Blues at Canucks preview

BLUES (22-13-2) at CANUCKS (15-16-5)
10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, FS-MW, NHL.TV

St. Louis has scored six goals in their past six games (1-5-0) following a four-game winning streak.
The Canucks look to end a three-game losing streak (0-2-1), and are 1-6-1 in their past eight games (1-6-1). Vancouver has allowed four or more goals in seven of those eight, and five goals or more in five of their past six.

Players to watch

Blues forward Patrik Berglund, who has four goals in 13 games this season, is moving up to the top line with Vladimir Tarasenko and Brayden Schenn.
Canucks rookie forward Brock Boeser has eight points (six goals, two assists) in his past eight games, with points in seven of them.

They said it

"There was an opportunity to get the players to speak up a little bit and get some of their thoughts out and then for us, the feeling was better and much of [a 3-2 loss at the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday] was better and we did a lot of good things, but I think it was important that we saw it wasn't enough." -- Blues coach Mike Yeo on holding an off-ice team meeting Friday
"[Defenseman] Alex [Biega] is an option up front, gives us a physical presence, and I don't mind the idea of getting some of our wingers an extra shift here and there with another line." -- Canucks coach Travis Green on dressing seven defensemen

Blues projected lineup

Patrik Berglund -- Brayden Schenn -- Vladimir Tarasenko
Alexander Steen -- Paul Stastny -- Tage Thompson
Magnus Paajarvi -- Oskar Sundqvist -- Vladimir Sobotka
Scottie Upshall -- Kyle Brodziak -- Dmitrij Jaskin
Alex Pietrangelo -- Carl Gunnarsson
Joel Edmundson -- Colton Parayko
Vince Dunn -- Robert Bortuzzo
Jake Allen
Carter Hutton
Scratched: Chris Thorburn, Jordan Schmaltz, Ivan Barbashev
Injured: Zach Sanford (shoulder), Jaden Schwartz (ankle), Jay Bouwmeester (undisclosed), Sammy Blais (lower body)

Canucks projected lineup

Daniel Sedin -- Henrik Sedin -- Thomas Vanek
Loui Eriksson -- Sam Gagner -- Brock Boeser
Brendan Gaunce -- Nic Dowd -- Jake Virtanen
Nikolay Goldobin -- Markus Granlund
Alexander Edler -- Troy Stecher
Ben Hutton -- Erik Gudbranson
Michael Del Zotto -- Derrick Pouliot
Alex Biega
Jacob Markstrom
Anders Nilsson
Scratched: Michael Chaput, Reid Boucher, Alexander Burmistrov
Injured: Chris Tanev (groin), Sven Baertschi (jaw), Bo Horvat (foot), Brandon Sutter (upper body)

Status report

Gunnarsson returns after missing one game with an upper-body injury. … Hutton was a healthy scratch for the first time in the NHL the past two games. … Sutter, who will miss his 14th game, is expected to begin skating after the Christmas break, Green said.

Stat pack

Tarasenko has two points (one goal, one assist) in his past six games after having 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in his previous 10 games. … Henrik Sedin has 14 assists in his past 11 games, but hasn't scored a goal in 18 games.