Game Info
Location: Honda Center, Anaheim, California
Game-time: 9:00 pm Central
TV: FSMW (HD)
Radio: KMOX 1120 AM
Stat Pack
St Louis Blues: 12th in Western Conference & 4th in Central Division – 41 Points
Anaheim Ducks: 13th in Western Conference & 5th in Pacific Division – 41 Points
Power Play:
St. Louis (Road): 20.0%, (9th)
Anaheim (Home): 26.5%, (2nd)
Penalty Kill
St. Louis (Road): 88.1%, (1st)
Anaheim (Home): 82.3%, (16th)
Goals Scored per Game vs. Goals Against per Game
St. Louis (Road): 2.63 GF/G (17th) | 2.32 GA/G (4th)
Anaheim (Home): 3.14 GF/G (8th) | 2.91 GA/G (24th)
Hot & Cold
Anaheim: Scott Niedermayer (3 Points, Plus-1 in last 6 games ) | Corey Perry (1 Goal in last 11 games)
St. Louis: Andy McDonald (6 Goals (4 in 4 straight games) and 7 Points in last 8 games) | Erik Johnson (1 Assist in last 11 games)
Food For Thought
The Blues travel down California after a tough OTL in San Jose last night.
I have to say that I really liked what I saw. Everyone (for the most part) was thriving on having a little freedom do do their job their way. Coach Payne seemed to put in place a system where the Blues know what to do but have the direction to do it as they see fit.
Apparently Payne liked what he saw as well. Here is what he said on the Blues website:
“I tend to think we made some progress tonight. I thought all four lines and all six ‘D’ and Chris Mason in net played a heck of a hockey game.”
Positives to take from the San Jose game in to tonight:
- Good forward pressure that lead to turnovers and chances.
- Quick movement by the blue line.
- All 5 men on the ice working towards going north.
- The made the goalie work and earn the win.
- The power play converted.
- All 6 defensemen got involved in the play. Roman Polak stood out above all others in my opinion.
Anaheim likes to play the physical game just like San Jose does. The Blues will need to match that effort once again. While the Blues didn’t deliver many big hits, they did finish the majority of theirs. Erik Johnson also stepped up his physical play last night and will need to continue that against Anaheim.
Anaheim is 3 for 14 on the power play in their last three home games. In that same time span they have killed 11 of 12 penalties. However, Anaheim has failed to convert on their last 10 power plays, so their power play stats from the last few games are a little skewed.
In the last 3 seasons Ryan Getzlaf has 8 points (3G, 5A) in 9 games against the Blues. Conversely the currently cold Corey Perry has 3 Points (1G, 2A) in his last 8 games against the Blues. Bobby Ryan has 4 points (1G, 3A) in 4 career games against the Blues.
In their last meeting, Oct. 17th, the Blues defeated Anaheim 5-0 thanks to a 26 save shutout by Ty Conklin and two Andy McDonald goals.
Difference Makers:
The Kid Line
What a night they had in San Jose. They did not produce any points, but they held the offensive zone producing chances multiple times last night. If the McDonald-Backes-Boyes line cannot produce the young trio will need to offer secondary scoring.
Player Notes:
Ty Conklin will rejoin the Blues in Anaheim tonight. I would assume Ben Bishop will be on his way back to Peoria today as well.
I will get to updating the lineups once they become available later today. Stay tuned to the Blues insiders like Jeremy Rutherford and Andy Strickland for info. You can find links to their online homes on our Links Page.
Both Ryan Getzlaf and Teemu Seanne have been banged up for Anaheim. Selanne is a question mark but Getzlaf did play in Tuesday’s game.
Update 6:25 PM
You can catch Jeremy Rutherford’s full Morning Skate blog here. Per Rutherford here are the line combinations and pairings. The only change appears to be Mike Weaver replacing Daryl Sydor.
Andy McDonald-David Backes-Brad Boyes
David Perron-Patrik Berglund-T.J. Oshie
Alex Steen-Jay McClement-B.J. Crombeen
Brad Winchester-Derek Armstrong-Cam Janssen
Eric Brewer-Erik Johnson
Barret Jackman-Roman Polak
Carlo Colaiacovo-Mike Weaver
Chris Mason in net.
Keys to the Game
1. Special Teams
- While the Blues are reforming, I just think this is the biggest key to each game. Can the Blues keep the puck out of their own net on the kill while capitalizing on their own power play chances. With the team in transition, even strength scoring could be hard to come by so Special Teams play will decide most games.
2. Just Keep Skating, Just Keep Skating…
- The body movement in the San Jose game was very good and it needs to continue. Being in motion creates opportunity to move the puck north. When you can do that quickly, you create pressure in the offensive zone. The Blues need that pressure to keep the puck out of their own end at even strength.
3. Shoot the Puck
- The Blues couldn’t get to 30 shots on goal last night, but they did get 29 and San Jose blocked 19 shots. The puck has to come off the stick faster, especially Erik Johnson.
Who to Watch for?
Andy McDonald
McDonald had a pair of goals in the last meeting between the two teams and current has a goal in four straight games.
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