Final
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Red-hot Blues try to sweep home-and-home with Devils

Nov 6, 2014 - 3:55 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The sizzling St. Louis Blues will try to record a seventh straight victory when they host the New Jersey Devils on Thursday in the finale of a home-and-home series.

St. Louis is the NHL's hottest team at the moment, with the club's six-game winning streak standing as the longest current run in the league. The Blues opened the season with a 2-3-1 mark, but haven't lost since dropping a 4-1 home decision against Vancouver on Oct. 23.

The Blues have surrendered a total of 10 goals during the six-game tear, but Jake Allen didn't allow a single shot past him in Tuesday's 1-0 win in New Jersey. Allen stopped 26 shots for his second shutout of the season, while Vladimir Tarasenko stayed hot by scoring the lone goal of the game.

"You just try not to think of things too much and just do your job," said Allen. "Of course you want to have as many goals on the board as you can get, but if everyone does their job it will come together."

Tarasenko, the NHL's reigning First Star of the Week, has scored a goal in three straight games and has hit the net seven times over his past five outings.

The 22-year-old Russian is leading St. Louis with eight goals and 14 points this season.

Cory Schneider suffered the tough-luck loss Tuesday as he allowed just one goal on 23 shots for the Devils, who had won three of four coming into this home-and-home set.

New Jersey outshot the Blues 26-23 in the game, but only managed to put five shots on goal in the final period.

"We just started to wear down there at the end and couldn't get that goal," said New Jersey defenseman Andy Greene. "I think we had a good tempo and we were aggressive."

The Devils lost defenseman Jon Merrill to an arm injury on Tuesday and he will miss tonight's tilt. Forwards Mike Cammalleri (jaw/neck) and Martin Havlat (lower body) will also miss their fifth and seventh straight games, respectively.

New Jersey could have forward Jordin Tootoo (bruised foot) back tonight. Tootoo, who has no points in six games this season, hasn't played since Oct. 21 against the New York Rangers.

The Blues, meanwhile, could get centerman Paul Stastny back tonight after missing the last eight games with a sprained left shoulder. He hasn't played since Oct. 18, but was cleared for contact on Monday.

Stastny has a goal and three assists in four games this season, his first with the club after signing a lucrative four-year deal with St. Louis over the summer.

Schneider will start tonight for the Devils. He is 3-3-1 with a 1.71 goals against average in seven career outings versus St. Louis.

Allen will start again tonight for the Blues.