(Sports Network) - The Anaheim Ducks will try to shake off a rough start to the season when they visit the St. Louis Blues for this afternoon's matinee at Scottrade Center.
The Ducks have lost both of their games in regulation so far and have been outscored by an 8-1 margin in the two contests. Anaheim is beginning the campaign on a three-game road trip and will play seven of its first 10 games of the 2010-11 campaign on the road. However, the club will return to Orange County for a three-game homestand following today's tilt.
After getting dealt a 4-0 loss in Detroit on Friday night, the Ducks were dealt a 4-1 setback the following evening in Nashville. Steve Sullivan was one of four different goal scorers for the Predators in the win at Bridgestone Arena. Saku Koivu scored Anaheim's one and only goal of the season in Saturday's loss, while Jonas Hiller stopped 45 shots for the Ducks.
"Today's not a day that you come down on people," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said after Sunday's practice. "The most important thing is to recognize that they are going to feel down. That's natural, but you have to help pick them up. I think you have to support them."
The Blues, meanwhile, picked up a thrilling victory in their season opener as Carlo Colaiacovo scored 1:47 into overtime to lift St. Louis to a 2-1 home win over Philadelphia. Brad Boyes netted the other score for the Blues, who prior to the game unveiled a statue of Brett Hull outside Scottrade Center. Hull skated the majority of his career for St. Louis (1988-98), amassing almost 500 goals with the franchise alone.
The winning goal on Saturday night came shortly after Philly's Danny Briere rang a shot off the right post. The Blues broke back into their offensive zone and Alex Steen had his initial backhand chance blocked, but the rebound came to Colaiacovo at the point for a blistering game-winner.
Jaroslav Halak stopped 29-of-30 shots for the win, his first with St. Louis after coming over in an offseason deal from Montreal. Halak had ended last season by facing the Flyers with the Habs in the Eastern Conference finals, but lost in five games.
"I thought when we made mistakes he made the saves for us," said St. Louis head coach Davis Payne about Halak. "He was big and then as the game went on it forced them to look into different options to beat him. Great performance tonight from him."
St. Louis forward Cam Janssen left the game in the second period and did not return after absorbing an accidental hit by teammate Brad Winchester. Janssen is questionable for today's contest with a head injury.
Anaheim and the Blues split four games during last year's season series. The Ducks have won four of six and seven of 10 overall in the series and Anaheim also has five victories in its last nine trips to the Gateway City.