Blues feeling refreshed, ready to meet Maple Leafs

TORONTO - The Blues haven't played a game since Jan. 9, but they haven't lost any ground in the Central Division standings despite that. The Winnipeg Jets, who lead the division, lost both games they played last week, and the Nashville Predators - who rank second - were idle during a bye week, too.
The Blues get a chance to get rolling again Tuesday when they meet the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre to begin a two-game road trip.
The puck drops at 6 p.m. CT. Fans can follow the action on FOX Sports Midwest, FOX Sports GO or KMOX 1120 AM.

THE MATCHUP

BLUES The bye week came at a good time for the Blues, who weren't happy with their last performance - a 7-4 loss to the Florida Panthers at Scottrade Center - on Jan. 9.
"It was tough to let go of, tougher than I thought it would be," Blues Head Coach Mike Yeo said of the loss to Florida. "At the same time, we can't play a good game (Tuesday) if we're still dwelling on our last one.
"I don't think there was anybody inside our locker room that that break wasn't good for," Yeo added. "You know it was a good break when you (come back) and you're excited to get going, and I think our group is excited to get going again."
MAPLE LEAFS Toronto comes off their bye week after losing a 4-3 decision to the Ottawa Senators on Jan. 10. Andreas Borgman, James van Riemdsyk and Morgan Reilly scored for the Maple Leafs, who are 2-1-1 in their last four games before the break.
"It didn't happen for us. We had lots of opportunity, obviously, but we got impatient," Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock told NHL.com after the loss to Ottawa. "We had two pinches that cost us two goals and we were carrying play and had lots of opportunity as you know but, in the end, you've still got to play right. You make those mistakes and they capitalize."
HEAD-TO-HEAD The Blues won the only previous meeting between the teams this season, defeating the Maple Leafs 6-4 on Nov. 4 at Scottrade Center. Brayden Schenn contributed four assists in the victory.
The Blues have won three straight against the Maple Leafs and have earned points in 12 of the last 14 meetings between the clubs (10-2-2). The Blues have points in 12 of their last 13 trips to Toronto dating back to Aril 1, 1998 (10-1-1-1).

HOT VS. TORONTO

• Vladimir Tarasenko has scored in six straight games against the Maple Leafs.
  - Alexander Steen, who began his career with Toronto, has 16 points in 12 career games against the Maple Leafs.
  - Paul Stastny has seven points in his last six games against the Maple Leafs (three goals, four assists).
  - Jake Allen is 3-0-0 with a 2.00 goals-against average and a .933 save-percentage in his last three starts against Toronto.

BLUE NOTES

• Since Dec. 1, the Blues' penalty kill ranks third overall in the League at 88.7 percent.
  - Blues defensemen have contributed 27 goals this season, which shares third overall in the League. Nashville leads the League in this category with 30 goals.
  - St. Louis has scored first in 25 games this season, posting a record of 20-4-1 in those games.
  - The Blues are 20-3-1 this season when scoring three or more goals in a game.
  - Allen's next win will be the 109th of his career, passing Grant Fuhr for third on the Blues' all-time list. Only Mike Liut (151) and Curtis Joseph (137) rank ahead of Allen.