ST LOUIS, MO – The Blues opened the week in a bit of a funk. After amassing two losses in which they appeared overmatched and managing one win against lowly Minnesota, the Blues proved that they have a long way to go this season. Whilst the Blues have had more than their fair share of injuries early, mixed with an obscene travel schedule, success has not come easy for them. St. Louis enters this week 2-4-2 in North America where they have struggled since their two game sweep over rival Detroit in Stockholm, Sweden to open the season.
Wednesday evening would see the Blues make a one game road trip to Raleigh, North Carolina where they would face the Hurricanes. The former Whalers have shown little this season and offered the Blues an opportunity to get the ball rolling as they end the opening month of play. St. Louis would waste no time in dealing a fit to Carolina as they would pepper All-Star Cam Ward 14 times for three goals. After a gun fight opening period, both teams would focus heavily on defense shutting down one another allowing a total of eight shots on goal in the second period. From the end of the second period on, the Blues would play shut down hockey taking the win and opening the week on a solid note.
After a successful road trip to North Carolina on Wednesday the Blues returned home above .500 and ready for a long span at home that will last until their November 7th match up in Philadelphia. Thursday night the Blues faced off against conference foe, Phoenix to a frustrating result. The Blues logged 32 shots on goal and no goals as Ilya Bryzgolav shut out the Blues and dropping St. Louis to 2-5-0 at home.
On Halloween, the Blues hosted the Panthers at the Scottrade and once again would find nothing. Tomas Vokoun would stymie the “Notes” on 34 chances to give the Panthers the win. St. Louis will play one home game this week against Calgary on Thursday night before heading to Philadelphia on Saturday to play the Flyers.
Schedule Results of the Past Week:
October 28, 2009 (in Raleigh, North Carolina)
Blues 5, Carolina 2 (5-4-1)
Scoring – 1st Period
07:32 STL David Perron (2) – Assists: P. Berglund (2) & B. Crombeen (2)
15:52 STL Yan Stastny (1) – Assists: none
16:08 STL Jay McClement (3) – Assists: D. Perron (3) & D. Sydor (2)
19:07 CAR PPG – Joe Corvo (2) – Assists: N. Wallin (3) & E. Staal (2
2nd Period
09:42 STL Andy McDonald (4) – Assists: K. Tkachuk (6) & R. Polak (2)
3rd Period
08:12 CAR PPG – Scott Walker (2) Assists: none
19:08 STL EN – David Perron (3) – Assists: none
Goalies
StL – Chris Mason (W, 34/36)
Car – Cam Ward (L, 13/17)
October 29, 2009 (in St. Louis Missouri)
Phoenix 2, Blues 0 (5-5-1)
Scoring – 1st Period
(none)
2nd Period
02:48 PHX Daniel Winnik (2) – Assists: S. Lepisto (2) & V. Fiddler (5)
3rd Period
02:54 PHX Taylor Pyatt (1) – Assists: V. Fiddler (6) & A. Aucoin (5)
Goalies
StL – Ty Conklin (L, 24/26)
Phx – Ilya Bryzgolav (W, 32/32)
October 31, 2009 (In St. Louis, Missouri)
Florida 4, Blues 0 (5-6-1)
Scoring – 1st Period
10:36 FLA Cory Stillman (1) – Assists: N. Horton (7) & J. Leopold (5)
17:24 FLA Stephen Weiss (4) – Assists: C. Stillman (4) & B. McCabe (4)
2nd Period
08:08 FLA Dennis Seidenberg (1) – Assists: K. Kreps (3) & G. Campbell (1)
17:02 FLA EN – Nathan Horton (3) – Assists: D. Seidenberg (6)
3rd Period
(none)
Goalies
StL – Chris Mason (L, 23/27)
Fla – Tomas Vokoun (W, 34/34
Upcoming Weeks Schedule:
November 5, 2009 vs. Calgary
November 7, 2009 at Philadelphia
Quote of the Week: From President John Davidson in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
“We’re a little wild right now,” Blues President John Davidson said. “We weren’t like that last year. I look at it like, ‘Let’s play Blues’ hockey,’ which is a game with rhythm to it … where we have line changes, come on the ice and go, be physical, fore-check and be intelligent taking penalties … and be good on the special teams.”
Blues Clues:
While St. Louis has been less than stellar at points, and has struggled to place shots on goal, they have made the most of their shots. To date the Blues are averaging 27.7 shots on goal per game, good enough for 11th in the Western Conference, and 24th in the NHL. Despite their conservative approach to placing pucks on the net, the Blues record is near .500. Only Detroit, Phoenix, and Buffalo have scored as low as the Blues and have at least a .500 record.
You may contact the author at: John.Strathman@prohockeynews.com
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