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Blue Jackets seek end to road woes against struggling Blues

Nov 9, 2006 - 2:17 PM Columbus (4-7-1) at St Louis (4-6-3) 8:00 pm EST

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) - The Columbus Blue Jackets seek to halt a four-game road losing streak when they face the St. Louis Blues on Thursday.

Not much has gone right recently for Columbus, which absorbed its third loss in four games with a 4-1 setback at the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday. The Red Wings controlled the contest throughout, scoring all four goals in the first two periods to chase goaltender Pascal Leclaire from the contest.

The tough stretch is going so badly for the Blue Jackets that they lose even when they win, as top defenseman Duvie Westcott suffered a broken left index finger in a 5-4 shootout win at home against Calgary on Friday.

Westcott was placed on injured reserve Monday, and is expected to miss at least the next six weeks.

Columbus will hope that these struggles do not carry over vs. a team it has had a great deal of success against recently. It posted a 5-2-1 mark against the Blues last season, winning two of its last three games here.

St. Louis is coming off its fourth loss in five games, a 3-2 setback against Calgary here on Saturday.

Despite rallying from a two-goal deficit, the Blues saw Jarome Iginla scored the decisive goal on a power play with 4:27 remaining.

The team's top offensive acquisition, Bill Guerin scored once against the Flames, and has three goals in his last two games.