Tarasenko vs. McDavid highlights Monday's matchup

ST. LOUIS - Connor McDavid vs. Vladimir Tarasenko.
No. 1 overall in points (39) vs. No. 2 overall in points (37), respectively.
Sit back and enjoy the show.
"It's going to be exciting," said Blues goalie Carter Hutton. "You're seeing more high-scoring games because of guys like McDavid, (Auston) Mathews and (Patrick) Laine. Vladi is more your strength and power and it's going to be fun to watch. Two of the best players in the League going to tee it up tonight."

The two players will meet as the Blues host the Edmonton Oilers at 7 p.m. at Scottrade Center (FSMW, KMOX) before embarking on a two-game road trip to Dallas and Tampa Bay.
"Two of the best offensive players in the League (tonight)," added Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo. "It's going to be fun to watch, two young players who are going to be the face of the League, if not now but for years to come. It's pretty fun to watch these guys. I get the luxury of watching Vladi day in and day out, but it's always nice to get to play against another player of that caliber."
Tarasenko has surged to No. 2 in the League thanks to a red-hot December. He leads all NHL players with 14 points (five goals and nine assists) this month, and dating back even further, has points in 16 of his last 20 games (11 goals, 17 assists).
McDavid has just one point over his last four games but still maintains the League lead in scoring, posting 12 goals and 27 assists. He's led the League in points for 38 days this season.
"I was watching some highlights of (McDavid) this morning. He's a player who sees the ice well and he's a top notch player," said defenseman Joel Edmundson. "Players like that doesn't come around too often. You've got to respect him, but not show him too much respect. It'll be a fun battle to see him and Tarasenko go at it."

PIETRANGELO RISING

Blues Head Coach Ken Hitchcock would admit that has club as a whole has some things to clean up defensively, especially after losing a third-period lead to the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday. But his top defenseman - Pietrangelo - is on top of his game.
Pietrangelo has goals in back-to-back games and has been playing with a new partner in Edmundson.
"The last two games he's been outstanding," Hitchcock said of Pietrangelo. "The switch to having to work with a young guy, he's elevated the young guy into a whole other level. Playing with (Edmundson) has helped Alex, because it's had to have him communicate with a young guy. The last two games have been as good as he'd played all year."
"He's awesome," Edmundson added of Pietrangelo. "He talks to me after every shift, lots of communication on the ice and on the off days. He's a fun guy to play with, and he likes to act like a kid, so I enjoy it."
In addition to some stellar defense in his own zone, Pietrangelo is hot offensively, too. He has nine points (four goals, five assists) in his last 12 games.
"Hitch always says it and I agree with him, the best way to defend is to play in o-zone," Pietrangelo said. "That's something we've done for years here and something we've got to find a way to get back to."

BLUE NOTES

Edmundson had three assists Saturday vs. Chicago, marking his first career three-point game.
Ryan Reaves has three points of his last five games, more than doubling his total from his previous 25 outings.
The Blues have lost two straight to the Oilers, most recently a 3-1 defeat back on Oct. 20. Prior to that, the Blues had won eight straight and 14 of 14 against the Oilers.
The Blues are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games at home. They have points in 14 of the last 15 home games.
The first 10,000 fans at tonight's game will receive a Blues Yearbook. In addition, fans can stop by Section 114 to view and bid on holiday trees decorated by Blues players and their families. Proceeds benefit Lydia's House and the Little Bit Foundation.