Avs vs Blues 10/12/07

by Brad Lee on Oct 12, 2007 6:44 PM CDT

#55 C. BÃ¤ckman, pride of Sw... ah, who am I kidding? We don't like him either...

By Marcus Pettersson

Hello, my name is Marcus, I'll be your live blogger tonight, please buckle up.

Before we get things started, I thought I'd introduce myself. I'm as short as Paul Kariya, constantly have one of those Michael Peca 5 o'clock stubbles going on, have been called "cute" and "ugly" in the same sentence, likes the word "clementine" and drinks my vodka straight.

Oh, I almost forgot. I live in Sweden. That's right. In fact, I'm ~~there~~ here right now, 4500 miles (give or take a couple) away in a town called BorÃ¥s. An hour 'til the games starts, it's 1:30 a.m. over here, and if I listen carefully I can hear my girlfriend's snoring from the bedroom. We had some glasses of wine tonight, which was stupid since red wine always makes me sleepy. But don't worry -- I've bunked up with lots of ~~speed~~ coffee and a tranq-gun just in case the girlfriend wakes up from me yelling obscenities at the TV.

Why have some wine drinker in Sweden do a live blog, you ask? As far as I know, it's never been done before, so why the hell not? Game Time is all about ~~getting drunk~~ breaking new ground.

But enough about me, on to the main event, the hated Colorado Avalanche visiting the St Louis Blues at the DrinkScotch Center.

Last season the Blues was 3-1 against the Avs. However, it's a new season and they're up against a much improved Colorado squad this time around. With new additions Scott Hannan and Ryan Smyth together with always dangerous Milan Hejduk and Joe Sakic plus the definite emergance of Paul Stastny (3 games, 8 points), the Avs sure look strong.

The word from Denver is that Jose Theodore will get the start tonight, which could mean that Colorado will have to focus on defense more than usual. The shaky Theodore is better for the Blues than the much steadier Peter Budaj. Theodore is 0-3-0 with a 4.03 GAA in his career against St. Louis. Advice: lots of shots. You hear that, David Perron?

Here's previews from Yahoo and TSN.

Blues line-up:

Kariya-Tkachuk-Boyes
Rucinsky-Weight-Perron
Stempniak-McClement-Backes
Mayers-Ryan Johnson-Hinote

Walker-Salvador
Jackman-DuPont
Backman-Wagner

I'll post again when the game starts. Please comment below. Think I'm ~~an idiot~~, ~~a waste of space~~, ~~about as stupid as it gets~~, ~~a bad speller~~ doing fine? Be sure to let me know.

OK, here we go. Legace in net again tonight. Manny looked steady the other night against Nashville. If he can keep from giving up too many rebounds and gets help from the D, he'll be fine.

Think David Perron is nervous? In case you didn't know, tonights his first NHL game. Like evvar... Somehow he doesn't strike me as a nervous person. If anything, he seems to be the kind of guy that only gets inspired by a roaring crowd of almost 20.000 people.

John Kelly's wearing a gold tie. Over here, that means you're rooting for the other team... so to speak.

20:00 -- Question: why don't they play Los Bastardos by Primus when the other team enters the ice? Anyhoo, big crowd tonight! Let's hope those loud St Louisian cheers scare the crap out of Theodore.

19:00 -- Damn! Those Avs sure look dangerous straight from the get go. Blues has to keep the Stastny-line on a close leach.

18:46 -- He does it again! Boyes on the rebound! 1-0. This could be fun... Kariya and Tkachuck with the assists.

16:08 -- Helvete! (Hell!) That was an own goal. It's just sad. 1-1 and Legace looks like something just bit him in the ass. Stastny gets the goal, his fifth of the year.

14:33 -- Salvador almost with a chance to shoot. When was the last time he scored a goal?

"Hey Marcus, how did you become a Blues fan?" - Brad Lee. Brett Hull forced me by scoring a hat-trick in the first NHL game I ever saw.

12:00 -- Dupont with a shot. Damn does Kariya has some skills. He always feeds his mates with nice passes.

9:50 -- Nice shift by Perron. Hustling and playing with energy. Love the future of this team. Perron, Oshie, EJ, Berglund, Junland, Polak... damn, our young guys makes me excited. And no -- not excited that way. Perv.

8:34 -- Stempniak gets soooo close with a backhander! Another reason for excitement: Dutchie Stempniak.

