BLUES VS. COLUMBUS

When • 6 p.m. Sunday.

Where • Scottrade Center.

TV, radio • Fox Sports Midwest, KMOX (1120 AM).

Blues preview • The Blues will play for the second time in two nights, having lost in Nashville on Saturday. The Note have a four-game winning streak at home and the Blues' 12 home victories are just one behind Detroit for most in the NHL. Netminder Jaroslav Halak, who started against Nashville, is expected to start against the Blue Jackets.

Blue Jackets preview • Columbus (9-19-4) lost Saturday to Tampa Bay 3-2 and has the fewest points (22) in the NHL. Columbus hasn't won back-to-back games in regulation over its past 54 games, dating to Feb. 25 of last season.

What to watch • The teams made a trade Nov. 10 that has helped both. The Blues sent defenseman Nikita Nikitin to the Blue Jackets for defenseman Kris Russell. On one hand, Nikitin has become a prominent player in Columbus, averaging more than 25 minutes. For his part, Russell has been terrific for the Blues, with three goals and a plus-10 rating in 16 games. Another connection is Blues coach Ken Hitchcock, who spent four seasons coaching the Jackets. Columbus fired him in February 2010 and the Blues hired him on Nov. 6 of this season.

Injuries • Blues — D Kent Huskins (ankle), day-to-day; F Andy McDonald (concussion), F Andy McDonald (concussion) and F B.J. Crombeen (shoulder), out. Blue Jackets — F Kristian Huselius (lower body), F Derek Dorsett (leg) and D Radek Martinek (concusssion), out.