NBCSN’s coverage of the 2018-19 NHL season continues with the Wednesday Night Hockey matchup between the St. Louis Blues and Anaheim Ducks. Coverage begins at 10 p.m. ET on NBCSN. You can watch the game online and on the NBC Sports app by clicking here.
The Blues remarkable turnaround since mid-January has them positioned to make the playoffs despite finding themselves in last place in the league on the morning of Jan. 3. St. Louis has struggled more recently, however, coming off back-to-back regulation losses to Carolina and Dallas.
Since the NHL’s Expansion Era (1967-68), only six teams have made the playoffs after ranking last in the entire League at any point after Jan. 1 (min. 20 GP). The only teams to accomplish the feat in that era: the 1976-77 North Stars, 1979-80 Oilers, 1982-83 Maple Leafs, 1987-88 Kings, 1987-88 Maple Leafs and 1996-97 Senators.
The Blues have one of the easiest upcoming schedules in the league in terms of lowest cumulative points percentage for remaining opponents and only have two remaining divisional games on the schedule (April 1 against COL and April 3 in Chicago).
It is highly unlikely that Anaheim will make the playoffs, thus ending their streak of six consecutive years in the postseason.
Cam Fowler (57G-206A—263 points in 605 GP) needs one point and three goals to tie Hall of Famer Scott Niedermayer (60G-204A—264 points in 371 GP) for the most ever by a Ducks defenseman. Earlier this season Ryan Miller became the all-time leader in wins by a U.S.- born goaltender, passing John Vanbiesbrouck (374). [WATCH LIVE – COVERAGE BEGINS AT 10 P.M. ET – NBCSN]
What: St. Louis Blues at Anaheim Ducks Where: Honda Center When: Wednesday, March 6, 10 p.m. ET TV: NBCSN Live stream: You can watch the Blues-Flyers stream on NBC Sports’ live stream page and the NBC Sports app.
PROJECTED LINEUPS
BLUES Brayden Schenn - Ryan O’Reilly - Vladimir Tarasenko Patrick Maroon - Tyler Bozak - Robert Thomas Jaden Schwartz - Oskar Sundqvist - Alex Steen MacKenzie MacEachern - Ivan Barbashev - Samuel Blais
Joel Edmundson - Alex Pietrangelo Jay Bouwmeester - Colton Parayko Vince Dunn - Michael Del Zotto
Starting goalie: Jordan Binnington
DUCKS Kevin Roy - Ryan Getzlaf - Corey Perry Rickard Rakell - Sam Steel - Jakob Silfverberg Nick Ritchie - Adam Henrique - Troy Terry Max Jones - Ryan Kesler - Carter Rowney
Hampus Lindholm - Josh Manson Jacob Larsson - Cam Fowler Jaycob Megna - Korbinian Holzer
Starting goalie: John Gibson
Chris Cuthbert (play-by-play) and Brian Hayward (‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst) will have the call from Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.