Eurolanche

Blues look to end road trip with win

Season series: The St. Louis Blues and Colorado Avalanche will play for the second time in 10 days at Pepsi Center. The Blues won 3-2 in overtime Dec. 13 on a goal by T.J. Oshie.

Blues team scope: St. Louis will try to salvage a victory from a three-game road trip (0-1-1), including a 3-2 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks in a game that the Sharks tied with 20.6 seconds remaining in regulation. "The goal against to tie the game is heartbreaking," said Blues coach Ken Hitchcock after the Blues gave up their second consecutive third-period lead Saturday.

"We got beat on the boards. The last two games have been disappointing from the checking standpoint. We had both teams on the ropes, and our inability to check at the right time, our body position and everything has hurt us. It's not closing games. It's checking. When we're checking properly, with the offense we have, we're going to beat teams." Goalie Jake Allen, who made 30 saves Saturday, will get the start. The Blues have won a franchise best three straight at Colorado.

Avalanche team scope: Colorado capped off a 2-0-1 road trip with a 2-1 shootout victory against the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday in the second of a back-to-back set; Colorado won 5-1 against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. "Defensively, even if we gave up 30 shots, it was back-to-back games," coach Patrick Roy said after the game. "I thought, under the circumstances, we performed pretty well."

Jarome Iginla's scored the deciding shootout goal in the ninth round. Colorado has earned points in five straight games (3-0-2) and have allowed eight goals, largely due to the play of goalie Calvin Pickard. "[Pickard] without a doubt, the first part of the third period [Sunday] was the star for us," Roy said. Pickard has allowed three goals in his past three games and has a .973 save percentage.

-- by Louie Korac for NHL.com --