Blues hope rest did them some good

CHICAGO -- The Blues (45-18-7) will look to improve upon a season-best five-game winning streak Tuesday when they play the Chicago Blackhawks. But they'd rather not do it the same way they won Sunday, where goalie Jaroslav Halak basically stole two points for the team in a 33-save effort against the Blue Jackets.

The Blues went through a similar situation a couple of weeks ago in Winnipeg, where they were flat and Halak stole a 3-2 shootout win. They then went into Calgary two nights later and played one of their best road games of the season.

They're looking for similar magic Tuesday after the coaches gave the players a full day off Monday. Tonight's game will be the Blues' sixth in 11 days.

"We've had a pretty hectic schedule here with travel and games compacted together," defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo said. "I think yesterday was a well (deserved) off-day away from the rink to give a lot of guys a chance to refresh, clear their minds a bit. It's a grind at this time of year. Sometimes, you need those days off to refresh your whole state of mind and your whole body to get ready for a heated game like tonight.

"... The coaching staff gave us a well-deserved day off yesterday to catch our breath and get our rest and make sure we're full of energy tonight against a team that's going to want to take it to us after the last game we played against them (a 5-1 Blues win March 6). It's always a heated game when we play these guys."

Coach Ken Hitchcock said it was best for everyone to go their separate way for a day and to recharge.

"We were a little better today," Hitchcock said of the morning skate. "This has been a tough schedule for us, so we're a little bit better today. We've got more energy, more jump, a little more enthusiasm. I think getting away from the coach is really important, and I think the coach getting away from them is really important. They stayed away from me. I stayed away from them. That full day off was probably good energy-wise for both groups."

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