Notes: Wings expecting tough challenge from struggling Blues

DETROIT -- The numbers say that the St. Louis Blues (8-11-3) are at the bottom of the Western Conference with 19 points in 22 games.
The Los Angeles Kings are below them with 19 points in 24 games.

But Wings coach Jeff Blashill isn't fooled by the standings.
"They're a good team," Blashill said after the team's optional morning skate. "The thing about the NHL, you catch a team at a certain time and their record might be this and two weeks later it might be totally something different because that's how close everybody is. I've said it time and time and time again and I think people get sick of me saying it but that's the reality. The league is so, so paper thin from one team to the next. They're a real good hockey team, look at the lineup. Their specialty teams have been good, we know it'll be a great, great challenge here tonight. They've played with lots of vigor since (interim head coach Craig) Berube took over. It'll be a war."

The Blues are ranked 10th on the power play at 22.4 percent and 10th on the penalty kill at 81.2 percent.
St. Louis has also actually outscored opponents 25-21 in the first period and 24-21 in the second period.
It is the third period and overtime that have been problematic. Opponents are outscoring the Blues 28-18 in the third and 3-0 in overtime.
"We could be talking about St. Louis in a month and everybody could be speaking about how great they're playing," Blashill said. "It's going to be a heck of a challenge for sure."
Ryan O'Reilly, the former Buffalo Sabre acquired in a trade, has 12 goals and 14 assists in 22 games and Vladimir Tarasenko has seven goals and 11 assists in 22 games.
"Obviously, it's going to be hard," Anthony Mantha said. "We need to be sharp when they're on the ice and we need to be aware of where they are. Obviously, they're two great players and it'll be the same mentality as playing (Buffalo's Jack) Eichel or guys like that. We just need to be sharp and ready."
Goaltender Jake Allen is expected to start for the Blues. He is 6-6-3 with a 3.27 goals-against average and .896 save percentage. Backup Chad Johnson is 2-5-0 with a 3.12 goals-against average and .895 save percentage.
"I think it's just a key of putting pucks on net for us," Mantha said. "I think their goaltending had their ups and downs this season, so hopefully we can get a couple through them tonight."
MANTHA HEATING UP: Mantha had a slow start to the season with just three goals in October and was moved to the fourth line.
But since getting moved back onto Dylan Larkin's line against the Dallas Starts on Oct. 30, Mantha has heated up.
In his last eight games, Mantha has six goals and three assists.
"Obviously, things are going my way right now," Mantha said. "Hopefully, they keep going. Working hard, putting a lot of pucks on net and trying to battle back. Obviously those 12-13 first games were hard, just eating dashes one after the other. I tried to make my way back up right now."
Against the Columbus Blue Jackets Monday, Mantha had a career-high 10 shots.
Larkin has been fairly steady all season but it now seems that he and Mantha have created a bit of chemistry.
"I would say finally," Mantha said. "Obviously, last year we had a couple games together. They had their ups and downs earlier this year. I wasn't on my game, so it wasn't really going well and now that we're both going really good hopefully Abby (Justin Abdelkader) can join in and be a great first line here."
Blashill said Tuesday that Mantha has been skating very well since he was reunited with Larkin.
"This is the best I've seen them together," Blashill said. "We've tried it at different times and it's been OK. They're really starting to build some chemistry together and I think they've been real dynamic together. This has certainly been the best stretch of games they've played together. Even (Monday) night, in our scoring chances plus-minus, they both had huge pluses. They were certainly two positive impacts on the game (Monday) night."
BERTUZZI BOBBLEHEAD REVIEWS: The first 7,500 fans at Little Caesars Arena for the Wings' showdown with the Blues will get a Tyler Bertuzzi bobblehead doll.

Naturally Bertuzzi's teammates had some interesting reactions when they saw Little Bert, some kinder than others.
"Honestly, that's a solid mullet," Luke Witkowski said. "I think that's the ugliest bobblehead I've ever seen.
"Pretty accurate. His breath doesn't smell as bad as Bert's though. But the teeth, that's right. Overall, pretty solid though."
Rookie Dennis Cholowski, who will have his own bobblehead on Feb. 14, was fairly impressed.
"Hair's good. Teeth, that's a good addition," Cholowski said. "Overall, it's pretty good. I really want to chirp it somehow but I can't think of anything. It's pretty good."
Martin Frk was a little more discerning.
"The hair is way too good for him, I definitely notice," Frk said. "There's teeth missing, that looks good. The stick, the curve, yeah, that's pretty much what he can use only. Straight. Pretty much it looks pretty good. But the flow is terrible, he doesn't have that good flow. The beard, that makes sense, he doesn't have anything. It looks good. It's a nice bobblehead."
When Frk was asked if the Bertuzzi bobblehead rated 10 out of 10, he said it did not.
"No, it's not 10 out of 10," Frk said. "It's like four."
The next bobblehead will be rookie Michael Rasmussen on Dec. 4.