St. Louis Blues vs. Calgary Flames: A Dominant Rivalry
The St. Louis Blues have established a formidable dominance over the Calgary Flames, looking to extend their remarkable winning streak to nine games when they meet again in Calgary. This rivalry has seen St. Louis triumph in eight consecutive encounters, a record that dates back to October 26, 2023. Currently, this is not just the longest active streak against any team but also places them fourth in the NHL’s leaderboard for active winning streaks against specific opponents.
Recent Matchups
In their previous matchups this season, the Blues emerged victorious with a 4-2 win at the Scotiabank Saddledome on October 11 and a 3-2 win at home on November 11. With another clash scheduled for Wednesday at 8:30 PM, the Blues aim to sweep the season series against the Flames.
Historical Performance
Historically, the Blues have outplayed the Flames, with a remarkable record of 16 wins in their last 18 meetings since December 22, 2018. However, both teams currently find themselves struggling in the Western Conference playoff race, seemingly competing more for position in the upcoming 2026 NHL Draft lottery than for a playoff spot this season. The Flames rank 31st in the league with 59 points, providing them with favorable lottery odds, while the Blues, with 64 points, find themselves in 28th place, but are seven points away from the second wildcard position occupied by the Seattle Kraken.
Current Challenges
As each team has 15 games left, they face a conundrum: the drive to perform well versus the strategic advantage of securing a better shot at potential top draft picks. This season, the Flames have been struggling, losing four out of five games during their recent road trip, tallying a dismal 2-7-1 record in their last ten games. Conversely, the Blues have shown signs of improvement with a record of 7-2-1 since the Olympic break.
Standout Players
Dylan Holloway is among the standout players, scoring nine points recently, including three goals and six assists in his last seven games. He scored his 14th goal on Sunday despite a 3-2 loss against the Winnipeg Jets. Another key player, Jimmy Snuggerud, was recognized as the NHL’s Third Star of the Week after amassing six points in four games, enhancing the Blues’ offensive capabilities. Robert Thomas, who recently had a nine-game point streak, has also contributed significantly with 14 points during the last 10 games.
Upcoming Game Lineup Changes
For the upcoming game, the Blues will implement three lineup changes, welcoming Jonathan Drouin and Otto Stenberg back, alongside Tyler Tucker on defense, while parting ways with Jonatan Berggren, Oskar Sundqvist, and Justin Holl. With no injuries reported, the Blues are currently in a strong position to evaluate their lineup effectively.
Defensive Excellence
The team has excelled defensively this March, allowing only 1.88 goals per game— the best in the NHL—and securing five wins out of their March road games.
Projected Lineups
Projected lineup for the Blues includes:
- Dylan Holloway, Robert Thomas, Jimmy Snuggerud
- Jake Neighbours, Pavel Buchnevich, Jordan Kyrou
- Jonathan Drouin, Dalibor Dvorsky, Otto Stenberg
- Alexey Toropchenko, Jack Finley, Pius Suter
- Defense: Philip Broberg, Logan Mailloux; Theo Lindstein, Colton Parayko; Cam Fowler, Tyler Tucker
- Goal: Joel Hofer (starter), Jordan Binnington (backup)
Meanwhile, the Flames’ projected lineup features:
- Blake Coleman, Mikael Backlund, Joel Farabee
- Matvei Gridin, Morgan Frost, Matt Coronato
- Yegor Sharangovich, Ryan Strome, Connor Zary
- Victor Olofsson, Martin Pospisil, Adam Klapka
- Defense: Kevin Bahl, Zach Whitecloud; Olli Maatta, Hunter Brzustewicz; Joel Hanley, Zayne Parekh
- Goal: Devin Cooley (starter), Dustin Wolf (backup)
The Flames face injury challenges with several players sidelined, creating an opportunity for others to step up as they gear up for their matchup against the dominant Blues.
