St. Louis Game Time

Avalanches @ Blues GDT

2010-03-16T23:00:35Z

Tom Gannam - AP

He puts the douche in Duchene. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

Thankfully tonight is the last game of the season against the young and surprising Colorado Avalanche. In case you haven't noticed, they've kicked the ass of the Blues every game this season so far. There was the 4-0 loss at home in early December. Then in early February the Blues lost at Colorado 5-2. Then last week the Avs absolutely throttled the Blues 7-3, also in Denver. I felt the game wasn't even that close in the third meeting. To save you from taking your socks off to count, that's a combined 16-5 score for the Avalanche. Horrible.

I'm going to write about one player and one player only for Colorado: Chris Stewart. You might remember he scored the hat trick last week with the third goal coming on a penalty shot. Don't remember that happening against the Blues before. He has six goals and four assists in the three games. Disgusting. That's 10 of his 55 points on the season thanks to St. Louis. Horrific. Last year during his rookie season, he only netted one goal and no assists in three games against the Blues. Now I rarely if ever put a real bounty on a player's head, but if Cam Janssen doesn't mind risking another suspension...well let's just say Chris should probably keep his head up tonight. Every second on the ice. Even during warmups.

The Blues need a win tonight against a team they have yet to beat this year. Sounds like the Blues have the Avalanche right where they want them. Holy jumpin' indeed.

This is the first home game for the Blues since Feb. 13. A lot of crap has happened since then. After that win against Washington, the Blues were just three points out of the last playoff spot after showing up Alex Ovechkin and his team here at the Drinkscotch Center. And Ovechkin wasn't even seen as an Olympic failure or a suspended cheap shot artist. Let's see, Lee Stempniak was a Leaf and irrelevant. Aaron Palushaj was still a member of the organization while Paul Kariya and Brad Boyes were on the trade block. And we all still had Corey Haim with us. You're probably as emotional about it as I am.

This is your passed on child star game day thread. Comment like you're Todd Bridges.

Any Updates On Project Mayhem

2010-03-16T22:57:58Z

Any Updates On Project Mayhem

Attention space monkeys who got the Game Times stickers from gallagher (click the link in the headline). We haven't gotten any pictures yet. This is your chance to become regionally famous on a niche sports Web site. Do it.

Tuesdays With Hildy: Retire Gracefully or Hang On 'Till the End?

2010-03-16T20:46:50Z

More photos » Tom Gannam - AP

Gaaah, old man smell! He smells like sardines and moth balls! What the hell is in your pressbox, anyway?

Browse more photos »

The recent return of Chris Chelios to the NHL, and the season ending injury to Doug Weight got me thinking - when's the appropriate time for a player to retire from the league? The answer they (and a lot of you) would say is "when they damn well feel like it." Others believe that when they finally hit the point where they can realize that their abilities are waning past the point of usefulness, well, they hang them up. Some guys hang around like a lingering flu, other guys are forced to retire, and others end their careers with a bad season and fade into the sunset of the KHL. Which is appropriate?

Chris Chelios, whose first hockey card was a daguerreotype, is 48 years old. Yes, by hockey standards, that is getting up there. I know that he has some absurd work-out regiment that keeps him in the condition of a man at least 15 years younger than he is. That's great, but realizing that you have to do this to keep up with the kids in the AHL, let alone the NHL, should be a red flag. If you are killing yourself daily just to be considered average (and that's really what he's been on the ice), perhaps it's not doing your career any favors. Do you want to be remembered for the Cups you've won and the All Star Games you've been to, or do you want to be remembered as that old dude who never retired even when he didn't contribute anything past "leadership" and "Cup experience" and "AARP discounts" and other intangibles like that?

Al MAcInnis and probably Doug Weight have had their careers cut short by injuries. Did Al have a few more years left? Maybe. Would any of you like to see him skating around on the ice, years past his prime, on the 3rd pairing or in the box? It's one thing for fans to remember a player in his prime, it's another thing for a player to wax all reflective and think he's still 25. Not saying Mac would do that (and I used him as an example because 99.999% of you - myself included - hate Chelios with a passion), but it's awkward to see. It's like your friend's mom. You know, the one who dresses like she's 25 because that's how she feels, yet all you see is sagging boobs, shellacked makeup, and just a sad old broad? That's Chris Chelios.

There are just some guys who need to know when to say when - the Blues only have one of those right now, and that's Darryl Sydor. It's hard to say goodbye to a game that you love so much, but there are other things you can do - management, coaching, running betting rings... there's growing old gracefully, and there's clinging to your youth. The latter's never attractive.

Poll

When do you think is an appropriate time to retire?

Pro fighting, anti-goon

2010-03-16T18:34:46Z

More photos » Jim Mone - AP

Are these guys really needed? (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

Browse more photos »

There are few things more exciting than a good hockey fight.

The crowd gets energized, the pace of the game picks up. Fights in hockey are awesome. People who say fighting needs to go away need to find another sports to watch. Fighting needs to stay, it’s the goons that need to go away.

Right now the Blues are paying two guys, D.J. King and Cam Janssen, to fill the same role: Chief pugilist. Kinger and Cam dress infrequently and rarely see the ice when they are dressed. The Blues’ version of the Bash Brothers is around to play about two shifts a period, hit anything that moves, and drop the gloves. They are the enforcer, the goon, or the tough guy. Or as I like to call them: dinosaurs.

Gone are the days of Rob Ray, Bob Probert, Tony Twist and Kelly Chase. In the post-lockout NHL, offense is the name of the game. With all the rule changes to increase scoring, teams can’t beat the other team to a win.

As the great American philosopher Sean "Jay-Z" Carter once said, "Men lie, women lie, numbers don’t." With that in mind, take a gander at the numbers. According to hockey-fights.com, the top-5 teams with the most fights this season are the Calgary Flames, Anaheim Ducks, Philadelphia Flyers, Tampa Bay Lightning and the Blues. Of those five teams, only one team (the Flyers) would be in the playoffs if the season ended today.

Look at the bottom five: Washington, Detroit, Nashville, Buffalo and the Islanders. Of those five teams, only the Islanders are currently out of the playoff race.

