Gameday 3-3-11: Blues @ Caps
Well blue bleeders, its “Plan B” time. The playoffs are more of a pipe dream than ever and there is a good chance the slide down the tubes continues as the St. Louis Blues (28-26-9, 65 Points) travel to DC to take on the Washington Capitals (34-20-10, 78 Points). Let’s start the 4th line auditions for next season!
Here is the quick and dirty, nitty gritty information you need to know for tonight’s tilt.
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- In net for the Blues is Ty Conklin. After clearing waivers he makes his first start since February 24th against Vancouver. Conks is 7-6-3 with a 3.11 GAA and .884 save percentage this season. His career numbers don’t look much better against the Caps. He is 1-1-1 with a 3.06 GAA and .884 save percentage.
- In net for the Caps, per DailyFaceoff.com, is Michal Neuvirth. In 38 games for the 3rd year pro has a 20-10-4 record with a 2.50 GAA and .913 save percentage. Neuvirth has never faced the Blues.
Puck Fantasy: Start Nuevirth and hope your H2H opponent has Conklin.
- Former Blues defenseman Dennis Wideman is now with the Caps after his deadline day trade from the Florida Panthers. He likes playing against his former club. Registering 1 goal and 3 assists in 5 career games against the Blues.
- The new look Caps also feature former Predators and Devils Center Jason Arnott and Former Bruin and King Marco Sturm.
- The newbies on the lineup surely will help ease the burden on “slumping” stars Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin. Seeing OV’s OT winner. He isn’t slumping anymore.
- Blues Injury Report: Out is Goaltender Jaroslav Halak (hand), Forwards Phil McRae (lower body), Vladimir Sobotka (leg) and so too likely is Defenseman Nikita Nikitin (lower body).
- Caps Injury Report: Out is Forward Eric Fehr (shoulder) and Defensemen Mike Green (head/ear/death in family) and Tom Poti (groin).
Blues Lineup per Jeremy Rutherford’s Morning Skate blog:
McDonald – Backes – D’Agostini
Steen – Berglund – Stewart
Porter – Oshie – Crombeen
Reaves – Cracknell – Janssen
Jackman – Pietrangelo
Colaiacovo – Shattenkirk
Strachan – Polak
*JR does indicate that Nikitin may play by including him on his lineup list.
- Oshie in the middle? Yep. He didn’t look so good in the 6-0 loss and he is a better fit there and Steen a far better fit on left wing. May have pegged Stewart and Oshie on RW to start next season, but we could see the start of Oshie transitioning to the middle to put Backes back on his natural right wing for 11-12.
