Blues At Avalanche Game Preview: Russell, Jaskin To Return

The pep has gone out of their step. Thank God it doesn't mean that they're not winning, but the Blues really need to find a way to score goals before the playoffs start. Three back-to-back-to-back 2-1 wins not only is a testament to their stinginess, it's also a testament to the fact that these guys just can't get the puck into the net. Two of those wins came in a shootout, which means that they have just four regulation goals in their last three games.

That would mean that most teams'd lose those games, but not with Brian Elliott in net. Someone had his Wheaties in Peoria last month, because he has gone 8-1 in April. The only loss was the 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Chicago Blackhawks, and you couldn't pin that one on Elliott if you tried.

Still, people need a break, so expect to see probably Kris Russell (as a defenseman!) and Dmitrij Jaskin back on the ice tonight. Who's sitting? No clue -- and best of luck to Ken Hitchcock on figuring that out. No one's been playing "bad hockey," per se, and I'm pretty sure that no one's going to volunteer to sit this one out.

Colorado has only 35 points right now, and the only thing they could spoil for the Blues tonight would be home ice advantage. The way that the Blues've played this year at home, I'd almost them have road ice advantage instead, but whatever.

It'll probably be Elliott against grumpy old man Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who really harshed his teammates mellow when he called out their Vegas trip. Duuuude, not cool.

Nah, actually, that interview was pretty cool. There's nothing better than a pissed off goalie calling out his teammates. Thank God the Blues haven't dealt with that much this year.