x
Breaking News
More () »

Flames vs. Blues: Preview, live stream, odds, lineups

On Sunday, the Blues assigned forward Ivan Barbashev to the AHL's Chicago Wolves and forward Sammy Blais to the AHL's San Antonio Rampage.
USA Today Sports Images

ST. LOUIS -- Jaden Schwartz finally appears to be living up to his offensive potential.

The St. Louis Blues forward has six goals, seven assists and a plus-8 rating in nine games. The 25-year-old's total of 13 points ranks third in the NHL.

Schwartz and the Blues (6-2-1) will look to continue their hot play on Wednesday night as they host the Calgary Flames (5-4-0).

Related: Blues and puppies team up for a good cause

Oct. 25: Blues Gameday Live


Date: Wednesday, Oct. 25

Location: Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo.

Start time: 7:00 p.m. ET

TV channel: Fox Sports Midwest

How to watch online/live stream: Fox Sports Go

Radio: KMOX Radio

Betting Odds from Moneyline: St. Louis -190
Over/Under: +5.5

The Blues' projected lineup:

Vladimir Sobotka-Paul Stastny-Alexander Steen

Jaden Schwartz-Brayden Schenn-Vladimir Tarasenko

Magnus Paajarvi-Oskar Sundqvist-Beau Bennett

Scottie Upshall-Kyle Brodziak-Chris Thoburn

Joel Edmundson-Alex Pietrangelo

Nate Prosser-Colton Parayko

Vince Dunn-Robert Bortuzzo

Jake Allen will start in goal; Carter Hutton will be the backup.

Healthy scratches include Carl Gunnarsson and Dmitrij Jaskin. Jay Bouwmeester (ankle), Patrik Berglund (shoulder) and Zach Sanford (shoulder) are out.

- - -

The Flames' projected lineup:

Johnny Gaudreau-Sean Monahan-Micheal Ferland

Matthew Tkachuk-Mikael Backlund-Michael Frolik

Kris Versteeg-Matt Stajan-Troy Brouwer

Sam Bennett-Mark Jankowski-Curtis Lazar

Mark Giordano-Dougie Hamilton

TJ Brodie-Travis Hamonic

Brett Kulak-Michael Stone

Eddie Lack will start in goal; Mike Smith will be the backup.

Healthy scratches include Matt Bartkowski, Tanner Glass and Freddie Hamilton. Jaromir Jagr (lower body) is out.

========

"He's playing for me at the level -- or maybe a little bit above -- of what he played in the playoffs last year," Blues coach Mike Yeo told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "So I'm not surprised. This is a guy who is hitting his prime. In the last probably year or so, he is even starting to scratch the surface to realize how good he can be."

Schwartz, in his seventh full season, has the tools to be one of the NHL's best all-around forwards, but injuries have impeded his progress.

In October 2014, Schwartz broke an ankle in practice and missed 49 games. Last season, he injured an elbow in the preseason and then struggled upon his return.

"I just try to approach each game one game at a time no matter how the last game went," Schwartz told the Post-Dispatch. "That's something I've tried to work on as I'm getting older, just flip the page after every game and make sure I'm ready to the start of each game."

Schwartz found his groove in the playoffs, scoring four goals and adding five assists while earning a plus-4 rating in 11 games.

He continued that play this season, serving as the Blues' main catalyst. Schwartz has at least one point in eight of the nine games this season, including a hat-trick against the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 18.

"When he's going, he brings everybody else into it," Blues goaltender Jake Allen said. "He's really the guy who gets guys going. He gets guys the puck. He works his best below the goal line. He doesn't get enough credit. Vladdy (Tarasenko) gets the goals. Schwartz works in the corner, and Vladdy does his thing. He has really come into a league of his own."

On Sunday, the Blues assigned forward Ivan Barbashev to the AHL's Chicago Wolves and forward Sammy Blais to the AHL's San Antonio Rampage.

On Monday, the Blues recalled forward Beau Bennett from the Wolves.

The Flames will be playing the second of back-to-back games and are riding the momentum of a come-from-behind, 3-2 shootout win in Nashville on Tuesday night.

Calgary erased a 2-0 deficit and ended a two-game skid while improving to 4-1-0 on the road.

St. Louis native Matthew Tkachuk, whose father Keith played for the Blues for nine seasons, scored in regulation for the Flames, then added the game-winner in the shootout.

"He thrives in the moment," Flames coach Glen Gulutzan said. "Loves it. He's competitive. I've said that a lot. He likes this kind of atmosphere. The bigger the game, it seems to me, the more he stands up in it. And I thought a lot of guys did that tonight, but tonight he got the important ones for us."

Flames center Mark Jankowski saw his first action against the Predators after being called up from Stockton of the AHL to fill in for injured forward Jaromir Jagr (lower body). He played on a line with wingers Sam Bennett and Curtis Lazar.

"It felt pretty good out there," Jankowski said. "I got a couple shifts to get my legs under me. I felt like our line gained some chemistry as the game went on and got some good O-zone shifts and a couple chances."

Before You Leave, Check This Out