ST LOUIS, MO – Three days into the new year and the St. Louis Blues are making good on their promises. The Blues have been committed to their youthful talent, believing that they hold the keys to future success. The young players responded poorly to Andy Murray, not quite grasping his demands and expectations. So the management listened, observed, and reacted to their employees needs. The Blues made a change to a coach who has helped these players to the NHL, now he will finish them into the solid NHL players that they are known to be.
Alexander Steen proved that he can do it all scoring twice on two separate styles of scoring. His first goal came from outside as he placed a gorgeous laser on net to start the game for the Blues. Steen’s second goal came off of a rebound in which Steen muscled his way into the crease to score his second of the evening. But in the end, St. Louis would receive one more goal from Eric Brewer as Tim Connolly would score the game winner for Buffalo. Mike Grier would combine with Connolly in recording two goals as the Sabres would cut their way through St. Louis to open the week.
Despite a late rally by St. Louis, Nashville made easy work of St. Louis controlling much of the play throughout the game. While St. Louis did manage to bring the game within one late and out shoot the Predators, they did fall prey to their 17th loss of the season. Alexander Steen scored and assisted in the third period to continue his red hot play as he now has eight points in his last five games.
The St. Louis Blues closed out 2009 much the way they played throughout the entire year. The Blues dropped an overtime loss to the Canucks, a team that St. Louis seems to be rather timid of. Alexander Steen continued his hot play scoring on the power play late in the first period. But even with Andy McDonald and Brad Boyes’ two points, the Blues would drop on the penalty kill to take yet another overtime loss, making this one their sixth of the season.
It was little of a welcoming party for new head coach Davis Payne as the Chicago Blackhawks would greet him with repeated blows to the ego. Chicago scored twice in each period to amass six points in route to their Western Conference leading 28th win this season. Alex Steen’s point streak was halted as he would manage one shot on net and no points in the losing effort. Schedule Results of the Past Week: December 27, 2009 Buffalo 5, Blues 3 (17-16-5) 1st Period 10:12 STL Alex Steen (4) – Assists: none 15:52 BUF Jochen Hecht (6) – Assists: J. Pominville (16) & T. Connolly (19) 2nd Period 07:47 BUF Mike Grier (7) Assists: T. Kennedy (8) & C. Butler (9) 09:14 STL Eric Brewer (2) – Assists: K. Tkachuk (13) 15:24 STL Alex Steen (5) – Assists: B. Winchester (4) & P. Berglund (6) 3rd Period 03:15 BUF Mike Grier (8) Assists: T. Kennedy (9) & T. Vanek (12) 07:22 BUF PPG – Tim Connolly (8) Assists: C. Butler (10) & J. Pominville (17) 16:44 BUF SHG – Tim Connolly (9) – Assists: M. Grier (6) & T. Myers (17) Goalies Ty Conklin (L, 19/24) Patrick Lalime (W, 32/35) December 29, 2009 Nashville 4, Blues 3 (17-17-5) 1st Period 01:29 STL Carlo Colaiacovo (4) – Assists: A. McDonald (12) & R. Polak (5) 05:04 NSH Marcel Goc (8) – Assists: J. Dumont (19) & R. Suter (18) 12:43 NSH Patric Hornqvist (12) – Assists: M. Erat (13) & S. Weber (13) 2nd Period 04:09 NSH PPG – Joel Ward (7) – Assists: S. Weber (14) & D. Legwand (16) 3rd Period 05:16 NSH J.P. Dumont (7) – Assists: S. Weber (15) & M. Goc (8) 09:08 STL Alex Steen (6) – Assists: none 12:30 STL PPG – Andy McDonald (11) – Assists: K. Tkachuk (14) & A. Steen (7) Goalies Chris Mason (L, 26/30) Penne Rinne W, 24/27) December 31, 2009 Vancouver 4, Blues 3 OT (17-17-6) 1st Period 16:55 STL PPG – Alex Steen (7) – Assists: B. Boyes (18) & A. McDonald (13) 2nd Period 04:07 STL Keith Tkachuk (9) – Assists: D. Perron (11) & R. Polak (6) 14:30 STL Andy McDonald (12) – Assists: D. Backes (10) & B. Boyes (19) 16:09 VAN Daniel Sedin (10) – Assists: A. Burrows (17) & H. Sedin (34) 3rd Period 05:46 VAN Mikael Samuelsson (12) – Assists: T. Glass (5) 18:04 VAN Henrik Sedin (19) – Assists: D. Sedin (19) Overtime 02:24 VAN PPG – Christian Ehrhoff (9) – Assists: K. Wellwood (7) & R. Kesler (24) Goalies StL – Chris Mason (L, 26/30) VAN – Roberto Luongo (W, 22/25) January 2, 2009 Chicago 6, Blues 3 (17-18-6) 1st Period 03:10 CHI Tomas Kopecky (2) Assists: B. Seabrook (14) & C. Fraser (5) 05:16 STL Eric Brewer (3) – Assists: D. Backes (11) & T. Conklin (1) 06:51 CHI Tomas Kopecky (3) – Assists: B. Eager (3) & C. Fraser (6) 16:05 STL Andy McDonald (13) – Assists: D. Backes (12) & E. Johnson (18) 2nd Period 03:15 CHI Brian Campbell (5) – Assists: P. Kane (29) & M. Hossa (9) 18:42 CHI Kris Versteeg (11) – Assists: D. Byfuglien (7) 3rd Period 01:39 CHI Patrick Sharp (13) – Assists: M. Hossa (10) & B. Sopel (5) 03:42 CHI PPG – Patrick Sharp (14) – Assists: B. Seabrook (15) 17:52 STL PPG – Keith Tkachuk (10) Assists: T. Oshie (13) & D. Perron (12) Goalies StL – Ty Conklin (L, 27/33) CHI – Cristobal Huet (W, 19/22) Upcoming Weeks Schedule: January 6, 2010 at San Jose January 7, 2010 at Anaheim January 9, 2010 at Los Angeles Team News: The St. Louis Blues recalled forward Derek Armstrong from Peoria on Wednesday under “emergency circumstances.” In it not 100% clear the extent, to which Armstrong will play for St. Louis or in what role. It appears that Paul Kariya’s injury scratch from Tuesday evening and placement on the injured reserve will be lingering for measureable amount of time. Kariya left Sunday’s game against Buffalo with an “upper-body injury” after an elbowing penalty from Patrick Kaleta.
Blues Clues: Currently the St. Louis Blues sit at the bottom of the Western Conference in goals scored. While St. Louis has played solid defense finishing seventh in goals allowed. The spectrum leads to a differential of -8 which puts St. Louis fourth from last in difference. Only Columbus, Edmonton, and Anaheim have worse goals against averages then the Blues; all three currently sit below the Blues in the standings.
Quote of the Week: from Cam Jansen to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in regards to the Murray’s termination: “I just like to know where I stand with coaches. I know I can speak for a lot of guys on this team with that. You want to know where you stand and I think with Andy, you had no idea. He’d tell you what to do, but on the other hand, he didn’t talk to you for you to understand what he was saying. There was just too much detail … I think guys were over-thinking. Everybody was worried about where they are going, and where they should be, and this and that. In hockey, you just have to react.”
You may contact the author at: John.Strathman@prohockeynews.com
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