The Caps are the best team in the league, yet are last in fights. The pro-goon argument always brings up how teams need to protect their stars. No star outside of Sidney Crosby shines brighter than Alex Ovechkin, but the Caps don’t fight.

Again, fighting has a place in the game. If a team needs a spark, a building needs to be woken up or a teammate defended, by all means drop the mitts let ’em go. But to have a guy whose sole job it is to do that seems silly. B.J. Crombeen has 15 fights this year. Dude is not a goon, but he can fight. Why not dress a guy like him — a guy who can do things besides fight?

In the NHL, teams are only allowed to dress 18 skaters. Dressing a goon is like dressing 17.5. He’s only going to be on the ice for a few shifts and, if he’s lucky enough to have a dance partner, he’s going to be in the box for long stretches of time. Guys like King and Cam have more skill than your average rec-league player, but compared to the rest of the NHL, they’re limited. It’s obvious they aren’t trusted to play defense, otherwise they’d be on the ice in the third to protect a lead. The duo also isn’t going to strike fear in any goalie. They are simply one-trick ponies.

Cam and the Deej average about seven shifts per game, which is between four and four-and-a-half minutes of ice time. Not to keep going back to the top-5 well, but the top-5 teams in the NHL (Washington, San Jose, Chicago, Phoenix and Vancouver) regularly dress guys who play at least 10 shifts per game and at least six minutes a night. Take San Jose out of the equation, and the numbers go up to a low of seven minutes.

Every night the Blues dress King and Cam, they are down an extra penalty killer, and a stable fourth line. Someone else, usually T.J. Oshie or Jay McClement has to skate a double shift because they’re either in the box or on the bench. Why would a team put itself in this situation?

During the Olympics, Brian Burke talked about how he wanted his top-6 forwards to be scorers and his bottom-six to be grinders. Everyone on the top-lines played on the power play, everyone on the bottom two lines played the penalty kill. Now, David Backes as a fourth liner only happens every four years, but it’s an interesting concept. Why shouldn’t the Blues adapt a strategy of more multi-dimensional players?

Fighting is awesome. It’s exciting and it should absolutely stay in the game, but the enforcers of old are dinosaurs. If all a player can do is skate around and drop the gloves, he serves little value to team. Winning teams dress guys who can do more, not guys who can do less.

Tuesday links: Must stop Chris Stewart edition

2010-03-16T10:00:24Z

Blues news

Blues vs. Avs tonight. If Jay McClement isn't on Chris Stewart, the Blues are doomed. [Sporting News]
The Blues quest for a playoff spot won't be easy. Some may say it's impossible. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch]
It's been a while since the Blues have been at home. [St. Louis Globe-Democrat]
Pierre LeBrun posts his power rankings and doesn't have much faith in the Note (Thanks Ian with an iPhone). [ESPN]
Playoff chances: Not good. [Sports Club Stats]

Hockey news

Monday games: Detroit wins. [Yahoo! Sports]
Tuesday's games. Blues need: Blues over Avs, Philly over Nashville, San Jose over Dallas and Edmonton over Minnesota. [Yahoo! Sports]
What do the Blackhawks do without Brian Campbell? I'd say don't plan any parades, but that's just an idea. [Second City Hockey]
Drafting for a No. 1 goalie is not an exact science. [Silver Seven Sens]
The NHL doesn't know what the word justice means. [Mile High Hockey]
Alex Ovechkin will be off for two games. [TSN]
Mike Modano pulls a T.J. Oshie: He's out after an appendectomy. [TSN]
DirecTV and Versus are friends again. [ESPN]

Other links

The internet never ceases to amaze me. [That's What Bea Said]
Animals playing sports. I really don't need to say any more, you've already clicked. [Holy Taco]
A world without the internet would suck. Please read No. 2(the facebook login part) on the list — it's the funniest/saddest thing I've read in weeks. [Cracked]

Video

From NatetheGreat.

Come back later. gametimelinks(at)gmail.com

Monday links: Just can't wait to get back home again edition

2010-03-15T10:00:31Z

Blues haven't been at home since Feb. 13. Hey Brad and Sean, you guys still remember how to do the paper?

Blues news

Erik Johnson, David Backes and Yan's brother Paul Stastny will be honored before the Blues game on March 16. [Blues]
Blues lose to Wilds 4-2. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch]
Cam Janssen is a quote machine: "Kinger caught him with a good one and now Boogaard is rearranging his face tonight ... that's what he gets for not having any respect." [St. Louis Post-Dispatch]
Playoff chances. Don't look if you like being happy. [Sports Club Stats]

Hockey news

Monday standings: Blues are five points out with 14 games left. [NHL.com]
Sunday games. [Yahoo! Sports]
Monday games: Detroit and Calgary is bad for the Blues either way. [Yahoo! Sports]
From Cross Check Raise: AHL teams and their distance from their parent club. [Sporcle]
Alex Ovechkin once again crosses the line between playing hard and playing dirty. [Puck Daddy]
Brian Campbell is going to be out a while after being taken out by Ovechkin. [Hockey Wires]
All hail Dutchie. Lee Stempniak is hotter than Phoenix in the summer. [ESPN]

Other links

I don't know a 22-year-old who wouldn't do this. Watching an old person who sleeps sure is easier than watching a kid. [E-mails from an Asshole]
This guy seriously wants $25 for an old-school Game Boy? Well ... when you put it like that, I can see why. [Craig's List]
In case you wanted to know: [How Grenades Work]

Video

The Lonely Island is the best.

Dayum, Kinger opened The Boogeyman up like a can of tuner.

2010-03-15T01:35:40Z

Dayum, Kinger opened The Boogeyman up like a can of tuner.

Blues @ Wilds GDT

2010-03-14T21:12:01Z

Jim Mone - AP

And I didn't even need to bank it in off my damn face! Sweet! (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

View full size photo »

The Blues are playing less than 24 hours since their last game in Columbus, a 5-1 victory last night. After the game they'll be flying home. So here's to hoping they don't have dreams of their own luxurious beds instead of those hard, creaky uncomfortable four-star hotel beds they've been crashing in for the past few days on the road.

Word from the Fox Sports Midwest Twitter feed is that Keith Tkachuk will be back in the lineup for the first time since pinkie surgery during the Olympic break last month. Cam Janssen is also available to return to action after his five-game suspension ran its course last night. So some familiar faces might be injecting a little life into the roster. Or either one could be rusty and not really ready to play.

