[8:08 PM] Kings @ Blues

Who will WIN this matchup?

Los Angeles Kings (4-3-0)

@ St. Louis Blues (4-2-2)

 

Starting Goalies:

Peter Budaj(LAK): Likely

Jake Allen (STL): Confirmed

 

Current odds:

Los Angeles Kings: (+140)

St. Louis Blues: (-160)

 

• The Los Angeles Kings have gone the extra mile to win a franchise-best four in a row past regulation while the St. Louis Blues have seen their sputtering offense held to just one goal in four of the last five contests (1-2-2). The Blues look to get it in gear on Saturday when they conclude their three-game homestand against the reinvigorated Kings.

• Although Jeff Carter came through in the clutch with his ninth career overtime goal on Thursday, the 31-year-old wouldn’t mind if his team won in regulation in a bid to prevent some of the wear and tear on his body. Defenseman Alec Martinez set up a pair of tallies versus the Predators and has two goals and four assists on his four-game point streak after being held off the scoresheet in his previous three contests.

• Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk is riding a three-game point streak and has accounted for his team’s lone goal production in each of the last two. The 27-year-old is fourth on the club with six points (three goals, three assists) in eight games, however, he has struggled on the other end of the ice as his minus-4 rating is tied with center Robby Fabbri for the team lead. Shattenkirk, who was victimized on a 2-on-2 situation against the Red Wings, is minus-7 in 17 career encounters versus the Kings.

• St. Louis has thwarted 23 of its last 24 short-handed situations.

• Los Angeles’ Darryl Sutter is one win shy of 600 regular-season coaching victories.

• St. Louis announced on Friday that it is retiring original Blue Bobby Plager’s No. 5 jersey on Feb. 2 when the club hosts Toronto.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: St. Louis Blues

Confidence: 5/10

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