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Avalanche-Blues Preview

Mar 15, 2010 - 4:51 PM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Colorado (39-23-6) at St. Louis (32-27-9), 8:00 p.m. EDT

Colorado Avalanche winger Chris Stewart has dominated the St. Louis Blues this season, doing his part to pave the way for two early exits by Chris Mason.

Stewart looks to continue his success against the Blues when the visiting Avalanche try to sweep the season series for the first time in four seasons Tuesday night.

Colorado (39-23-6) outscored St. Louis 16-5 in winning the first three matchups of 2009-10, due largely to Stewart. The Avalanche's leading goal scorer has six goals and four assists versus the Blues, recording his first career hat trick in a 7-3 victory March 6.

"It will be one of my lifetime memories," Stewart said. "I'll never forget it."

Three of the five games in which Stewart has recorded at least three points this season have come against the Blues (32-27-9), who went 0-2-2 versus the Avalanche in 2005-06.

Mason has been victimized often by Stewart, losing all three games and posting a 7.23 goals-against average. The goaltender was pulled in favor of Ty Conklin in the last two losses.

That's exactly what happened to Mason in a 4-2 loss at Minnesota on Sunday. He gave up three goals on seven shots in the first period before Conklin entered.

The Blues are in 10th place in the Western Conference after a 4-2 road trip.

"The other teams around us and in front of us are winning, and this really hurts," center Keith Tkachuk said. "At this time of year, you can't take a shift off."

St. Louis went 1 for 6 on the power play and is 7 for 47 in the last 10 games. The Blues are 0 for 8 against Colorado this season.

"Our power play has almost been our weakest link in a lot of games this year, and it's tough to win games when that's the way things are going," center T.J. Oshie said.

The Avalanche have converted eight of 20 power-play chances over the last six games. Paul Stastny and Darcy Tucker scored with the man advantage in a 4-2 win at Dallas on Sunday.

"I think we're shooting and getting more shots through," Stastny said. "You can't get too cute. Sometimes when you get shots off, that's when plays open up."

Stastny scored two goals for the second straight game and has 12 points in a seven-game run. Stewart recorded his 26th goal Sunday and has nine goals and 10 assists in his last 11 contests.

Unlike St. Louis, Colorado is having no trouble with its goaltending. Craig Anderson matched a season high with 48 saves Sunday and has gone 8-4-0 with a 2.34 GAA in his last 12 starts.

"Our goaltending was outstanding this afternoon, just like it's been all season," coach Joe Sacco said.

The Blues are playing their first home game since Feb. 13. They won three straight at Scottrade Center heading into the Olympic break.