With Detroit off tonight, the Blues could pick up two points and close the gap to three games. Or not. Who knows.

What I do know is that the Wild are a team the Blues have beaten and should beat. St. Louis has a little momentum, all the motivation they could need with this playoff chase and the added incentive that the flight home to St. Louis could be really fun if they don't shit the bed.

There are a few Sunday games left on the season, this being the first of them. Hopefully you're rested, sobered up, un-hungover. Whatever. There's the unveiling of that basketball tournament going on soon too, but the Blues are fighting for their playoff survival. Keep your priorites in place, people.

This is your game day thread. You don't shit the bed either.

03/14 Road Music: @ Minnesota Nor.... Wild

2010-03-14T17:51:08Z

Just for the record, back-to-back road games suck. After an important win in Columbus, we're now off to the woods of Minnesota to play the Wild. They are currently 3 points behind us in 12th place. As bad as we need these points, the Wild need them even more. We have GOT to keep these bastards down while we can. It's funny how, an opponent that we normally couldn't give a rat's ass about, NOW becomes a crucial match up. The playoff stretch run...it's a

Wild, Wild Life / Wailing Souls

We might be catching a break, again, with the enemy lineup. The usual Wild starting goaltender, Niklas Backstrom, is questionable with a groin injury. His back-up, Josh Harding, is very capable, though. He is no pushover. The rest of the team will be trying to get back on a winning track - they are 4-4-2 in their last 10 games, and just broke a losing streak by winning in Buffalo in their previous game.

Blues Prospects "Trending Up" for the week ending Mar. 14, 2010

2010-03-14T16:00:28Z

Compiled by Brian Weidler, "Game Time" Prospect Department

"Game Time" PROSPECT SUNDAYS.

This has been a week in the Blues' system where the forward prospects took center stage.

All of this week's upward trenders were forwards, with contributions ranging from Lars Eller's three goals in the week to Jori Lehtera's half-dozen assists.

Receiving honorable mention this week is -- who else -- goaltender Jake Allen, who is no longer just "trending" upward, but seems on a steady climb towards becoming the elite "home-grown" goaltnder Blues' fans have been craving since Curtis Joseph. Allen played only 72 minutes this past week, allowing just a single goal in a 9-1 thumping of Val-d'Or on Friday for an 0.83 GAA. Allen also stopped 16 of 17 shots against in limited playing time for a 94.1% save percentage.

See the Game Time Fab Five for this week, after the jump...

Nick DRAZENOVIC	Lars ELLER	Jori LEHTERA	Pascal PELLETIER	Tyler SHATTOCK

** 4 games played this week	** 4 games played this week	** 3 games played this week	** 4 games played this week	** 3 games played this week
** 2 G, 2 A, plus-1	** 3 G, 2 A, plus-4	** 0 G, 6 A, plus-1	** 2 G, 5 A, plus-2	** 2 G, 2 A, plus-1
** 5 PM, 1 PP, 1 SH, 1 GW	** 6 PM, 0 PP, 0 SH, 0 GW	** 2 PM, 0 PP, 0 SH, 0 GW	** 2 PM, 2 PP, 0 SH, 0 GW	** 2 PM, 2 PP, 0 SH, 0 GW

Forward Prospect Statistics as of Mar. 14, 2010

2010-03-14T15:00:38Z

Compiled by Brian Weidler, "Game Time" Prospect Department

St. Louis Game Time PROSPECT SUNDAYS

No less than eight forward prospects in the Blues' system -- even including tough guy Anthony Peluso -- were point-per-game producers or better in the past week.

Leading the way in points scored this week was veteran Pascal Pelletier in Peoria. The Labrador City, NF native scored twice on the power play and added five assists during four games played this week for a strong seven-point showing. Teammates Lars Eller (3-2-5, plus-4), Nick Drazenovic (2-2-4, plus 1, 1 PP, 1 SH, 1 GW), and Brett Sonne (1-3-4, 5 PM, 1 PPG) also had solid weeks for the Rivermen.

Across the pond, Finnish sensation Jori Lehtera continues to tear up the SM-Liiga, tallying six assists in three games over the last seven days. Lehtera has led the Finnish Elite League in scoring virtually since Day One of the current season, and speculation is that rather than come across at the end of Tappara's season as he did last year, Lehtera will instead be offered a position on Finland's World Championship entry.

Out in the wild, wild West, teammates Tyler Shattock and Ian Schultz of the Calgary Hitmen combined for seven points in three games during the last week. Both of Shattock's goals, and one of Schultz's, were power-play scores, and Schultz also chipped in the game-winning goal -- with an assist from Shattock -- in a 4-1 road win over the Edmonton Oil Kings on Mar. 10.

The Hitmen play their last game of the regular season this afternoon vs. Red Deer, and will open the WHL playoffs on Mar. 18 as the top seed in the WHL's Eastern Conference, against either Moose Jaw or Swift Current.

Finally, a little farther west and a lot farther north, rookie enforcer Anthony Peluso got his name on the scoresheet by using his hands for more than battering rams this week. In three games for the Alaska Aces (ECHL), Peluso tallied a pair of goals (including one on the power play) and an assist for three points. Peluso's power-play score came in the second period of a 5-4 shootout loss at home vs. the Ontario (CA) Reign.

Your Game Time weekly prospect statistics update after the jump...

ST. LOUIS BLUES 2009-10 PROSPECT STATS as of 14 March 2010 -- FORWARDS

Lines with GREY backgrounds denote players above "prospect age" of 25 years.

Lines with BLUE backgrounds indicate statistics for players in the NHL at any point in the 2009-10 season.

