After toying with their two most recent opponents, the San Jose Sharks should expect more of a challenge as they wind down their longest homestand of the season.
That begins Thursday night against the St. Louis Blues as the Sharks go for their fifth win in six games.
San Jose (42-20-7) enters this game having beaten the Dallas Stars on Sunday and Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday by a combined score of 9-2. Neither of those opponents is expected to play in the postseason.
St. Louis (36-28-5) is fighting to stay in the playoff mix, as it has a four-point lead over the Los Angeles Kings for the final Western Conference wild-card berth.