5:57 -- As I thought, this game's a tight one, with both teams playing it close. Oh, by the way -- Avs jerseys have always been amongst the ugliest in the league.

4:35 --How old is Joe Sakic? 38? Really? He looks like 25-26... GLOVE SAVE by Legace. Steady, little Manny. Steady.

3:17 -- Wow. Mayers checks and blocks a shot. In the same shift. He has 2 goals already, you know. No, really. It's true.

1:07 -- Kariya with a slapper! Remember that shot in the Stanley Cup Finals when he scored against Brodeur? I do.

0:01 -- Hinote out for roughing. Is that final face-off really necessery (spelling?)? Yes, it was.

So that's it for the first. Whadda ya think? Blues outshooting the Avs 9-7. Perron got 4:27 minutes worth of NHL hockey in that period.

A lot of things to keep track on. Writing, watching the game, reading comments, keeping an eye in the clock, sipping on a newly opened Czech-beer... Sorry if I haven't been able to respond much to the comments. Well, Second period will start soon enough. New post. Follow me.

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Comments

I’ve got the live B2 Network feed from San Antonio on my computer; no score in the first period between the Rampage and the Rivermen.

Lemtyugov is playing tonight; Coach has had him out with Cajanek, and they’ve had a couple of opportunities. Lemtyugov just now missed a tip-in over the net, off of a nice feed from Cajanek.

Bacashihua in goal.

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 7:34 PM CDT reply actions

Lines thus far:

Birner – Stastny – Porter
Glumac – Trudel – Whitfield
Talbot – Kariya – Linglet
Cajanek – Lemtyugov

Polak / Glenn
Woywitka / Mackenzie
Brooks

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 7:36 PM CDT reply actions

Penalty coming up on San Antonio; Rivermen going to their third PP of the period, 0-for-2 so far.

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 7:37 PM CDT reply actions

Nine seconds into the PP, Trudel takes an interference penalty. Now 4-on-4, Whitfield couldn’t control a rolling puck on a partial breakaway. Puck in San Antonio’s end.

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 7:39 PM CDT reply actions

Brad Boyes for Hart Trophy.

by Brad Lee on Oct 12, 2007 7:40 PM CDT reply actions

Merde!

Too many men on the ice for Peoria, right after the Trudel penalty expires. 90 seconds left in the period.

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 7:41 PM CDT reply actions

Talbot, Whitfield, Brooks, Woywitka on the PK…

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 7:42 PM CDT reply actions

Game Time is truly international tonight. French curse words from a guy who lives by a German-sounding motto in a thread started by a guy in Sweden.

I will do my part by having Mexican tonight.

by Brad Lee on Oct 12, 2007 7:43 PM CDT reply actions

End of the first period inb San Antonio, no score. Will post shots on goal and penalty stats here is just a second.

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 7:43 PM CDT reply actions

Hey Marcus, how did you become a Blues fan?

by Brad Lee on Oct 12, 2007 7:46 PM CDT reply actions

Dupont let the crowd talk him into putting it on net somewhat weakly with the “SHOOT!” cries.

by Brad Lee on Oct 12, 2007 7:50 PM CDT reply actions

By the way, I nominate Marcus for the best hidden tag for a photo in October. Put your cursor on the Backman picture.

by Brad Lee on Oct 12, 2007 7:51 PM CDT reply actions

11 shots Peoria, 5 shots San Antonio.

Penalties:

3:00, Schlemko, SAN (hooking).
4:59, Stephenson, SAN (hooking)
8:09, Glumac, PEO (interference)
16:11, Caldwell, SAN (hooking)
16:20, Trudel, PEO (interference)
18:30, PEO bench (served by Linglet) (too many men on ice)

Benson is the 12th forward; Baseggio only has five defensemen dressed tonight — Mackenzie, Brooks, Woywitka, Polak and Glenn.

Hmmm… San Antonio’s dance team is dressed… interestingly. ;-)

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 7:51 PM CDT reply actions

I second the nomination for Marcus’ tag on the Backman pic… :-D

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 7:53 PM CDT reply actions

I was hopeful Perron was going to get a shot with him at the doorstep and the puck behind the net. Didn’t develop.

The kid is taking some long shifts (for a Blues player) it seems.

The first hockey game I really remember watching was in 1986 (I was 11). It was Halloween night and a bunch of people had costumes on in the stands. I was 11 and didn’t want to go trick or treating.

by Brad Lee on Oct 12, 2007 7:58 PM CDT reply actions

I also nominate Marcus for best line in a live blog thus far in October:

“John Kellyâ€™s wearing a gold tie. Over here, that means youâ€™re rooting for the other teamâ€¦ so to speak.”

