Blues Prospects Trending Up, Feb. 12, 2012

By Brian Weidler, "Game Time" Prospect Department

THE REGULARS:

Portland Winterhawks' forward Ty Rattie got his bell rung earlier in the week, and missed parts of two games while being monitored for concussion symptoms, but still managed to score a pair of power-play goals (including a game-winner) in the playing time he got this week. Rattie and Regina's Jordan Weal (70th overall 2010/LA) are now tied for the scoring lead in the 'Dub with 89 points each, but Rattie is still listed first because he's played three fewer games and has outscored Weal in goals by 44-31.

Over in Mother Russia, SKA St. Petersburg and every other KHL and European club was off this week enjoying a midwinter holiday, so top prospect Vladimir Tarasenko did not score.

Jaden Schwartz chipped in a pair of assists this weekend as Colorado College dropped both games of a two-game set at Bemidji (MN) State, 4-2 on Friday night and 4-1 last night.

AFTER THE JUMP:

After the jump, your weekly look at the players in the Blues' organization who are "Trending Up." This was not a great week for prospects in the Blues' organization. None of the European prospects played this week, and Peoria played only twice. The two goaltending prospects who most often appear in this space -- Ben Bishop and Paul Karpowich -- combined for a 2-2-0 record, a 3.54 GAA and an 87.2% saves rate this week, allowing 14 goals on 109 shots in 237 total minutes played.

Three players had weeks worthy of mention in this space, and another is recognized for being consistently solid all season long. The fifth spot on this week's Fab Five, in essence, came down a coin flip between a junior player who was 0-1-1 and a plus-1 in one game played or a collegian who was 0-1-1 and plus-1 in two games played. And the "winner" is? Stay tuned...

Ty RATTIE	Jaden SCHWARTZ	Vladimir TARASENKO
Portland (WHL)	Colorado College (WCHA)	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)
** 2 games played this week	** 2 games played this week	** 0 games played this week
** 2 G, 0 A, even	** 0 G, 2 A, minus-1	** 0 G, 0 A
** 2 PM, 2 PP, 0 SH, 1 GW	** 0 PM, 0 PP, 0 SH, 0 GW	** 0 PM, 0 PP, 0 SH, 0 GW

THIS WEEK'S STANDOUTS:

Cody BEACH	Jordan BINNINGTON	Cade FAIRCHILD	Anthony NIGRO	Yannick VEILLEUX
Moose Jaw (WHL)	Owen Sound (OHL)	Peoria (AHL)	Peoria (AHL)	Shawinigan (QMJHL)
** 1 game played this week	** 3 games played this week	** 2 games played this week	** 2 games played this week	** 2 games played this week
** 0 G, 1 A, plus-1	** 185 mins, 3 GA, 3-0-0, SO	** 1 G, 0 A, plus-3	** 2 G, 0 A, plus-1	** 3 G, 0 A, plus-2
** 0 PM, 0 PP, 0 SH, 0 GW	** 0.97 GAA, 97.2% sv pct	** 0 PM, 0 PP, 0 SH, 1 GW	** 0 PM, 0 PP, 0 SH, 0 GW	** 0 PM, 1 PP, 0 SH, 1 GW

HONORABLE MENTION:

BEN BISHOP, G, Peoria (AHL): 2 GP, 118 mins, 5 GA, 1-1-0, 2.54 GAA, 89.4% sv pct.

TREVOR NILL, C, Michigan State (CCHA): 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, plus-1, 0 PM, 0-0-0.