Blues begin stretch run with game against Canadiens

ST. LOUIS - The Blues have won four of their last five games and have points in eight of their last 11 entering tonight's 7 p.m. game against the Montreal Canadiens.
A limited number of tickets are available online at ticketmaster.com and at the Scottrade Center Box Office. Fans without tickets to the game can follow the action live on FOX Sports Midwest, FOX Sports GO or KMOX 1120 AM.

THE MATCHUP

BLUES The Colorado Avalanche had won 10 of 11 games before facing the Blues on Thursday - the last game before the start of the three-day NHL All-Star break. Paul Stastny, All-Star Brayden Schenn and Alexander Steen scored and Carter Hutton made 36 saves to hand the Avalanche their second consecutive loss and give the Blues their second consecutive win.
Hutton has started nine of the last 11 games for the Blues, posting a 7-1-1 record with a 1.81 goals-against average, a .938 save-percentage and one shutout.
"I try to just chip away. I try not to think too much into it," Hutton said. "I just play, compete when I do play, try to help us win."
Hutton will start again Tuesday, although Blues Head Coach Mike Yeo said there's a plan to get Jake Allen back in between the pipes soon.
CANADIENS Montreal last played on Thursday when they hosted the Carolina Hurricanes at home. Carolina jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period but the Canadiens scored four goals in the second period to keep things competitive.
Ultimately, Teuvo Teravainen's three-point night - which included two goals and an assist on the game-winner - lifted the Hurricanes to a 6-5 win against Montreal.
"We battled hard, we tied it up, but we just gave too much momentum swinging their way," Canadiens forward Paul Byron told NHL.com.
"We knew we had to be better after our first period," said All-Star goalie Carey Price. "I thought we responded well."
The Canadiens find themselves 10 points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference at the All-Star break with a 20-23-6 record (46 points) through 49 games.
HEAD-TO-HEAD The Blues have won four straight games against the Canadiens, including a 4-3 victory earlier this season on Dec. 5 at Bell Centre. Schenn scored a hat trick and Scottie Upshall contributed a goal in the win.
Schenn's three goals were the second consecutive hat trick the Blues have scored against the Canadiens on the road. Patrik Berglund recorded one on the prior trip to Montreal on Feb. 11, 2017.
The Blues have points in seven of their last nine home games against Montreal (6-2-1).

HOT VS. MONTREAL

• Jaden Schwartz, who returned to the lineup Thursday, has points in three straight games against the Canadiens (three goals, two assists).
  - Patrik Berglund has five points in his last four games against Montreal (three goals, two assists).
  - Schenn has 17 points in 18 career games against Montreal (seven goals, 10 assists).

BLUE NOTES

• Eight of the Blues' 11 games in January are against Eastern Conference teams. The Blues are 15-7-1 (.674) against the Eastern Conference this season, which is the second-best win percentage among Western Conference teams.
  - Vladimir Tarasenko has 56 goals against the Eastern Conference since the start of the 2014-15 season, which leads all Western Conference players. Tarasenko shares third overall in points with 110 against the East since that time.