The St. Louis Blues will have captain Alex Pietrangelo back manning their blue line Sunday, as the defenseman has been activated off injured reserve, the team announced.

Pietrangelo has not played since the team's crushing 6-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings. During his absence, the club has gone 2-2-0 and enters Sunday's contest after winning the first leg of a home-and-home with the Jets by a 2-0 count Saturday night.

The 27-year-old is tied for eighth in league scoring among defensemen with 23 points in 30 games.

Meanwhile, with a single point in Sunday's game the Blues can leap the idle Nashville Predators and claim top spot in the Central Division.

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Were there too many cooks in the kitchen prior to the Matt Duchene trade?

One thing is for certain, ever since Joe Sakic and the Colorado Avalanche pulled the trigger on a three-way deal that sent Duchene to the Ottawa Senators, Nathan MacKinnon has played the best hockey of his career.

Heck, he's played the best hockey of anyone in the league since the trade was made on Nov. 5. MacKinnon has put up 26 points in 19 games following the deal - two more than Connor McDavid for the most during that time frame. Meanwhile, only St. Louis Blues forward Brayden Schenn has scored more than MacKinnon's 12 goals (13).

The jump in production has been quite remarkable:

MacKinnon is averaging nearly three more minutes of ice time per game and is using his opportunity wisely, averaging nearly 1.5 more shots per game. He's scored nine more goals in the 19 games since the trade than he did in the 12 games prior.

He's well on his way to setting new career highs, and after last year's disastrous finish, he's given the Avalanche something positive to talk about.

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Were there too many cooks in the kitchen prior to the Matt Duchene trade?

One thing is for certain, ever since Joe Sakic and the Colorado Avalanche pulled the trigger on a three-way deal that sent Duchene to the Ottawa Senators, Nathan MacKinnon has played the best hockey of his career.

Heck, he's played the best hockey of anyone in the league since the trade was made on Nov. 5. MacKinnon has put up 26 points in 19 games following the deal - two more than Connor McDavid for the most during that time frame. Meanwhile, only St. Louis Blues forward Brayden Schenn has scored more than MacKinnon's 12 goals (13).

The jump in production has been quite remarkable:

MacKinnon is averaging nearly three more minutes of ice time per game and is using his opportunity wisely, averaging nearly 1.5 more shots per game. He's scored nine more goals in the 19 games since the trade than he did in the 12 games prior.

He's well on his way to setting new career highs, and after last year's disastrous finish, he's given the Avalanche something positive to talk about.

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Three from the captain.

Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog potted three goals versus the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, including a pair in the final frame.

It marks the second career hat trick for Landeskog, and the second in as many months, as he notched his first in November against the Washington Capitals.

Landeskog improved to 10 goals and nine assists in 27 games this season. His performance Saturday wasn't enough, however, as the Avalanche clawed back from a 4-0 deficit but ultimately lost 6-5.

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Carter Hutton has a spot in the record books.

The St. Louis Blues goaltender denied all 48 shots fired his way Saturday by the Winnipeg Jets, and in doing so notched a franchise record for the most saves in a shutout.

The mark was previously held by Chris Mason, who made 47 saves to blank the Nashville Predators in November 2008.

Saturday's performance improved Hutton's already impressive stat line this season. He now has a mind-boggling .949 save percentage and 1.63 goals-against average in nine appearances.

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The actual game wasn't exactly one for the ages, but that didn't stop the NHL 100 Classic between the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens from producing some memorable images.

Here are a few awesome pictures from Saturday's outdoor game:

Tomas Plekanec pondering pregame.

Craig Anderson stood tall to earn the 3-0 shutout.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman converse while taking in the action.

A pregame ritual is a pregame ritual, regardless of the setting.

Ice-mist shower courtesy of Max Pacioretty and Fredrik Claesson.

The players came prepared in head-to-toe winter gear, shown off here by Erik Karlsson.

Canadians: Always game for a little puck, regardless of the temperature.

Carey Price made 24 saves in a losing cause for the Canadiens.

A perk of watching hockey in minus-10 degree weather, your beer stays frosty all game long.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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Craig Anderson was unbeatable.

The Ottawa Senators netminder turned aside all 28 shots that came his way in Saturday's NHL 100 Classic against the Montreal Canadiens.

In doing so, Anderson became the fourth goaltender to record a shutout when the NHL has taken it outdoors, joining the likes of Miikka Kiprusoff, Jonas Hiller, and Cam Talbot.

It was a big victory for Anderson, who entered Saturday's contest with a 3.05 goals-against average and .897 save percentage.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Craig Anderson was unbeatable.

The Ottawa Senators netminder turned aside all 28 shots that came his way in Saturday's NHL 100 Classic against the Montreal Canadiens.

In doing so, Anderson became the fourth goaltender to record a shutout when the NHL has taken it outdoors, joining the likes of Miikka Kiprusoff, Jonas Hiller, and Cam Talbot.

It was a big victory for Anderson, who entered Saturday's contest with a 3.05 goals-against average and .897 save percentage.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.