Bluenotes: Five Surprises for October
After a month of St. Louis Blues hockey this season, who and what are the five biggest surprises?
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5. Alex Pietrangelo
9 Games | 4 Assists | Plus-5 | 18:56 ATOI
The 4th overall pick in the 2008 draft has finally earned his spot in St. Louis after a heavily critiqued development period. The reward for the wait has been a supremely confident and poised puck mover making the right play in all three zones 90% of the time.
With Alex’s level of play combined with the injuries to Roman Polak and Carlo Colaiacovo, his ice time has exceeded 20 minutes a night and keeps growing.
4. Eric Brewer
9 Games | 0 Points | Plus-4 | 21:13
The much fan berated captain is healthier than he has been in quite a while. Leading to a superior performance through the month of October.
While his addition to the transition game has not been that great, he has been sure and steady on the backend. His physical game is coming back as well. He’s no Brooks Orpik, but his body is holding up enough to let him use it the way it should be.
3. Matt D’Agostini
9 Games | 4 Goals | 6 Points | Plus-5 | 11:24
Many fans were scratching their head at the 2010 trade deadline when the Blues acquired Matt D’Agostini. So far it’s paying off.
The Montreal castaway has found a home thanks to Head Coach Davis Payne. Filling in as a fourth line center, “D’Ags” worked hard and was highly efficient in his small pieces of icetime. With Vladimir Sobotka’s return Matt moved back to right wing and kept going 100%. His reward was more shifts for his rocket shot and a bump in line position. Tied for the team lead in goals with Patrik Berglund and David Perron (at 4) while seeing 6 to 7 minutes less playtime per game.
2. Penalty Kill Slump
22nd | 80.6% | PPG Against in 67% of Games Played
What has happened to Brad Shaw’s amazing penalty kill? It can just be the loss of Mike Weaver can it? Not likely as the unit has had solid games. Just one or two mental breakdowns basically each night have eaten in to a rather nice goal differential. If the Blues skilled players keep struggling to bury goal scoring chances, a lame PK will start costing the Blues points.
1. Puck Possession and Transition
Puck possession and transition passing are hard to quantify, besides face-off percentage. While the Blues are rather week there, the rest of the possession game has been off the charts.
Excellent break out support.
Efficient passing.
Quick counter attack.
Putting the puck in to the correct open areas.
Not giving up the puck just because.
Pietrangelo, Johnson, Polak and Colaiacoo have been the leading factors in the growth of the possession/transition game. It has stumbled some minus numbers 46 and 28. Time for Barrett Jackman and Brewer to pickup the slack.
