Blues To Face Budaj

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The Blues host Colorado tonight in the fourth and final head-to-head match up of the season between the two teams. The Avalanche have won the previous three including a 4-0 shutout on December 7th at Scottrade Center behind the netminding of Peter Budaj.

Note goalie Chris Mason will start against Budaj in the 7:00 start. Joe Sacco's club is saving starter Craig Anderson for a home test against Calgary tomorrow night. The Av's are 39-23-6 for the sixth spot in the West. Colorado has scored 25 more goals than they've allowed. Only four other teams in the NHL have a better goals for-goals against differential.

Davis Payne, like Sacco, cut his teeth in the American Hockey League en route to becoming an NHL bench boss. Payne is 15-10-3 since taking over for Andy Murray on January 2nd. The Blues were 17-17-6 when relieving Murrray of his duties.

Payne still carries the interim tag and may until July 1st when Doug Armstrong officially takes over for Larry Pleau as G-M. Sacco has Colorado in position to make the playoffs with one of the youngest teams in the league. He could be a finalist for the Jack Adams coach of the year award come Spring.

TPC