Game Info
Location: HP Pavilion, San Jose, California
Game-time: 9:30 pm Central
TV: FSMW, NHLN-CA, NHLN-US (HD)
Radio: KMOX 1120 AM
Stat Pack
St Louis Blues: 12th in Western Conference & 4th in Central Division – 40 Points

San Jose Sharks: 2nd in Western Conference & 1st in Pacific Division – 61 Points
Power Play:
St. Louis (Road): 20.0%, (10th)
San Jose (Home): 13.4%, (29th)
Penalty Kill
St. Louis (Road): 88.8%, (1st)
San Jose (Home): 88.2%, (4th)
Goals Scored per Game vs. Goals Against per Game
St. Louis (Road): 2.72 GF/G (15th) | 2.33 GA/G (T-4th)
San Jose (Home): 3.29 GF/G (6th) | 2.33 GA/G (9th)
Hot & Cold
San Jose: Joe Thornton (3 Points in last 2 games ) | Dany Heatley (1 Goal and 2 Points in last 5 games)
St. Louis: Andy McDonald (4 Goals (3 in 3 straight games) and 6 Points in last 5 games) | Erik Johnson (1 Assist in last 10 games)
Food For Thought
The Blues are throwing Davis Payne to the wolves. Well, more Sharks in this case. A trial by fire indeed for the fresh meat.
A few short hours after being named coach he took on one of the top two teams in the Conference. A few short days after being named coach, David Payne leads his crew out to face the other of the top two teams in the Conference.
The Blues are 3-2-1 in their last six meetings over the last two seasons. In those 6 games the goal differential is Minus-1 (16 for StL and 17 for SJ). That is 2.67 GF/G for the Blues and 2.83 GF/G for the Sharks. That’s a little more than the Blues have averaged the last two years and a little less than what San Jose averages. What does that mean? The Blues played the Sharks tight under Murray. Hopefully that trend continues with Coach Payne.
How can Payne continue the trend?
1. Keep to a simple game. Don’t get fancy, get deep in the offensive zone and work hard. Make their defensemen turn around as much as possible. It keeps them from moving forward as fast.
2. Match their level of physical play. The 08-09 Murray team had no issues doing this and that needs to continue. They are big upfront and you have to be able to take the body on them.
3. Accept the fact that you cannot stop their big three. Just limit the number of high percentage scoring changes they can get.
4. Quick, smart puck movement decisions. The Sharks are big and fast and like to apply forward pressure. You can get around that with support and quick decision making.
The personnel needed to pull it off are still present on the roster, Payne will just need to stick to some general ideas to keep San Jose in check.
Anyone else surprised that Devin Setoguchi isn’t producing near what he had before with out Thornton?
Blues fans will see future Olympic teammate of David Backes and Erik Johnson, Joe Pavelski. Although don’t expect much out of him against the Blues. Over the last three season he has just two goals in ten games against St. Louis.
Difference Makers:
The Whole Blues Roster.
Payne has had multiple practices now and is starting to deliver his message and institute his own system. This will be the Blues first real application of Payne’s new X’s and O’s. Can the players apply what they have learned from their new coach and make it work against the highest producing trio in the NHL? We shall see. The whole team…from Weaver to Johnson, Crombeen to McDonald, to Mason in net must be the difference maker in this game. Their will to win for their new coach (without the “goon button”) is what will determine this game. This team has shown over the last two season that they can skate with the Sharks and that trend needs to continue.
Player Notes:
Kariya is still on IR and will not play, but is traveling with the team. Keith Tkachuk did not travel with the team since he took a TJ Oshie slapper to the kisser Saturday night. Ty Conklin will attempt to join the Blues in progress out in California after he attends to a family matter (his son broke his leg). Yan Stastny was recalled and cleared Waivers to replace Tkachuk. Ben Bishop was also recalled to replace Conklin. Expect to see Mason in net, although you never know with a new coach in town. Bishop had a good game last year against San Jose, but I think Mason still gets the start.
I am questioning Brad Winchester’s status with this team now that Murray is gone. I don’t think Payne will cut him out, but it will be interesting to see if he plays against a team he has had success against in the past.
As updates become available on forward line combos and defensive pairings I will update the blog.
Alex Pietrangelo will not be re-joining the team. Per late night news (or early morning depending on your POV) the Blues returned Alex to his OHL team the Niagara Ice Dogs. No news of a possible trade moving him in the OHL to a contending team. Keep an eye out for that. Maybe not a fan favorite move, but the “right move” in my opinion.
Update: 6:52PM
For Jeremy Ruther’s Full Morning Skate Blog, click here.
Here are tonight’s line ups per Rutherford.
Andy McDonald-David Backes-Brad Boyes
David Perron-Patrik Berglund-T.J. Oshie
Alex Steen-Jay McClement-B.J. Crombeen
Brad Winchester-Derek Armstrong-Cam Janssen
Eric Brewer-Erik Johnson
Barret Jackman-Roman Polak
Darryl Sydor-Carlo Colaiacovo
Chris Mason between the pipes.
Scratches: Stastny and Weaver
Out: Kariya
I like the combo, I really do. I just question removing Mike Weaver. I know he was a Minus-3 for the Hawks game, but his play has been heads above Daryl Sydor.
Keys to the Game
1. Special Teams
- The Blues have the NHL’s best road penalty kill and own a top 10 road power play. Both units need to act accordingly and produce. San Jose will dominate you at even strength, so the special teams must tip the scales to the Blues favor. Scoring on the power play will be no easy task with San Jose sporing the 4th best home penalty kill.
2. Play for Payne
- No one wants to get hurt, but play for your new coach. If playing hard means you get banged up, so be it. Work your tail off for him and his new system. Even if you don’t win you are laying a foundation to build on.
3. Use the Force Luke
- One thing it seems Payne is big on is allowing players room to do their job. I have given you task “a”, go do it. I need you to do it “this way” most of the time, but find ways to do it your way when it works. The players need to let go and use their hockey sense and instincts to take over the play on the ice. Just like how old Ben taught Luke so long ago and far, far away. Allowing players to take initiative is a good thing. They need to make it work because if they can, they are a very unpredictable team to play against…and that makes you harder to defeat.
Who to Watch for?
Roman Polak

Polak's play has been progresing this year and under new Coach Davis Payne Polak should be able to use his athletic ability to join in the offensive play more. Expect more offensive contributions from Polak in the future.