Game Notes: March 10 vs. Anaheim

The Blues begin a critical back-to-back home set on Friday as the Anaheim Ducks come to town. Following Friday's game, the Blues will host the New York Islanders, who are revitalized under new head coach and former Blue Doug Weight. The Blues and Ducks have been on similar paths recently, each going 5-5-0 over their last 10 games. St. Louis will carry some confidence into Friday's game as they knocked-off Western Conference-leading Minnesota on Tuesday. The Blues clipped the Ducks 2-1 in overtime in the first meeting of the season back on Jan. 15. The series will wrap-up over the next six nights as the Blues will visit the Ducks again on March 15. Patrik Berglund led the Blues to victory in their first clash, scoring both Blues goals, including the winner in overtime. Overall, the Blues are 3-0-1 over their last four games against the Ducks, while they've won three in a row and nine of the last 12 at Scottrade Center.

What to Watch

The Blues need to snap out of a home funk. They have lost two straight at home and seven of the last nine. Their struggles haven't been a season long trend, in fact, during the 2016 portion of this season, they ranked seventh overall with a 14-3-4 home record. The penalty killing could be the key. From the beginning of the season to Dec. 31, the Blues allowed just 10 power-play goals on 76 attempts against. Overall this season, the club is 24-7-5 when keeping the opposition's power play scoreless.

Milestones

David Perron - 3 shy of 100 goals as a Blue / 8 shy of 500 career PIM
Paul Stastny - 2 shy of 200 games as a Blue
Kyle Brodziak - 4 shy of 400 career PIM
Carl Gunnarsson - 9 shy of 100 career assists
Jori Lehtera - 3 shy of 100 career points
Alexander Steen - 5 shy of 300 points as a Blue / 6 shy of 400 career PIM / 10 shy of 300 PIM as a Blue
Jaden Schwartz - 3 shy of 200 career points
Jay Bouwmeester - 8 shy of 100 PIM as a Blue
Robert Bortuzzo - 8 shy of 200 career games

Quick Hits

• Alex Pietrangelo collected his 228th career assist on Tuesday, tying Adam Oates for 12th on the all-time franchise list.
• Jake Allen is 2-1-0 with a 1.01 goals-against average and a .965 save-percentage (one shutout) over his last three starts.
• Under Mike Yeo, the Blues have accrued a plus-11 goal differential, which shares fifth overall since Feb. 2.
• Vladimir Tarasenko logged his 22nd even-strength goal of the season on Tuesday. He sits just four behind Auston Matthews for the league lead in that category

50th Anniversary Throwback Note

On this day in 1985, Doug Wickenheiser scored his second (and final) career hat trick (and his only one with St. Louis) in the Blues' 6-2 win against the visiting Detroit Red Wings