "I wanted to stay here. We had some unfinished business in winning a Stanley Cup or at least making a good playoff run. I thought we had a great team.
"It was tough early on. I think right away with being here for so long, knowing all the players and knowing the city, it was different to go to a city I didn't know anybody and don't really know the city and where I'm going to live. It was a tough change right away and I adapted really well."

After playing out an injury-filled season with the Stars and Canucks, Roy signed a one-year contract for $4 million last summer with the Blues.

"I wanted to go to a team where I thought I had the best chance for the Stanley Cup," said Roy, who has 173 goals and 466 points in 610 career games. "Me and my agent talked it over and found that St. Louis was a great fit."

- - -

The Blues (13-3-3) Tuesday without right wing Chris Stewart, who was experiencing flu-like symptoms and stayed at the team hotel. Hitchcock said it's been going around the locker room with players but expected Stewart to play. If not, Adam Cracknell will step into the lineup.

"He is in the middle of what's kind of going through our room here a little bit, flu bug," Hitchcock said of Stewart, "but we're hopeful that he can play tonight. We think he is, but we seem to have the flu bug going through our room right now. We asked him to stay back at the hotel. He said he thinks he'll be able to go, no problem."

- - -

If the Blues are to prevail tonight against the team that's tied for the fewest wins in the NHL with Florida and Edmonton and has the fewest points (11), they might want to look at the first period.

The Sabres, despite seven of their losses being by one goal, have been particularly brutal in the first period, being outscored 29-3 in 22 games.

Buffalo has not had a first period lead this season, the Sabres are 4-14-0 when trailing after one and 0-14-0 when trailing after two periods.

"Looking at their tape, the coaches said they came out really hard against Toronto (in back-to-back games this past weekend) in the first period and Toronto responded really well," Oshie said. "We've got to be ready for anything. If they're not fired up, we've got to take advantage of it. If they are, we've got to contain their energy and match it and hopefully we'll work harder than they will."

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Tonight marks the first time the Blues play in Buffalo since the blockbuster trade between the Blues and Colorado Avalanche that was announced when the team returned from a 3-0 win here.

The trade sent Erik Johnson, Jay McClement and a first round pick to the Avalanche for Stewart, Kevin Shattenkirk and a second round pick.

Oshie recalls how crazy it was, knowing Johnson and McClement were teammates on the plane coming home -- the Blues played the next night in St. Louis against Anaheim -- and then being a former teammate when they landed.

"It was definitely a crazy time," Oshie said. "Everyone here loved EJ. But Stew and Shatty have been huge additions to our team. Other than that, it was more of a shock.

"It was still early in my career where trades were new to me and they were weird. I understand now it's part of the game, but looking back on that, it was a big shock."

- - -

The Blues' probable lineup (pending Stewart's status):

Alexander Steen-David Backes-T.J. Oshie

Brenden Morrow-Derek Roy-Chris Stewart

Jaden Schwartz-Vladimir Sobotka-Vladimir Tarasenko

Magnus Paajarvi-Maxim Lapierre-Ryan Reaves

Jay Bouwmeester-Alex Pietrangelo

Barret Jackman-Kevin Shattenkirk

Ian Cole-Roman Polak

Jaroslav Halak will start in goal. Brian Elliott is the backup.

Healthy scratches include Carlo Colaiacovo and Adam Cracknell. Injured players include Patrik Berglund (upper-body) and Jordan Leopold (hand).

- - -

The Sabres' probable lineup:

Matt Moulson-Cody Hodgson-Drew Stafford

Tyler Ennis-Ville Leino-Steve Ott

Marcus Foligno-Zemgus Girgensons-Brian Flynn

John Scott-Cody McCormick-Corey Tropp

Christian Ehrhoff-Mark Pysyk

Tyler Myers-Henrik Tallinder

Jamie McBain-Mike Weber

Ryan Miller will start in goal. Jhonas Enroth is the backup.
 
The Sabres sent defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, center Mikhail Grigorenko (conditioning assignment) and left winger Johan Larsson to the Rochester Amerks of the American Hockey League. They also sent defenseman Nikita Zadorov to the London Knights of the American Hockey League.

Blues need Halak to get back to strong play

Hitchcock will start No. 1 netminder at

Buffalo after pulling him Sunday at Washington

By LOUIE KORAC
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Ken Hitchcock won't shy away from the fact that Jaroslav Halak's numbers have slipped in the month of November.

But that won't deter the veteran head coach from going back to his starting netminder when the Blues (13-3-3) resume a three-game trip in Buffalo.

After allowing three goals on six shots and being pulled 15 minutes 41 seconds into a 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals Sunday, Halak will be between the pipes, likely against the Sabres' Ryan Miller (4-11-0).

(St. Louis Blues/Mark Buckner)

Jaroslav Halak has a strong record (10-3-2) but the Blues' No. 1 netminder

has seen his goals-against average and save percentage slip lately.

