BLUES (34-17-9) at COYOTES (27-24-6)
TV: 9 p.m. ET; FS-MW, FS-A, NHL.TV
Season series: Alexander Steen and Kevin Shattenkirk had a goal and assist each to help the St. Louis Blues defeat the Arizona Coyotes 4-1 on Dec. 8. Vladimir Tarasenko and David Backes also scored for the Blues, who got 22 saves from Jake Allen. Steve Downie scored for the Coyotes.
Blues team scope: St. Louis is in search of a season-high fifth straight win. The Blues are 5-0-1 the past six games and are 6-1-1 in February; they've given up 11 non-shootout goals in eight games. "We've got guys who know how to play at both ends of the ice," said left wing Jaden Schwartz, who scored his third goal in four games in a 2-1 overtime win against the Los Angeles Kings Thursday. "That goes a long way, and obviously goaltending is a big, big part of that." Goalie Brian Elliott, who is expected to make a 17th consecutive start, has a 1.26 goals-against average and .961 save percentage in the past six games; he is 11-3-2 in 16 starts since Jan. 9. The Blues have won six in a row at Gila River Arena, outscoring the Coyotes 29-8 since a 2-1 loss on March 22, 2011. The Blues have an NHL-best 12 wins scoring two goals or fewer this season; they're tied for second in the League with the Washington Capitals at 2.27 goals allowed per game.
Coyotes team scope: Arizona completes a three-game homestand looking to go 3-0-0. The Coyotes, who have won three in a row at home, have outscored their opponents 16-6, including 12-5 on this homestand. "We had three games before going on our extended road trip," Coyotes coach Dave Tippett told the Coyotes website, referring to an upcoming five-game trip. "We've got four points so far and puts a real onus on that game Saturday to see if we can find a way to get two more points and go on the road with a good feeling." Goalie Louis Domingue is expected to start. The line of Martin Hanzal, Max Domi and Anthony Duclair had a combined nine points in a 6-3 win against the Dallas Stars on Thursday and has totaled 15 points on the homestand. Hanzal has two goals, four assists; Duclair has a goal and four assists and Domi has two goals and two assists.
Jaden Schwartz is making up for some lost time by playing a major role in the St. Louis Blues' winning stretch. He's also performed very well at Arizona during his young career.
The talented winger looks to maintain his strong play and help the visiting Blues win a season-high fifth straight game and continue their dominance of the Coyotes on Saturday night.
Schwartz posted 53 goals the past two seasons and a career-high 63 points in 2014-15, but had only four assists through the first seven games of his third full NHL campaign before breaking his ankle in late October. Schwartz missed 49 games but since returning last Friday, has three goals with an assist coinciding with St. Louis' four-game winning streak.
His goal 1:40 into overtime against Los Angeles on Thursday extended the Blues' point streak to a season-high six games with a third straight 2-1 victory.
"He is a special offensive player," St. Louis associate coach Brad Shaw said. "He's got exceptional vision and quickness."
Schwartz has recorded four goals and five assists in five games at Arizona, earning his first hat trick in a 6-1 road win over the Coyotes on Oct. 18, 2014.
In the midst of a 12-1-1 stretch against the Coyotes, the Blues (34-17-9) have won six straight at Arizona and own a 26-6 goal advantage in the last five. St. Louis also extended its overall series winning streak to six games with a 4-1 home victory Dec. 8.
Brian Elliott was not in the Blues net for that contest, but is 11-3-2 with a 1.62 goals-against average over a career-high 16 straight starts since Jake Allen (knee) was placed on injured reserve Jan. 9.
"If everybody is playing their role it makes it a lot easier to track things ... and pick things up," said Elliott, who has a 1.31 GAA and .959 save percentage in the last six.
Elliott has posted a 1.48 GAA while winning five of his last six starts against the Coyotes. He's won three straight at Arizona - the last two by shutout.
The Coyotes (27-24-6), though, will try for a fourth consecutive home win after totaling a season-high six goals in back-to-back contests. They haven't scored at least that many in three straight since Jan. 10-16, 1990, when the franchise was in Winnipeg.
"If we win 1-0 we'll take that too," rookie Max Domi told the NHL's official website after he had two goals and an assist in Thursday's 6-3 win over Dallas. "But when you catch a wave, you want to ride it as long as you can."
Martin Hanzal has a goal in three consecutive games and two assists in each of the last two. Anthony Duclair has two goals and five assists in the last five for the Coyotes, who are 10th in the West but four points back of the final wild-card spot.
Arizona is 10 for 30 on the power play in seven games since going 1 for 28 in the previous seven.
The Blues have killed 36 of 38 penalties in eight games, and converted 7 of 29 of their power-play chances in the last six. They were 0 for 19 in the previous eight contests.
St. Louis rookie Robby Fabbri has three goals in four games.
