Prospect Playoff Update as of Apr. 4, 2010

By Brian Weidler, "Game Time" Prospect Department

St. Louis Game Time PROSPECT SUNDAYS

Thirteen of the Blues' current prospects are or have been involved in post-season play this year, and there are more to come as Alaska has qualified for the ECHL playoffs, and Peoria battles for a spot in the American League postseason.

Jori Lehtera and Tappara Tampere are currently in the quarterfinal round of the Finnish Elite League playoffs after winning a "play-in" round against traditonal Finnish powerhouse Jokerit Helsinki two games to one.

In the quartefinals, Tappara is facing KalPa Kupio, with the series tied at two games apiece. Each team has held serve on home ice, with KalPa taking Games 1 and 3 by scores of 4-1 and 3-2 respectively, while Tappara won the second game of the series 4-2, and tied the series again with a 3-2 win earlier today.

In the Swedish Elite League, one Blues prospect is skating with his team in the semifinal round, while another is attempting to keep his team from being relegated to the Allsvenskan for 2010-11.

Defense prospect David Rundblad and Skellefteå AIK knocked off defending Elitserien champion Färjestads BK in the opening round by winning five games in a seven-game set, and are currently facing HV-71 with the series tied at a game apiece.

HV-71 took the opening game of the series 2-0 on Apr. 1 at the Kraft Arena in Skellefteå, but AIK turned the tables by taking Game Two at Kinnarps Arena in Jönköping on Apr. 3 by a 5-3 score. Game Three of the series is set for Apr. 5 at Kraft Arena.

Simon Hjalmarsson and Rögle BK Angleholm finished last in the 12-team Elitserien during the Division Rounds (regular season) with a record of 13-30-12 in 55 games, and are now in the Relegation Pool (Kval till Elitserien) along with 11th-place finisher Södertälje SK and the top four finishers in the Allsvenskan. Rögle BK (2-1-3) is currently in second place behind Södertälje SK after six rounds of the ten-round pool tournament, with a Round 7 game against Växjö Lakers HC of the Allsvenskan scheduled for later today.

The rest of your Game Time weekly prospect playoff update after the jump...

	Jake ALLEN	Mark CUNDARI	Simon HJALMARSSON	Jori LEHTERA
James LIVINGSTON	Philip McRAE	Anthony NIGRO	Alex PIETRANGELO	Brett PONICH
David RUNDBLAD	Ian SCHULTZ	Tyler SHATTOCK	David SHIELDS