Preview: Blues at Stars

BLUES (17-11-4) AT STARS (13-14-6)
8:30 p.m. ET; FS-SW, FS-MW, NHL.TV

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Blues team scope

The St. Louis Blues come to American Airlines Center trying to rebound from a 3-2 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Monday. It was the third time in the past four games St. Louis had a lead going into the third period and lost. "We like to be in a little bit more control and hopefully we'll start getting back to that soon here," center Kyle Brodziak said after the game. The Blues canceled their morning skate. St. Louis is 3-5-1 in its past nine games after winning seven of eight. Jake Allen will start in goal after Carter Hutton played against Edmonton. Allen is 4-6-1 with a 3.35 goals against average and .879 save percentage in road games. The Blues have relied heavily on the fourth line of Scottie Upshall, Brodziak, and Ryan Reaves to provide a spark. "They're doing everything and more. They're scoring, they're creating zone time, they're winning battles, they're making plays," coach Ken Hitchcock said Monday. "I don't know where we'd be without that line and the way they contribute." Alexander Steen is two assists shy of 300 in his NHL career.

Stars team scope

Antti Niemi will make his fourth straight start for the Dallas Stars and has been stellar at American Airlines Center. In 10 starts at home, Niemi is 7-2-1 with a 1.81 goals-against average and .943 save percentage. Defenseman Johnny Oduya is a game-time decision and will take warmups before making a final decision on whether he'll play. Oduya is dealing with a lower-body injury he re-aggravated against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday. "It's on the player whether he thinks he can get through it," coach Lindy Ruff said. If Oduya is scratched, Jamie Oleksiak will play for the first time since Dec. 10 against the Flyers. The Stars are trying to win back-to-back games for the second time this season after defeating Philadelphia 3-1 at home on Saturday. They are 1-8-3 in games after victories and haven't won back-to-back games since Nov. 10-11 against the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers. "Attention to detail, that's important," defenseman Jordie Benn said. "When we've been successful that's been the reason. And we need to make sure we do that tonight."

Blues projected lineup

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

Stars projected lineup

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

Status report

Sharp took part in the morning skate. He hasn't played since Dec. 1.

Who's hot

Pietrangelo has scored in back-to-back games. … Jamie Benn has four points in his past three games.