That’d be worth a ROFLcopter if I knew how to post one here…

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 8:00 PM CDT reply actions

Yeesh… Hans Benson tries hard, but putting him on a line with Cajanek and Lemtyugov is like having rutabaga stew on the same plate as steak and lobster.

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 8:07 PM CDT reply actions

Scheiss…

Rivermen going to the PK again; a slashing call coming up on Glumac.

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 8:09 PM CDT reply actions

Porter, Stastny, Woywitka and Brooks dong a good job on the PK so far… Woywitka plays an awful lot, in all situations.

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 8:10 PM CDT reply actions

Two for interference on Chris Durno…

Trudel, Cajanek, Glenn and Whitfield on the ice; Glumac will jump in as soon as he leaves the box, which he just now did.

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 8:11 PM CDT reply actions

All you Cajanek-haters, take note… Ryan Glenn just gace the puck away at center ice on the PP, and who hustles back to break up the partial brakaway? None other than Cajanek.

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 8:13 PM CDT reply actions

Peoria on the PP again, and their power play looks like crap for the most part. Grrrr…

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 8:18 PM CDT reply actions

So much for that… Paddock from Spina and Roche, 12:26 time of the goal, seconds after the penalty expires. Bacashihua got flattened in the crease, no call.

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 8:20 PM CDT reply actions

San Antonio’s forecheck has got the Rivermen bottled up like a gallon of Jack Daniel’s…

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 8:21 PM CDT reply actions

Exciting game tonight…Legace is on his game…I couldn’t believe that stat they showed at the beginning of the game. He’s 11-1 with a 1.92 GAA!

Another own goal…maybe we should tell our defensemen to stay away from the net ;)

by UtahBluesFan on Oct 12, 2007 8:22 PM CDT reply actions

By contrast, the Rivermen are forechecking with one guy while San Antonio sends four men behind and around the net to start their breakout…

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 8:23 PM CDT reply actions

Nuts… Talbot got flattened in the corner, looks like he may have hrt the knee. And while this is happening, the B2 Network feed from San Antonio has a goddamn KissCam on. Grrrr…..

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 8:26 PM CDT reply actions

No word yet on Talbot’s injury.

Rivermen on the PP again.

San Antonio has their Happy Birthday messages up… one of the kids having a birthday today is named Cameron Newton, which was the name of Bob Johnson’s (Brent’s dad) backup with the WHA Denver Spurs in 1975-76…

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 8:32 PM CDT reply actions

I really wish the feed from San Antonio had fewer friggin’ commercials… Lemtyugov apparently got cross-checked in the back, and there was some pushing and shoving. All the while the feed shows an ad for the Rampage program… (insert rolling eyes icon here)

Ex-Blue Joel Perrault with 2 for slashing, 2 for cross-checking. Lemtyugov two for slashing.

Another PP for Peoria. It’d sure be nice if they could get something here, dammit…

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 8:34 PM CDT reply actions

This Chris Porter kid is going to be a diamond in the rough, methinks…

He doesn’t have any points in this game yet, but he’s been hustling and banging all night.

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 8:36 PM CDT reply actions

Yikes… the Rivermen just dodged a bullet with about two seconds left in the period. It looked like San Antonio was offside on the rush, but no call. The Rampage player sent a wrister between Glenn’s legs, it bounced off of the other defenseman, ff the far post, and under Bacashihua as he was sitting down.

1-0 San Antonio after two periods. 23 SOG for Peoria, 14 for San Antonio. The Rivermen are making Josh Tordjmann look like Terry friggin’ Sawchuck.

Goals:

12:26, SAN, Paddock (Spina, Roche). Peoria on ice: Woywitka, Polak, Porter, Stastny, Lemtyugov.

Penalties in the second period:

4:54, Glumac, PEO (slashing)
6:48, Durno, SAN (goalie interference)
9:43, Woywitka, PEO (hooking)
15:13, Vandermeer, SAN (roughing)
17:15, Lemtyugov, PEO (slashing)
17:15, Perreault, San, double minor (slashing, cross-checking)

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 8:44 PM CDT reply actions

Hey GT Prospect, I remember going to a Rivermen-Grizzlies game in the 2nd round of the playoffs in 1996. If I remember correctly, we lost game 5 to go down 3-2, then we won the last two games and ended up winning the Turner Cup that year.

