St. Louis Game Time - Ducks At Blues GameDay Storystream: Blues Go For Five Game Winning StreakWe're one ugly bastard.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/10753/gt-fave.png2016-03-12T00:53:18-06:00http://www.stlouisgametime.com/rss/stream/109649652016-03-12T00:53:18-06:002016-03-12T00:53:18-06:00Ducks Vs. Blues Recap: Duck, Duck...GOOSE!
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<figcaption>Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>No Mighty Duck references tonight....maybe. </p> <p><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">Blues</a> Lineup:</b></p>
<p>Forward lines: <span>Jaden Schwartz</span>/<span>Jori Lehtera</span>/<span>Vladimir Tarasenko</span>...<span>Robby Fabbri</span>/<span>Paul Stastny</span>/<span>Troy Brouwer</span>...<span>Patrik Berglund</span>/<span>David Backes</span>/<span>Dmitrij Jaskin</span>...<span>Scottie Upshall</span>/<span>Kyle Brodziak</span>/<span>Ryan Reaves</span></p>
<p>Defensive parings: <span>Jay Bouwmeester</span>/<span>Alex Pietrangelo</span>...<span>Carl Gunnarsson</span>/<span>Kevin Shattenkirk</span>...<span>Joel Edmundson</span>/<span>Colton Parayko</span>.</p>
<p>Starting in net would be <span>Jake Allen</span>.</p>
<p><b>Game Highlights:</b></p>
<p>With the Blues riding a hot streak and Anaheim playing lights out (although last time out they lost 3-0 in Colorado) this was a marquee Friday night fight in the NHL. The first period would be even on both sides, as both teams had quality chances. Here, Jake Allen would deny <span>Josh Manson</span> in close, not once but twice late in the frame.</p>
<p><iframe height="360" width="540" src="https://www.nhl.com/blues/video/embed/allens-two-saves-on-manson/t-277443738/c-42459403?autostart=false"></iframe></p>
<p>Neither team would score in the first, but both teams would manage to find their way onto the score sheet in the second. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.anaheimcalling.com/">Ducks</a> would strike first on a 5 on 3 chance after the Blues forgot how to count to four. <span>Ryan Getzlaf</span> would tip in a rebound chance in front of the net giving the bad guys the 1-0 lead.</p>
<p><iframe height="360" width="540" src="https://www.nhl.com/ducks/video/embed/getzlafs-great-power-play-goal/t-277443690/c-42460603?autostart=false"></iframe></p>
<p>The Blues would answer back with 3:24 to go in the period. Paul Stastny saw what Getzlaf had done and wanted to do better. He would get the tip in goal from a shot pass from the new 8.7 million dollar man Carl Gunnarsson to tie the game at 1-1.</p>
<p><iframe height="360" width="540" src="https://www.nhl.com/blues/video/embed/stastnys-great-tip-in/t-277443738/c-42461603?autostart=false"></iframe></p>
<p>It would be Stastny's seventh goal of the year with the aforementioned Gunnarsson(6) and Fabbri(15) getting the assists on the play. How about the line of Brouwer/Stastny/and Fabbri as of late? Fabbri has been getting plenty of quality chances, Brouwer has found his touch, and Stastny has been playing better hockey as of late. (Not that he was playing bad hockey.)</p>
<p>The Blues would score the go ahead goal in the first two minutes of the third period. Jori Lehtera would shoot it off a nice feed from Schwartz past Ducks goalie Frederik Anderson for the 2-1 Blues lead.</p>
<p><iframe height="360" width="540" src="https://www.nhl.com/blues/video/embed/lehtera-puts-the-blues-on-top/t-277443738/c-42463203?autostart=false"></iframe></p>
<p>It's Lehtera's ninth goal of the season with Schwartz(9) and Tarasenko(27) getting the assists on the play. But the Blues weren't done there. A minute later, Patrik Berglund would steal an errant pass in front of the Ducks net and make them pay for it.</p>
<p><iframe height="360" width="540" src="https://www.nhl.com/blues/video/embed/berglund-capitalizes-on-turnover/t-277443738/c-42463403?autostart=false"></iframe></p>
<p>Berglund nets his seventh of the year and the Blues have a 3-1 lead. Which brings us/them to having a two goal lead in the third. It hasn't been a strong point in finishing games for the Blues this year. Under five minutes to go in the third <span>Rickard Rakell</span> would put everyone on high alert again.</p>
<p><iframe height="360" width="540" src="https://www.nhl.com/ducks/video/embed/rakells-goal-on-mishap/t-277443690/c-42464603?autostart=false"></iframe></p>
