Preview: Blues at Stars

BLUES (5-3-2) at STARS (3-4-2)
8:30 p.m. ET; FS-MW, FS-SW, NHL.TV

Blues team scope

St. Louis Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo will play after he had his leg tangled up with New York Rangers forward J.T. Miller on Tuesday and missing practice Wednesday. "Good to go. Little bit of a scare," Pietrangelo said. "But I got a little bit of treatment yesterday and it worked." The Blues have won seven of their past nine games at American Airlines Center, including three in the Western Conference Second Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season. "This was a very intimidating building when I first came to St. Louis, players would make comment that they felt like we were skating uphill," coach Ken Hitchcock said. "There isn't the intimidation factor anymore. We figured out a way to play them." Goalie Jake Allen will start after allowing four goals on 20 shots before being pulled for Carter Hutton during a 5-0 loss to the Rangers.

Stars team scope

Dallas Stars forward Jiri Hudler won't play because of an illness; coach Lindy Ruff said they are waiting on the test results. Hudler previously missed five games with an illness until returning to the lineup on Oct. 29. The Stars face the Blues for the first time since losing Game 7 of the second round. "They got in the way of what we were trying to do last year," captain Jamie Benn said. "What better way to start the first meeting between us this year with us getting in their way." The Stars have scored three goals during a three-game losing streak, including a 3-2 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday. "I think the last two games have been more of the game we want to play," Benn said. "It was unfortunate how it ended, but I think we are working in the right direction." Goalie Antti Niemi will start after making 25 saves against Columbus.

Blues projected lineup

Alexander Steen -- Patrik Berglund -- David Perron
Jaden Schwartz -- Jori Lehtera -- Vladimir Tarasenko
Robby Fabbri -- Paul Stastny -- Nail Yakupov
Scottie Upshall -- Kyle Brodziak -- Ryan Reaves
Jay Bouwmeester -- Alex Pietrangelo
Carl Gunnarsson -- Kevin Shattenkirk
Joel Edmundson -- Colton Parayko
Jake Allen
Carter Hutton
Scratched: Ty Rattie, Brad Hunt, Dimitri Jaskin
Injured: Robert Bortuzzo (lower body)

Stars projected lineup

Jamie Benn -- Tyler Seguin -- Patrick Eaves
Antoine Roussel -- Radek Faksa -- Jason Spezza
Lauri Korpikoski -- Devin Shore -- Brett Ritchie
Curtis McKenzie -- Gemel Smith -- Adam Cracknell
Johnny Oduya -- Stephen Johns
Esa Lindell -- John Klingberg
Dan Hamhuis -- Jordie Benn
Antti Niemi
Kari Lehtonen
Scratched: Patrik Nemeth, Jamie Oleksiak
Injured:Patrick Sharp (concussion), Mattias Janmark (knee), Cody Eakin (knee), Ales Hemsky (groin), Jiri Hudler (illness)

Status report

McKenzie is back in the lineup for the Stars after being scratched against the Blue Jackets. … Upshall enters the Blues' lineup after sitting the past two games.

Who's hot

Seguin has three goals in his past four games. … Stastny has seven points (three goals, four assists) in his past five games against the Stars.