Blues face former goalie Halak, who's been on fire for Islanders
Jaroslav Halak wasn't comfortable enough to face the St. Louis Blues in April, a little more than a month after they traded him.
Riding a club-record 11-game winning streak, the New York goaltender might feel differently about the prospect of facing his former team Saturday as the Islanders try to win eight straight at home for the first time in almost 25 years.
Halak won 83 games and posted a 2.23 goals-against average in three-plus seasons with St. Louis before it traded him to Buffalo on March 1. Dealt to Washington four days later, Halak felt it was too soon to take on the Blues when the Capitals visited St. Louis on April 8.
With time passed and another team to call home, Halak should feel confident if he's to face St. Louis (16-8-2) this weekend.
The veteran, who has a 1.24 GAA during his 11-0-0 stretch, broke Hall of Famer Billy Smith's team-record winning streak while making 20 saves in Thursday's 2-1 victory at Ottawa.
"I would say I'm not here to chase any records or anything," said Halak, who is 14-4-0 with a 2.05 GAA this season. "I'm here to have fun, play hockey and try to help the guys win the game."
He's certainly helped the Islanders (19-7-0), who have won three in a row and 13 of 15.
"The guys have been playing pretty well," Halak told the Islanders' official website. "I wouldn't be winning too many games without everybody leaving everything out there."
FOX Sports Midwest coverage of the Blues-Islanders game begins at 11:30 a.m. Saturday with Blues Live.
Brock Nelson scored for the second straight game and Casey Cizikas recorded the go-ahead goal 13:33 into the third period. Cizikas has five of his eight points in the last five games.
"The one thing I liked about our team right now is our depth," coach Jack Capuano said. "When called upon they do the job."
New York hasn't won eight straight home contests since a nine-game run during the 1989-90 season. The Islanders own a 25-8 scoring advantage over the last seven at Nassau Coliseum, where they are playing their final season before moving to Brooklyn.
This contest also marks the return of future Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur to the New York metro area, though it's uncertain if he'll be in net for the Blues.
A four-time Vezina Trophy winner during his 21 seasons with New Jersey, Brodeur made 20 saves in St. Louis' 4-3 loss at Nashville on Thursday. Brodeur, who signed a one-year deal with the Blues on Tuesday, hadn't played since stopping his final puck for the Devils on April 13.
"I felt pretty good," Brodeur said. "You know it's like everything. Everything is new.
"But glad it's over, and now I got (a game) under my belt. We're going to stop talking about it and just play hockey."
Whether it's Brodeur, whose 51 wins against the Islanders are his most over any opponent, or Jake Allen in net, the Blues need to tighten up defensively. After allowing four goals just twice in 24 games, St. Louis has done it in its two straight losses.
"We have skilled players who make plays," Brodeur told the NHL's official website. "These guys are talented. Sometimes it is good and sometimes we make mistakes."
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St. Louis has gone 0 for 14 on the power play while splitting its last four games. New York, meanwhile, has killed 14 of 16 penalties over the last seven at home.
Vladimir Tarasenko scored twice at Nashville, and has four goals in four games. He had two in St. Louis' 4-3 shootout win on Long Island on Jan. 25.
The Blues have won three straight and five of six over the Islanders.