Good times.

by UtahBluesFan on Oct 12, 2007 8:47 PM CDT reply actions

Utah, was that when the Grizzlies were still in Denver? I know they won the Turner Cup there; did they win another in Salt Lake?

Are you, by any chance, old enough to remember the Golden Eagles in the old Western League? The old six-team WHL: Portland Buckaroos, Seattle Totems, Denver Spurs, Salt Lake Golden Eagles, Phoenix Roadrunners, San Diego Gulls.

Now THOSE were good times…

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 8:51 PM CDT reply actions

This was their first year in Salt Lake…

I’m not old enough for the WHL…I do recall going to Eagles games in the early 90’s and seeing guys like Theo Fleury and Rich Chernomaz…Yeah, I loved those days of the IHL…Eagles weren’t very good in those last years, but they were lots of fun…

by UtahBluesFan on Oct 12, 2007 8:54 PM CDT reply actions

Well, it’s about freakin’ time…

Porter scores on Peoria’s eighth power play. Lemtyugov gets the puck on the wall, to Birner at the point, who blasts it at the net where Porter tips it by Tordjmann.

Porter’s first pro goal, Lemtyugov’s first pro point.

Nuts… Peoria just took another penalty. San Antonio goes to the PP. Linglet for holding.

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 9:06 PM CDT reply actions

Porter’s out killing the penalty now, too. He and Woywitka get a lot of ice time.

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 9:07 PM CDT reply actions

13:10 to play… Peoria needs to score again so that I can go to bed. I still have to get up at 3:00 in the morning for work, dammit…

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 9:08 PM CDT reply actions

Merde!!!

Bacashihua made the puck in his glove on the shot by Enver Lisin, but the ref rules that the puck crossed the line inside Bacashihua’s glove. B-Cash was hot about that one, but the ref didn’t even talk to the goal judge about it (the goal light never went on).

Scheiss!!!

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 9:13 PM CDT reply actions

Lemtyugov is getting a lot if ice time in this period…

October 12, 2007: the night when two highly-regarded prospects made their pro debuts (Lemtyugov with peoria, Perron with the Blues).

Polak, Glenn, Glumac, Whitfield, Limglet on the ice for that last Rampage goal. Polak is a minus-2 tonight, and he hasn’t played poorly at all.

Come on, boys…

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 9:16 PM CDT reply actions

Jesus, what a bad call… Lemtyugov gets a holding call for going around a Rampage player that lost an edge and fall on his arse.

(insert shaking head icon here)

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 9:25 PM CDT reply actions

Ex-Riverman Jon DiSalvatore takes a hooking call. 4-on-4 hockey with time running out on the Rivs. Faceoff in the Rampage end.

Oh, for Pete’s sake… now Polak gets a boarding call. This official needs to just let these guys play and stop trying to be the deciding factor in the game.

4-on-3 now, San Antonio on the PP.

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 9:27 PM CDT reply actions

1:39 of 4-on-3, then 12 seconds of 4-on-4, then 9 seconds of 5-on-4 for San Antonio.

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 9:28 PM CDT reply actions

Brooks, Mackenzie, Whitfield did a good job on the 4-on-3. San Antnio gad some good chances, but they keps ’em on the perimter and didn;t let the Ranpage get inside the triangle.

2:17 to go… come on, biys.

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 9:30 PM CDT reply actions

Man, I wish we could edit these posts after they go up. The typos are embarassing…

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 9:30 PM CDT reply actions

32 seconds to play; B-Cash out of the net at just over one minute to play. Faceoff in San Antonio’s end after the time out…

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 9:32 PM CDT reply actions

Good stuff, Dutchie!

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 9:33 PM CDT reply actions

Nuts… San Antonio wins, 2-1.

Well, folks, time for me to hit the sack. I’ll be back tomorrow night with a live blog from the Peoria-Houston game.

by GT Prospect Department on Oct 12, 2007 9:34 PM CDT reply actions

Fantastic Intro to the blog. I’m too tired to read the comments. How sweet is that GT has a live blogger in Europe. Man, I love the inter-web-net thingy. Marcus seems to be the real deal. Normally I’d say report immeditely to the AMC but you are from Europe so we’ll need to see a bit more. I like your chances though.

by Answer Man on Oct 16, 2007 10:06 AM CDT reply actions