Blues Face Phoenix

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The Blues begin the final quarter of their regular season tonight in Phoenix. 8:00 is scheduled opening puckdrop at Jobing.com Arena.

Davis Payne's team will be beginning a six-game roadtrip and is currently five points back of arch-rival Detroit for the final playoff spot in the West. The Coyotes are currently fourth in the conference and are looking for more of the same from goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov. The Russian netminder backed up Evgeni Nabakov at the recent Olympics and is 32-17-and-4 with a .920 save percentage and 2.30 goals against average this season.

Blues' defenseman Erik Johnson and forward David Backes have returned from their silver medal performances in Vancouver. Defenseman Roman Polak is back from his participation with the Czech Republic. Polak's team didn't medal but his experience playing against top lines like Russia's Alexander Ovechkin-Alexander Semin-Evgeni Malkin is sure to pay dividends in the NHL as will the strong, solid play of Johnson and Backes.

The league's trade deadline hits tomorrow afternoon at 2 PM Central. Blues' Assistant General Manager Doug Armstrong said the chances of the Note striking a big deal are "less and less" while joining Bernie Miklasz today on 101 ESPN.

TPC