Preview: Blues at Red Wings

BLUES (29-22-5) at RED WINGS (22-24-10)
8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, NHL.TV

Blues team scope

The St. Louis Blues will attempt to extend their winning streak to five games. They are 5-1-0 since Mike Yeo replaced Ken Hitchcock as coach and in third place in the Central Division, one point ahead of the Nashville Predators. The Blues held an optional workout Wednesday. During practice Tuesday, Yeo had forwards Kenny Agostino, Ivan Barbashev and Magnus Paajarvi skating as his third line. Each was playing with Chicago of the American Hockey League three weeks ago, but Yeo thinks they have earned a shot together. "The message to them is the same as the one to our team," Yeo said. 'What you did yesterday is nice, but what you do today is more important.' It's a good test for these guys." Goaltender Carter Hutton will start and play in his 100th NHL game.

Red Wings team scope

Detroit Red Wings forward Thomas Vanek is expected to return after missing one game with an ankle injury. "We'll know for sure after warmups," coach Jeff Blashill told MLive.com. "We're anticipating he'll be ready to play." Forward Gustav Nyquist was suspended six games by the NHL Department of Player Safety on Wednesday for high sticking against Minnesota Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon in a 6-3 loss Sunday. The Red Wings have lost three straight and are in last place in the Eastern Conference, nine points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They did not skate Wednesday, in order to attend a private visitation for owner Mike Ilitch, who died Friday at the age of 87. The Red Wings will wear a "Mr. I" memorial patch on the left sleeve of their jersey, alongside the "9" patch on the left side of the chest that honors the late Gordie Howe. There will be a similar tribute painted on the ice in front of the Detroit bench at Joe Louis Arena.

Blues projected lineup

Alexander Steen -- Jori Lehtera -- Vladimir Tarasenko
Jaden Schwartz -- Patrik Berglund -- David Perron
Kenny Agostino -- Ivan Barbashev -- Magnus Paajarvi
Scottie Upshall -- Wade Megan -- Ryan Reaves
Jay Bouwmeester -- Alex Pietrangelo
Carl Gunnarsson -- Kevin Shattenkirk
Joel Edmundson -- Colton Parayko
Carter Hutton
Jake Allen
Scratched:Robert Bertuzzo, Nail Yakupov, Dmitrij Jaskin
Injured:Paul Stastny (lower body), Robby Fabbri (knee), Kyle Brodziak (foot)

Red Wings projected lineup

Tomas Tatar -- Henrik Zetterberg -- Anthony Mantha
Andreas Athanasiou -- Frans Nielsen -- Thomas Vanek
Dylan Larkin -- Darren Helm -- Justin Abdelkader
Luke Glendening -- Riley Sheahan -- Steve Ott
Danny DeKeyser -- Mike Green
Brendan Smith -- Xavier Ouellet
Niklas Kronwall -- Nick Jensen
Petr Mrazek
Jared Coreau
Scratched:Tomas Jurco, Ryan Sproul
Injured:Tyler Bertuzzi (ankle), Jimmy Howard (knee), Jonathan Ericsson (wrist)
Suspended: Gustav Nyquist

Status report

The Blues recalled Megan from Chicago affter they placed Stastny on injured reserve Tuesday. Megan will center the fourth line, with Jaskin a healthy scratch, giving St. Louis a fourth forward from their AHL affiliate. … Gunnarsson moves back into the lineup after Bertuzzo played in a 4-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday. … Tatar moved to the first line and Abdelkader to the third line at practice Tuesday. "I have played with [Tatar] many games this year," Zetterberg said. "It has been working well and he's back here tonight with Mantha. Hopefully we can create some good offense."

Who's hot

Steen has 12 points (six goals, six assists) in his past 12 games. … Berglund has five goals in a three-game goal streak. ... Perron has five points (one goal, four assists) in his past four games. ... Shattenkirk has four assists in a four-game point streak. ... Zetterberg has 10 points (four goals, six assists) in his past nine games. … Vanek has four points (two goals, two assists) in a three-game point streak.