The season-long mystery continued this week when the Blues went 2-0 on their road trip. If you’ve lost track at home, the Blues are now 5-1-3 on the road this season and 4-8-1 at Scottrade Center.

Why?

The Blues have scored 27 goals in nine road games for an average of three per game. At Scottrade, the Blues have scored 25 goals in 13 games for an average of 1.9.

Meanwhile, the Blues’ goaltending has been solid on the road. The team has allowed just 22 goals in nine games for an average of 2.4.

Blues coach Andy Murray believes the difference has been timely goals. In Friday’s 3-1 win over Nashville, the Blues were leading 2-1 when Paul Kariya scored, giving the Blues a cushion.

“We got the third goal,” Murray said. “The same thing in Dallas, we got the key goals. If there was anything last year in the run we went on in the second half, we found a way to get the key goal. We found a way to get the next goal when we had to have it. To me, it’s been that case lately, where we got that next goal.”

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Kariya ended a 15-game scoreless drought with his fifth goal of the season Friday in Nashville.

“I think everybody on our team felt good for Paul,” Murray said. “First of all, it was a huge goal at that point in the hockey game. We worked hard to get it. We didn’t sit back on the game. We were pressing, but they’re a dangerous team. It was a huge goal. That was the most important thing. Paul has worked extremely hard. Guys felt good for Paul. Let’s hope that that’s a sign of things to come because his game has been pretty good.”

Kariya has 10 shots in his last two games.

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The Blues will face a Detroit team tonight that is having a tough time scoring. How bad are things offensively for the Red Wings, who have lost three straight games coming into tonight? Well, take a look at these offensive numbers.

- The Wings have recorded a combined 111 shots in their last three games and have one goal.

- They have posted a combined 80 shots in their last two games and been shutout in both (2-0 to Atlanta and 3-0 to Calgary).

- The Wings are 0-for-11 on the power play in their last three games.

- The Wings have had 40-plus shots six times this season and won only one of those games.

- Defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom hasn’t scored a goal in 21 games.

- The Red Wings have 10 forwards who have not scored a goal in at least five games.

“Mike Babcock has been saying all the right things to his team,” Murray said. “He’s staying positive with them, as we did here. You believe in your players. We realize the dangerous opponent that we’re facing tonight. Mike has been patience and just stick with your game and you’re going to get it turned around. Our hope is that they wait a couple of more nights.”

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As of this morning, the Blues were planning to go with the same lineup as they used in Nashville. That means that defenseman Eric Brewer will miss his second straight game with a lower-body injury.

“Brew won’t play tonight,” Murray said. “Nothing serious. It’s a strain and he’ll be back. Nothing related to any previous injuries.”

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The only lineup change appeared to the possibility of Patrik Berglund being inserted in place of Cam Janssen. It was unknown if Detroit’s Brad May was going to be in the lineup, which might force the Blues to dress Janssen.

“You never paint yourself into a corner, so you never say you would make a change, but at this point, I’m not planning on it,” Murray said.

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Chris Mason is expected to be in net tonight for the Blues. I’m told that Jimmy Howard will be between the pipes for Detroit.

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Blues defenseman Erik Johnson will take a five-game point streak into tonight’s game. Johnson, who leads the team with 17 points, has two goals and three assists in his last five games.

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Blues defenseman Barret Jackman has played six straight games without a minus-rating. He’s a plus-3 in the last six.