<p>So he might have had a little help from Brodziak and Brouwer, but still. This would just be the Blues luck. What the Ducks didn't count on is Tarasenko wasn't gonna have any of that. On his first of two goals, Tarasenko would take a Ducks turnover and convert it into a 4-2 Blues lead.</p>
<p><iframe height="360" width="540" src="https://www.nhl.com/blues/video/embed/tarasenko-pads-the-lead-to-two/t-277443738/c-42464903?autostart=false"></iframe></p>
<p>His second goal to seal the deal for the good guys was from the parking lot.</p>
<p><iframe height="360" width="540" src="https://www.nhl.com/blues/video/embed/tarasenkos-empty-net-goal/t-277443738/c-42465103?autostart=false"></iframe></p>
<p>Nothing but net. Those goals would be numbers 31 and 32 respectively. The Blues go onto win 5-2 over Anaheim and move to 3-0 in what some fans have dubbed "hell week" (Beat Minny in Minny. Beat Chicago. Beat Anaheim) The Blues have a chance to move to 4 and 0 for "hell week" as they take on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.defendingbigd.com/">Stars</a> in Dallas tomorrow night. Of note for tomorrow night Jake Allen has already been named the starter. (I mean do the Blues have a choice?) Also, <span>Alexander Steen</span>, <span>Brian Elliott</span>, and <span>Steve Ott</span> will ALL be traveling with the team on the road trip. (via Lou Korac and Hitch postgame) Is the band finally close to being back together?</p>
<p><b>From The Twitter Machine:</b></p>
<p>Crazy stat of the day/year really:</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Every player was on the ice today for the morning skate for the first time all season. WATCH <a href="https://t.co/mz5OaT8eIO">https://t.co/mz5OaT8eIO</a> <a href="https://t.co/YV4Fz5Z7cf">pic.twitter.com/YV4Fz5Z7cf</a></p>
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) <a href="https://twitter.com/StLouisBlues/status/708403047865561088">March 11, 2016</a>
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<p>Congrats to Troy Brouwer on playing NHL game number 600 and looking like a Duck...(that's duck not dick...sickos)</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Troy Brouwer and his long lost brother. <a href="https://t.co/BYuRvK7BND">pic.twitter.com/BYuRvK7BND</a></p>
— St Louis Game Time (@StLouisGameTime) <a href="https://twitter.com/StLouisGameTime/status/708424543942144000">March 11, 2016</a>
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<p><span>Corey Perry</span> was not too happy about Tarasenko scoring. Although, he probably wasn't happy about the good guys winning in the first Mighty Ducks movie either. (THERE IS YOUR ONE TOKEN MIGHTY DUCKS REFERENCE)</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">....you okay, Corey Perry? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/stlblues?src=hash">#stlblues</a> <a href="https://t.co/OImui8lPg3">pic.twitter.com/OImui8lPg3</a></p>
— Cristiano Simonetta (@CMS_74_) <a href="https://twitter.com/CMS_74_/status/708496897908953090">March 12, 2016</a>
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<p>And finally...Speaking of Tarasenko, he might be in strong consideration for mayor after this strong post game interview.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Best postgame interview ever ... Tarasenko gives game-used stick to fan. <a href="https://twitter.com/StLouisBlues">@StLouisBlues</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ourblues?src=hash">#ourblues</a><a href="https://t.co/Lz3w6F9p98">https://t.co/Lz3w6F9p98</a></p>
— FOX Sports Midwest (@FSMidwest) <a href="https://twitter.com/FSMidwest/status/708499870961668097">March 12, 2016</a>
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<p><b>Three Stars:</b></p>
<p>Third Star: Carl Gunnarsson (1 assist. I guess since he just got a contract extension we can give him a star too.)</p>
<p>Second Star: Jake Allen (26 saves, Likes all of the Mighty Ducks movies. Even the horrible third one with the new coach. That's two.)</p>
<p>First Star: Vladimir Tarasenko (2 goals, 1 assist. In all seriousness played one of his better games of the season tonight. Had a great overall game.)</p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2016/3/12/11210652/ducks-vs-blues-recap-duck-duck-gooseJustin422016-03-11T18:30:02-06:002016-03-11T18:30:02-06:00GameThread for Anaheim Ducks at St. Louis Blues