"It was one of the nights for me where everything seemed like it went in," Halak said after an optional skate Monday. "We all have them. Life brings you challenges and throws you obstacles. That was one of the obstacles. There's the next game and still plenty of hockey left, so I can't let that one affect me. I just have to let it go."

One wouldn't think Halak's numbers, particularly his save percentage, have slipped. His 10-3-2 record wouldn't indicate anything. But after allowing only 19 goals on 228 shots, which equated to a .916 save percentage in October, Halak has given up 16 goals on only 121 shots, which comes out to a .867 save percentage.

The last three starts, Halak has allowed three goals in each outing, and of course was pulled in the last one -- the second time this season that has happened. Prior to the last three starts, his GAA was 2.19 and save percentage was at .913. In the last three games, in which Hakak is 1-1-1, he has a 3.95 GAA and .816 save percentage.

Overall, Halak's goals-against is 2.48, which is as high as it's been since his first season here in 2009, and his save percentage is .900 overall. Those numbers are far below what would be considered elite-type numbers for No. 1 goalies.

Brian Elliott, who got the win Saturday against Carolina (a 4-2 victory), came on in relief and stopped 13 of 14 shots Sunday. Elliott is 3-0-1 with a 1.94 GAA and .927 save percentage in limited work.

Blues fans are always clamoring for the guy who's playing the best to be between the pipes, but this is Hitchcock's way of going back to a guy who has played well for him in the past.

"He'll jump back (in) and play well," Hitchcock said. "We need him, especially on the road. Your goalie has got to be your best player. We'll need him to have a good game.

"Brian has played very well. He's given us a chance to win every night. Now it's Jaro's turn."

"I think everybody needs to look at themselves, and it starts with me," Halak said. "I need to look at myself and ask myself if I did my best. I know I can play better."

The Sabres (5-16-1), who cleaned house last week with the firing of their general manager and head coach, have split two games since interim coach Ted Nolan has taken over, splitting a home and home series with Toronto over the weekend.

This will be the Blues' first visit since Feb. 18, 2011. They won here 3-0 with Ty Conklin pitching a 25-save shutout. Ben Bishop was Conklin's backup that night. It also would be the final game for Erik Johnson and Jay McClement in a Blues uniform. Upon returning to St. Louis after the game, the Blues announced they traded Johnson, McClement and a first round pick to Colorado for Kevin Shattenkirk, Chris Stewart and a second round pick.

Patrik Berglund, who sat out Sunday's loss to the Capitals with an upper-body injury, has been ruled out for Tuesday's game as well. He was replaced in the lineup by Magnus Paajarvi, who returned after missing nine games with his own upper-body injury.

Blues defenseman Barret Jackman will pass Garry Unger into fourth place on the franchise all-time games played list when he dresses in his 663rd career game.

Blues regroup, drop Hurricanes 4-2 to conclude homestand

Steen's NHL-leading 17th goal difference

after Carolina nets pair of shorthanded goals

By LOUIE KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- Despite the shock of squandering a two goal lead -- by allowing a pair of shorthanded goals no less -- the Blues knew all it took was a simple hit of the reset button.

And who else would the Blues turn to other than their go-to scorer?

Alexander Steen has been on a personal-record pace in goals and points, and the Blues left wing came through again Saturday.

(St. Louis Blues/Mark Buckner)

The Blues' Vladimir Sobotka (17) moves the puck as Carolina defenseman

Tim Gleason gives chase Saturday night. The Blues won 4-2.

Steen's NHL-leading 17th goal of the season snapped a 2-2 tie and helped the Blues finish a 4-0-1 homestand with a 4-2 victory against the Carolina Hurricanes at Scottrade Center.

Steen assisted on another goal, enabling him to pass Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby for the NHL points lead with 26 and extended his NHL-best points streak to 13 games. Steen has 13 goals and five assists in that stretch.

Steen's 17 goals have come on 64 shots, or 26.6 percent shooting. So he's basically scoring on just a little better than once in every four shots.

The Blues were cruising along late in the second period, leading 2-0 on goals by Roman Polak and David Backes and were going on their third power play of the game when the momentum and mood in the building changed in shock.

But after allowing a pair of shorthanded goals, the Hurricanes were back in the game. The Blues didn't panic.

"We came in, we knew what we had to do in the third," Steen said. "I thought we did a good job of resetting and regrouping."

Added Polak: "After the second, we said something in the dressing room and we knew what to do. ... We kind of fell asleep there in the second and on the PP, but we grabbed it in the third."

Polak had his first two-point game since March 30, 2011, T.J. Oshie added an empty-netter and Jay Bouwmeester had two assists for the Blues (13-2-3), who are 8-1-1 in their past 10 games and 5-0-1 in the past six. Brian Elliott stopped 18 shots for his third straight win.

The Blues are 6-1-0 against the Eastern Conference this season. They are 30-9-5 against the East since 2010-11, the best interconference record in the NHL. The Blues also matched the 1990-91 club with their 13th win in the first 18 games of a season. Blues coach Ken Hitchcock earned his 618th career victory, passing Jacques Lemaire into sole possession of ninth place all-time.

