Avalanche at Blues Preview: Dunn, Parayko Out

Tonight is the eighth and final time that the Blues and the Avalanche meet this season. To call this season series exhausting undersells it - after winning game one, the Blues lost five in a row against Colorado until Saturday afternoon’s game. It took a Herculean effort from captain Ryan O’Reilly, but the Blues kept the Avs at bay and won 5-3. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Brayden Schenn’s two assists. Maybe he’s slowly getting off of the schneid. Jordan Kyrou, you’re next.

Unfortunately, the Blues’ relief at being back in a playoff spot was short lived; Arizona hammered the Kings 4-0 on Saturday night to leapfrog the Blues again. St. Louis still has three games in hand on the Yotes, so it’s not done yet.

Colorado has slipped to four points behind the Vegas Golden Knights, and it’s not hard to see why - a nine-game win streak on Vegas’ part will do that. Minnesota’s won seven games in a row, and the Blues get to visit them on Wednesday night.

In case this stretch isn’t hard enough, Colton Parayko and Vince Dunn both are out of tonight’s lineup after suffering injuries in Saturday’s win.

Fantastic.

Mikko Mikkola and Robert Bortuzzo will be leaned on, but just in case the Blues decide to go with seven defensemen and no Zach Sanford against tonight (it worked on Saturday), Steve Santini is cleared for action. The former Devil and Predator would be making his Blues debut if he plays tonight.