The Blues may well be facing their biggest challenge so far this winning streak. No, not the Toronto Maple Leafs, though with that 19-8-2 road record and Auston Matthews and John Tavares contributing to the Leafs’ average 3.44 goals per game there’s reason for concern.
No, forget all of that. Vladimir Tarasenko may be in a boot.
Oh my geeeeeeeerd:
There were several public sightings of Tarasenko in a protective boot yesterday. He was injured Sunday in Minnesota but returned to the game. The Blues were off Monday and I couldn’t confirm the extent of the injury overnight. The team skates at 10:30 so we should know more then.
— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) February 19, 2019
Wait wait wait.
Tarasenko is on the ice this morning. #stlblues
— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) February 19, 2019
Exhale, everyone. With Tarasenko good to go and Alexander Steen back from the birth of his daughter, it’s status quo as far as the line-up goes. Hopefully that means status-quo as far as the result.
Sure, the Blues could afford to lose one, but why would you want them to? Jordan Binnington starts in net, and he’s won an impressive eight straight. The Blues are 12-2-2 against the Leafs in their last 16 games. It’s difficult to find much to worry about here.
Oh, and as a head’s up, the Blues are six points behind the Predators with three games in hand. I’m not saying anything. I’m just sayin’.