Blues could shuffle forward lines against Kings
ST. LOUIS -- Some changes might be coming to the St. Louis Blues' forward lines for Saturday night's game against the visiting Los Angeles Kings.
The Blues have scored one goal in four of their last five games, including a 2-1 shootout loss Thursday night to the Detroit Red Wings. In both of their home losses this week, their only goal was scored by defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk.
"I think we've got to look at everything right now," said coach Ken Hitchcock. "We've got to look at combinations, what's working, what's not working, what we need to get more from. You can't keep living on scoring chances. You've got to finish at the end of the day."
St. Louis recorded 32 shots on goal against the Red Wings, but that total did not impress Hitchcock.
"We're scoring one goal and getting points, that's incredible," Hitchcock said. "That's a hell of a feather in these guys' cap, to score one goal and get points. You're going to have to score more goals and have to finish your chances. I don't think we're creating the second and third chances that we normally do. The scoring chances seem to be one and done right now."
Center Paul Stastny believes the Blues are just going through a slump, which could end at any time.
"Sometimes you just need that bounce," Stastny said. "It happens throughout the season; we just have to dig deep and create chances to get out way out of it. You've got to try to create your own bounces sometimes when it's tough to score. We know what we're capable of and what we can do."
The Kings, meanwhile, will bring a different kind of streak into the game. They defeated the Nashville Predators 3-2 in overtime at home on Thursday night to mark their fourth consecutive win in overtime or a shootout.
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Having that kind of success in so many overtime games is unusual, as Los Angeles knows. The winning streak came after the team lost its first three games this season.
"Big saves and scoring on your opportunities," said center Jeff Carter, who scored the overtime winner Thursday night. "That's really all it is. ... You start with possession, you've got a good chance. ... Really, what it comes down to is getting a save from your goalie and burying your opportunities. There's not much to it."
All the wins came behind Peter Budaj, who replaced injured Jonathan Quick in goal. Two of the wins came by scores of 4-3 and the other two by 3-2 scores.
"He's played really well for us," said coach Darryl Sutter of Budaj. "We don't give up much and expect that he'll make -- you've got to make some big saves, obviously, in the National Hockey League, but we don't give up a lot of shots."
