Preview: Blues at Flames

When: Thursday, Oct. 26 at 8 p.m. CT
Where: Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB
Watch: Bally Sports, Bally Sports app
Listen: 101 ESPN, Blues App

TEAM SNAPSHOTS

BLUES An 18-second stretch in the second period ultimately made the difference on Tuesday night as the St. Louis Blues fell to the Winnipeg Jets to begin their road trip.

A late goal from Robert Thomas brought the Blues within one with less than four minutes to go in regulation, but an empty-netter sealed the 4-2 loss in Winnipeg.

"I think we just have to raise our battle level," said Brayden Schenn, who recorded his first point of the season on Tuesday night. "(We're) not gonna generate chances if we're not gonna check as hard as we need to... We've got to find a way to generate more - two goals isn't gonna do it night in and night out."

Though the Blues will be looking to increase their scoring output, they have boasted a Top 10 defense in the NHL so far - allowing 2.8 goals-per-game after a 27th-ranked 3.63 last year.

Pavel Buchnevich was a welcome return to the offense, contributing a goal and an assist after missing the two games with an upper-body injury.

With a fully-healthy lineup, the Blues have an opportunity for back-to-back wins with a matchup against the Calgary Flames on Thursday and the Vancouver Canucks on Friday.

The Blues head to Calgary with a record of 2-2-1, worth five points and a .500 points percentage to share fourth place in the Central.

FLAMES After missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs by just two points last year, the Calgary Flames are hungry to return to the postseason.

Having to embark on a five-game road trip already, however, the Flames are facing a three-game losing streak heading into Thurday's matchup with the Blues.

Calgary's leg of the 32-team Frozen Frenzy on Tuesday night was a 3-1 loss to the New York Rangers. Blake Coleman gave the Flames an early lead 1:15 into the game, but three unanswered goals in the second period gave New York the victory.

Similar to the Blues, the Flames are still looking to find their goal-scoring rhythm - both teams are currently in the Bottom 10 in the League for goals-per-game and power-play efficiency. Tyler Toffoli's departure via trade this offseason does not help in this regard (after Toffoli's 73 points last year), though the trade gave the Flames added financial flexibilty and future assets.

After hosting the Blues, the Flames will face the Oilers outside at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton for the 2023 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic™.

The Flames meet the Blues with a record of 2-4-1, worth five points at a .357 point percentage as the Pacific Division takes shape.

HEAD TO HEAD The Blues went 2-1-0 against the Flames last season, including a 5-2 win in their last matchup at Scotiabank Saddledome. The season series between the Blues and Flames continues on Jan. 23 in Calgary and March 28 in St. Louis.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

BLUES Jake Neighbours, who is expected play his first NHL game in his hometown Calgary on Thursday night. The 21-year-old forward has two points in two career games against the Flames, posting his first goal of the season last weekend against Pittsburgh.

FLAMES Andrew Mangiapane, off to a strong start leading the Flames with three goals and sharing the team lead with six points thus far. The 27-year-old forward has four points in nine career games against St. Louis.

BLUE NOTES

• In their last 10 games against Calgary (since Dec. 22, 2018), the Blues are 8-2-0
• The Blues have scored a power-play goal in eight of their last 10 games against Calgary (all eight games were wins), going 9-for-24 (37.5%) on the power play over those 10 games
• On Tuesday at Winnipeg, Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong served his 1,000th game as GM of the Blues, becoming the first general manager in Blues history - and 23rd in NHL history - to reach the milestone with a single franchise
• Jordan Binnington’s 1.69 GAA and .945 save percentage both rank No. 8 in the NHL this season
• Pavel Buchnevich posted his 41st multi-point game as a Blue on Tuesday night, sharing the team lead since the start of 2021-22 (Buchnevich’s first season with the Blues) with Robert Thomas