Preview: Blues at Ducks

BLUES AT DUCKS

PROJECTED LINEUP

TEAM SNAPSHOTS

BLUES The St. Louis Blues were just about to begin their morning skate on Thursday when word came that their game against the Vegas Golden Knights that night would be postponed.
The decision was made to reschedule the game because a player and another member of the Golden Knights' coaching staff had entered the NHL's COVID-19 protocols.
A few hours later, the Blues boarded a plane destined for Anaheim, where they would meet the Ducks for back-to-back weekend games at Honda Center beginning Saturday at 8 p.m. CT.
"It was a little bit weird," Blues Head Coach Craig Berube said of Thursday's postponement. "That's the kind of thing we have to be ready for this year. This could happen who knows how many times. We dealt with it, we moved on. We had a practice (Thursday) and now it's just get ready for (the Ducks)."
As of Friday, the Blues were in fourth place in the West Division with a 4-2-1 record (9 points). The eight-team division has proved to be tight in the early going, with all teams separated by just five points.
Berube said he expects Tyler Bozak (upper-body injury) to remain out through the weekend. Robert Bortuzzo (upper-body injury) has resumed skating but isn't likely to play Saturday. Berube indicated that Bortuzzo's status for Sunday would be evaluated later.

DUCKS The Anaheim Ducks were less than five minutes away from securing at least a point on Thursday against the Arizona Coyotes, but a power-play goal from Christian Dvorak lifted Arizona to a 3-2 regulation win at Gila River Arena.
The Ducks, who had won two straight games, fell to 3-3-2 on the season.
Anaheim has been outshot 98-55 in the last three games and is averaging a League-worst 1.75 goals per game this season.
Despite the lack of offense, goalie John Gibson has been strong between the pipes for the Ducks. He ranks seventh in the League in goals-against average (1.87) and fifth in save-percentage (.942).
"Gibson is playing well, they're defending hard," said Berube. "I watched their last game against Arizona. They're a meat and potatoes team. They work hard, they're going to try to defend and their goalie playing well."
Former Blue Kevin Shattenkirk signed a three-year contract with the Ducks in the offseason after winning the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in September. David Backes, who spent four seasons with the Boston Bruins, was traded to Anaheim last season.
Through eight games, forwards Max Comtois and Carter Rowney lead the Ducks in scoring with four points each.
HEAD-TO-HEAD The Blues have won four of their last five games against the Ducks.
The Blues beat the Ducks 4-2 in their last trip to Honda Center. That game, which was a make-up date following Jay Bouwmeester's cardiac episode in January, was the Blues' last regular-season game before the NHL suspended its season due to COVID-19.
Jordan Binnington is 2-0 against the Ducks at Honda Center.

BLUE NOTES

Mike Hoffman is set to play in his 500th NHL game on Saturday. It will be just his seventh game with the Blues after signing a one-year deal before the regular-season began… Since Jan. 1, 2019, Binnington ranks sixth amongst NHL goaltenders with 22 wins on the road… David Perron, who previously played with the Ducks, has 23 points in 35 career games against Anaheim and is currently riding a three-game point streak (three goals, two assists)… Through seven games, Jordan Kyrou leads the Blues in scoring with seven points (three goals, four assists).