Let's Go Blues

TEAM SNAPSHOTS
BLUES The St. Louis Blues will be looking to wrap up their four-game road trip on a high note on Sunday afternoon in New Jersey.

The Blues opened the trip with a 4-0 win against the Chicago Blackhawks but have dropped back-to-back contests, losing 5-3 to the New York Rangers on Wednesday and 2-1 to the New York Islanders on Saturday.

David Perron was a last-minute scratch on Saturday due to an illness. Blues Head Coach Craig Berube said he was hopeful Perron would be able to play Sunday, but because of the back-to-backs, that wasn't certain.

DEVILS The New Jersey Devils will begin a four-game homestand against Western Conference opponents on Sunday when they host the Blues.

The Devils have lost their last two games despite having some solid offensive performances. In the last nine games, New Jersey has contributed 41 goals, which includes eight from 23-year-old Nico Hischier.

As of Saturday night, the Devils sat in last place in the Metropolitan Division with a record of 19-31-5 (43 points).

HEAD-TO-HEAD The Blues and Devils previously met this season on Feb. 10 in St. Louis. In that game, New Jersey scored five times in the third period en route to a 7-4 win at Enterprise Center.

Hischier had two goals and an assist in the game, while Yegor Sarangovich netted a goal and two assists. Goalie Jon Gillies, who was in the Blues organization for stints in of each of the last two seasons, made 27 saves.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
BLUES Ville Husso is likely to get the start in net after Jordan Binnington played Saturday. Husso ranks fourth among NHL goaltenders this season with a 2.13 goals-against average (minimum of 10 games played) and his .931 save-percentage ranks second.

DEVILS Jesper Bratt, who leads the Devils in goals (19), assists (31) and points (50).

BLUE NOTES
Robert Thomas has 10 points in his last nine games (three goals, seven assists)… Jordan Kyrou has points in six consecutive contests (three goals, five assists)… The Blues have collected points in seven of their last nine games (6-2-1).

After muddling through a slow start Saturday against the New York Islanders, the St. Louis Blues will try to get back on track Sunday when they visit the New Jersey Devils.

Blues coach Craig Berube was not pleased with his team's approach in a 2-1 road loss to the tight-checking Islanders.

The Blues, he said, were "flat for a couple periods. That's a good defensive team. They're not gonna give you many odd-man rushes or things like that. You gotta work. And we didn't want to put the puck in and go get it and work. Till the third period.

"We woke up, started doing things right. Pressuring. Had some opportunities. And made it a one-goal game."

After winning four straight games and six of their previous seven games, the Blues have lost consecutive games during their trip to the greater New York metropolitan area.

They fell to the New York Rangers 5-3 on Wednesday, then tried to prepare for the midday start against the Islanders.

"We kind of touched on it in practice yesterday, making sure we had a good (first period)," Blues defenseman Colton Parayko said. "We knew coming over today we had to have a good start with no morning skate. It's the same slate for both teams though. We're both on the same ice, same time."

The Devils have lost three of their past four games and five of their past seven. They are coming off a 3-1 loss to the Rangers on Friday.

"We want to win as many games as possible, but we have to take it game by game. I think we did some great stuff in the Rangers' game, but couldn't score enough goals though," Devils forward Andreas Johnsson said.

"Bring that same energy and same game we had for 40-50 minutes we had in the Rangers' game. We were protecting our house and good in transition, getting pucks deep, create some offensive chances and don't give up too many chances. Keep playing the same way."

The Devils won the previous game between the teams, 7-4 on Feb. 10 in St. Louis. They rallied with a five-goal outburst. Nico Hischier had two goals and an assist in that game, and Yegor Sharangovich had a goal and two assists.

Goaltender Jon Gillies, who filled in for the Blues for one game earlier this season, earned the victory.

"We had a great game away against them," Johnsson said. "We know they have a lot of power on that team. If we can play the same way that we did away in the Rangers game where we played tight and don't give room on any chances, and take advantage of our chances we may have a chance (Sunday)."

The Blues played without David Perron Saturday due to illness, so he will be questionable for this game. Since the Blues started Jordan Binnington in goal Saturday, they likely will return to Ville Husso (13-4-2, 2.13 goal-against average) in this game.