Preview: Blues at Flames

BLUES AT FLAMES

TEAM SNAPSHOTS

BLUESThe St. Louis Blues began their road trip with some incredible excitement, forcing overtime late in the third period and eventually defeating the Oilers in a shootout. What looked like an overtime loss quickly flipped when Leon Draisaitl's would-be game-winner was turned back for offsides a few minutes into the extra period.
They faced an uphill battle to start out Thursday's game in Edmonton, serving two separate bench minors in the first period and another early in the second. Connor McDavid and the Oilers scored on two of the ensuing power plays to get out in front, forcing the Blues to keep their composure the rest of the way.
The Blues have now played three straight games past the end of regulation, building up some close-game resolve and preparing them for the most intense hockey that the NHL has to offer.
Opening their road trip with an exhilirating battle, the Blues will have to quickly reset when they head to Calgary for the second half of a back-to-back.
They'll face the Flames with a record of 14-15-1, worth 29 points and fifth place in the Central Division.
FLAMESAfter an offseason of upheaval, the Calgary Flames are still clicking into place and looking to establish a new identity this season. In the biggest blockbuster trade of the summer, the Flames traded star Matthew Tkachuk to Florida for Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar, among other assets.
Huberdeau is still looking to find himself in his new home, at 18 points through 27 games after going for a blazing 115 for the Panthers last year.
In addition, the Flames also added Nazem Kadri - fresh off his Stanley Cup run with the Colorado Avalanche - as a free agent.
A shootout loss to the Canucks on Wednesday was Calgary's third straight extra-time loss, also falling via shootout in Montreal on Monday and via overtime in Toronto on Saturday. Both the Flames and Blues have now played overtime minutes in three straight as they prepare to clash in Calgary.
The Flames host the Blues on Friday with a record of 13-11-6, worth 32 points and fifth place in the Pacific Division.
HEAD-TO-HEADThe Blues went 2-1-0 against the Flames last season, splitting two games at the Saddledome and winning 5-1 on home ice. The season series resumes with two matchups in a row at Enterprise Center on Jan. 10 and 12.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

BLUESJordan Kyrou, who led the Blues with three points and scored the deciding shootout goal to beat Edmonton. Kyrou now has 15 points over an active eight-game road point streak.
FLAMESNazem Kadri, familiar foe from the Blues' 2022 Stanley Cup Playoff series against Colorado. Kadri leads the Flames with 11 goals on the season, his first of a seven-year, $49 million deal with Calgary signed this offseason.

BLUE NOTES

Thursday's game in Edmonton marked the fourth time in franchise history that the Blues tied the game on a shorthanded goal in the final minute... The Blues have scored at least three goals in six of their last seven matchups with the Flames, outscoring Calgary 27-19 in that time... The Blues are 8-1-0 this season when a defenseman scores. Torey Krug leads all Blues defensemen with five goals... Tarasenko has nine points in his last 10 games (five goals, four assists).