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<figcaption>Harry How/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Blues have one more home game before a long road trip. Let's make the best of it.</p> <p>I took a nap, which means that the <a href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Blues</a> had to do something in the realm of player deals. This alert must've caught you as off guard as it did me and apparently our Fearless Leader Brad:</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p lang="und" dir="ltr">Huh? <a href="https://t.co/fixLRLXnYu">pic.twitter.com/fixLRLXnYu</a></p>— St Louis Game Time (@StLouisGameTime) <a href="https://twitter.com/StLouisGameTime/status/708439655818067968">March 11, 2016</a> </blockquote>
<p>Good news for Gunny, and I'll have a post up about it here in a few. First thing's first, though: the <a href="https://www.anaheimcalling.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Ducks</a> are in town and the Blues are going to need Gunnarsson and the rest of the defense to stop the Pacific Division's hottest team. A win tonight makes it five in a row and adds some momentum going into Dallas tomorrow night.</p>
<p>Let's see if Gunnarsson's extra motivated.</p>
<p>This is your GameDay Thread. Comment like you'd like $2.9 million a season.</p>
<p>Let's do this. Let's Go Blues.</p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2016/3/11/11209384/gamethread-for-anaheim-ducks-at-st-louis-blues-mar-11-2016hildymac2016-03-11T15:00:03-06:002016-03-11T15:00:03-06:00Ducks At Blues Game Preview: Slow Down The Ducks
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<figcaption>Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Anaheim Ducks have been going great guns recently - will the Blues go on a Duck hunt?</p> <p>Wednesday night, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.anaheimcalling.com/">Anaheim Ducks</a> lost in regulation for the first time in more than a month.</p>
<p>The team that struggled out of the gate is gone, turning into their usual playoff-contender selves. They have just two fewer wins than the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">Blues</a> do, and the two teams have split their last two meetings (Anaheim won 4-3 in a shootout on January 8th; the Blues won 2-1 back on October 29th). These are never easy games for either team. Tonight's game may not be as heated (and hopefully not as poorly officiated) as Thursday night's win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.secondcityhockey.com/">Chicago Blackhawks</a>, but you can bet it'll be physical and a challenge.</p>
<p>This game is going to be close. Don't believe me? Look at the teams' stats:</p>
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<th></th>
<th>GP</th>
<th>RECORD</th>
<th>HOME</th>
<th>ROAD</th>
<th>L10</th>
<th>G/GP</th>
<th>GA/GP</th>
<th>PP%</th>
<th>PK%</th>
<th>PIM/GP</th>
<th>S/GP</th>
<th>SA/GP</th>
<th>FO%</th>
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<td><img title="Anaheim Ducks" alt="Anaheim Ducks" class="team-logo " src="http://cdn.nhle.com/nhl/images/logos/teams/ANA_logo.svgz?v=9.22"></td>
<td>66</td>
<td>37-20-9</td>
<td>21-8-5</td>
<td>16-12-4</td>
<td>8-1-1</td>
<td>2.46</td>
<td>2.27</td>
<td>23.1</td>
<td>86.6</td>
<td>12.8</td>
<td>30.6</td>
<td>27.5</td>
<td>51.5</td>
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<td><img title="St. Louis Blues" alt="St. Louis Blues" class="team-logo " src="http://cdn.nhle.com/nhl/images/logos/teams/STL_dark_logo.svgz?v=9.22"></td>
<td>68</td>
<td>39-20-9</td>
<td>20-11-4</td>
<td>19-9-5</td>
<td>7-3-0</td>
<td>2.47</td>
<td>2.38</td>
<td>22.4</td>
<td>86.4</td>
<td>10.5</td>
<td>29.9</td>
<td>30.0</td>
<td>50.8</td>
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<p> </p>
<p>This is a must-win game for St. Louis. One point is keeping them away from advancing past either the Blackhawks or <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.defendingbigd.com/">Dallas Stars</a>, who are tied for first in the division and who play each other tonight. To keep pace, the Blues need two points. They've showed themselves capable of snagging two, but they've been doing so in dramatic fashion, incapable of maintaining a one-goal lead when the clock's winding down.</p>
<p>In their last 12 games against the Ducks at Scottrade, the Blues are an impressive 8-2-2. Jake Allen's been a good part of this. He's <span>3-0-0 with a 0.87 GAA, a .966 SV% and 1 SO in his career against the Ducks, and is going for win number 23 tonight. </span></p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2016/3/11/11206290/ducks-at-blues-game-preview-allen-to-continue-strong-home-playhildymac2016-03-11T11:00:05-06:002016-03-11T11:00:05-06:00Lighting The Lamp: Official Incompetency
