GameThread for St. Louis Blues at San Jose Sharks, Dec 20, 2014

The NHL schedule makers this year certainly had a sense of humor when it came to the Blues' schedule. Multiple Eastern Conference opponents were seen in the span of well under a week, the Kings were a home and delayed home opponent. This time, it's the San Jose Sharks who are the Blues' close sparring partners. St. Louis will face the Sharks tonight (obviously), two weeks from tonight, and for the final time this season on January 8th.

The Blues' lines will be a bit different than Thursday night's gong-show. The defensive pairings have been tweaked, with Chris Butler on the top pairing with Alex Pietrangelo and Jay Bouwmeester on the second pairing with Kevin Shattenkirk. It can't wind up being any worse than the Bouwmeester/Pietrangelo showing against the Kings; the pair were on the ice for five of the goals against.

Luckily, Jake Allen gets tonight's start. There'd be no reason to give it to Brodeur after Thursday night, though Marty wasn't the only suspect player in that game.

The STL line has been reunited if only in last name initials. Alexander Steen will be playing with Jori Lehtera and Vladimir Tarasenko, because presumably that Steve Ott Magic from Tuesday night didn't replicate itself. Before you go thinking about normalcy in the lines and everyone being where they need to be, remember that Joakim Lindstrom will be with David Backes and T.J. Oshie.

This is your gameday thread. Comment like you're trying to stay awake for yet another late start against an opponent that the Blues have problems finishing off.

Let's do this. Let's Go Blues.