Road Music: 12/31 @ Detroit Red Wings

by CrossCheckRaise on Dec 31, 2011 2:39 PM CST

This Oshie is fully armed and operational. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

It's Deja Vu, all over again. I believe that this is the first time that I've had to write about the same team within a week's time. Nothing has changed. This is still a big game for the standings. Depending on the Wild, a win tonight could possibly put St Louis in 2nd place in the division, and 4th in the Western Conference. A loss would keep St Louis at 6th in the conference (3rd in Division), and only a few points ahead of 7th place Nashville. As we've already learned, Every Game Counts (tm), but after losses already this week to Detroit and Nashville, this one counts for a little more than most. The Blues came out big for the first two periods on Tuesday night's game, but faltered in the third period. The Blues must take steps to avoid this from being repeated tonight.

Pressure Drop / The Specials

The Enemy: Same as before, kids. Just like Tuesday's game, both teams are playing the second game of back-to-backs. Last night, the Wings lost to the Shitcago BlackHawks 3-2. Jimmy Howard was in goal then, and may start again tonight. The Lesser 'Cock had no problem playing Howard two games in a row earlier this week, so I doubt he'd have any reservations against doing it again. Howard's numbers now stand at 1.99 GAA and a .930 SV%. The leading scorers are still Pavel Datsyuk and Johan Franzen. The Wing on a streak right now is the loathsome Bertuzzi, who has 10 points in the last 11 games. He is also a colossal waste of oxygen. The Wing that is cold right now is Henrik Zetterberg, who only has 8 goals so far this year. He may be due, and it would be a severe mistake to underestimate him right now.

Further Reading:

Winging It In Motown

Blues vs Red Wings preview

Blues vs Red Wings coverage

Final Verse: The puck drops at 6:00 St Louis time, and the GDT should be along shortly beforehand. The broadcasts are on the usual outlets, Fox Sports MW for TV, and KMOX 1120 for radio. Until then, this is your pregame warmup. Gather here, discuss New Year's plans, favorite mixed drinks, set the odds for Blues PP goals tonight (we had two on Tuesday, remember), and get a giggle at a broadcaster's slip up during a recent DET game...