Preview: Blues at Ducks

When: Sunday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. CT
Where: Honda Center in Anaheim, CA
Watch: Bally Sports, Bally Sports app
Listen: 101 ESPN, Blues App

TEAM SNAPSHOTS

BLUES The rough start to the St. Louis Blues' road trip continued on Saturday, falling 5-1 to the Los Angeles Kings for an 0-2-0 start to the West Coast slate. A 4-0 deficit in the first period extended to 5-0 late in the second, which proved too much to overcome in enemy territory.

"(The game) just kind of snowballed," said Robert Thomas. "They scored one, they scored two, we were down in a pretty big hole. Good response in the second and third (periods), but we just can't start like that."

After averaging four goals per game in the first seven games of November, the Blues' offense has gone cold to start this trip. They have maintained strong shot volume though, putting up a season-high 45 shots on goal in San Jose and an above-average 30 in LA.

The Blues will look to put the last two games behind them quickly, resetting for their second game in less than 24 hours' time when they visit the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center. Two days off await them afterwards, after which they will conclude the trip at Arizona's Mullett Arena.

They'll visit the Ducks with a record of 8-7-1, worth 17 points and fifth in the Central Division.

DUCKS After a five-year playoff drought, the Anaheim Ducks are seeking to turn a corner in their rebuild process and are off to a promising, though inconsistent start to the season.

Starting the year 1-4-0, the Ducks went on a six-game win streak from Oct. 24 to Nov. 5 that featured impressive wins over Boston and Vegas.

Frank Vatrano is Anaheim's early point leader, currently at a point-per-game pace well ahead of his career average.

The Ducks are coming off of two straight losses, the most recent coming against the Florida Panthers in which a controversial no-goal call against Anaheim made a major difference. Jakob Silfverberg thought he tied the score on a wraparound halfway through the third period, but a video review determined that the puck did not cross the goal line and the Ducks' comeback efforts came up short.

The Ducks continue a four-game homestand after hosting the Blues on Sunday, facing Montreal and Los Angeles at Honda Center this week.

They'll face the Blues with a record of 9-8-0, worth 18 points and fourth in the Pacific Division before Saturday's games.

HEAD TO HEAD The Blues went 3-0-0 against Anaheim last season, outscoring the Ducks 15-6 in those three games. The season series continues on March 17 in St. Louis and April 7 back in Anaheim.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

BLUES Jake Neighbours, who scored the Blues' lone goal on Saturday night in Los Angeles.

DUCKS Leo Carlsson, the No. 2 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft making a strong impact early in his career. Carlsson's six goals this season share second among NHL rookies, including his first career hat trick on Nov. 10 vs. Philadelphia.

BLUE NOTES

• The Blues have won four straight games against Anaheim and have earned points in five straight (4-0-1). They have scored at least three goals in each of the last last four matchups, including three six-goal performances
• The Blues are 1-1-0 in games played on the second night of a back-to-back set this season. Since the start of the 2021-22 season, the Blues are 13-10-4 in back-to-back finales including an NHL-best 3.67 goals per game average
• Brayden Schenn's next point will be No. 600 of his career, scoring 351 of his 599 career points since coming to St. Louis in 2017
• The Blues' next four games all come against Western Conference opponents, next seeing an East foe on Nov. 30 vs. Buffalo