GameBlog 11-15-10: Blues vs. Avalanche (**UPDATED)

As always, you are invited to follow @618_STLBlues and @BlueNoteZone on Twitter for in game updates and Blues news.

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A seven game winning streak has faded in to a three game skid. Injuries are finally catching up and goal scoring is a serious concern. Hopefully the Blues can get back on the winning track by settling down and playing “their game” against an equally injured club in the Colorado Avalanche.

Blues Lineup

* Projected lineup based on my speculative guess work. Will update as confirmations become available

Forward Lines

Andy McDonald-David Backes-Brad Boyes
Alex Steen-Patrik Berglund-Matt D’Agostini
Nick Drazenovic-Jay McClement-BJ Crombeen
Chris Porter-Vladimir Sobotka-Cam Janssen

Defensive Pairings

Eric Brewer-Erik Johnson
Nikita Nikitin/Carlo Colaiacovo-Alex Pietrangelo
Nathan Oystrick-Tyson Strachan

Goaltender

Jaroslav Halak is the expected starter.

Scratches

Nikita Nikitin/Carlo Colaiacovo

Injured (Out)

Roman Polak (Wrist – 7+ Weeks)
Barrett Jackman (Knee – 2-3 Weeks)
David Perron (Head – Day to Day)
TJ Oshie (Fracture Ankle – Indefinite/Unknown)
Brad Winchester (Day to Day)

Blues Stats, News & Game Notes

The St. Louis Blues are in 2nd in the Central Division and 5th in the
Western Conference with a record of 9-3-3 in 15 games for 21 points.

- Goals Per Game: 2.40 (T-25th)
- Goals Against Per Game: 2.13 (4th)
- Power Play: 11.8% (T-25th)
- Penalty Kill: 83.3% (T-14th)

Team Leaders:

Goals – Matt D’Agostini – 6
Points – TJ Oshie – 10 Points
Shots on Goal – Alex Steen – 55
Hits – David Backes – 40
Blocks – Barrett Jackman – 29
Takeaways – TJ Oshie – 11
Plus/Minus – David Perron – Plus-7

- Ian Cole has returned to Peoria. His play was a mixed bag of positives and negatives. In three games he tallied zero points and a Minus-2 rating in 11:47 ATOI.

- David Perron did not make the road trip but the Blues monitor his progress daily. There is still no time table for his return.

- According to Dan O’Neill of the St. Louis Post Dispatch and STLToday.com Brad Winchester is out.

- One positive on the injury front. Carlo Colaiacovo is expected to return to the lineup. Can he QB the power play to a goal or two? Blues had just ONE PPG in the seven games he was out of the lineup.

Opponent Insight

The Colorado Avalanche are in 3rd in the Northwest Division and 12th in the Western Conference with a record of 8-7-1 in 16 games for 17 points.

- Goals Per Game: 3.25 (4th)
- Goals Against Per Game: 3.13 (23rd)
- Power Play: 19.7% (10th)
- Penalty Kill: 73.4% (29th)

Team Leaders:
Goals – Chris Stewart – 10
Points – Chris Stewart – 18
Shots on Goal – Milan Hejduk – 51
Hits – Cody McLeod – 33
Blocks – John-Michael Liles – 33
Takeaways – Ryan O’Reilly – 19
Plus/Minus – David Jones- Plus-7

Per The Daily Faceoff, here are the Avalanche Lines and Pairings

Kevin Porter-Paul Stastny-Chris Stewart
David Jones-Matt Duchene-Milan Hejduk
Daniel Winnik-Ryan O’Reilly-Brandon Yip
Cody McLeod-Philippe Dupuis-Greg Mauldin

Ryan O’Byrne-John-Michael Liles
Kevin Shattenkirk-Adam Foote
Jonas Holos-Scott Hannan

Peter Budaj is the probable starter.

- Chris Stewart has 8 goals and 13 points in 7 career games against the Blues. Stopping the Stastny/Stewart duo is paramount.

- Against the Blues Budaj is 7-5-0 with a 2.38 GAA and .914 Save Percentage. He does have one shutout against the Blues.

- Cody McLeod taking on Crombeen or Janssen might be a mismatch. McLeod is a tough cookie.

- Keep an eye on Brandon Yip. He might not be a top-6 guy (yet), but he can put the puck in the net.

Today’s additional insight comes from Aaron Musik. The
Avalanche writer for Hockeybuzz.com. Follow Aaron on Twitter, @Avalangelist. Don’t take too much out on him Blues fans, he is an “Oshie fan”…

Coming in to Mondays’s game the Colorado Avalanche are 4th in team scoring, 3.25 goals/game. What’s been the secret to their offensive success.

They’ve been able to establish a strong cycle game, working the puck around from behind the goal line and getting the goaltender to turn his head around. They’ve also gotten some contribution from all four lines as of late.

Chris Stewart is a known Blues killer. Netting 8 goals and 13 points in 7 career games against St. Louis. Is there any explanation of his success?

Some players just have teams they play really well against. Tyler Arnason was great against Edmonton, the Sedin twins are always amazing versus the Avs and Stewart just has good games against the Blues. However, now the Avs are facing a red-hot, rested Jaroslav Halak. When Halak is on his game he’s hard to stop.

Colorado is allowing more than three goals a game. Is the issue goaltending, the defensemen, or team defense as a whole

The issue is more team defense than anything. They have been better since defensemen Jonas Holos and Kevin Shattenkirk have appeared in the lineup but the forwards still have to come back and support more. Some of it also has to go to goaltender Craig Anderson being hurt. However, for now, the Avs usually keep up in the score category.

The Avs will win if?

Chris Stewart is Chris Stewart. If he gets hot like he did versus the Blues, there’s no one that can stop them. With T.J. Oshie out, the Blues can’t counter the offense the Stewart will bring to the ice.

The Blues will win if?

They Halak the doors and don’t let the Avs in the game. Halak will be key for a victory for the Blues against a young, speedy Avs.

Linkage

NHL.comPreview

a great peice by John Grigg of The Hockey News about the Blues and weathering the injury storm.

Puck Daddy’s Three Stars from Saturday’s Games (STL v PHX)

STLToday Blues Talk GDT

St. Louis Gametime discussing scoring woes

What to Watch For

Jaroslav Halak – The Halakness Mosnter needs to return in the worst way. A national TV game against a team that has dominated the Blues lately. Can Halak rise to the occassion? Probably…. At least Blues fans hope.

Keys to the Game

- Keep Up the Good Work: Can’t remember the last time Backes, Boyes and McDonald all scored in a game…or even two of the three? Neither can most Blues fans. Their offenssive success, as well Steen’s, will keep this team’s head above water.

- GO GO POWER PLAY: The scoring chances that come need to end up in the back of the net. This will be on the keys to the game till the power play starts scoring…well more than one fluke goal and looks to be more in sync. Paging Cola!

- Tighten Up the Ship: The Blues thrived in the seven game winning streak by not only cutting down shot totals, but by reducing second and third chances. Protect the crease and slot.

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** UPDATE 2:45 PM: Per Jeremy Rutherford’s Morning Skate Blog Brad Winchester will be a game time decision and could likely play.