Blues and Flames Battle Again in Playoff-Level Showdown

The St. Louis Blues and Calgary Flames are running it back on Thursday night, squaring off in a high-stakes rematch at Enterprise Center. With both teams in a tight playoff race, this isn’t just another regular-season game—it’s starting to feel like the postseason has arrived early.

The Playoff Picture

The Flames (49 points), Canucks (48 points), and Blues (46 points) are neck-and-neck for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Calgary and Vancouver have two games in hand over St. Louis, so the pressure is on the Blues to keep pace and make these games count.

A Look Back at Game 1

Tuesday’s matchup was a classic grind-it-out game, with the Blues pulling off a 2-1 win. Radek Faksa’s deflection goal in the third period sealed the deal, while Parayko got things started with a goal just 48 seconds into the game—his third in the past five games.

Blues coach Jim Montgomery loved the way his team stepped up. “We sacrificed, we played hard, and we found a way to win a 2-1 game. That’s what you want to see,” he said.

Calgary was coming off a back-to-back after beating the Blackhawks the night before, but Flames coach Ryan Huska thought his team held their own. “It was shaping up to be a solid road game,” he said. “But we made a mistake in the third, and they capitalized. That was the difference.”

Where the Teams Stand

• Calgary Flames: The Flames are 7-4-2 in their last 13 games and have been gaining momentum. Tuesday’s loss snapped a three-game winning streak, so they’ll be hungry to bounce back.
• St. Louis Blues: The Blues have struggled with consistency all season and haven’t managed to string together more than two wins in a row. Tuesday’s victory was a big step in keeping their playoff hopes alive.

Key Matchups to Watch

1. Goaltending Duel:
   • Flames: Dustin Wolf is expected to start after Dan Vladar took the net on Tuesday. Wolf has been red-hot this month, posting a 2.00 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage in four starts.
   • Blues: Jordan Binnington, who made 27 saves on Tuesday, will likely start again. He’s been a thorn in Calgary’s side throughout his career, with an 8-1 record against the Flames.
2. Calgary’s Adjustments:
   • The Flames had plenty of zone time in Game 1 but didn’t create enough high-danger chances. Huska said they need to be smarter and more efficient in the offensive zone.
3. Blues’ Defense:
   • St. Louis relied on strong penalty killing and defensive discipline to edge out Calgary on Tuesday. Keeping that intensity up will be critical in Game 2.

Industry’s Best

Handicapping Membership

Get Free Trial

Why It Matters

This game could be a turning point for both teams. Calgary wants to extend their lead in the standings and keep climbing, while St. Louis is fighting to close the gap and stay in the playoff hunt. With both teams playing like their seasons are on the line, this one’s going to be intense.

If you’re a fan of hard-fought hockey with playoff vibes, don’t miss this game. The Blues and Flames are about to go at it again, and it’s going to be a battle.