5 and 2.

Giddy really sums it all up. I could not be happier with the way the team is playing. You cant beat 9 pionts fro your top line. My only real concern is the jaw guard the Jacks was wearing after he had that fight. We really dont need him getting injuried like that(again).

After 4 home games, these are the things I think I know about the Blues:

1) Jay McClement looks good – much stronger on the puck this year.
2) On the other hand, could Rucinsky be any softer? I’ll be glad when his $3 mil is off the books.
3) Manny looks like the most fundamentally sound goalie we’ve had in YEARS.
4) They’re going to make the playoffs – how far they go depends on how many games Legace can steal.
5) The $6 Million dollar man is worth it. Blues haven’t had a player that scares the other team since Hull.
6) They still don’t move the puck quickly enough on the power play.
7) Somebody really ought to check those goal posts at the Blues end – seems like they need some shaving.

See you Saturday.

At least 3 of those wins came thank’s to Emmanuel Legace. His short with chubby cheeks and one hell of a goalie.

Bluetransplant, I attended last evening’s affair with Gallagher and every time Rucinsky was on the ice, he grumbled. It was if Gallagher was personally offended every time No. 62 was on the ice.

at least martin had some 4th line duty last game. so andy murray gets credit there because martin’s stats look great. someone else (like… oh…. kitchen) prob likes the stats and just keeps running martin out there

but for the props i gave andy for making martin play next to king and jammers, he then turns around and makes martin a penalty killer during one of the 700 power plays the blues gave the opposition in the thrid.

maybe the real penalty killers were all tired by then, but still… reward backes before martin (yea i know backes prob not a good penalty kill skill set, and the game was on the line— but— if you are sending a message make it LOUD)

Trauma, Rucinsky was killing penalties Saturday night too. I made the comment to Gallagher Tuesday night that it was weird that Rucinsky actually is a pretty good on the PK. You wouldn’t expect it from him, but he was really working hard and was pretty darn effective. Shocking, I know.

Doesn’t matter, I’m with Gravy on this one. No Rucinsky.

marty’s been an excellent pk for years. he’s not as soft as you all claim and he’s a hell of alot better than say Ryan Johnson. The problem is the third line isn’t balanced. But now that Mayers has suddenly found some softness and deftness in his hands(could he have finally worked on his major major problem?) maybe it could work. but he had weight out there with johnson and king…worthless. marty’s the type of player that makes things happen but isn’t rewarded in the stat column often. he’s great down low along the boards. but he is also getting really old.

FREE PERRON!!!!!!!!!!!!!

it isnt about his skill set (as i said, martin has it, backes does not) it was about sending a message. was andy murray doing it by 4th lining martin a shift or two?

if so: not enough of a message. backes in his slot on the penalty kill is a louder message.

sitting martin even better!! (and andy CLAIMS he likes switching up lines and who dresses while the team is WINNING. do it do it do it!!)

my brand new theory is this

sit one rotating 2nd liner per game for three games. insert perron for those three games. make a choice.

if perron plays well. sit martin one more time.

then either perron is our second lliner, or he is our prospect playing in the juniors

either way the second line wakes up.

It’s not that I think Rucinsky is soft, I just think that unless he’s playing withJagr, he seems disinterested too often and is way too lackadaisical. I constantly find myself saying, “holy crap, Rucinsky’s playing” and we’re already in the third period.

I just see him get pushed off the puck a lot, without any apparent effort to impart any kind of countering force. Maybe he’s one of those guys who’s a lot better with his stick on the boards, than with his body. I just don’t like seeing him get shoved off the puck so often.