TEAM SNAPSHOTS
BLUES Jordan Kyrou scored two goals and added an assist on Friday night, helping the Blues to a 5-3 win against the Buffalo Sabres at Enterprise Center.
Ivan Barbashev contributed three assists in the game, while Ville Husso made 25 saves.
The win was the Blues' third straight. The team also has collected points in six straight games (5-0-1) as they've climbed to second in the Central Division and extended their lead over third-place Minnesota by three points as of Saturday afternoon.
"We've got it going pretty good, I think," Blues Head Coach Craig Berube said. "But in the end, you've just got to take every game by game. This one's over with, we've moved on to Chicago and we're going to focus on that game starting tomorrow."
The Blues practiced Saturday before departing for Chicago. Oskar Sundqvist (lower-body injury) did not skate after leaving Friday's game midway through the first period. An update on Sundqvist was not available and his status for the game against Chicago is uncertain.
BLACKHAWKS Patrick Kane and Brandon Hagel both scored hat tricks for the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday to help the team to an 8-5 win against the New Jersey Devils at United Center.
Alex DeBrincat and Seth Jones each contributed three assists in the win, which snapped a seven-game home losing streak.
"That was real big, I think just for the fans," Blackhawks Interim Coach Derek King said of the win. "I mean, we're competing, we (were) trying and it just wasn't working, and then it was an exciting game. (It) got the fans out of their seats."
Chicago ranks seventh in the Central Division with a 19-26-8 record (46 points).
HEAD-TO-HEAD The Blues are 2-0-1 against the Blackhawks this season.
In the previous meeting between the teams at United Center, the Blues dropped a 3-2 decision in overtime.
Sunday's game will be the final regular-season meeting between the clubs in 2021-22.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
BLUES Brandon Saad, who joined the Blues in the offseason on a five-year contract. Saad played in 428 regular-season games over seven seasons with the Blackhawks, totaling 114 goals and 127 assists (241 points).
BLACKHAWKS Kane, who leads the Blackhawks with 53 points in 49 games this season. Kane ranked 20th overall in the League in points as of Saturday.
BLUE NOTES
Colton Parayko's game-winning goal on Friday against Buffalo was the 11th of his career, which ranks fourth amongst defensemen in Blues history. Only Chris Pronger (12), Al MacInnis (22) and Alex Pietrangelo (25) have more… Justin Faulk ranks second in the NHL with a plus-35 rating. The Blues' franchise record for plus/minus in a single season is Pronger's plus-52, set during the 1999-2000 season… Husso ranks second in the NHL with a 2.03 goals-against average this season (amongst goaltenders with 10 or more games)… The Blues have points in four straight road games (3-0-1).
The Chicago Blackhawks will look to record back-to-back wins at home when they host the St. Louis Blues on Sunday.
The Blackhawks lost seven straight games (0-6-1) at the United Center before posting an 8-5 victory over the New Jersey Devils. Patrick Kane and Brandon Hagel each collected a hat trick and goaltender Kevin Lankinen earned the victory in his return from a hand injury sustained on Jan. 22.
"It was huge," Blackhawks interim coach Derek King said. "That was real big. I think just for the fans. I mean, we're competing, we're trying and it just wasn't working ... and then it was an exciting game. Got the fans out of their seats. Great to see (Lankinen) hang in there and survive it and get us a win. We had contributions from a lot of bodies."
Kane, who has 17 points in his last 11 games, led that charge, as Chicago rallied from a 2-1 deficit with three power-play goals in the second period. After New Jersey tied the score in the third period, Kirby Dach and Ryan Carpenter scored before Kane and Hagel added empty-net tallies.
"Pretty cool night tonight," Kane said. "Nice to score some goals, the power play was pretty good for us obviously and got some timely goals from (Dach) and (Carpenter) at some big moments."
Chicago will try to maintain that vibe against the Blues, who carry a five-game point streak (4-0-1) into the game.
The Blues are midway into a stretch with eight of nine games on the road. They went 3-0-1 in their first four away games, then beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-3 in their stopover in the Gateway City on Friday night.
That victory was a wide-open affair without much checking. But with winger Jordan Kyrou getting back on track with two goals and an assist, the Blues finally managed to go ahead for good 13:57 into the third period on a goal from Colton Parayko.
"The long road trip coming home, it takes a lot out of you," Blues coach Craig Berube said. "The energy was low yesterday I thought, and today a little bit. That fed off into the game. It's pretty normal I would say after a long road trip like that and come home. They know it's one game, then we're back on the road trip again. Guys are a little edgy, which is OK.
"We've got it going pretty good, I think. But in the end, you've just got to take every game by game. This one's over with, we've moved on to Chicago and we're going to focus on that game."
Kyrou had just one goal in his first six games since returning from the NHL All-Star Game. That downturn earned him a chat with Berube.
"I think I had to just refocus on what makes my game go, and I thought I did that tonight," Kyrou said. "And that's just like move my feet, and just competing harder."
Blackhawks goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury started 10 of the 11 games in Lankinen's absence and he is a good bet to face the Blues. King decided New Jersey would be a better matchup for Lankinen's return.
"I think this was a good test for him, especially coming back," King said. "The St. Louis game may be a little tougher for our team."
The Blues could be without forward Oskar Sundqvist on Sunday. He left Friday night's game with a lower-body injury.