The Hurricanes, who were 4-0-1 in their past five games, got shorthanded goals from Eric Staal and Nathan Gerbe to erase a 2-0 deficit. Justin Peters stopped 28 shots and lost in regulation for the first time in six games.

The Blues didn't come out of the second period dressing room showing any ill-effects of allowing the Hurricanes to grab the momentum.

They were engaged, they were dictating and setting the tempo. There was no way they were going to fumble away two points to end what has been a strong homestand, not with a bear of a three-game trip staring at them -- starting Sunday at Washington.

And when the league-leading scorer had his shining moment, Steen got it done -- again.

Steen took a stretch pass from Polak as the Hurricanes (8-8-4) were in the middle of a line change and went in alone on Peters. Steen snapped a shot from the right circle stick side 6:20 into the third period to break the 2-2 tie.

"Big goal ... big-time player, big goal," Hitchcock said of Steen. "We needed that goal right there. We dialed it up.

"We really had a good start to the third period. We really dialed it up and I thought we took control of the hockey game again."

Added Steen: "It was a good heads-up play by both Roman and Coler to get the puck quick. They were in the middle of a change. ... I found a hole."

Polak got the puck from defensive partner Ian Cole -- Hitchcock raved about both after the game -- and got it to Polak, who was able to immediately find Steen open at the Carolina blue line. The rest is history, or in Polak's case, a moment of prognostication.

"I think everybody was changing there on their side and all of the sudden, I saw him there in the middle of the ice wide open," Polak said of Steen. "Just give it to him because I know he's hot.

"I was going on the bench celebrating already. When he shot it, I was already celebrating because I know it's going in."

Oshie sealed the game with a power-play, empty-net goal with 43.3 seconds remaining.

But the Hurricanes scored twice shorthanded in 57 seconds of the second period to get life.

Staal's breakaway goal after the Blues lost the puck at the blue line with 4:23 remaining in the second period made it 2-1, then Elliott came out to play a puck off the boards and lost it to Riley Nash, who fed Gerbe for the equalizer with 3:27 left in the period.

"My bad on trying to get it up to the guys and [Nash] knocked it down with the stick," Elliott said. "It's a great feeling for me that Steener goes down there and gets that. ... Steener came through like he has all year. Just a gritty effort to come back and solidify that win."

It's the first time since Oct. 8, 1992 that the Blues allowed a pair of shorthanded goals on the same power play. That night, Russ Courtnall and Gaetan Duchesne scored the shorthanded goals for the Minnesota North Stars.

"We had a couple sloppy plays and we got the power play and ... the one play bounces a couple times and then they make a good play and (Manny) Malhotra holds it, Staal gets some speed and hits him with a pass and the second one, Ells makes a good play and they just get lucky and knock it out of the air," Steen said. "It's 2-2. We came in, we knew what we had to do in the third. I thought we did a good job of resetting and regrouping."

Polak's third goal of the season (one off his career-high set in 2009-10) was the 10th straight game the Blues scored first and 15th time in 18 games. Polak took Chris Stewart's pass and fired a wrist shot from the high slot past Peters on the short side 9:25 into the second.

(St. Louis Blues/Mark Buckner)

The Blues' Chris Stewart (25) helped his team get on the board Saturday

night with an assist on Roman Polak's goal.

"I don't know. It's just going in right now," said Polak, who's one off his career-high in goals. "I just basically shot and it went in. It was a great play by Stewy and great patience by him."

Hitchcock called the line of Vladimir Sobotka, Stewart and Brenden Morrow, "Outstanding. This is two games in a row that Stewy's played at a really high level.

"I think that line's got some great chemistry going. They're dominant down low, they've got patience with the puck that you need to and they've got the size to play one-on-one. With the way Sobe's working underneath bringing it up the ice for them, I think it's got the makings of a really good line right now."
Steen's assist on Polak's goal marked the first time since Pierre Turgeon did so in 1999-2000 that a Blues player had such a streak; Turgeon's reached 15 games.

Backes scored his second goal in as many games and fifth point in three games when he took Morrow's feed from behind the net. Morrow caught Backes coming in off the bench and gave the Blues captain a sharp-angle pass that Backes was able to one-time off a short hop into the near side with 8:24 left to give the Blues a 2-0 lead.

However, after seeing Carolina tie it, the Blues simply regrouped.

"I think we were unlucky in the first period not to be up a lot," said Hitchcock, whose team got on a charter and headed on the road to face the Washington Capitals Sunday. "We got the 2-0 lead, our power play's been good for us all year. We made a couple mistakes on entries. We didn't get it deep and they took advantage of them. It was the momentum that we needed to play with on the power play that we didn't take advantage of, we tried to make plays in delicate areas and turned it over and they were off to the track meet.

"We really had a good start to the third period. We really dialed it up and I thought we took control of the hockey game again."