from Dana Wakiji of the Wings' website,

"They're a good team," Blashill said after the team's optional morning skate. "The thing about the NHL, you catch a team at a certain time and their record might be this and two weeks later it might be totally something different because that's how close everybody is. I've said it time and time and time again and I think people get sick of me saying it but that's the reality. The league is so, so paper thin from one team to the next. They're a real good hockey team, look at the lineup. Their specialty teams have been good, we know it'll be a great, great challenge here tonight. They've played with lots of vigor since (interim head coach Craig) Berube took over. It'll be a war."

The Blues are ranked 10th on the power play at 22.4 percent and 10th on the penalty kill at 81.2 percent.

St. Louis has also actually outscored opponents 25-21 in the first period and 24-21 in the second period.

It is the third period and overtime that have been problematic. Opponents are outscoring the Blues 28-18 in the third and 3-0 in overtime.

"We could be talking about St. Louis in a month and everybody could be speaking about how great they're playing," Blashill said. "It's going to be a heck of a challenge for sure."

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