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<img alt="Which one of these designs for the Winter Classic jersey: early 1980s (Wamsley) or 1985/6 (Liut)?" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/lDJWc5eE-uGy_GYx-ozZ-SOOCWE=/537x0:3587x2033/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49049801/DSCN2984.0.0.JPG" />
<figcaption>Which one of these designs for the Winter Classic jersey: early 1980s (Wamsley) or 1985/6 (Liut)? | Rick Ackerman</figcaption>
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<p>You might recognize the "Lighting the Lamp" feature from the Game Time paper. Rick Ackerman has been nice enough to send over his column for the website. "Lighting the Lamp" will be featured every home game day.</p> <p><b>Lighting the Lamp <span>with Rick Ackerman</span></b><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After a thrilling shootout victory over the archrival Blackhawks, the St. Louis Blues entertain the Anaheim Ducks tonight, the last home game before the Blues jet off on a lengthy five game road trip that takes them to Dallas, western Canada and finally the Pacific coast. The Note returns home two weeks from tonight to host the Vancouver Canucks and then immediately travels to the nation’s capitol for a contest the next night with the NHL’s best team. Whew! Thankfully, four of those seven games are against teams that are not going to qualify for the playoffs.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The game against Chicago was not without some anguish. After an extremely dubious charging major (and game misconduct, rescinded yesterday by the NHL) against rambunctious Ryan Reaves (even the obviously pro-Hawks NBC announcers and commentators agreed it was a terrible call, especially when the replay showed Reaves actually glided into the shoulder on shoulder check to Christian Ehrhoff), the Blackhawks took the lead on the ensuing five-minute power play and held on to it despite the efforts of the hard-charging Blues, who out shot Chicago 15-7 in the second period. Given power play opportunities in the third period, St. Louis cashed in (the Blues are now ranked 4<sup>th</sup> in the league on the power play) on tallies by David Backes and Troy Brouwer.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">However, the Note could not hold the lead and Chicago tied it up with 77 seconds left in regulation, continuing to show the Blues’ lack of a killer instinct and inability to put games away. Thanks to the stellar play of Jake Allen, who made 33 saves in regulation (including a spectacular paddle-save on Patrick Kane in the last minute of the first period) and six in bonus time, St. Louis was able to win the shootout on Kevin Shattenkirk’s top shelf blast past Corey Crawford.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And just when you think that NHL officiating cannot get any worse, it does.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Once again the inconsistent officiating by referees Dan O’Halloran (a 20 year patriarch) and Wes McCauley (a nine year veteran) befuddled the capacity crowd of 19, 756, at least to disgruntled Blues’ fans, who once again had the opportunity to shout, "Ref, you suck" several times during the match. The referees gave Reaves a major and game misconduct, yet failed to give Hawks’ defenseman Brent ("Wakey-Wakey") Seabrook even a minor for face-planting Jori Lehtera into the boards; they called Paul Stastny for slashing and breaking Dale Weise’s stick during the first period, yet failed to make a similar call when Lehtera’s stick was broken by a slash off a face-off in the third period.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I can pretty much understand why the Hawk’s high-stick that clipped Scottie Upshall in the last minute of e game was not called, yet I have absolutely no clue why Chicago’s Andrew Ladd was not called for running into Jake Allen at full speed during overtime. Is there a league directive that the Blackhawks are exempt from goaltender interference during overtime or something? The Blues were assessed penalties for incidental contact with opposing goaltenders in several games this month, yet this obvious foul was completely ignored. Perhaps the officials felt disallowing the subsequent "goal" was punishment enough for Chicago, or something like that, eh?