BLUES (11-6-3) at CAPITALS (11-5-2) 7 p.m. ET; FS-MW, CSN-DC, NHL.TV
Blues team scope
The St. Louis Blues have won four consecutive games and play the second game of a back-to-back. Goalie Carter Hutton could start after Jake Allen made 39 saves in a 4-2 win at the Boston Bruins on Tuesday. The Blues have started the same goalie in back-to-back games once in the three they have played this season when Allen started on Oct. 12-13. Allen is 9-3-3 with a 2.33 goals-against average and .914 save percentage in 16 games this season. Hutton is 2-3-0 with 2.77 GAA and .900 save percentage in six games.
Capitals team scope
Washington Capitals forward Lars Eller will return to the lineup after missing one game with an upper-body injury. "You lose that game feel kind of quick, but now it's only been days, so I'm not too worried about that," Eller said Wednesday. "You got a good practice in yesterday and a good morning skate today, so now I feel good." Goalie Braden Holtby is expected to start for the Capitals. Holtby is 9-4-1 with a 1.99 GAA and .927 save percentage in 14 games.
Oshie skated before the Capitals held an optional practice but is still considered week-to-week. Oshie was injured when he hit Detroit Red Wings forward Riley Sheahan on Nov. 18.
Who's hot
Tarasenko has 11 points in his past nine games. … Perron has seven points in five games. … Backstrom has seven points in his past four games.