Acq'd	Player	Ps/Sh	Ht	Wt	Birthdate	Birthplace	2009-10 Club/Lea	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM	PP	SH	GW
3 (78) '09	ANDRONOV, Sergei	RW/L	6-00	183	07-19-89	Moscow, RUS	Lada Togliatti (KHL)	34	5	8	13	- 5	20	1	0	2
							CSKA Moscow (KHL)	18	5	4	9	+ 2	6	2	0	1
							*KHL Totals*	52	10	12	22	- 3	26	3	0	3
Trade '07	BARRIBALL, Jay	C/L	5-09	165	05-27-87	Prior Lake, MN	Minnesota (WCHA)	5	2	2	4	+ 3	10	0	0	0
F/A '09	CRACKNELL, Adam	RW/R	6-03	215	07-15-85	Prince Albert, SK	Peoria (AHL)	66	11	18	29	- 3	38	1	2	2
6 (171) '05	DRAZENOVIC, Nick	C/L	6-01	200	01-14-87	Prince George, BC	Peoria (AHL)	54	18	19	37	- 6	40	9	1	1
1 (13) '07	ELLER, Lars	F/L	6-00	198	05-08-89	Rodovre, DMK	St. Louis (NHL)	5	1	0	1	+ 1	4	1	0	0
							Peoria (AHL)	58	14	32	46	- 1	62	3	0	2
4 (100) '07	ERSTAD, Travis	F/R	6-04	185	11-09-88	Madison, WI	WI-Stevens Pt (NCHA)	23	5	10	15	...	61	2	0	2
2 (39) '07	HJALMARSSON, Simon	RW/R	5-11	170	02-01-89	Varnamo, SWE	Rögle BK (SEL)	53	11	9	20	- 7	16	3	0	1
Trade '10	LABRIE, Pierre-Cedric	LW/R	6-02	212	12-06-86	Baie-Comeau, QC	Manitoba (AHL)	45	5	1	6	-13	69	0	0	2
							Peoria (AHL)	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
							*AHL Totals*	49	5	1	6	-15	71	0	0	2
3 (65) '08	LEHTERA, Jori	C/L	6-02	191	12-23-87	Helsinki, FIN	Tappara (SML)	54	19	46	65	+ 5	56	8	1	1
3 (70) '08	LIVINGSTON, James	RW/R	6-02	213	03-08-90	Halifax, NS	Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)	36	14	12	26	+12	47	6	0	3
							Plymouth (OHL)	23	3	6	9	+ 3	58	0	0	0
							*OHL Totals*	59	17	18	35	+15	104	6	0	3
8 (154) '06	McCOLLEM, Matt	LW/L	6-00	190	05-06-88	Somerville, MA	Harvard (ECAC)	8	1	1	2	+ 1	0	0	0	0
2 (33) '08	McRAE, Philip	C/L	6-03	191	03-15-90	Apple Valley, MN	London (OHL)	33	11	26	37	+ 4	43	4	1	4
							Plymouth (OHL)	19	5	9	14	- 1	21	1	0	1
							*OHL Totals*	52	16	35	51	+ 3	64	5	1	5
							USA (U20 WJ)	6	1	4	5	0	2	1	0	0
6 (155) '08	NIGRO, Anthony	C/L	6-00	189	01-11-90	Woodbridge, ON	Ottawa (OHL)	60	16	45	61	+13	47	6	0	2
7 (190) '07	NILL, Trevor	C/R	6-01	180	04-11-89	Detroit, MI	Michigan State (CCHA)	26	2	7	9	+ 6	12	0	0	0
Trade '09	PELLETIER, Pascal	RW/L	5-11	197	06-16-83	Labrador City, NL	Syracuse (AHL)	25	3	13	16	- 7	23	1	0	0
							Peoria (AHL)	41	10	20	30	+ 2	23	4	0	3
							*AHL Totals*	66	13	33	46	- 5	46	5	0	3
6 (160) '07	PELUSO, Anthony	RW/R	6-04	235	04-18-89	King City, ON	Peoria (AHL)	22	1	1	2	- 2	57	0	0	0
							Alaska (ECHL)	19	3	5	8	+ 3	42	1	0	0
F/A '07	PORTER, Chris	LW/L	6-01	205	05-29-84	Thunder Bay, ON	Peoria (AHL)	66	11	13	24	- 6	43	0	1	3
5 (156) '05	REAVES, Ryan	RW/R	6-02	200	01-20-87	Winnipeg, MB	Peoria (AHL)	62	3	6	9	-14	147	0	0	0
5 (124) '06	SACKRISON, Andrew	F/L	6-01	200	11-12-87	St. Louis Park, MN	Minn. State (WCHA)	21	3	2	5	- 3	4	0	0	0
4 (87) '08	SCHULTZ, Ian	RW/R	6-02	200	02-04-90	Calgary, AB	Calgary (WHL)	69	24	30	54	+ 6	145	10	2	3
4 (108) '09	SHATTOCK, Tyler	RW/R	6-03	190	02-03-90	Salmon Arm, BC	Kamloops (WHL)	42	22	28	50	- 1	65	8	0	5
							Calgary (WHL)	29	8	19	27	+ 4	22	5	2	1
							*WHL Totals*	71	30	47	77	+ 3	87	13	2	6
3 (85) '07	SONNE, Brett	C/L	6-00	187	05-16-89	Maple Ridge, BC	Peoria (AHL)	63	10	9	19	-10	29	5	0	1
F/A '07	TALBOT, Julian	C/L	6-00	185	03-24-85	Wahnapitae, ON	Peoria (AHL)	62	15	12	27	- 5	32	9	0	2
7 (202) '09	TARDY, Max	C/R	6-00	188	10-27-90	Duluth, MN	Tri-City (USHL)	45	11	22	33	- 8	28	8	0	2

Defense/Goaltending Prospect Statistics as of Mar. 14, 2010

2010-03-14T14:46:18Z

Compiled by Brian Weidler, "Game Time" Prospect Department

St. Louis Game Time PROSPECT SUNDAYS

C-minus 7 days and counting...

A week has passed since Notre Dame and 2007 first-round pick Ian Cole ended their 2009-10 season with a disappointing loss at Ohio State, and still there is no official word as to whether or not Cole will opt to leave school early and turn pro.

Peoria GM Kevin McDonald confirmed in the Peoria Journal-Star last week that the Blues have been talking to Cole, and that he is the only prospect that the Blues would be likely to bring to Peoria at this time.

