Per TSN:
TORONTO -- The Toronto Maple Leafs and the St. Louis Blues hope to shake off the rust and recent losses when they return from their midseason vacations Tuesday night at the Air Canada Centre.
The Blues (26-17-3) lost three in a row before taking a six-day break in the schedule.
The Maple Leafs (25-17-3) lost two in a row before entering a five-day break.
"Any time you take time off, getting the motor running and getting skating again is not as easy as you may think," Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said.
The Maple Leafs are 4-4-2 in their past 10 games.
"I think if I'm not mistaken last year's break came at a time when we were rolling, and we didn't really want to go away for a week," Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly said. "Right now, I think a little break might not be the worst thing."
The Blues, meanwhile, are 4-5-1 in their past 10 games. They started the season 13-3-1.
"I don't think there's anyone inside our locker room that that break wasn't good for," Blues coach Mike Yeo said.
The Blues defeated the Maple Leafs 6-4 on Nov. 4 in St. Louis.
Despite the Blues' recent struggles, they have had some good news. Left winger Jaden Schwartz skated Monday for the first time since he suffered a broken ankle on Dec. 9 in a game against the Detroit Red Wings.
Schwartz, who has 14 goals and 21 assists in 30 games, did not accompany the team to Toronto. He could return to action by the end of the month.
"Another positive," Yeo said. "I'm happy about that. We'll see how he's doing. We're happy to have him back."
The Blues are 6-9-1 without Schwartz and have not been scoring.
"We're on the light at the end of the tunnel with (Schwartz), but I think part of it (the scoring struggles) is sort of a self-fulfilling prophecy," Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said. "When you're not scoring, you push to score more. When you push to score more, you're worse defensively.
"We have to be comfortable again playing in low-scoring games. And I think we've lost our comfort level in that and we have to regain that. We have to play time-and-score to a higher efficiency. Every play doesn't have to be a home run. We have to just methodically go through and push games along and play to win."
The Blues recalled centers Ivan Barbashev and Tage Thompson and defenseman Vince Dunn from the American Hockey League, where they were assigned so they could continue to play during the break.
Barbashev and Dunn each had a goal and an assist for Chicago of the AHL and Thompson had a power-play goal for San Antonio.
"Those guys played well," Yeo said. "Those guys did their job, and we're happy to have them back. It's a good thing for them to keep playing."
Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs recalled defenseman Travis Dermott and center Frederik Gauthier, who spent the break with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL.
Dermott, 21, made his NHL debut on Jan. 6 against the Vancouver Canucks and had an assist while making a good impression.
He has two goals and 16 assists in 28 games with the Marlies this season.
Gauthier, 22, has played in five games with the Maple Leafs this season. He has two goals and two assists in 33 career NHL games.
Maple Leafs defenseman Nikita Zaitsev is still out with a lower-body injury and Babcock said he had no time frame for his return.
"It's nice to kind of get a mental break from everything and come back re-energized," Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews said after practice on Monday.
**********************************************************************************
Per J.T.
Lines:
Barbashev-Stastny-Tarasenko
Jaskin-Schenn-Steen
Sobotka-Berglund-Thompson
Paarjarvi-Brodziak-Thorburn
Probable Pairs:
Bouwmeester-Pietrangelo
Gunnarson-Parayko
Edmundson-Bortuzzo
Goalie:
Hutton
***********************************************************************************
Re: GDT Blues vs. Maple Leafs - 6PM @ Air Canada Centre FSMW - FSGO - KMOX - NHL APP
2I personally don't like Thompson on Berglund's wing. I'd prefer to see Jaskin and Steen with Berglund and put Sobotka with Schenn and Thompson.
Re: GDT Blues vs. Maple Leafs - 6PM @ Air Canada Centre FSMW - FSGO - KMOX - NHL APP
3So Hutton gets the nod. I'm a little surprised, but don't really feel strongly one way or the other about who should've gotten the start. Definitely seems to be a signal that Jake is going to have to earn the net back. Bouwmeester didn't skate, as has been customary of late. Dunn was paired with Parayko while Gunnar was with Petro. I wonder if Dunn ends up drawing in over Gunnar.
...but whatever, the Blues won the Cup!!!!!
Re: GDT Blues vs. Maple Leafs - 6PM @ Air Canada Centre FSMW - FSGO - KMOX - NHL APP
4Whoa that lineup looks awful. Hutton better be on his game.
KA-KAW!
Re: GDT Blues vs. Maple Leafs - 6PM @ Air Canada Centre FSMW - FSGO - KMOX - NHL APP
5I'd like to flip Thompson to the 2nd line and put Steen on the 3rd line.
Don't understand Gunnarson being in the Top 4.
Surprised he doesn't come back with Allen as a vote of confidence.
Don't understand Gunnarson being in the Top 4.
Surprised he doesn't come back with Allen as a vote of confidence.
Re: GDT Blues vs. Maple Leafs - 6PM @ Air Canada Centre FSMW - FSGO - KMOX - NHL APP
6Yeo continues to damage Allen....JFC.
