After climbing back to the Western Conference Playoff, St. Louis Blues its after -season search on the road for six consecutive matches.
The challenging route begins in Dallas on Sunday against the stars.
“It is an opportunity to go on the road with travel, there are many things that go towards us (Sunday) night, but this is where we have to find another level,” said Blues coach Jim Montgomery.
Blues expanded its season-long winning line to four matches Saturday with a 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. St. Louis has earned a point in eight of his last nine matches (6-1-2) to tighten the race and move within one point after the second wild card at the conference.
Robert Thomas got an assist and has 13 points (four goals and nine assists) in his nine game point. Linemate Pavel Buchnevich has a six-game dash with two goals and seven assists.
“It’s very fun to see our team playing as committed as for each other,” Montgomery said. “It is very selfless hockey that is going on right now, how excited the bench gets regardless of who makes points, the blocked shots at the end, the unselfish changes, change at the right time, average field drives, boxes out online, sacrifices for each other, all these things make it fun to look at right now.”
Jordan Binnington got the victory in goal for Blues on Saturday, so Joel Hofer is likely to start on Sunday.
The stars opened their four-game home by directing Kings 6-2 on Friday for his fourth victory in the last five games.
Forward Jason Robertson (six goals, three assists in five matches) and Roope Hintz (goals, six assists in three matches) have driven the crime.
Forward Logan Stankoven scored twice against Kings after getting only one goal in its previous 14 matches, with January 16.
“It was amazing to see him get a couple of goals,” Hintz said. “He has had so many good looking. Sometimes there are times that it just doesn’t go in, so it’s great to see him get a couple today. He is a fantastic player, he works hard, playing well. It’s fun to play with him.”
Stars coach Peter Deboer said he thought it was only a matter of time before Stankoven broke through.
“Everyone goes through these times,” Deboer said. “You have to try not to think about it, live in the moment and keep your head there and not get frustrated.”
Stankoven plugged in constantly during his point decline.
“I think it’s just consistent work for me,” he said. “First on the ice to practice and try to be the last of the ice, so it’s just continuous work. It’s nice to see it pay once.”
The stars are 2-0 against Blues this season, with a 2-1 overtime victory on December 14 with Jake Oettinger in goal and 2-0 in St. Louis on January 25 with Casey Desmith in Nets.
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