Elsewhere in the system, Swedish blueline prospect Kristofer Berglund recorded a goal and an assist, and a plus-2 mark as well, in three games played last week for Luleå HF of the Elitserien, and 2008 first-round pick Alex Pietrangelo continues to dominate at the major junior level. Pietrangelo picked up a pair of goals this week -- including one on the power play -- and three points while racking up four minutes in penalty time and a plus-3 mark in three games for Barrie of the OHL.

College defenseman Cade Fairchild led the way for Blues' defense prospects this week with three assists in three games, but was a total minus-4 in those games as Minnesota ended their regular season with a 6-1 victory over Wisconsin before splitting the first two games of thr WCHA playoffs with rival North Dakota.

Your Game Time weekly prospect statistics update after the jump...

ST. LOUIS BLUES 2009-10 PROSPECT STATS as of 07 March 2010 -- DEFENSEMEN/GOALTENDERS

Lines with GREY backgrounds denote players above "prospect age" of 25 years.

Lines with BLUE backgrounds indicate statistics for players in the NHL at any point in the 2009-10 season.

Acq'd	Player	Ps/Sh	Ht	Wt	Birthdate	Birthplace	2009-10 Club/League	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM	PP	SH	GW
5 (125) '08	BERGLUND, Kristofer	D/L	5-10	180	11-09-88	Umea, SWE	Luleå HF (SEL)	55	6	16	22	+ 1	22	1	0	0
Trade '10	BOYLE, Darryl	D/R	6-01	200	02-24-87	Sparwood, BC	Rockford (AHL)	52	4	16	20	- 3	29	1	0	0
							Peoria (AHL)	4	0	0	0	+ 2	2	0	0	0
							*AHL Totals*	58	4	16	20	- 1	31	1	0	0
1 (18) '07	COLE, Ian	D/L	6-01	211	01-18-89	Ann Arbor, MI	Notre Dame (CCHA)	30	3	16	19	-16	55	1	0	1
F/A '08	CUNDARI, Mark	D/L	5-10	200	04-23-90	Toronto, ON	Windsor (OHL)	63	8	46	54	+45	139	3	0	2
4 (96) '07	FAIRCHILD, Cade	D/L	5-10	190	01-15-89	Duluth, MN	Minnesota (WCHA)	38	4	17	21	- 5	32	1	0	0
Trade '08	FAST, T.J.	D/L	6-01	190	09-02-87	Calgary, AB	Peoria (AHL)	10	0	1	1	- 3	4	0	0	0
							Alaska (ECHL)	42	9	21	30	-15	26	3	0	2
Trade '09	GUENIN, Nate	D/R	6-02	210	12-10-82	Sewickley, PA	W-B/Scranton (AHL)	41	3	2	5	- 3	63	0	0	0
							Peoria (AHL)	13	0	3	3	+ 9	10	0	0	0
							*AHL Totals*	54	3	5	8	+ 6	73	0	0	0
7 (184) '06	HELLSTRÖM, Alex	D/R	6-02	207	04-17-87	Falun, SWE	Luleå HF (SEL)	45	1	1	2	-11	99	0	0	0
3 (64) '06	JUNLAND, Jonas	D/L	6-02	200	11-15-87	Linköping, SWE	St. Louis (NHL)	1	0	0	0	0	- 2	0	0	0
							Peoria (AHL)	64	13	26	39	+ 8	42	10	0	1
1 (4) '08	PIETRANGELO, Alex	D/R	6-03	206	01-18-90	King City, ON	St. Louis (NHL)	9	1	1	2	- 9	6	0	0	0
							Barrie (OHL)	25	9	20	29	+20	27	4	1	0
							Canada (U20 WJ)	6	3	9	12	+ 9	14	1	1	0
4 (48) '09	PONICH, Brett	D/L	6-06	205	02-22-91	Edmonton, AB	Portland (WHL)	66	1	13	14	- 3	87	0	0	0
1 (17) '09	RUNDBLAD, David	D/R	6-02	190	10-08-90	Lycksele, SWE	Skellefteå AIK (SEL)	47	1	12	13	+ 4	14	0	0	1
							Sweden (U20 WJ)	6	1	4	5	+ 9	2	1	0	0
6 (168) '09	SHIELDS, David	D/R	6-03	216	01-27-91	Rochester, NY	Erie (OHL)	68	7	12	19	+10	42	6	0	0
F/A '08	STRACHAN, Tyson	D/R	6-03	225	10-20-84	Melfort, SK	St. Louis (NHL)	6	0	2	2	+ 3	4	0	0	0
							Peoria (AHL)	52	2	19	21	0	69	1	0	1
4 (94) '06	TUREK, Ryan	D/R	6-00	185	09-22-87	Southfield, MI	Alaska (ECHL)	51	2	7	9	- 4	75	0	0	1
4 (95) '08	WARSOFSKY, David	D/L	5-08	170	05-30-90	Weymouth, MA	Boston Univ (HEA)	31	12	11	23	+ 5	42	3	4	1
							USA (U20 WJ)	7	0	2	2	+ 5	6	0	0	0

Acq'd	Player	Ps/Ct	Ht	Wt	Birthdate	Birthplace	2009-10 Club/League	GP	Mins	GA	SO	GAA	W-L-OT	Shts	Sv %
2 (34) '08	ALLEN, Jake	G/L	6-02	175	08-07-90	Fredericton, NB	Montreal (QMJHL)	23	1241	55	1	2.66	11-11-0	624	0.912
							Drummondville (QMJHL)	21	1211	37	2	1.83	17-3-0	535	0.931
							*QMJHL Totals*	44	2452	92	3	2.25	28-14-0	1154	0.921
							Canada (U20 WJ)	5	291	10	2	2.06	3-0-0	102	0.902
4 (106) '06	BERRA, Reto	G/L	6-04	189	01-03-87	Bulach, SUI	EHC Biel (NL-A)	8	...	...	..	3.30	......	...	...
3 (85) '05	BISHOP, Ben	G/L	6-05	205	11-21-86	Denver, CO	Peoria (AHL)	39	2272	108	0	2.85	18-16-3	1070	0.899
Trade '10	FALLON, Joe	G/L	6-03	210	02-01-05	Bemidji, MN	Rockford (AHL)	29	1545	68	1	2.64	15-10-1	770	0.912
							Peoria (AHL)	4	210	10	0	2.86	2-2-0	109	0.908
							*AHL Totals*	33	1755	78	1	2.67	17-12-1	879	0.911
7 (185) '08	KARPOWICH, Paul	G/L	6-03	185	10-25-88	Thunder Bay, ON	Clarkson (ECAC)	31	1744	101	0	3.48	8-19-4	991	0.898

Blues' NCAA Prospect Update: Playoff Edition

2010-03-14T13:00:25Z

It's that time of the year again... when the snow begins to melt, the buds start to appear on the trees, and the various college conferences are starting their own internal playoffs while counting down to the Frozen Four.