Official "Bitch Ass" Fan and proud of it"
"Suck a dick Johansen"
"Official Sponsor of the Legend....Jeremy Roenick"
"Suck a dick Johansen"
"Official Sponsor of the Legend....Jeremy Roenick"
Re: GDT Blues vs. Maple Leafs - 6PM @ Air Canada Centre FSMW - FSGO - KMOX - NHL APP
7WTF why is Allen not starting?
Re: GDT Blues vs. Maple Leafs - 6PM @ Air Canada Centre FSMW - FSGO - KMOX - NHL APP
8On the goalie situation, Yeo said the break gave him time to “think things through.” He said there is a plan in place, but per normal procedure, he’s not announcing the starter until Tuesday’s morning skate.
Jake Allen is the most heady goalie in history. Never have I heard of another needing yearly mental breaks
Jake Allen is the most heady goalie in history. Never have I heard of another needing yearly mental breaks
Just a Russian propaganda account
Re: GDT Blues vs. Maple Leafs - 6PM @ Air Canada Centre FSMW - FSGO - KMOX - NHL APP
9Maybe he's lost his confidence in him.BillP wrote:I'd like to flip Thompson to the 2nd line and put Steen on the 3rd line.
Don't understand Gunnarson being in the Top 4.
Surprised he doesn't come back with Allen as a vote of confidence.
Re: GDT Blues vs. Maple Leafs - 6PM @ Air Canada Centre FSMW - FSGO - KMOX - NHL APP
10My god, if the supposed #1 isn't starting after a 6 day layoff, he's NOT your #1.
Re: GDT Blues vs. Maple Leafs - 6PM @ Air Canada Centre FSMW - FSGO - KMOX - NHL APP
11Well ladies and gentlemen, it's been nice knowing you. It's going to be a rough one.BlueinNy wrote:My god, if the supposed #1 isn't starting after a 6 day layoff, he's NOT your #1.
Re: GDT Blues vs. Maple Leafs - 6PM @ Air Canada Centre FSMW - FSGO - KMOX - NHL APP
12Does anyone not think Hutton is currently the teams best goalie?
Just a Russian propaganda account
Re: GDT Blues vs. Maple Leafs - 6PM @ Air Canada Centre FSMW - FSGO - KMOX - NHL APP
13Jaybo not in lineup. Became a new father.
Just a Russian propaganda account
Re: GDT Blues vs. Maple Leafs - 6PM @ Air Canada Centre FSMW - FSGO - KMOX - NHL APP
14He's an old father.Dread_Pirate_Westley wrote:Jaybo not in lineup. Became a new father.
Re: GDT Blues vs. Maple Leafs - 6PM @ Air Canada Centre FSMW - FSGO - KMOX - NHL APP
15Got no problem with Hutton starting tonight. If Allen has the mental toughness needed in a number #1 that's going to take us to the Cup, then he should have the mental toughness to take his job back. If he doesn't. No loss.
Re: GDT Blues vs. Maple Leafs - 6PM @ Air Canada Centre FSMW - FSGO - KMOX - NHL APP
16When is the last time the Blues threw a hit like that!
Official "Bitch Ass" Fan and proud of it"
"Suck a dick Johansen"
"Official Sponsor of the Legend....Jeremy Roenick"
"Suck a dick Johansen"
"Official Sponsor of the Legend....Jeremy Roenick"
Re: GDT Blues vs. Maple Leafs - 6PM @ Air Canada Centre FSMW - FSGO - KMOX - NHL APP
17Last year when Reavo was still here.NHLTIM wrote:When is the last time the Blues threw a hit like that!
Re: GDT Blues vs. Maple Leafs - 6PM @ Air Canada Centre FSMW - FSGO - KMOX - NHL APP
18Nice setup by Jaskin.... wrong shooter in Bortz
Re: GDT Blues vs. Maple Leafs - 6PM @ Air Canada Centre FSMW - FSGO - KMOX - NHL APP
19Boys outshooting them 10-4 but they still can't score.
Re: GDT Blues vs. Maple Leafs - 6PM @ Air Canada Centre FSMW - FSGO - KMOX - NHL APP
20The only thing the Blues hit hard these days are the backboards on one of Petro's shots from the blueline.NHLTIM wrote:When is the last time the Blues threw a hit like that!
Just a Russian propaganda account
Re: GDT Blues vs. Maple Leafs - 6PM @ Air Canada Centre FSMW - FSGO - KMOX - NHL APP
21You miss 100% of the shots that you takeBillP wrote:Boys outshooting them 10-4 but they still can't score.
- St Louis Blues
Just a Russian propaganda account
Re: GDT Blues vs. Maple Leafs - 6PM @ Air Canada Centre FSMW - FSGO - KMOX - NHL APP
23He drew the short straw on babysitting Jake AllenRAFritchey wrote:No Upshall?
Just a Russian propaganda account
Re: GDT Blues vs. Maple Leafs - 6PM @ Air Canada Centre FSMW - FSGO - KMOX - NHL APP
24Where was Petro aiming for on that one?