Thursday Links - You CAN Come Home Again!

Oh, hello. What are these "HOME GAMES" you speak of?

BLUES NEWS:

• The Blues host the Wild (s) tonight. And the Captain, David Backes, appears to be back on track . . . I wonder if the reunited top line has something to do with it, eh? [StL Today / Morning Skate]
• Beyond Checkerdome Episode 36 went to air yesterday. We drink, we talk Blues hockey and we do (and say) other shit. [SLGT]
• Robb has a roundup of the Blues power play in two graphics. The conclusion? It's not as bad as you maybe think it is. [SLGT]
• Should Ryan Miller make his relationship with the Blues long-term? Matt Larkin says . . . yes. [The Hockey News]
• Normally Ryan Lambert's pieces don't end up with a major point about the Blues, but this one does. He slags Ken Hitchcock a touch (among other things) in his weekly Power Rankings. [Puck Daddy]

KNOW YOUR ENEMY--THE MINNESOTA WILD(S):

• For everything you ever wanted to know about the Minnesota Wild(s) . . . Hockey Wilderness is where you need to go. [Hockey Wilderness]
• Also of note, though I don't have a link . . . tonight is a match for the Conference III Crown Of Shit. Loser gets it. So win, Blues!
• The Wild(s) will be coming in pissed . . . having lost to the Canucks AT HOME 5-2 last night. Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch. But . . . hey, we know how you feel, guys. The Blues lost to them . . . three times this season. But they're not battling for a wild card spot, whereas you are. [Hockey Wilderness]

HOCKEY NEWS:

• Three games last night, and all three had winners because they don't have ties anymore, Goddamnit. [NHL.com 03/26/14]
• Ten games tonight. If you care only about the one in St. Louis, I won't feel less of you. [NHL.com 03/27/14]
• Old friend John Davidson will be the new chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee. Congratulations, J.D.! A huge honor, and well-deserved. Choose wisely. [Hockey Hall of Fame]
• The Maple Leafs, as we saw Tuesday night, are a complete fucking mess. Former SBN Hockey overlord James Mirtle writes that the latest collapse like the one on Tuesday should bring some tough questions to Bay Street. [Globe & Mail]
• Sad news, as long-time Blackhawks beat writer Tim Sassone passed away. They had a moment of silence in his honor at United Center Tuesday, and those involved with the team gave their thoughts. May you rest in peace, Tim. [Daily Herald]
• There are two types of players-only meetings. Justin Bourne explains what they are and their effectiveness. [The Score / Backhand Shelf]
• The decision as to whether or not Penguins defenseman Kris Letang joins the club sooner or later . . . or, really, at all . . . after being cleared to play (following treatment for a stroke) rests solely on . . . Kris Letang. [Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]

OTHER SHIT:

• One of Major League Soccer's fiercest rivalries is basically in my backyard - Sounders FC of Seattle vs. Timbers FC of Portland (my favorite MLS team, actually, at least until St. Louis gets a team, finally). Cascadia's battle is also known as the "Pig War". It is . . . quite interesting, and SO Cascadia. [SB Nation / Longform]
• The 2014 Name Of The Year Bracket is ready, and voting started yesterday. Holy shit, these names are great. (My money's on "Curvaceous Bass".) [Deadspin Concourse]

VIDEO:

In honor of the Timbers/Sounders story, I present the beginning of the first-ever episode of Portlandia because that show is awesome:

"The dream of the 90's is alive in Portland . . . . "

And . . . that'll do it for the week. J-Mill, my links partner-in-crime, has your weekend. Treat him well, would you please?:

• jasonmcadams1120 AT gmail DOT com
• @JMill1120

And hopefully you remember how to get to the arena if you've got a ticket tonight. #RockTheScott, and get yourself a St. Louis Game Time paper . . . and yes, you still should tip your vendor, you cheap shithead.

LET'S GO BLUES.