Gameday 2-25-11: Blues & Oilers Will Burn Barns
It’s do or die time as the St. Louis Blues (27-24-9, 63 Points) head to the frozen reaches of Alberta to take on the Edmonton Oilers (20-33-8, 48 Points). The Oilers would love nothing more than to play the spoiler at this point in their campaign. With the defense holding the flood gates wide open and the goaltending resembling a siv at times, a barn burner may provide all the heat needed for the fans in the stands.
Here is the quick & dirty, nitty gritty, need to know info for tonight’s tilt
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- Ben Bishop starts in net for the Blues. Bishop has yet to face Edmonton in his career.
- Devan Dubnyk will go for the Oilers. In three games against the Blues Dubnyk is 0-3-0 with a 4.76 GAA and .831 save percentage. His overall record this season is 8-7-6 with a 2.78 GAA and .914 save percentage. In his only game against the Blues this season he allowed 5 goals on 26 shots on February 4th.
- Blues injury update according to MSM reports:
Jaroslav Halak is still out with a hand injury.
Phil McRae is out with a lower body injury.
Nikita Nikitin has a lower body injury, but will be a game time decision.
- Injuries for the Oilers:
Defenseman Taylor Chorney is out with a knee injury.
Defenseman Ryan Whitney is out for the season following ankle surgery.
- Anyone taking bets on the Blues PPG streak continuing to 8 games tonight? Put money on it. Edmonton is dead last in the NHL with a 76.0% kill percentage. Might be hard for Dubnyk to see around Chris Stewarts posterior. Should remind you of another power forward who recently camped in front of opposing netminders. Though, Stewart has more teeth and doesn’t look 60.
- Edmonton is in sell mode. Could winger Ales Hemsky be on the move? He is certainly someone to watch. He leads the Oilers offensively with 41 (13 goals, 28 assists) points in 44 games. Surpassing rookie phenom Taylor Hall’s 40 points (21 goals, 19 assists) in 61 games. Hall is good for a goal a game against the Blues. Don’t forget to keep an eye on the shifty puck wizard Jordan Eberle who has 14 goals and 33 points in 48 games.
- Don’t think Edmonton can score? They’ve got 7 players with 10 goals or more and would have 8 if not for captain Shawn Horcoff missing time due to injury. He has 8 goals in 38 games. The Blues conversely, have just 6. Though they too would likely have 8 by now if not for long term injuries to David Perron and TJ Oshie.
Bottom line for tonight. Expect a lot of goals. Neither team has had the defensive mojo working lately.
