Defenseman Jordan Schmaltz will make his NHL debut for the St. Louis Blues, who have lost five games in a row and dropped one point behind the Los Angeles Kings for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference. "I have been waiting for this for a long time, maybe a little longer than I expected, said Schmaltz, who will be paired with Carl Gunnarsson and see time on the power play. "But it's here now and I've just got to make the most of it." Schmaltz, 23, was the Blues' first-round pick (No. 25) in the 2012 NHL Draft. He was recalled Wednesday from the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League, where he had 25 points (three goals, 22 assists) in 42 games. "He's a puck-moving guy, he's a guy who plays with poise," coach Mike Yeo said. "He's still building the defensive part of his game in terms of how quickly and how aggressively he defends. He's a guy that certainly has the ability to execute and help us get to our game." Paul Stastny will center a line with left wing Jaden Schwartz and right wing Vladimir Tarasenko for the Blues, who have six goals in the past five games. "We think that's a line that has a chance to create offense," Yeo said. [Stastny] has an ability to make players around him better. He's a dangerous guy, he can find guys, he can make plays." Goalie Jake Allen will start.
