Ducks At Blues Game Preview: Andersen And Allen Face Off

Well, tonight should be tough. Both David Backes and T.J. Oshie have concussions, which makes half of the Blues' top six damaged goods when you factor in the still-injured Paul Stastny.

Thank God for Vladimir Tarasenko and Jori Lehetra.

"I didn’t score for five games," Tarasenko said. "I feel a little bit better right now, probably more confident. (But) it’s not enough to play one good game and play five bad ones after it. I need to (keep) working."

A positive work ethic goes a long way, especially when you're part of the line that the team needs to rely on for the foreseeable future. The Ducks are banged up too, but not like the Blues are. Let's compare the injury list, shall we?

Injuries • Blues — C David Backes (head) and RW T.J. Oshie (head), out; C Paul Stastny (shoulder), doubtful.

Ducks — D Ben Lovejoy (hand), LW Patrick Maroon (knee), D Bryan Allen (lower-body injury) and D Sheldon Souray (torn wrist ligament), out.

Oh, no, that's a fair comparison of injured players right there, especially against a team that is still chugging along with the most points in the Western Conference (and is tied for tops in the league) with 16. It's getting difficult to gauge how effective of hockey the Blues have been playing with the injuries mounting. If they win tonight, much like the win in Dallas, it could be seen as a sign of the team taking the next step forward - of not being overly reliant on a couple of players.

It will be a tough uphill slog, and Jake Allen is equipped pull the team up it. He's 1-1 this year, with a 2.08 GAA and a .915 save percentage. The Blues' defense may need to make up for the offense's injuries, but that's something they did on Tuesday night once the team got its bearings, and it should be doable tonight as well.