St. Louis @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 31, 2018 ) NY Rangers 2, St. Louis 1

The postseason appeared to be a pipe dream for the St. Louis Blues when, just two days into the new calendar year, they had the fewest points in the NHL. Now, fresh off a perfect four-game homestand, St. Louis can wrap up an improbable playoff berth when it opens a two-game road trip with a visit to the New York Rangers on Friday night.

The Blues are not content to merely earn a spot in the postseason, instead setting their sights on overtaking Nashville and possibly first-place Winnipeg in the Central Division. “You want to build your game up at this time and be ready for the playoffs now," defenseman Colton Parayko said. "Hopefully we continue to build our game and keep climbing in the standings and gain some home ice and if not, just be ready for the first round for sure.” The Blues will take a six-game point streak (5-0-1) into the matchup against the Rangers, who have dropped seven of their last eight (1-6-1). New York has posted just one regulation victory over its past 15 games (2-8-5) and five of its last six defeats have come by at least three goals.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Midwest-Plus (St. Louis), MSG (New York)

ABOUT THE BLUES (41-27-8): Forward Ivan Barbashev has scored four times during a three-game point streak to boost his total to 13 tallies -- one more than he had in his previous two seasons combined. Some milestones are in reach for St. Louis' top offensive players as Vladimir Tarasenko is one goal shy of reaching 30 for the fifth consecutive season while Ryan O'Reilly needs one goal to match his career high of 28 set in 2013-14 with Colorado. O'Reilly has a career-best 71 points on the season and 10 in 16 matchups against the Rangers.

ABOUT THE RANGERS (29-34-13): Leading scorer Mika Zibanejad tallied twice on the power play in Wednesday's 6-3 loss at Boston to reach 30 goals for the first time in his career and become the first New York center to hit that mark since Eric Lindros in 2001-02. Forward Chris Kreider (lower body), who has been sidelined the past three games, could make his return to the lineup against St. Louis. Kreider is second on the team with 26 goals -- two shy of his career high -- but he has been limited to a pair of assists over his last 11 games.

OVERTIME

1. Blues G Jordan Binnington has won five straight starts and can match Jake Allen's rookie record of 22 wins with another victory.

2. Rangers F Pavel Buchnevich is riding a career-best five-game point streak.

3. Tarasenko has scored 19 of his 29 goals away from home.

PREDICTION: Blues 4, Rangers 2