Oct. 30--REPORTING FROM ST. LOUIS -- Timing continues to be good for the Ducks in their meetings with the St. Louis Blues.
Blues Coach Ken Hitchcock told reporters Thursday that center Paul Stastny (shoulder) will remain out for tonight's game along with recent concussion victims David Backes and T.J. Oshie and center Joakim Lindstrom (ill).
"Some seasons are smooth, some seasons are scrambles. We're in scramble mode right now," Hitchcock said. "No one's feeling sorry for us. We've got to keep pace with everybody until we get these guys back in. Just can't get too far behind the pack."
On Oct. 19, Anaheim beat the Blues for the fourth consecutive time, 3-0, at Honda Center after St. Louis played the night before and lost Stastny to his injury.
The Blues (4-3-1) are coming off consecutive victories over the Chicago Blackhawks and Dallas Stars, but Oshie got pushed into the goal post by Dallas forward Patrick Eaves and Backes hit his head on the ice after colliding with Stars defenseman Trevor Daley.
"It's a team we fear every time we walk into this building," Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau said. "Look around the league and you'll find when teams have injuries -- short-term -- that team plays better. I expect them to be better. They're hungry, there's a fear of losing."
Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler said chalking the game up as a win before it's played is "trouble."
"Just from experience, when we have main guys out, our backs to the wall, we seem to come up with a great performance," Fowler said. "Dangerous game. That's a good group, good team, it shouldn't change anything for us."
Ducks center Ryan Kesler said the losses haven't changed the fabric of a "blue-collar, hard-working team. We have to expect that push."
