It's rare in the NHL for a team to play back-to-back home games on Friday and Saturday night.
"That's not too common," Blues forward Alex Steen said. "Usually it's away-home or home-away. It'll be nice to play two games in front of your home fans."
It may be even more rare that the two teams visiting Scottrade Center the next two nights are the last two Stanley Cup champions. The Chicago Blackhawks, who will be in town tonight, won the Cup in June; the Pittsburgh Penguins, who will be here Saturday night, hoisted the Cup two years ago.
"It's pretty cool when you think about that," Blues forward David Perron said. "I don't know how often that could have happened. It's going to be a great challenge for us."
Considering that Chicago and Pittsburgh are among the favorites to return to the Stanley Cup finals this season, the Blues couldn't have planned a more exciting return trip home as they look to improve on their 2-0 record at Scottrade Center and bounce back from Monday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Blackhawks.
"Very big weekend," Blues coach Davis Payne admitted. "Two teams here ... we've got Chicago, which is a divisional game and, obviously, we recognize where things slipped away from us in their building (Monday). We've got to be sharp against them and certainly against Pittsburgh.
"These are two teams they're talking about as being the cream of the crop in the West and the East, respectively. We want to be right there, so we've got to make sure that we play our brand of hockey."
Chicago is currently No. 1 in the Western Conference with 11 points and comes to town on a four-game winning streak. Pittsburgh was No. 5 in the Eastern Conference before Thursday's game in Nashville, having won three straight games while outscoring its opponents 13-5 in those contests.
If the action isn't fast and furious enough, racecar driver Danica Patrick, who will participate in Saturday's NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Gateway International Raceway, will be at Scottrade Center tonight to drop the ceremonial first puck.
After that, the Blues hope to step on the throttle.
"I thought the start of our game against Chicago (Monday) was good," Steen said. "We need to start that way and get the two points on Friday, first of all, in order to get the four on the weekend. It'll be a good game, high-paced again, and I'm sure the fans are going to enjoy it."
Both games are close to being sellouts, but the club says a few good seats are still available.
"Our fans are great no matter who we play," Blues forward T.J. Oshie said. "But this weekend, I can't imagine how out of control it's going to be. The more excited they are, the more they hype us up. The louder the better."
Most coaches might want to temper the players' enthusiasm going into a situation like this, but not Payne. Asked Thursday if he would remind the Blues to have an even-keel approach, he said: "No, I don't think so. When the energy is that high, it just needs to be directed. You adjust accordingly. You don't want to temper any sort of energy. Hockey, fortunately, is a game that that type of energy can be applied in the right areas and be effective. I'm not sure in all sports that works, but it certainly does in hockey."
Still, Perron said the Blues have to be careful not to get too worked up against the 'Hawks and Penguins.
"If you start trying to match what they do, they'll take over," Perron said. "We've got to play our own game. We're confident we can play with anybody in this league."
Added Oshie: "Obviously, you have to be aware of the (Patrick) Kanes, (Jonathan) Toews, (Sidney) Crosbys and (Evgeni) Malkins ... but other than that, play our game and push them back. If we give these guys room, if we show them too much respect, that's when they'll run over you."
JANSSEN UPDATE
Blues forward Cam Janssen, who has been out since Oct. 9 with a concussion, passed a battery of baseline tests Wednesday and is eyeing a return to the ice next Thursday against Nashville.
"I passed ... with honors," Janssen quipped. "The first test I've passed in a long time."
Janssen received a concussion after colliding with teammate Brad Winchester and hitting his head on the ice when he fell.
"It's hard to watch the replay, but I've done that to guys ... it just happens," Janssen said. "But if that would happen to any one of you (media) guys, you would still be in the hospital. Let's be honest here."
"That's not too common," Blues forward Alex Steen said. "Usually it's away-home or home-away. It'll be nice to play two games in front of your home fans."
It may be even more rare that the two teams visiting Scottrade Center the next two nights are the last two Stanley Cup champions. The Chicago Blackhawks, who will be in town tonight, won the Cup in June; the Pittsburgh Penguins, who will be here Saturday night, hoisted the Cup two years ago.
"It's pretty cool when you think about that," Blues forward David Perron said. "I don't know how often that could have happened. It's going to be a great challenge for us."
Considering that Chicago and Pittsburgh are among the favorites to return to the Stanley Cup finals this season, the Blues couldn't have planned a more exciting return trip home as they look to improve on their 2-0 record at Scottrade Center and bounce back from Monday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Blackhawks.
"Very big weekend," Blues coach Davis Payne admitted. "Two teams here ... we've got Chicago, which is a divisional game and, obviously, we recognize where things slipped away from us in their building (Monday). We've got to be sharp against them and certainly against Pittsburgh.
"These are two teams they're talking about as being the cream of the crop in the West and the East, respectively. We want to be right there, so we've got to make sure that we play our brand of hockey."
Chicago is currently No. 1 in the Western Conference with 11 points and comes to town on a four-game winning streak. Pittsburgh was No. 5 in the Eastern Conference before Thursday's game in Nashville, having won three straight games while outscoring its opponents 13-5 in those contests.
If the action isn't fast and furious enough, racecar driver Danica Patrick, who will participate in Saturday's NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Gateway International Raceway, will be at Scottrade Center tonight to drop the ceremonial first puck.
After that, the Blues hope to step on the throttle.
"I thought the start of our game against Chicago (Monday) was good," Steen said. "We need to start that way and get the two points on Friday, first of all, in order to get the four on the weekend. It'll be a good game, high-paced again, and I'm sure the fans are going to enjoy it."
Both games are close to being sellouts, but the club says a few good seats are still available.
"Our fans are great no matter who we play," Blues forward T.J. Oshie said. "But this weekend, I can't imagine how out of control it's going to be. The more excited they are, the more they hype us up. The louder the better."
Most coaches might want to temper the players' enthusiasm going into a situation like this, but not Payne. Asked Thursday if he would remind the Blues to have an even-keel approach, he said: "No, I don't think so. When the energy is that high, it just needs to be directed. You adjust accordingly. You don't want to temper any sort of energy. Hockey, fortunately, is a game that that type of energy can be applied in the right areas and be effective. I'm not sure in all sports that works, but it certainly does in hockey."
Still, Perron said the Blues have to be careful not to get too worked up against the 'Hawks and Penguins.
"If you start trying to match what they do, they'll take over," Perron said. "We've got to play our own game. We're confident we can play with anybody in this league."
Added Oshie: "Obviously, you have to be aware of the (Patrick) Kanes, (Jonathan) Toews, (Sidney) Crosbys and (Evgeni) Malkins ... but other than that, play our game and push them back. If we give these guys room, if we show them too much respect, that's when they'll run over you."
JANSSEN UPDATE
Blues forward Cam Janssen, who has been out since Oct. 9 with a concussion, passed a battery of baseline tests Wednesday and is eyeing a return to the ice next Thursday against Nashville.
"I passed ... with honors," Janssen quipped. "The first test I've passed in a long time."
Janssen received a concussion after colliding with teammate Brad Winchester and hitting his head on the ice when he fell.
"It's hard to watch the replay, but I've done that to guys ... it just happens," Janssen said. "But if that would happen to any one of you (media) guys, you would still be in the hospital. Let's be honest here."
