Forward Nick Schmaltz has four goals and four assists in the last two games he's played against the Blues, and recorded his first career hat trick against them on Jan. 26. Those eight points are the most any NHL skater has posted against the Blues this season, tied with Colorado's' Mikko Rantanen.
Karel Vejmelka is expected to get the start in net tonight, and the 26-year-old netminder has played well at home this season. In 19 games at Mullett Arena, Vejmelka is 10-6-2 with a 3.02 goals-against average and .915 save percentage.
He has played both games against the Blues this season, earning one of his three shutouts this season on Jan. 26.
Tuesday marks the third of four straight home games for the Coyotes, who most recently rallied from a two-goal third period deficit against the New Jersey Devils to force overtime on Sunday. Though they ultimately dropped the game in overtime, head coach André Tourigny said the game was an important step in the team moving past the emotions of last week's trade deadline.
"At this stage, after the trade deadline, it's more about us," he said. "It's about us to get consistency in our game, get used to playing together, and get our game back to the pace we had in the third period against New Jersey."
Tweet from @ArizonaCoyotes: SCHMALTZY IS HEATING UP đŸ”¥ pic.twitter.com/c4FG3RNzOR
Player to Watch: None other than Schmaltz, whose 19 goals this season are just four shy of the career-high mark he set last year. The 27-year-old has nine goals and 18 assists in his career against the Bllues, which are the most points he has recorded against any team in the league.
ABOUT THE BLUES
St. Louis is sixth in the Central Division, seven points ahead of Arizona, but has lost seven of its last eight games. Forward Jordan Kyrou leads the way with 56 points and 26 goals this season, while Robert Thomas holds the team lead in assists, with 37.
The Blues' sport the goalie tandem of Jordan Binnington and Thomas Griess; Binnington is 21-22-5 with a 3.28 GAA and .895 SV%, while Greiss is 6-8-0 with a 3.51 GAA and .900 SV%. The latter was in net for the team's last win, a 6-3 decision over the San Jose Sharks on March 2.
"They have high-end players who can make plays out of nothing," Tourigny said. "They have big defensemen who are not easy to play against."
St. Louis doesn't generate as many shots on goal as some of Arizona's previous opponents, but they do have a high conversion rate on the ones they do take. Though the Blues rank 29th in the NHL in total shots on goal, their shot conversion percentage of 10.6 ranks seventh.
Tuesday's game wraps up a three-game road trip for St. Louis, which returns home to host San Jose on Thursday.
Player to Watch: Keep an eye on winger Pavel Buchnevich, who has nine points over his last five games. The 27-year-old forward has three assists in one game against Arizona this year, and has five goals and seven assists in 10 career games against the Coyotes.