Several Blues' prospects are involved in college playoffs this season, at every position and in each of the four major conferences -- the CCHA, ECAC, Hockey East, and WCHA. Four of those prospects, however, have already seen their schools eliminated from playoff competition.

Notre Dame and 2007 first-round pick (18th overall) Ian Cole saw a disappointing 2009-10 season come to an unhappy conclusion last weekend, as the Fighting Irish were swept by Ohio State in 3-1 and 8-2 decisions.

The losses meant that Notre Dame, which was a game over .500 in late January, limped down the stretch with a 2-7-1 record and were outscored 41-21 in their last ten games. Cole, for his part, missed eight games in mid-season due to concussion issues, and finished the season a disappointing minus-16.

The early end to Cole's season has fueled talk of him leaving Notre Dame and turning pro, as reported by Peoria Rivermen beat writer Dave Eminian in the Peoria Journal-Star. With Peoria fighting for their playoff lives, Cole's size and skill on the blueline would be of enormous help to them down the stretch.

In the ECAC, the Clarkson Golden Knights and goalie prospect Paul Karpowich were eliminated by St. Lawrence in a three-game series last weekend, as reported here at Game Time.

After suffering an 11-2 blowout at the hands of Union College (featuring 2009 Orientation Camp attendee Keith Kinkaid in goal) on Feb. 5, Karpowich picked up the Golden Knights and carried them on his back into the ECAC playoffs. Clarkson managed just a 4-5-1 record in their last ten games, but outscored their opponents 28-27 in that span, with Karpowich playing every minute in the net.

In Clarkson's last ten games, Karpowich played 623:46, and allowed 27 goals on 346 shots for a 2.60 GAA and a 92.2% save percentage down the stretch.

After the jump, get caught up with the other two prospects who have seen the 2009-10 season come to an end this weekend, as well as the three who are down to a winner-take-all game this evening.

Going from upstate New York to the Land of 10,000 Lakes, the Blues have a pair of prospects enrolled at the University of Minnesota, but only one is playing for a berth in the WCHA Final Five.

Senior center Jay Barriball has been out since Nov. 3 with a knee injury suffered in practice. He has undergone successful surgery on the injured knee, and is rehabilitating it now, but there has as yet been no official word as to whether Barriball would seek a medical redshirt and replay his senior season with the Gophers, or whether he will turn pro and sign with Peoria when Minnesota's season is done. There is little left for Barriball to prove at the NCAA level, and his feisty play and puckhandling abilities should translate well to the AHL level, where the Rivermen are engaged in a nifty playoff race at the moment.

The Prior Lake, Minnesota native came to the Blues in the Bill Guerin trade with San Jose at the trade deadline in 2007, and has been one of Minnesota's premier offensive threats in his three full seasons with the maroon and gold. His 39 goals and 102 points in 124 career games outstrips all other Minnesota seniors in scoring despite missing almost the entire 2009-10 season.

On the ice, the Gophers are knotted up with arch-rival North Dakota at a game apiece in the first round of the WCHA playoffs, and offense-minded Cade Fairchild has a ten-point lead over his fellow blueliners for the scoring lead among UM defensemen with four goals and 17 assists for 21 points.

On Friday night, the Gophers were trounced 6-0 by North Dakota at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, but came back with a vengeance on Saturday to take a 4-2 decision from the Fighting Sioux. Fairchild contributed on the scoresheet with an assist on junior forward Mike Hoffel's 13th goal of the season at 17:20 of the first period, but finished the game a minus-2. In the series, Fairchild is a total minus-4, dropping his season total in that category to a minus-5.

Check out Friday's box score here, courtesy of collegehockeystats.net, and Saturday's box score here, courtesy of the official WCHA website (wcha.com).

Shifting our focus to New England, the Harvard Crimson and sturdy winger Matthew McCollem have been eliminated from the ECAC playoffs by the Cornell Big Red.

McCollem. who missed almost all of the 2009-10 season due to injuries and recovery time, was held scoreless in the two-game ECAC Quarterfinal series as Cornell netminder Ben Scrivens (an unrestricted free agent rumored to be on the radar of several NHL clubs) slammed the door on the men from Cambridge.

Harvard managed only a single goal in the two games, a power-play tally by junior forward and economics major Pier-Olivier Michaud in game one.

Cornell took both games from Harvard on the storied ice of Lynah Rink in Ithaca, NY, winning Friday night's tilt by a 5-1 score, and shutting out the Crimson 3-0 on Saturday.

The links to box scores for Friday night's game, as well as Saturday's game, are presented courtesy of the official Harvard University website (gocrimson.com).

Returning again to the upper Midwest, a classic in-state rivalry did not end well for Trevor Nill and the Michigan State Spartans.

Nill, the son of ex-Blue and current Detroit assistant GM Jim Nill was held off the scoresheet in both games as the Michigan Wolverines -- led by another ex-Blue, Gordon "Red" Berenson -- swept the Spartans out of the CCHA playoffs by scores of 5-1 on Froday and 5-3 on Saturday.

Adding to the indignity for Michigan State is the fact that the sweep took place on their own campus at Munn Ice Arena, where the Spartans had been a glittering 11-3-4 before the start of the playoffs.

The links to the official scoresheets for Friday night's game, as well as Saturday's game, are presented courtesy of the official CCHA website (ccha.com).

Returning to the WCHA, the alma mater of the unforgettable David "Chuck Norris" Backes, and the already-forgotten "Dancin' Stevie" Wagner, is down to an all-or-nothing Game Three tonight.

The Minnesota State (Mankato) Mavericks came from behind on Friday to knock off St. Cloud State on their home rink by a 5-4 score, with Blues' prospect Andrew Sackrison chipping in his third goal of an injury-shortened season to help lead the comeback.

