TEAM SNAPSHOTS
BLUES The St. Louis Blues will carry a 12-game home point streak (11-0-1) into Thursday's matchup with the Seattle Kraken, but keeping that streak alive won't be easy.
The Blues currently have five players in COVID protocols: David Perron, Brayden Schenn, Vladimir Tarasenko, Colton Parayko and Scott Perunovich. Jake Walman, who was also sidelined due to COVID, was back on the ice with the team on Wednesday morning for practice.
Blues Head Coach Craig Berube wasn't certain whether Tarasenko or Perunovich, who have been in protocols since Jan. 6, would be eligible to play Thursday. Perron, Schenn and Parayko are each still within their five day minimum and won't be available.
"It's tough," Berube said. "(There are) some real good players obviously out right now. Like I said, the next guy has to step in and do the job. We rely on our depth that we have in the organization and that's what we have to do."
With all the absences, James Neal could play in his first game in nearly two months. He last played on Nov. 22 in Vegas before sustaining and injury and then landing on the COVID list.
"He's been working hard, he's been a good pro that's been around, and he keeps himself in good shape," Berube said of Neal. "He practices hard and should be ready to go."
KRAKEN The Seattle Kraken will be making their first trip to St. Louis in franchise history on Thursday night.
The Kraken began play at the start of the 2021-22 season. Their lineup, which was built through the expansion draft in the offseason, is highlighted by Jordan Eberle, Jared McCann and Yanni Gourde, who rank first, second and third, respectively, in points this season.
Former Blue Jaden Schwartz has 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) in 29 games with Seattle after signing with the Kraken as a free agent, but an injury will prevent Schwartz from playing on Thursday night.
Vince Dunn, who was selected by Seattle in the expansion draft, is expected to play. Dunn has three goals and 10 assists (13 points) this season.
The Kraken find themselves in eighth place in the Pacific Division with a 10-20-4 record (24 points) as of Wednesday afternoon. Seattle will play against the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night before traveling to St. Louis.
HEAD-TO-HEAD Thursday's game will be the first-ever meeting between the teams. The Blues will travel to Seattle for the first time on Jan. 21 to meet the Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
BLUES Torey Krug, who has points in five straight games entering Thursday's matchup. Krug has posted two goals and four assists (six points) and a plus-6 rating in that stretch.
KRAKEN Jared McCann, a former first-round pick of the Vancouver Canucks in 2014. McCann leads the Kraken with 14 goals this season.
BLUE NOTES
Tyler Bozak is set to appear in his 200th game as a Blue on Thursday night… The Blues are tied for first in the League with 12 comeback wins this season. The Blues also lead the League with 11 wins after giving up the game's first goal… With their win in the Winter Classic, the Blues became the second non-Original Six team to record 4,500 points, joining the Philadelphia Flyers.
The short-handed St. Louis Blues will put their 12-game home point streak on the line against the visiting Seattle Kraken on Thursday.
The Blues, who are 11-0-1 during their streak at Enterprise Center, expect to play without forwards Vladimir Tarasenko, David Perron and Brayden Schenn as well as defensemen Colton Parayko and Scott Perunovich. All five players are sidelined in COVID-19 protocol.
Tarasenko (34 points in 34 games) and Perron (20 points in 25 games) are among the Blues' top offensive weapons while Parayko leads the team in average playing time.
"It's tough," St. Louis coach Craig Berube said. "Some real good players are obviously out right now. The next guy has to step in and do the job and we've just got to rely on our depth that we have in the organization and that's what we have to do."
Among the players stepping in will be veteran winger James Neal, who last played on Nov. 22. He spent time on long-term injured reserve and in COVID protocol before clearing waivers and landing on the taxi squad.
Forward Nathan Walker and defenseman Calle Rosen are back from the American Hockey League to fill in.
"It's just one of those things we have to deal with," Blues forward Tyler Bozak said. "Every team is dealing with it. Seems like it kind of comes in waves. It's inevitable that once you get one (COVID infection), there's going to be some others that follow with just how much time we spend together and the close proximity we're in.
"We have done a good job dealing with it so far, and we've got some big shoes to fill here."
The Kraken will face the Blues after taking a 5-2 road loss to the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night, their seventh straight defeat (0-6-1) and their 10th setback in the past 11 games (1-8-2).
The Kraken have not won a game since Dec. 14. They have allowed two goals or fewer just eight times in 35 games this season.
"Enough is enough here," Kraken center Jared McCann said. "We have to play a full 60 minutes. Everybody is pretty frustrated."
Since Dec. 18, the Kraken have played just five games and had seven postponed due to the pandemic. Such inactivity has made it difficult for an expansion team to build its game.
"There's no consolation prize in playing well or having little pieces of your game feel good," Kraken coach Dave Hakstol said. "It's about winning hockey games. We haven't played a lot of hockey in the last 10 days."
However, Hakstol added, "That really doesn't matter."
McCann has been a bright spot for the Kraken, scoring three goals and adding three assists in his past four games. He logged a goal and an assist at Dallas.
After playing Philipp Grubauer in goal Wednesday, the Kraken are likely to start Chris Driedger (3-4-0, 3.49 goal-against average) at St. Louis.
Forward Morgan Geekie is questionable for the game after sitting out against the Stars with an upper-body injury. Max McCormick moved up from the taxi squad to take his place in the lineup.
