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Blues host Blue Jackets in home-and-home opener

Mar 7, 2011 - 3:55 PM (Sports Network) - A pair of struggling teams will battle for two points tonight, when the St. Louis Blues host the Columbus Blue Jackets in the opener of a home-and-home series at Scottrade Center.

The Blue Jackets and Blues each enter tonight's tilt on four-game losing streaks and both clubs are falling further behind in the Western Conference playoff race.

Columbus is 12th in the West with 69 points, leaving the Jackets seven points out of the conference's final playoff spot. St. Louis is four points behind the Blue Jackets in 13th place.

Columbus has taken two of three from the Blues this season and the Central Division rivals have split two encounters in St. Louis. The Blue Jackets have won four of seven overall in the series, but they have also dropped 10 out of 12 in the Gateway City.

The Blue Jackets' skid has coincided with the start of a five-game road trip that is set to end this evening. Columbus is 0-3-1 on the swing and has a 15-13-5 record as the guest this season.

The Jackets will begin a stretch of four home games in five outings when they welcome the Blues on Wednesday for the finale of this home-and-home set.

Columbus last played Friday evening in Calgary and was dealt a 4-3 regulation setback by the Flames. Curtis Glencross had a goal and two assists for Calgary and Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 37 Columbus shots.

Antoine Vermette had a goal and an assist while Jan Hejda and Craig Rivet also lit the lamp for the Blue Jackets.

The Blue Jackets had two penalty shots awarded to them in the game, but missed on both opportunities. It was the first time a team missed two penalty shots in one game since the New York Rangers missed two against Detroit on February 16, 1986.

"We had more than our share of opportunities to equal that game tonight," said Columbus head coach Scott Arniel. "Their guy was better, there's no doubt -- he made some gigantic stops."

The Blues lost their fourth straight game on Saturday, dropping a 5-2 road decision against the New York Islanders. St. Louis, which has also lost six of its last seven contests, has been outscored by a 15-4 margin during its four- game slide.

St. Louis fell behind 2-0 in the first period of Saturday's loss and were never able to get closer than two goals against the Isles after that.

Chris Stewart and Andy McDonald scored for St. Louis, while Ben Bishop stopped just 17 shots in defeat.

"It's a lack of discipline and not sticking to what is going to give us success," said Blues head coach David Payne. "We need to give ourselves the opportunity to be on the right side, defend and attack with numbers."

St. Louis has lost its last three home games and is 18-11-4 as the host this season.