On Saturday night, the Huskies turned the tables on MSU. Skating again at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Sackrison and the Mavericks dropped a 3-2 decision to SCSU, with LA Kings' draftee Garret Roe scoring twice in 20 seconds midway through the third period to ice the game.

The deciding Game Three will be played tonight, Mar. 14 at the National Hockey Center. The puck drops at 7:07 PM Central Daylight Time.

Here's a link to the box score from Friday night's game, at MSUMavericks.com, and to Saturday's box score, courtesy of collegehockeystats.net.

And finally, out East, last year's NCAA champions will have to avoid making history if they are to defeat a tougher-than-expected foe and move on to the next round of the ECAC playoffs.

Defense prospect David Warsofsky started a comeback of his own on Friday night, breaking up a play and getting a fortunate bounce to move in alone on Merrimack goalie Joe Cannata and light the lamp.

That goal put BU on the board, and the Terriers went on to defeat the Warriors by a 3-2 score. Warsofsky also assisted on Vinny Saponari's game-tying goal at 12:05 of the second period, and was also a plus-1 on the night.

Saturday night, it was Merrimack's turn for heroics. Freshmen Stephane Da Costa and Brandon Brodhag tallied for the Warriors in regulation, and junior forward Joe Cucci tallied his 8th goals of the season at 2:16 of overtime to seal the win for Merrimack.

The loss was the first time BU had come up on the short end of an overtime decision since Nov. 20, 2007 against Harvard. The Terriers must now win Sunday's deciding game, scheduled for a 7:00 PM EDT start, in order to move on; in BU's favor is the fact that they have never in program history lost consecutive games to Merrimack, and that the Warriors have just one win -- Saturday's -- in their last 11 games at Agganis Arena.

Hockey East Game Highlights: Boston University 3, Merrimack 2 (03/12/2010) (via hockeyeastonline). Warsofsky breaks up the rush and goes the other way on a two-on-none for a goal at 1:30 of this video.

Here's the link to the box score of Friday night's game at the BU website (GoTerriers.com)...

...a link to Saturday's box score, again from the official BU website...

...and here's a link to a nice article on Warsofsky by the Boston Globe, published just before the annual Beanpot Tournament at the beginning of February (Boston.com).

Sunday Links: Cam Janssen finally rolls doubles edition

2010-03-14T11:00:29Z

We've had a lot of obscure references since I've been a part of Game Time but this might be the first ever Monopoly reference.

Welcome back to the lineup, Cam. Or welcome back to the press box, Cam.

Actually, just enjoy getting the paycheck again, Cam.

Blues News:

Blues put it to Columbus 5-1.
Sign Steen! He's starting to get his own feature columns!
Blues are in Minnesota this evening, where it is legal to start games at 5PM.
Pleau has his say on the headshot rule changes.

NHL News:

Doug Weight is done for the year. Will that be it for his career? We'll find out in the offseason.
Another former Blues player making headlines: Lee Stempniak with a multi-goal game for PHX. Toronto must be piiiiiiiiissed.
And just because it helped beat Chicago, let's all read about a last second goal by Chris Pronger for the Flyers.
Scores. We didn't get much help with that Detroit win.
Standings. Right now, we're 5 points out. At least we can count the deficit on one hand now!
Schedule. Root for LA over Nashville, Vancouver over Calgary, and for no overtime in the Colorado/Dallas contest. Detroit has the day off.

Other Stuff:

The internet, grammar, and wordplay.
Odd library collections.
Number gossip. For the numerical nerd in...probably no more than 6 of us.

Video:

Happy Pi Day!

Mmmmm, pie

Stay tuned for Prospect Sunday. And don't even act like you're not coming back for the GDT.

Also, send Averagejoe anything that's informative or funny at gametimelinks(at)gmail.com

Blues at Blues' Jackets; Whoop That Coat!

2010-03-13T23:30:19Z

Jim Mone - AP

Confidence inspiring he is not. The Blue Jackets' Steve "The Inferior" Mason.

View full size photo »

Tonight is not a classic trap game. A classic trap game would be if the Blues were playing team they should easily beat tonight and a hated rival tomorrow.

Instead, the Blues are playing a team they should beat toninght and some other team we barely care about tomorrow too. But the Jackets do look like a trap-like game anyway. They are banged-up, missing their top scorer in Rick Nash, have a troubled young goalie like Steve Mason as their starter and are currently riding a six-game losing streak.

On the other hand, the streaking Blues got lucky to beat the terrible (or, as Charles Barkley would say, 'turrrrrible') Islanders on Thursday and will need to play the Jackets tonight like they're still a good team, regardless of whether that's true or not.

(It's not.)

But the Jackets are not without... whatever metaphor would be menacing for an article of clothing (nasty seams? angry frays? left-in stay pins?... what a stupid nickname). They have, after all, beaten the Blues in three of the four meetings this year and have been good at home, going 16-10-7 at Nationwide Arena And Sole Non-Ohio State Venue In Columbus. If the Blues' home record was that solid they'd have 10 more points to their total and would be in the seventh seed in the West with a chance to kove into sixth.

Sigh.

In What To Watch notes, T.J. Oshie still has a perm, Patrik Berglund has been playing like he wants to reclaim his TechnoViking moniker, Matt D'Agositini has yet to inspire a rush on his jerseys at the pro shop and Chris Mason seems to finally be harnessing some of the power of the beard. Also, Cam Janssen, your suspension... continues.

Let's avoid the trap game boys. And you, the GT faithful, well you know what's up. Do this shit.

The Fuck You Doin? Caption Time. Via Rutherford's blog (and his photo).

2010-03-13T20:14:50Z

The Fuck You Doin? Caption Time.
Via Rutherford's blog (and his photo).

03/13 Road Music: @ Columbus Blue Jackets

2010-03-13T17:35:36Z

During the best of times, the Columbus team is a hard one to write about. With Nash out of the line up ... damn near impossible. Seriously ... I scrolled through my mp3s, looking for a song that fit the bill. As it worked out, it was in alphabetical order by artist. I finally found it when I got down to ... ZZ Top.

