Tonight the St. Louis Blues battled the Minnisota Wild in the New Years Eve Matchup. The Blues came out in the first period like everyone had a hot date they needed to get to... and get to fast. Injuries have been a pretty big chunk of Blues news and this game wasn't an exception as Chris Stewart would take a puck to the jaw right off the bench for his first shift of the game. He would leave the game with the Blues training staff and would not return with an OBVIOUS upper body injury. They were solid in their play and battled hard against the Wild. They had great goaltending from Brian Elliott who stood in for Jaroslav Halak who was out tonight with the flu. The Wild were pushing the Blues in every zone, they played physical as their goaltender, Josh Harding kept the pucks out of the back of the net. The period would be a strong period for both teams but neither would have a point on the board to show it as they left the ice for the locker room.
The second period would see the Blues come out and capitalize on the continued strong play of TJ Oshie and Jaden Schwartz. Oshie would get the first tally on the board. He was quick on the puck all game and took advantage of a great pass from Schwartzy after a Wild Defense turn over. At 6:49 of the period Oshie would put the puck past Harding in typical #OshieDown fashion.
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It would take a hard fought period for the boys in blue to get another on the board. They suffered through tough hits but the Wild slowly began to falter in this period. At 15:59 the Duke of Cambridge would utilize a rebound off of a Vladimir Tarasenko shot to poke the puck past Harding to put the Blues up 2-0. Brian Elliott would tally and assist as every Halak hater in the St. Louis Blues fandom went nuts with Miller Trade Rage.
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The Third period would see the Wild amp up the physicality. The Blues however would continue the smooth fast paced style of hockey they have come to play throughout 2013. The Workers of the team would continue to find a way to win. With the mounting pile of injuries this team has shined throughout this season. Elliott would continue his top notch play as the minutes ticked down on the hockey contest. The game grew chippy as Matt Cooke tried to start something with Vladimir Sobotka, which the officials quickly squashed and sent them to their benches. The game would end after a last minute goal by Ryan Suter. Even while ending on the low not of losing the Shutout the Blues had a strong performance and continue to be a force.
From All of us at St. Louis Gametime we wish you a Happy New Year! Bring It 2014! Stay Safe tonight Blues fans!!
Games Three Stars
Third: TJ Oshie
Second: Jaden Schwartz
First: Brian Elliott
Bluenotes from Twitter
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Oh. That didn't look like it felt too good. Stewie is gonna ring in the new year with a headache. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23BlueYearsEve&src=hash">#BlueYearsEve</a></p>— St Bluenatic Chris (@Bluenatics) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bluenatics/statuses/418161365417598976">December 31, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Happy New Year to everyone. Hope you stay safe and 2014 was even better than 2013 was for all of us. See ya on the other side.</p>— Jake Allen (@34jallen) <a href="https://twitter.com/34jallen/statuses/418162131675004928">December 31, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>No score between the <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23stlblues&src=hash">#stlblues</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23mnwild&src=hash">#mnwild</a> after 20 minutes. Shots are 9-7 for the Wild.</p>— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) <a href="https://twitter.com/lkorac10/statuses/418164643182280704">December 31, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Ballard's pass was in Granlund's skates before turnover. That play epitomizes Oshie though. Terrific 2-way player</p>— Michael Russo (@Russostrib) <a href="https://twitter.com/Russostrib/statuses/418172570450423808">January 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Brian Elliott's assist on the Schwartz goal is the first point by a St. Louis goaltender this year. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23StlBlues&src=hash">#StlBlues</a></p>— David Rogers (@FrozenNotes) <a href="https://twitter.com/FrozenNotes/statuses/418176711910359040">January 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Holy Baby Jaden.</p>— TruBlueGirls (@TruBlueGirls) <a href="https://twitter.com/TruBlueGirls/statuses/418176083519762432">January 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The Blues are better than the Wild. Half the team is missing. Let that sink in for a second. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23BlueYearsEve&src=hash">#BlueYearsEve</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23stlblues&src=hash">#stlblues</a></p>— Justin Williams (@justin03) <a href="https://twitter.com/justin03/statuses/418173532980269057">January 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Missing my gang <a href="https://twitter.com/FSMidwest">@FSMidwest</a> tonight as I'm covering the <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23winterclassic14&src=hash">#winterclassic14</a> watching on <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23gamecenter&src=hash">#gamecenter</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/Jkellyhockey">@Jkellyhockey</a> <a href="http://t.co/JjlpDrztbH">pic.twitter.com/JjlpDrztbH</a></p>— Darren R Pang (@Panger40) <a href="https://twitter.com/Panger40/statuses/418177041909821440">January 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>haha Just made this one :P <a href="http://t.co/Cl362xhXxJ">pic.twitter.com/Cl362xhXxJ</a></p>— danielle scremin (@BLUESFANMYR) <a href="https://twitter.com/BLUESFANMYR/statuses/418179736649469952">January 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>"Do you have a favorite shirt to wear on the 2nd Tuesday of August that helps you score goals in December?" <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23StricklandInterviewQuestion&src=hash">#StricklandInterviewQuestion</a></p>— St Bluenatic Chris (@Bluenatics) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bluenatics/statuses/418181546449698816">January 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Maxim Lappiere collects his 500th career penalty minute; first since his major on Dan Boyle Oct 15th (28 games ago). <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23stlblues&src=hash">#stlblues</a></p>— STL Blues History (@STLBlueshistory) <a href="https://twitter.com/STLBlueshistory/statuses/418183857587097601">January 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>OH MY GOD PLEASE TELL ME SOMEONE GIF-ED THAT SLOW-MO BOUWMEESTER FACE?!?!?!?!? <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SlowMoBouwmeesterFaceDotGIF&src=hash">#SlowMoBouwmeesterFaceDotGIF</a></p>— Jason McAdams (@JMill1120) <a href="https://twitter.com/JMill1120/statuses/418185672101359616">January 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Dear fellow <a href="https://twitter.com/StLouisBlues">@StLouisBlues</a> fans! Overhere in Netherlands it's already 2 hrs into 2014!!! So Happy New Year and Let's Go Blues! <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23thisistheyear&src=hash">#thisistheyear</a></p>— Gerard Bos (@GerardBos) <a href="https://twitter.com/GerardBos/statuses/418186719922782208">January 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Tweet of the Game
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23stlblues&src=hash">#stlblues</a> defeat Minnesota 2-1 on goals by Oshie and Schwartz. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23lakings&src=hash">#lakings</a> are on deck Thursday. Everybody have a safe night!</p>— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) <a href="https://twitter.com/jprutherford/statuses/418192139881701376">January 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
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