(SportsNetwork. Ultra Boost Schweiz .com) - The St. Louis Blues will try to push their winning streak to three straight games on Thursday night as they play host to the Anaheim Ducks. The Blues are coming off a 4-3 road win over the Dallas Stars on Tuesday, with Vladimir Tarasenko capping off his first career hat trick with a power-play goal in overtime. After the Stars Tyler Seguin was called for high-sticking just 14 seconds into the extra frame, Tarasenko one-timed a Kevin Shattenkirk pass at the right circle that beat Kari Lehtonen to the short side. Tarasenkos first two tallies on the night were both game-tying goals in a back-and-forth contest. Jori Lehtera posted a goal and two assists. Brian Elliott turned away 25 shots for the Blues, who have won two in a row for the first time this season. It was a wild game, said Blues coach Ken Hitchcock. It was the best and worst for both teams. One of the worst parts for St. Louis was captain David Backes leaving the game after taking a hit from Dallas defenseman Trevor Daley late in the first period. The forward hit his head on the ice and did not return to the game. Backes did not practice on Wednesday, but he has not been ruled out for Thursdays game. While the Blues are looking to get on a roll, the Ducks have been red-hot since the start of the season. They won for the eighth time in their first 10 games, blanking Chicago 1-0 on Tuesday. John Gibson made 38 saves to record his second career shutout, while Devante Smith-Pelly scored the games only goal short-handed with 8:28 left in regulation. After several close calls on Gibson during a Chicago power play, Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook stumbled as he tried to corral a pass at the blue line. An alert forechecking Smith-Pelly swooped in alone up the middle and beat Chicago goaltender Scott Darling with a backhander between the pads. I know hes a big goalie, so I wanted to get him moving side to side and it squeaked through, Smith-Pelly said. The Ducks won the opener of a four-game swing, bouncing back after having a seven-game winning streak halted with a 4-1 loss to San Jose on Sunday. Anaheim has won three of its past four in St. Louis and beat the Blues for the fourth straight time overall with a 3-0 home win on Oct. 19. Frederik Andersen made 28 saves in his first career shutout, Sami Vatanen scored a pair of power-play goals and Matt Beleskey set the tone with a goal 1:37 into the game. Elliott allowed three goals on 25 shots faced in the Blues ninth loss in their past 12 versus the Ducks. Adidas Tubular Schweiz . Rooneys latest piece of football genius lost in the furore which now stalks David Moyes, and the man who gave the Manchester United striker his start as a 16-year old at Goodison Park back in 2002. Adidas Originals Gazelle Schweiz .ca has you covered for whos in, whos out and what to expect from all 30 teams. http://www.nmdschweizkaufen.ch/ . Maximilian Arnold put Wolfsburg ahead in the eighth minute, when the stationary Fallou Diagne allowed him to guide Patrick Ochs cross beyond the helpless Freiburg goalkeeper, and Ivica Olic doubled the lead three minutes later after Luiz Gustavo did well to set him up. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Royals ace James Shields is open to staying in Kansas City beyond this season. That news should make the thousands of fans, already flying high over the teams strong finish a year ago, feel even better as they turned out for their annual FanFest on Friday. The Royals exercised their $13.5 million option on Shieldss contract shortly after going 86-76 last season, their best finish since 1989. The durable right-hander was a big reason behind the success, going 13-9 with a 3.15 ERA in an American League-leading 228.2 innings. Shields told a small group of reporters at Bartle Hall that he was willing to discuss an extension, but he said those talks with general manager Dayton Moore have not taken place. "Id definitely be open-minded to it," Shields said. "A player in my position, where I have one more year left before free agency, I mean, Im definitely open to it. I like Kansas City. I like the organization and I like the direction were going." If Shields went to the open market, its unlikely that the Royals would be a player in the chase. There were reports this off-season that he would seek a contract similar to that of former Royals star Zack Greinke, who signed a $147 million, six-year deal with the Dodgers last season. "Thats absolutely not true at all," Shields said. "I have no clue where he got that from, to be honest with you. Ive had no discussions with Dayton at all. "If Dayton wants to talk about it, Im more than willing to sit and talk about it. But during the season, my main focus is trying to win games and get some wins for this team." Pitchers and catchers are due to report to Surprise, Ariz., for the start of spring training on Feb. 14. The first full-squad workout is Feb. 20. Most of the Royals key pieces return from last season, when they conntended into September for the first time in a decade. Adidas Nmd XR1 Schweiz. Their two biggest holes were filled by trading reliever Will Smith to Milwaukee for right field Norichika Aoki and signing Omar Infante to solidify second base. "I didnt think our defence could get any better," Shields said, "but theyre definitely filling some holes that we had. And theyre great additions to our lineup." Then theres the starting rotation, where Ervin Santana has become a free agent. While the right-hander has yet to sign elsewhere, the Royals appeared to move on when they signed left-hander Jason Vargas to a contract early in the off-season. Along with Jeremy Guthrie, the first three spots in the rotation are set. That leaves two up for grabs among a handful of candidates, including starters-turned-relievers Wade Davis and Luke Hochevar, veteran Bruce Chen, left-hander Danny Duffy and flame-thrower Yordano Ventura. "Ive just been working hard, resting my arm," said Ventura, who had a 3.52 ERA in three late-season starts in Kansas City. "Ive just been getting ready because I want to get out there and make the team." That doesnt figure to be an easy task given the glut of competition. "Its a competitive game anyway," Davis said. "Why not do it from within a little bit?" Davis said that he spent the off-season in the weight room, and pronounced himself more ready for this season than any previous year. He also said that hes already been throwing some bullpen sessions, giving him a head start on reporting for spring training. "Im definitely going in to start," said Davis, who began last season in the rotation but was demoted to the bullpen when he proved ineffective. "Hopefully I get that opportunity." ' ' '