So, now that the Blue Jackets are out of playoff contention, they are ready to start playing the role of spoiler for other teams. Despite Rick Nash's absence, they have won two in a row, and are 5-3-2 in the last ten games. This is a game that the Blues should win - a weaker opponent, even more so without their franchise player. This is exactly that the Blues can NOT be thinking. Overlook these guys, and it'll bite you on the ass, every time. There's still talent on this team. Our guys can not let up at all - they need to take advantage of the situation, and bear down on them all the more. Run up the goals, if you can... make that rink completely ours. When we meet again (04/05 in St Louis), I want them to remember how we OWNED Nationwide Arena back on 03/13.

Well I was movin' down the road in my V-8 Ford
I had a shine on my boots, I had my sideburns lowered
With my New York WIN and my gold tooth displayed
Nobody give me trouble 'cause they know I got it made

(slightly edited)

I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide / ZZ Top

What I'm basically wanting to tell the Blues is this:

I don't want you to be the guy in the PG-13 movie everyone's *really* hoping makes it happen. I want you to be like the guy in the rated R movie, you know, the guy you're not sure whether or not you like yet. You're not sure where he's coming from. Okay? You're a bad man. You're a bad man, Mikey. You're a bad man, bad man.

Top 11 Reasons Why I Was Asked Aboard At St. Louis Game Time

2010-03-13T14:45:10Z

11. Viva El Birdos staff thought I said the word "fuck" too much . . . Game Timers: impressed

10. There can never be enough pasty white people on a writing staff

9. Site needs more 1990's music references

8. Leaders of the site and staff figured I needed something to do on the six nights I'm not bowling

7. Apparently one Macoupin County native wasn't enough

6. Staff needed one more person whose job was boring enough to waste time here

5. The new guy always brings the donuts to staff meetings . . . hey, WAIT JUST ONE DAMN MINUTE!

4. More sentences involving terms such as "Douchetastic Fuckweasel" and "Assburger Shithead" were needed in actual articles rather than in a mess of Game Day Threads

3. Staff needed someone who dislikes the Blackhawks more than they dislike the Red Wings . . . you know, to balance things out

2. Two words: Blackmail. Photos.

1. Well, obviously SOMEONE was drunk . . . .

Saturday Links: The times they are a-changin' edition

2010-03-13T12:00:30Z

Don't forget to set your clocks forward before bed tonight.

And now your final links for Central Standard Time.

Blues News:

Blues face off at 6 PM against the Nash-less (Upper body injury) Jackets tonight. JR's twitter ought to have the latest on Polak's status for tonight.
Maybe the Blues will do this "late-season playoff push" thing three years in a row.
Rutherford got Mr. Cranial Spider Meeting to pose.

NHL News:

The Crosby Golden Roar photoshop contest has reached the finals. Several laughs to be had over at Puck Daddy.
TSN makes an attempt to quantify intangibles and illustrate the three best players on each team completely independent of "back of the card" stats. Jay has to be a close 4th to the three listed.
Friday's results. LA beats Dallas but gives them a charity point in the process, Minnesota gets by Buffalo, and Nashville takes care of Anaheim in the games that affect our playoff chances.
Saturday's slate. We need Buffalo to handle Detroit in regulation.
Standings. 6 points out sucks.

Matt Walker News:

Matt Walker scores for the 2nd time in 3 games! I believe fire, brimstone, and some horsemen will be following soon.

Other Stuff:

The Dude is the Truest of all Neutrals.
If Gandalf tells you not to pass, you don't fucking pass.
Luvhockey passes along some feel-good stuff concerning the Paralympics (opening ceremonies were yesterday). Something as simple as thanking your Mom gets Proctor & Gamble to donate a dollar to fund athlete training. The schedule can be found here.

Video:

I can't leave out Bob Dylan with a title like that

And since we were on the subject of preferred 40 oz beverage during the last GDT, here's mine.

Stay tuned for the GDT and a Top 11 from the website's newest writer/drunk/swearologist.

Gametimelinks (at) gmail.com

Friday links: Two points is two points even if they come in a gimmick edition

2010-03-12T11:00:33Z

Blues news

Blues beat the Islanders in the skills competition. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch]
I'm not saying perms are the answer, but T.J. Oshie is playing the best he ever has in his career after getting one done. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch]
Dom's take on the Blues win/Isles loss is surprisingly not crazy for someone who is a fan of both teams. [Lighthouse Hockey]
The RIvermen's postseason roster situation is cleared up. Kinda. [Peoria Journal Star]
Here are your updated playoff chances. [Sports Club Stats]

Hockey news

Thursday games. Games we want: Thrasher over Columbus, Minnesota over Detroit (again on principal), Ottawa over Cal and Gary, San Jose over Nashville, and ... St. Louis over New York. Results we got: Columbus over Atlanta, Detroit over Minnesota, Cal and Gary over Ottawa, San Jose over Nashville and St. Louis over New York. Two out of five ain't bad. [Yahoo! Sports]
Friday games we want: Nashville over Anaheim, Buffalo over Minnesota and LA over Dallas. [Yahoo! Sports]
Steven Stamkos is awesome. [ESPN]
Marc Savard is done ... for the year. [ESPN]
Bill Guerin says hits to the head are not good. [ESPN]
Team America goalie Jonathan Quick has left the Kings for the birth of his first child. [TSN]
Some of the best Chelios is old jokes. [Cult of Hockey]
Davis Payne, among others, is younger than Chris Chelios. [Sports Crackle Pop]
Some guy picks the city most worthy to win the cup. San Jose over St. Louis? Really random guy? [Sporting News]

Other links

The newest member of the GT family, Mr. Donut King, reminds us that March is time for the Name of the Year Tournament. [Name of the Year]
It's time to step up your insult game ... by going old school. [Shakespearean Insulter]
Some weird statues — where's Kung Fu Bunny? [Super Tremendous]

Videos

Cross Check Raise sends along an interesting video. I enjoy the cold ... sometimes ... but holy shit does this not look like fun.

Finally NatetheGreat reminded me of this great video last night. It's not really safe for work and it's kinda fucked up, but it makes me laugh. I hope you enjoy.

Hope you pass those stones soon, Nate.

Poor College Student will man this ship this weekend. Send him things at gametimelinks(at)gmail.com