The Blues have made a significant swap on their two power-play units as they attempt to snap an 0-for-20 drought tonight.

Today in practice, rookie Alex Pietrangelo practiced with the No. 1 power-play unit and Erik Johnson was with the second unit.

Pientrangelo will play the left point, with Paul Kariya at the right point, Brad Boyes and Andy McDonald on the sides, and David Backes in front of the net.  

On the other unit, Johnson will be on the right point, with Darryl Sydor at the left point, David Perron and Patrik Berglund on the sides and Keith Tkachuk clogging up the middle.

Blues coach Andy Murray says there’s not a difference between the two units, and in fact he refers to them as the “red” unit and the “blue” unit rather than No. 1 and No. 2. The ice time from Thursday’s 2-0 loss to Phoenix shows that the No. 1 unit, or the red unit, had an extra shift or two . . . (Note: Johnson saw time on both units).

No. 1: Johnson (4:00), Kariya (3:15), McDonald (3:30), Backes (3:03), Boyes (2:41).

No. 2: Johnson (4:00), Pietrangelo (2:48), Perron (2:54), Tkachuk (2:32), Berglund (2:05), Darryl Sydor (:41).

********

Pietrangelo will play his fifth game of the season and fourth in a row tonight. He played 18:43 on Thursday against Phoenix, which was the most ice time he’s seen this season. Pietrangelo said today that playing in a stretch of games and getting significant ice time is allowing him to get into a better flow.

“I think that’s exactly what it is for me right now,” Pietrangelo said. “It’s tough not being in the lineup. And when you do get in there, you have something to prove. I think I’ve got to keep going, and I can’t hold back. Everybody wants to play every night, so I’ve got to keep doing what I’m doing.”

********

The defensive pairings tonight will stay the same as Thursday:

Darryl Sydor-Erik Johnson

Eric Brewer-Alex Pietrangelo

Mike Weaver Roman Polak

- Some fans might question the pairing of Brewer and Pietrangelo, since Brewer is finding his way around the ice after an 11-month layoff and Pietrangelo doesn’t have much experience. They were the two defensemen on the ice for both of Phoenix’s goals Thursday. It’s a fair point, but Pietrangelo said today that he and Brewer have been working together in practice for much of the last month as the team’s fourth defensive pairing. The Blues had the three pairs that were playing the games, thus leaving the odd-man out (Pietrangelo) to play with the guy returning from injury (Brewer).

- Barret Jackman skated again today, but he’s still expected to miss at least another week.

- After playing forward Thursday, Tyson Stachan will be a healthy scratch tonight against Florida. Murray said today that it was “totally unfair” for Strachan not to be in the lineup, but it’s part of the tough decisions the Blues are being forced to make.

********

With team playing six defensemen tonight, Brad Winchester will be back in the lineup at forward after sitting out one game.

Here are the expected forward combinations for tonight:

Andy McDonald-David Backes-Brad Boyes

Paul Kariya-Patrik Berglund-David Perron

Yan Stastny-Jay McClement-B.J. Crombeen

Brad Winchester-Keith Tkachuk-Cam Janssen

*******

Keep an eye on the shift lengths tonight. Murray wasn’t happy with players taking lengthy shifts Thursday. He posted a note on the locker room bulletin board reminding players to keep their shifts under 40 seconds.

“When our shifts are long, that’s not our identity,” Murray said.

Murray has elaborated on this point in the past, saying that the Blues need to be a fresh, aggressive, fore-checking team, and he says they can’t be fresh and do those things when their shifts are longer than 40 seconds.

*******

Happy Halloween!

There should be some good costumes at Scottrade Center tonight. If you haven’t heard, kids 12-and-under who wear a costume can get a ticket in the plaza level for free. Adults who dress up can get a seat in the same section for 1/2 price. Anyone who wants to participate in the costume contest should report to section 124 before the end of the first period.

JR