Tarasenko coming up cold with Blues in need of points

With five straight playoff appearances in the past half-decade and one of the game's top scorers on their roster, it's tough to imagine the St. Louis Blues missing the postseason in 2017. But heading into the campaign's home stretch, the club finds itself on the outside looking in, with its marquee star posting nothing but goose eggs.

Vladimir Tarasenko, the Blues' unequivocal leading man, is due his fair share of the blame for a string of losses. While he's had a strong year overall, amassing 56 points through 63 games, the Russian star hasn't been doing much for his club lately.

Tarasenko posted his fourth straight pointless affair Friday night as St. Louis was shut out by the Winnipeg Jets, dropping its fifth straight game.

And that dry spell is notably out of character for the Russian star. His current four-game stretch ranks as the first time all season he's gone more than two games without a point.

It's certainly not ideal timing for the Blues, as the club sits just outside the Western Conference wild-card picture with 67 points to their name. The Calgary Flames and Los Angeles Kings remain above them with 72 and 68 points, respectively.

Winnipeg, fresh off stomping the Blues, now sits at 64 points - just a handful below St. Louis.

The Blues still have a fair shot at a postseason berth, as the four clubs below the Jets don't seem likely to put together miraculous late-season runs. But with the Flames on a tear and the Kings adding an interesting deadline piece in Jarome Iginla, St. Louis is on thin ice.

There's no question the team's in dire need of a win to right the ship, but it's unlikely that comes without their most dangerous weapon, Tarasenko, finding his form as soon as possible.