Blues Mini-Vacation Over

After a five-day layoff, the Blues return to the ice tonight with a game against the Ducks. In that time, the ninth-placed Blues have dodged some bullets as Los Angeles, which trails the Blues by two points, lost two games while St. Louis remained idle. Nashville, which stands a point ahead of St. Louis for the final playoff spot, also lost this week. With those breaks falling the Blues way, they’re not only within striking distance of the Predators, but they also have a game in hand over Nashville. They have two games in hand over Edmonton, which is in seventh place and just two points ahead of them. The Blues will play both Nashville and Edmonton over their last seven games. St. Louis is trying to avoid missing the playoffs for the first time since 1979.