Q’s Cuties: Blues @ Coyotes 11-13

Welcome to tonight’s cutie watch!  I’d like to first extend a big congrats to David Backes on his 5 year contract extension! I’m sure most Blues fans were excited to hear this news yesterday, and that many dog lovers in St. Louis were glad to hear that a couple who brings so much to the St. Charles Humane Society will be around for 5 more years.

The Blues lost their second straight game at home against the Predators Thursday night.  Plus side? They played more cohesively and looked better both offensively and defensively than the night before against the Blue Jackets.  However, the Blues will need to keep the intensity going if they hope to pull off a win tonight in Phoenix.  The power play is still embarrassing, but they seem to hold their own on the penalty kill.  The Blues will need to find a way to improve their power play and start scoring more goals if they hope to keep their impressive start to the season going.  In the first match-up of the season against the Coyotes, the Blues need to score early and often; the Coyotes have a knack for making it into overtime in their games.

Can Sobotka continue his point streak in Phoenix?

Here is who I’ll be keeping my eye on tonight:

Vladimir Sobotka #17:  This cutie moved up to the top line with McDonald and Backes on Thursday night.  While he has been moving up the lines due to injuries, Sobotka is showing that he can produce points for his team.  He had assists in both of the last two losses, bringing his point total to 3 in his 10 games with the Blues.  Sobotka’s ice time has fluctuated greatly in his past 5 games, playing as few as 11 minutes in one game and as many as 17 in another.  Watch for Sobotka to continue to make assists for his teammates- in his past seasons in the NHL and AHL he has had many more assists than goals, and seems to have gotten those points consistently.  Watch for this cutie in front of the net- if he stays on the top line, hopefully the Blues can see more goals tonight set up by him.

Coyotes Cutie to Watch:  The Coyotes have been earning many of their points in overtime losses this season; 5 of their 10 losses have come in overtime.  The Coyotes are coming into tonight’s match up with 2 straight wins under their belt, the first time they have won two in a row all season.  This team also has 3 forwards who have netted hat tricks this year, which is a pretty incredible feat after only 16 games.  Last season, the Coyotes and Blues split the 4 games they played, but the Blues won the last two match ups (11-19-09 & 3-2-10).  Can the Blues make it three wins in a row against the Coyotes tonight?

Yandle currently has 8 points, can the Blues keep him from getting more?

Here is who my eye will be on:

Keith Yandle #3, Defense:  I have a soft spot for defensemen, and this cutie is tied for second in points for the Coyotes with 8 points; 3 goals and 5 assists (there is currently a 4 way tie for first at 9 points).  While those points have mainly come in spurts, Yandle has had 4 points in his last 6 games.  It seems that after a very slow start to the season (very slow- trust me, he is on my fantasy team) this cutie, along with the Coyotes team, is finally starting to even out.  Watch for this cutie to be an offensive defensemen; in his 20+ minutes on the ice he is likely to take multiple shots.  Can the Blues keep Yandle pointless tonight as they have in the last 4 games they have seen him in?