GameBlog 11-13-10: Blues vs Coyotes
As always, you are invited to follow @618_STLBlues and @BlueNoteZone on Twitter for in game updates and Blues news.
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After a 8-1 loss in Columbus the Blues came back and got their game back on track for the most part against Nashville. Phoenix is the perfect target to get back in to the winning ways before a difficult week ahead.
Blues Lineup
* Projected lineup based on my speculative guess work and previous games. Will update as confirmations become available
Forward Lines
Andy McDonald-Vladimir Sobotka-David Backes
Alex Steen-Patrik Berglund-Matt D’Agostini
*Nick Drazenovic-Jay McClement-BJ Crombeen
Chris Porter-Brad Boyes-***Cam Janssen
Defensive Pairings
Eric Brewer-Erik Johnson
Nikita Nikitin/Ian Cole/Carlo Colaiacovo-Alex Pietrangelo
Nathan Oystrick-Tyson Strachan
Goaltender
** Ty Conklin is the starter.
Scratches
Nikita Nikitin/Ian Cole – Colaiacovo isn’t ready, so either Nikitin or Cole will dress.
Injured (Out)
Roman Polak (Wrist - 7+ Weeks)
Carlo Colaiacovo (Concussion Recovery – Day to Day)
***Brad Winchester (Knee – Day to Day)
Barrett Jackman (Knee Strain – 3 Weeks)
David Perron (Head – Day to Day)
TJ Oshie (Fracture Ankle – Out till at least February 2011)
UPDATE 3:00 PM
* Nick Drazenovic will skate will McClement and Crombeen per Darren Pang.
** Ty Conklin will start per FSMW and Dan O’Neill of the Post Dispatch.
UPDATE 4:00 PM
*** Per Dan O’Neill, Brad Winchester is out, but close to returning.
Blues Stats, News & Game Notes
The St. Louis Blues are in 2nd in the Central Division and 4th in the Western Conference with a record of 9-2-3 in 14 games for 21 points.
- Goals Per Game: 2.36 (T-25th)
- Goals Against Per Game: 1.93 (T-1st)
- Power Play: 10.6% (29th)
- Penalty Kill: 87.0% (7th)
Team Leaders:
Goals – Matt D’Agostini – 6
Points – TJ Oshie – 10 Points
Shots on Goal – Alex Steen – 52
Hits – David Backes – 38
Blocks – Barrett Jackman – 29
Takeaways – TJ Oshie – 11
Plus/Minus – David Perron – Plus-7
- Did Sobotka earn himself another game on the top line? In one game he showed chemistry with McDonald and Backes. Worth another shot as Sobotka is defensively responsibility enough to give Davis Payne a second line to match against the opponents top line. That said, it’s very possible McDonald or Backes moves to the middle and Boyes moves up to the top line.
- D’Agostini is looking like a steal considering the Blues gave up an apparently marginal prospect for a 20+ goal scorer who plays responsible two way hockey.
- Former player turned blogger Justin Bourne has an interesting piece up regarding pre-game soccer rituals on Puck Daddy. Worth a read for sure.
- RJ Umberger acts the fool on more than just the ice. Once more on Puck Daddy, he told Editor Greg Wyshynksi that the Blues disrespected their off ice-officials. Nice, generalizations instead of specifics. One word there: fail. Every story has two sides. Hop over to TrueHockey.com to read what Andy Strickland had to say. Basically, Umberger didn’t like Conklin telling him off, he ran to tell security to “make them leave” and the Blues took offense. NHL security told the Blues that they were perfectible fine.
Grow up RJ. In the words of Doug MacLean, “SERIOUSLY”. Is the best comeback the whiny brat could come with was “”your building sucks anyway” when told he forced his teammates out in to the snow to kick the ball around next time they visit the gateway city? “SERIOUSLY?!”.
- Check out Gametime’s two bits on the Backes extension.
Opponent Insight
The Phoenix Coyotes are in 3rd in the Pacific Division and 8th in the Western Conference with a record of 6-5-5 in 16 games for 17 points.
- Goals Per Game: 2.63 (22nd)
- Goals Against Per Game: 3.06 (22nd)
- Power Play: 12.2% (22nd)
- Penalty Kill: 79.1% (T-22nd)
Team Leaders:
Goals – Lee Stempniak – 5
Points – Eric Belanger – 9
Shots on Goal – Radim Vrbata & Lee Stempniak – 43
Hits – Martin Hanzal – 29
Blocks – Derek Morris – 26
Takeaways – Lee Stempniak – 12
Plus/Minus – Ed Jovanovski & Adrian Aucoin – Plus-5
Per The Daily Faceoff, here are the Coyotes Lines and Pairings
Radim Vrbata-Martin Hanzal-Petr Prucha
Wojtek Wolski -Eric Belanger-Lee Stempniak
Ray Whitney-Kyle Turris-Scottie Upshall
Taylor Pyatt-Vernon Fiddler-Lauri Korpikoski
Keith Yandle-Derek Morris
Ed Jovanovski-Adrian Aucoin
Garrett Stafford-Sami Lepisto
Ilya Bryzgalov is the expected starter.
- Coyote checker/grinder Vernon Fiddler notched a hat trick Friday night in a 504 victory over the Calgary Flames.
- Bryzgalov has decent numbers against the Blues, but that hasn’t stopped the Blues from earning 2 points. In 12 career games he is 4-7-1 with a 2.93 GAA and .905 Save Percentage.
- Former Blues forward Lee Stempniak takes on his former club for just the second time. In his first game back in St. Louis (as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs) on February 12th, 2010 Lee recorded no points and only four shots on goal.
- Check out Five for Howling, the SB Nation Coyotes blog.
The Coyotes will win if…
Ilya Bryzgalov out duels Jaroslav Halak
The Blues will win if…
They keep up their commitment level from Thursday night’s Shootout loss and get an early goal on Byrzgalov.
What to Watch For
Blues Power Play vs. Coyotes Penalty Kill: Will the Blues power play finally break out? Another game against a weak penalty kill and goalie they’ve had some success against should be a positive combination.
Keys to the Game
- Dominate 5-on-5: One hallmark of the seven game winning streak was general control of even strength play. Re-establishing that aspect of the gameplay is vital. Taking on a weaker team in terms of possession is a good way to ramp up the effort before taking on Colorado and Detroit next week.
- GO GO POWER PLAY: This will be on the keys to the game till the power play gets going.
- Halakness Monster Returns: While Halak needs help from the five skaters in front of him, his ability to shut out the weak goal is vital.
Silent Jay McClement for Selke
