Blues hoping to go into Christmas break with win to snap three-game skid (0-2-1); Red Wings have dropped seven of 10 in December, including home-and-home set with Canadiens this past weekend; Neighbours OK after hit from behind; Faksa has small setback
The St. Louis Blues need a spark.
An offensive spark.
Perhaps today against the Detroit Red Wings (13-16-4) to close out a three-game road trip they can get something to go.
And the Blues (15-16-4), who have played two good road games against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers, only to come away with one point on the trip thus far, will move a couple pieces around to see if something works, at least to start.
Jake Neighbours, who is OK after being drilled from behind by Sam Bennett on Friday late in the third period, will flip spots with Alexandre Texier, who seems to have gained some ground the past couple games in the lineup.
Texier has had a tough go gaining traction since being injured early in the season but has found a spark and coach Jim Montgomery wants to give him a run up front with Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich to see where it can lead to.
* Radek Faksa, who returned Friday after missing five games due to the skate cut near the groin area, will not play tonight and be replaced by Mathieu Joseph, and Tyler Tucker will slide in for Scott Perunovich.
* When Colton Parayko plays in his 695th game tonight, the defenseman will move ahead of Patrik Berglund for eighth on the Blues' all-time franchise list in games played.
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Blues Projected Lineup:
Alexandre Texier-Robert Thomas-Pavel Buchnevich
Dylan Holloway-Brayden Schenn-Jordan Kyrou
Jake Neighbours-Oskar Sundqvist-Zack Bolduc
Alexey Toropchenko-Mathieu Joseph-Nathan Walker
Cam Fowler-Colton Parayko
Philip Broberg-Justin Faulk
Ryan Suter-Tyler Tucker
Jordan Binnington will start in goal; Joel Hofer will be the backup.
Healthy scratches include Brandon Saad and Scott Perunovich. Nick Leddy (lower body) and Radek Faksa (lower body) are out.
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Red Wings Projected Lineup:
Vladimir Tarasenko-Dylan Larkin-Lucas Raymond
Alex DeBrincat-Andrew Copp-Patrick Kane
Michael Rasmussen-J.T. Compher-Christian Fischer
Joe Veleno-Marco Kasper-Jonatan Berggren
Erik Gustafsson-Moritz Seider
Justin Holl-Jeff Petry
William Lagesson-Albert Johansson
Cam Talbot will start in goal; Alex Lyon will be the backup.
The healthy scratch includes Tyler Motte. Ben Chiarot (upper body) and Simon Edvinsson (upper body) are out.
