Blues Face Struggling Canucks in Crucial Road Matchup

St. Louis looks to gain ground in playoff race against last-place Vancouver

Mar. 21, 2026 at 3:19am

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The St. Louis Blues will look to bounce back from a disappointing loss when they face the lowly Vancouver Canucks on the road. The Blues are fighting to stay in the playoff hunt in the Western Conference, while the Canucks are firmly in last place and focused on the upcoming draft lottery. Both teams have split their season series so far, with the road team winning each time.

Why it matters

This game is crucial for the Blues as they try to make up ground in the tight Western Conference playoff race. With only a few weeks left in the regular season, every point is vital. Meanwhile, the Canucks are playing out the string but will look to play spoiler against a desperate Blues team.

The details

The Blues are coming off a tough 2-1 shootout loss to the Calgary Flames on Wednesday, their second straight defeat. St. Louis is seven points behind the Los Angeles Kings for the final wild card spot, with four other teams between them. The Blues' offense has struggled, ranking 30th in the NHL in total goals and goals per game. Their power play has also been ineffective, converting at just 16.6%. The Canucks, on the other hand, have long been out of the playoff picture and are focused on improving their draft position. They are 11 points behind the Calgary Flames for last place overall. However, Vancouver has shown some signs of life lately, going 3-3-1 in their last seven games after a dismal 4-18-4 stretch.

  • The Blues and Canucks last met on October 30, with Vancouver winning 4-3 in a shootout.
  • The Blues' last game was a 2-1 shootout loss to the Calgary Flames on Wednesday.

The players

Robert Thomas

A forward for the St. Louis Blues.

Jim Montgomery

The head coach of the St. Louis Blues.

Marco Rossi

A forward for the Vancouver Canucks.

Marcus Pettersson

A defenseman for the Vancouver Canucks.

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What they’re saying

“Obviously not the best start to the road trip. We felt like we played really good in Winnipeg (a 3-2 loss on Sunday) and not so good tonight. We've got two days off to rest and get ready for the next one.”

— Robert Thomas, Blues forward

“Calgary outcompeted us, outplayed us for the first two periods. In the third period, we were more connected. We were able to create more chances, more O-zone time, but in the end, you can't just play 15 good minutes and expect to win in this league.”

— Jim Montgomery, Blues head coach

“They're a really good team, so it's important to learn from it. It's important to stay positive. You're going to have some nights like that, but it's important to learn from the mistakes.”

— Marco Rossi, Canucks forward

“Teams are going to have momentum. We have to find ways to snap that momentum. Maybe it's making a couple of simple plays and keeping the puck in front of us. With our enthusiasm and our skating ability, we bring that we're going to give ourselves the best chance.”

— Marcus Pettersson, Canucks defenseman

What’s next

The Blues will look to gain ground in the playoff race, while the Canucks will try to play spoiler and improve their draft lottery odds.

The takeaway

This game represents a crucial opportunity for the Blues to gain ground in the tight Western Conference playoff race, while the Canucks will look to play the role of spoiler against a desperate St. Louis team.