Simmonds would kill Ericsson in a fight. Image via Zimbio

What a performance by the Blues on Thursday in defeating Jaroslav Halak and Matt D’Agostini’s old teammates, the Montreal Canadiens, 4-1.  D’Ags even got a goal!  And there was a fight!  It was a draw contested between Paul Mara and Ryan Reaves (video here) in a fight that I thought Mara actually had a slight edge in.  But I’m not the only judge here.  There are many.  And so I digress.  Despite that fight, because of a surge by the violent-as-of-late Boston Bruins, the Blues slide down to third place overall in the standings, now with 65 fighting majors.  The Blues fight record now moves to a relatively-square 27-19-19.

Around here, we do not hide our distaste for the Detroit Red Wings very well.  Sure, some of us respect them (personally, I have a hard time even doing that).  But I don’t find many Blues fans that really like them at all.  We have covered these guys before (November 17th, December 15th, December 23rd and January 20th), and while I haven’t read any of those since I wrote them, I’m certain none of these articles noted the Red Wings’ prowess at fighting.  See, the team Gordie Howe once represented proudly and somewhat violently has turned into a bunch of wusses.  That shouldn’t have been allowed to happen, but it did anyway.  With all that out of the way . . . the Wings are dead last in the NHL with nine total fighting majors.  NINE!  Their fight record?  An abysmal 1-4-4.  I’m a relatively non-violent person, and I’m pretty sure I could do better than that.  I’m only half-joking.  (But I really am not a violent person.)

Jonathan Ericsson (6’4”, 220lbs, 1-2-0) leads this team with three fights.  Yes, I said THREE fights.  Unreal.  Justin Abdelkader (6’2”, 215lbs, 0-0-2) and Brad Stuart (also 6’2”, 215lbs, 0-1-1) each have fought twice.  Pavel Datsyuk (5’11”, 194lbs, Draw) and the recently-recalled Doug Janik (6’1”, 215lbs, Loss) have solo fights for the Red Wings. See, I TOLD you these guys don’t fight!

The chances of this game having a fight included are about as good as a snowball’s chance in hell.  That being said, a fight I would love to see is Abdelkader and BJ Crombeen.  But seriously, don’t hold your breath.

The time is now for the Blues to play spoiler to playoff teams.  And what better than to spoil two points for a division rival?

LET’S GO BLUES!!!!!

Information obtained via the incomparable Fried Chicken’s Hockey Fights

An Eastern Conference opponent comes to town with a heavy heart. Thinking of one of their own who can’t be with them. First it was the Ottawa Senators visiting after the death of Assistant Coach Luke Richardson’s teen daughter, Daron. Last night was the Montreal Canadiens minus Max “Patches” Pacioretty. Fortunately Max is alive, but far from well following his run in with Zdeno Chara.

Just like the Senators before them, the Canadiens put up a fight early, but fell short in the end.

The Habs jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a beautiful passing play by defensemen Paul Mara and Alexandre Picard which set up Jeff Halpern for his 11th goal of the season. The goal would prove to be their only in the 60 minute contest.

The Blues ramped up their play, culminating in David Backes’ quick shot right off an Andy McDonald face-off win. With 61 seconds left in the first period the game was tied at 1-1.

McDonald added the only tally in the second period off one of Montreal’s several transition turnovers. As the Blues atttack was broken by the Canadien defense, poor execution turned the puck over at the blue line. Matt D’Agostini found Happy Meal cleaning him self off the ice after going down in the corner. He out deked Carey Price and put the Blues up 2-1.

Besides the Ryan Reaves and Mara fight, the most interesting event of the second frame was Habs captain Brian Gionta’s cross check to the head of Backes. The play started with Backes dumping the puck in and putting a big (clean) hit on Gionta as the visitors tried to exit their defensive zone. Backes ends up on the ice by Gionta and as the two get up the former New Jersey Devil puts his stick in to Backes head. David immediately ran down the tunnel and Brian went off for just a 2 minute minor.

The Blues went in to a “shell” in the third period, but Montreal was never able to crack it. Routinely forced to go the entire length of the rink to retrieve cleared pucks.

D’Agostini scored his 14th of the season with less than two minutes left to put the blues up 3-1 and sink any hopes of a comeback. TJ Oshie’s 8th came as a short handed ENG.

Price & Halak Duel

As tilted as the final score of 4-1 was, both netminders performed very well.

Carey Price stopped just 23 of 26 shots, but made many amazing grabs with his glove. Jaroslav Halak stopped 27 of 28 and displayed some improved rebound control.

Jaro was understandably emotional after the game. How could he not be?

Quick Hits

- How many off sides calls were there? Is that even tracked. Way too many.

- Patrik Berglund might be making his detractors eat crow. Another solid game in the books.

- Lars Eller’s game is finally coming around for the Habs. His stat line may only show a Minus-1 in barely 12 minutes on the ice, but he did draw a penalty on Pietrangelo and played well otherwise.

Fight Card

Ryan Reaves vs. Paul Mara

Highlights Video

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Busy Friday and much to do so I’m throwing this one out to our readers and Tweeps for feedback.

- Blues announced yesterday that you can show how much blue you bleed in a specialized section of the DrinkScotch Center. If you want to, you can become a “Bluenatic”, you can for three games for the remainder of the season! I’m not a fan of fabricating enthusiasm or even attempting to. The “Code of Conduct” just adds to the cheese-factor for me.

Don’t get me wrong, I would love to see the FANS replicate the feeling of say… Section 303 in Nashville or what the New Jersey Devils have done (stick tap to Frozen Notes for what the Devils are doing). The Blues organizing this effort for only three games that may end up being completely meaningless is too much of a stretch for me.

Don’t try to shove square pegs in to round holes. Scottrade has its own natural vibe, don’t mess with that. Win the games and the fans will respond like we always do.

How do you vote folks? Am I right or wrong?

- Speaking of “Cheese”-Wiz… James Wisnieski of the Montrael Canadiens blocked a Taylor Hall shot with his face last night. He could likely be out for a while. Will this rekindle discussion of Blues captain Eric Brewer heading to the Habs?

While its likely too early to move Brewer because the Blues are still sniffing around the playoff bubble, does Montreal have anything you want? Besides Lars Eller? Who be it?

- With Jaroslav Halak out for the short term, Ben Bishop was recalled from Peoria. Seen several fans say “I’m on Team Conks!”. Really? No offense to Ty Conklin, but trust a career back up and journeyman to help push a team to the playoffs is something none of the other 29 NHL clubs want. Why should the Blues? The alternatives aren’t much better. With waiver wire pick ups and AHL starters being who the Blues could add.

I just can’t bring my self to say I have more confidence in Conklin than I do in Halak.

So full of it or what?

- Sean Leahy at Puck Daddy commented on the Blues seemingly failing to deliver on the “Every Game Counts” ticket promotion. Yep, they have. Like he says, its only 600 seats, but that’s 600 seats of revenue this franchise needs completely lost. Now, you can argue that most of those wouldn’t have sold out as full season tickets if not for the promotion. What’s better 600 at half price or 300 at full? In raw numbers it’s roughly the same. Though the 600 at half price makes it easier to claim sellouts.

In hindsight is this a face-palm move or a calculated roll of the dice that just didn’t work?

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