1. Pretty much the entire organization is shut down for Christmas, so not a great deal to talk about this week. The Rivermen are 7-2-0-1 in their last ten games, Jordan Binnington will probably be the starter for Team Canada at the World Juniors, and that's pretty much it for right now...
By Brian Weidler, "Game Time" Prospect Department
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PROSPECT TRANSACTIONS THIS WEEK
12-21-12: RW Cody Beach reassigned to Peoria (AHL) from Evansville (ECHL) by St. Louis (NHL).
12-22-12: C Anthony Nigro and D Brett Ponich reassigned from Evansville (ECHL) to Peoria (AHL) by St. Louis (NHL).
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PROSPECT INJURY REPORT
11-19-12: C Tyrel Seaman (Brandon/WHL) out indefinitely with concussion symptoms.
11-25-12: D Jani Hakanpää (Blues Espoo/SML) out through December with lower body injury.
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WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP NOTES
ITEM: Prospect G Jordan Binnington has outplayed the much-hyped Malcolm Subban in Team Canada's camp, and may have nailed down the starter's job for Canada at the upcoming World Junior Championships with a 31-save performance in beating Sweden 2-1 in a shootout on Saturday.
ITEM: Prospect G Niklas Lundström turned aside 29 of 32 shots vs. Team USA on Thursday night, but ended up on the bad side of a 3-2 OT decision in his only pre-tournament appearance.
ITEM: Prospect RW Ty Rattie is a plus-1 with no points, two shots on goal, and four minutes in penalty time in Canada's two pre-tournament games.
ITEM: Prospect D Petteri Lindbohm is a minus-1 with no points, five shots on goal, and two minutes in penalty time in Finland's two pre-tournament games, both wins. Lindbohm is averaging 16:44 of ice time in the two pre-tournament games.
SECOND QUARTER STARTING WELL FOR RIVERMEN
The 2012-13 AHL season is 76 games in length for each team, making each quarter of the season 19 games in length. The Peoria Rivermen reached the quarter pole (19 games in) at 6-10-2-1 for 15 points, with a goals for/goals against ratio of 44/69, a dismal power-play record of six goals in 68 chances (8.8%) and a penalty kill record not much better at 79.7% (63 kills in 79 chances).
Already in the first ten games of the second quarter, the Rivermen have doubled their point total, and have more wins in their last ten games (7) than they had in their first 19. In the last ten games, the Rivs have outscored opponents 29-23, the power play is clicking at a nice 22.6% rate (7 of 31), and the penalty kill is solid with 35 kills in 38 chances (92.1%).
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FEATURES THIS WEEK
Hello. My name Vladimir Tarasenko, and I have returning to Game Time "Fab Five" listing. Have moves like Jaegermeister, da? Details and discussion on Sunday, Dec. 23 at 7:00 PM Central.
All the prospect scoring, penalty, and goaltending statistics a Blues' fan could want... minor pro, Europe, major junior and college. Details and discussion on Monday, Dec. 24 at 7:00 PM Central.