ONLY ONE QB NEEDED

The Blues enter tonight's game without a goal on their last 18 power-play chances, covering a span of six games. They are now No. 11 in the NHL, converting 19.6 percent.

"I think we've just gotten a little too slow, especially up top," Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk said. "We work so well when we're moving puck quickly and more importantly shooting. Most of the teams before the break were applying a lot of pressure, so it's hard to get set up and be able to make those clean passes. We just need to react to that better."

Shattenkirk said that opponents are trying to stay a step ahead of Steen and Vladimir Tarasenko.

"I think so," Shattenkirk said. "I seem to see a lot more teams getting ready to apply more pressure to Vladi and Steener when I move the puck over there. They want to take away their shots. I think that falls on me to get some shots through and force teams to get back in the middle and open up the sides again."

Hitchcock said the Blues would be better served by simplifying who is controlling the puck and who is shooting.