Good morning, St. Louis

Good morning from the final stop of the Los Angeles Kings’ four-game trip that has bridged the gap between the Christmas break and the new year. The Kings, who will take the Scottrade Center ice at 11:30 local time for the morning skate, are looking for their first victory since a 3-2 shootout win over Colorado on December 21.

Though they’ve been missing a few key names, including Alexander Steen, and could be without captain David Backes, who is questionable, the St. Louis Blues won’t by any means be a pushover as Los Angeles will look to salvage a victory from what to this point has been a disappointing jaunt away from Staples Center. They’ll do it against a team they’ve generated a great deal of success against over the last two-plus seasons, having defeated St. Louis in 15 of the teams’ last 18 overall meetings, including five of the last seven games at Scottrade Center. The Blues, meanwhile, are 7-1-2 in their last 10 games and sit four points behind the Chicago Blackhawks with three games in hand.

Updates on St. Louis skaters questionable to play in tonight’s game will come following their morning skate. Brian Elliott will start in goal tonight.

We weren’t spared from the winter storm that descended upon much of the United States yesterday. Though we weren’t affected as much as points north and east, snow started falling shortly after dinner last night, and by the time we woke up this morning, an inch or two covered the downtown area. It’s not bitterly cold or uncomfortable – it’s January; it’s going to be cold – but let’s just say it won’t be awful returning to unseasonably warm Southern California after tonight’s game.