Game day: St. Louis Blues at Maple Leafs

AIR CANADA CENTRE PUCK DROP: 7 p.m. TV: TSN RADIO: Sportsnet 590 The FAN

KEY PLAYERS Schenn/Matthews

Brayden Schenn has been a solid addition since joining the Blues last June in a trade with Philadelphia. Originally projected as a first-line centre, Schenn has bounced on and off the top unit. Although he has been playing on the second line recently, with former Leaf Alex Steen and Dmitrij Jaskin, Schenn leads the Blues with 44 points and is second in goals with 17. Schenn and Vladimir Tarasenko have both gone into slumps since Jaden Schwartz was injured; Schenn has not scored in 10 games. It will be an interesting matchup if he opposes Auston Matthews, the Leafs’ top centre. Matthews is scoring at a higher pace than in his rookie season, despite missing 10 games due to back issues and a concussion.

NEED TO KNOW

Jaden Schwartz’s loss has been huge for the Blues: They are 20-8-2 with him in the lineup, and 6-9-1 without him. He is projected to return from injury (foot) after the all-star break . . . St. Louis opened the season at a sizzling 13-3-1 pace, but are 13-14-2 since. Two problems exist: one is a poor power play, the other is a cold spell for goaltender Jake Allen. The power play, despite big time shooters in Schenn and Vladimir Tarasenko, ranks 29th in the league and went 0-for-21 over a nine-game stretch from Dec. 20 to Jan. 7. Allen is 1-8-0 in his last nine starts, with an .896 save percentage. He allowed 28 goals in those nine starts . . . Backup Carter

Hutton has been impressive in a relief role. The 32-year-old, who is in a contract year, has a 1.81 goalsagainst averaged, second in the NHL, and a .941 save percentage . . . Even with up-and-down goaltending, St. Louis is fifth in the NHL in goals against per game (2.7). Their penalty kill is middle of the pack at 14th . . . The Blues still have serious Stanley Cup aspirations, and that has led to rumours that Montreal centre Max Pacioretty could land in St. Louis.

UP NEXT

Thursday, at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. Mark Zwolinski

Brayden Schenn has provided the Blues the spark they were hoping for, until recently.