T. J. Oshie (sore wrist) definitely will be in the lineup tonight. He skated in an optional pregame skate this morning and everything was fine.

Carlo Colaiacovo (sore hamstring) is better, but he won't start skating until the end of the week. 

Barret Jackman has a bit of a black eye after getting hit in the face with a puck during Monday's practice, but he also is good to go tonight against the Los Angeles Kings.

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if you're looking for a free-wheeling hockey game tonight, you'd be better off renting a video game version. Blues coach Ken Hitchcock and Kings coach Terry Murray have known each other a long time, coached with and against each other, and know the way each approaches the game. The 6:30 start tonight at Scottrade will be a case of what happens an immovable object meets up with an immovable object.

“Interesting game,” Hitchcock said. “I would say this will be a game with not a lot of room. You're going to have to fight for your pace and its ain't going to come easy. And if both teams are on the mark, you're going to see a hell of a hockey game.

“I think Terry said it best in the paper, 'This is not going to be a track meet.' Neither coach is going to allow that to happen.”

***

Jaroslav Halak will be in goal for the Blues. Hitchcock likes what he has seen so far of the previously-struggling netminder.

“I just like the way he's playing,” Hitchcock said. “I don't know much about goalies from a technical standpoint, but I like the way he's playing. He's aggressive, he's making big saves at the right time. In that third period (in Minnesota), when we had that five minute brain cramp, he made three big saves to keep us in the game. That's a good sign for us.”