The set-up: The Anaheim Ducks dropped both ends of a two-game road trip, losing 4-2 at Nashville on Thursday and 2-1 at Dallas on Friday. The 34-23-12 Ducks (79 points) are third in the Pacific Division, one point behind second-place San Jose but also just one point from dropping out of playoff position in the West. They are hoping to improve their precarious perch when they host the 36-27-5 St. Louis Blues on Monday at the Honda Center. St. Louis is coming off a resounding 7-2 victory at Los Angeles on Saturday but it was only its second victory in the team's last 11 games (2-7-2). The Blues (77 points) sit three points out of the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference with three teams to pass.

St. Louis: "I thought I was dreaming there with all that offense," goaltender Jake Allen, who suffered shutout losses in three of his previous four starts, told reporters after the game against the Kings. Head coach Mike Yeo reunited the line of center Brayden Schenn, Vladimir Tarasenko and Jaden Schwartz on Saturday for the first time since December and the unit combined for two goals and three assists. Tarasenko had one of each Saturday and leads the club in goals (27) and points (58), after recording three goals and two assists in his last five games. Schwartz (20 goals, 49 points in 48 contests) had a goal and two assists against Los Angeles, giving him two and five respectively in his last five games while Schenn (24 goals, 57 points) has been kept off the scoresheet in the last three contests.

Anaheim: "This time of year, we have (13) games left, every game matters, and I don't think we have any excuses anymore," Ducks defenseman Brandon Montour told reporters Friday after Anaheim let a 1-0 lead midway through the third period slip away in that 2-1 loss at Dallas on Friday. Rickard Rakell (club-high 30 goals) saw his five-game goal streak in which he scored eight times come to an end Friday but he recorded an assist to increase his team-high point total to 59. Ryan Getzlaf (50 points) scored his 10th goal of the season Friday, giving him two goals and 12 points during a five-game point streak. Gibson (25-16-6, 2.49 GAA &.926 SP) is 8-2-1, 1.79, .945 since the All-Star break.

The pick: Sure, the Blues exploded in LA vs. the Kings but how does one ignore the team's 2-7-2 slide? Or, the fact that St. Louis is 5-21-1 in its last 27 trips to Honda Center? The Ducks' Gibson is playing great since the All Star break (reminder above) and he could begin a stretch of starting 12 straight games Monday, with the Ducks' not playing final back-to-back contests until April 6-7 to close the regular season. Make Anaheim an 8* play.