Blackhawks 4 - 2 Blues
Final
  for this game

Blues host Blackhawks in Central battle

Feb 8, 2015 - 3:29 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The St. Louis Blues will try to rebound from their first regulation loss in over a month when they return home for Sunday's matinee showdown against the Chicago Blackhawks.

St. Louis had won seven in a row and carried a 12-0-1 record over its previous 13 games into Friday's game in Columbus, but the Blues were handed a 7-1 blowout loss by the home team. The setback halted a club-record point streak and was the Blues' first regulation defeat since losing in Anaheim on Jan. 2.

The Blues also were held under two goals for the first time since getting shut out 5-0 by the Colorado Avalanche on Dec. 23.

St. Louis enters Sunday in second place in the Central Division, where it holds a six-point edge over third-place Chicago. The Blues also trail Nashville by two points for the division lead. The Predators are scheduled to play Sunday against Florida.

Today's clash marks the third of five meetings this season between the Blackhawks and Blues. The clubs split the two previous encounters, with each team picking up a home win. Chicago has taken three of four in the regular- season series, but St. Louis has claimed the last four meetings at Scottrade Center.

Columbus jumped out to a 4-0 lead on Friday before the Blues reached the scoreboard on Paul Stastny's power-play goal with 8:46 left in the second period.

Brian Elliott allowed four goals on 14 shots and Jake Allen stopped 16-of-19 shots in relief.

"They outplayed us," St. Louis head coach Ken Hitchcock said. "We looked unfocused at times. We have trended this way for the last three games and it caught up to us."

St. Louis is beginning a two-game homestand and will complete the brief stay in the Gateway City with Tuesday's test against Arizona. The Blues have won four straight as the host and are 20-4-2 at home this season.

Chicago, meanwhile, has had its share of ups and downs during a seven-game road trip that comes to a close today. The Blackhawks are 3-3-0 on the swing and 16-11-1 as the guest this season.

The Blackhawks snapped a two-game slide on Friday, posting a 2-1 overtime win in Winnipeg. Brandon Saad's strike with 1:59 left in the extra session lifted to victory at MTS Centre.

Patrick Kane added a goal and one assist for the Blackhawks, who beat their Central Division rivals for the first time in four meetings this season.

"We were looking for the win against a team we've had a hard time with all year," Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville said. "It's certainly nice to win. I thought it was a hard game."

Corey Crawford picked up the win with 20 saves. Crawford will get the start in net this afternoon and backup Antti Raanta may get the call tomorrow night when the Blackhawks begin an eight-game homestand against Arizona.

Elliott will start for St. Louis. He is 5-5-1 with a 2.27 GAA in his career against Chicago.






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