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Is there a solution to this absolute mess concerning NHL officiating?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Since the addition of a second referee for the 2000-01 season did not significantly improve the quality of officiating, why not take one off the ice and make him a "video referee?" One less body on the ice could only help, right? The two linesmen could assist the lone on-ice ref by relating what they saw concerning penalties while the off-ice ref could use current modern technology to make sure the right call is always made. There are already somewhat lengthy delays with the officials meeting to discuss events (and confer with the War Room in Toronto) and with the coach’s challenge that was implemented last June for the current 2015-16 season. Nor would it be difficult to create space for this off-ice official in the area between the penalty boxes, either, complete with a video monitor equipped with instant replay and a direct line to Toronto. It makes sense to take advantage of modern technology and improve the one major area with which the NHL has the single biggest problem. There is no reason this system or something like it could not be implemented over the summer for the upcoming NHL Centennial and Blues’ 50<sup>th</sup> Anniversary season of 2016-17.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With the announcement that the 2017 Winter Classic between the Blues and Blackhawks will be held at Busch Stadium on January 2, the scramble for tickets will commence sometime this summer. Will Blues’ season ticket holders get priority, or will Cardinals’ patrons get first shot? Is it possible that up to 50,000 or more tickets will even be available? And how much will an average ducat for this gala event cost? Will the Blues sport a retro Winter Classic jersey (with NHL 100<sup>th</sup> anniversary patch and Blues 50<sup>th</sup> anniversary patch) and how many sets will be worn and later auctioned off at exorbitant prices? Will Bob Plager be able to lace up the skates one more time and join Terry Yake other former Blues for an alumni game? Obviously, there are many, many questions to be answered and it will be most interesting to see how Blues’ management (in coordination with the Cardinals) handles this upcoming major event.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Good luck to everyone involved or anyone who wants tickets!</p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2016/3/11/11202046/lighting-the-lamp-official-incompetencyhildymacAckermania2016-03-11T08:00:11-06:002016-03-11T08:00:11-06:00Ducks At Blues Open Thread: Pacific's Hottest
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<figcaption>Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Anaheim Ducks have turned their season around after a disastrous start.</p> <p>Remember when the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.anaheimcalling.com/">Anaheim Ducks</a> began their season with a disastrous run that nearly cost coach Bruce Boudreau his job? Remember when <span>Ryan Getzlaf</span> had like one goal? Remember when the Ducks sucked?</p>
<p>Ah, the good old days.</p>
<p>Now, the Ducks are fighting the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.jewelsfromthecrown.com/">Kings</a> for first place in the Pacific Division, and they're one of the hottest teams in the NHL. They just had their 14 (!) game point streak snapped by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighhockey.com/">Colorado Avalanche</a>, and are probably wanting to get another streak started. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">Blues</a> aren't doing half bad themselves; they're on an four game winning streak (albeit a stress inducing one) without <span>Alexander Steen</span> and <span>Brian Elliott</span>.</p>
<p>This is your morning open thread. Hang around for a Lighting the Lamp from Rick, your game preview, and a half hour before puck drop, your GDT. While you're waiting, head to <a href="http://www.anaheimcalling.com/">Anaheim Calling</a> and say hi to the nice folks over there. Don't hold <span>Corey Perry</span> against them.</p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2016/3/11/11200890/ducks-at-blues-morning-open-thread-pacifics-hottesthildymac