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Your heart can't help but go out to Rich Peverley and the Dallas Stars. Last night's emergency, in which Peverley collapsed on the bench and had to be defibrillated, was one of the scariest things that I have seen in a while. Peverley is alert and in stable condition in an area hospital, but the doctors are keeping an eye on him. It's unknown when, or even if, he'll be back.
Saturday night, the Stars lost their starting goaltender to a nasty concussion. Kari Lehtonen is out for the forseeable future.
Two key pieces, out for their playoff push. The Stars are in the second playoff spot as of right now; if the playoffs started today, they'd be the Blues' competition. They're a high-offense club that the Blues' defense and Ryan Miller will have to focus on tonight. Miller has played very well since he's come over from Buffalo, but he's going to have to be on the ball tonight. Stars sniper Tyler Seguin and his partner in crime Jamie Benn are dangerous. Seguin has 29 goals and 37 assists, and Benn has 25 and 35, respectively. You let either one of them get alone and open, and you deserve that goal that will be scored against you. They need to be the Blues' top priority.
St. Louis has already figured out Tim Thomas, as you may well remember from the second game of the season. He's not tired since he didn't play his scheduled game last night, and Dallas' defense is better than Florida's. This might not be as easy as the last time the Blues saw him play.
The Blues are 2-0 so far this season against the Stars, and undefeated in regulation against the Central Division. The Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks are still close in the standings, and that lead over Anaheim isn't that much. These two points are still pretty important.
The teams have identical 7-2-1 records in their last ten games; the Stars have a lot of teams breathing down their back for the last playoff spot and need to get some cushion. This is going to be a good one. The Stars are playing for Peverley, and the Blues need to be playing for points.