St. Louis Game Time - Blues Opening Day StoryStream: It's About TimeWe're one ugly bastard.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/10753/gt-fave.png2014-10-10T22:27:20-05:00http://www.stlouisgametime.com/rss/stream/67078822014-10-10T22:27:20-05:002014-10-10T22:27:20-05:00QuoteShot<blockquote>
<p><p>"He handled it real well. I've seen him fight once a year and he always does real well. I don't know, I guess he's got that inner-killer in him."</p></p>
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<div class="source"><p><a href="http://www.stltoday.com/sports/hockey/professional/morning-skate/stastny-sits-out-practice-but-should-play-saturday/article_e991da0d-3e34-50c8-826f-99cff24ada8a.html">Ryan Reaves on T.J. "Killer" Oshie</a></p></div>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2014/10/10/6961107/1412998040hildymac2014-10-09T21:36:56-05:002014-10-09T21:36:56-05:00T.J. Oshie Fights Mats Zuccarello, Wins<iframe width="640" height="390" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/-EdCX4An504" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>
<div class="source source-img"><p><p>This is Oshie's third fighting major, and first in a year and a half. He doesn't do it often, but that doesn't mean that he can't throw the mitts down when needed.</p></p></div>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2014/10/9/6955429/t-j-oshie-fights-mats-zuccarello-winshildymac2014-10-09T21:06:08-05:002014-10-09T21:06:08-05:00Dan Girardi Knees Paul Stastny<img src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0b4_nAJOQau0gjCQzqwXgT4GMP0=/410x410/cdn.vox-cdn.com/fan_shot_images/351834/BzjLYVICcAAiTrA.jpg" />
<div class="source source-img"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/NYR_FullTilt" target="new">From @NYR_FullTilt </a>- Stastny did return to the ice to start the third period.</p></div>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2014/10/9/6955309/dan-girardi-knees-paul-stastnyhildymac2014-10-09T18:00:03-05:002014-10-09T18:00:03-05:00Rangers At Blues GDT: The Boys Are Back
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<figcaption>Elsa</figcaption>
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<p>The Blues are back in action against the reigning Eastern Conference Champions</p> <p>Finally. It's time to put last season's disappointing end and disappointing playoff exit behind us. It's everyone's favorite time of the year: opening night. Let's not get ahead of ourselves this year:</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/W9H4PizIER0" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p>Not again.</p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">Blues</a> are focused on the here and now, and they' need to identify the problems that caused the team to bow out early yet again. I think they've made strides in the right direction; a win over the Eastern Conference champions to start the season off in the right direction would be nice.</p>
<p>This is your game day thread. If you can't make it to the game, come here and celebrate the start of the new season. If you are at the game, stop in and say hi.</p>
<p>Let's start this on the right foot. Let's do this.</p>
<p>Let's Go Blues.</p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2014/10/9/6951805/gamethread-for-new-york-rangers-at-st-louis-blues-oct-9-2014hildymac2014-10-09T18:00:02-05:002014-10-09T18:00:02-05:00Buy Tonight's Game Time Paper For St. Louis Blues
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<img alt="Hockey hugs! We can buy Game Time from the dressing room and see how they really feel about us!" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Sa0_K3TQsfs6XQhe_fGKb1xnKdk=/0x0:3990x2660/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/41403118/20141004_sng_av4_109.JPG.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Hockey hugs! We can buy Game Time from the dressing room and see how they really feel about us! | Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>You can now electronically purchase single copies of the Game Time paper. </p> <p>Hey there St. Louis Blues fans and readers of fan-run hockey papers everywhere. And by everywhere I mean normally at Blues games. But now you can <a href="https://sowl.co/mQlOy">securely buy a copy of tonight's paper</a>.</p>
<p>In case you're new to the party, Game Time actually started as a fan-run paper sold outside Blues home games in January 1995. I've been running the hockey rag since the 2013 season. It's the best and worst hobby ever. I was a fan of the paper long before I ever wrote Game Time when it started in November 2005. Then I wrote every issue. And now I put together every issue. So I know that if I want to continue reading the paper, I have to keep it going (unless you'd like to take it over some day).</p>
<p>So. You ever read the paper? You get one from me over email or you ever buy one down at the game? The pdf you can <a href="https://sowl.co/mQlOy">purchase right now</a> is the same exact thing people will be reading in the stands tonight. Except it's slightly cheaper at $3 an issue compared to $4 for the physical copy of the paper downtown. If you want to subscribe for the full season, each issue is just $2 a game and you get the paper via email several hours before the Blues take the ice.</p>
<p>If you have any questions, please drop me a line at gtbradlee@gmail.com.</p>
<p>And Let's Go Blues.</p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2014/10/9/6953561/buy-tonights-game-time-paper-for-st-louis-blues-home-openerBrad Lee2014-10-09T16:49:38-05:002014-10-09T16:49:38-05:00Randy Choate Is Ready For Opening Night<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="/rss/stream/6707882">Randy Choate Is Ready For Opening&nbsp;Night</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>Here we go for some of that famous STL sports synergy. The Cards are taking the evening off to come out and support the Blues</p></p></div>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2014/10/9/6954117/randy-choate-is-ready-for-opening-nighthildymac2014-10-09T13:00:02-05:002014-10-09T13:00:02-05:00Rangers At Blues Opening Day Preview
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<figcaption>Christian Petersen</figcaption>
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<p>The Blues have an unusual opening night opponent - not an in-division or in-conference rival, but the Eastern Conference champions.</p> <p>The Blues aren't opening against someone who would traditionally be a huge draw. The New York Rangers are a good team, and last year they made a surprising run at the Stanley Cup. Despite falling to the Los Angeles Kings in five games, the games were mostly close ones. The Rangers, whose core is essentially the same, would like to make another run.</p>
<p>The Blues would probably like to make a deeper run than one round, but that's not on their mind at the moment. It's just opening night, after all. According to Ken Hitchcock, <a href="http://www.stltoday.com/sports/hockey/professional/blues-trying-to-avoid-pitfalls/article_4cbe478a-1b43-502e-8be7-2a98f84f0af3.html" target="_blank">speaking in an interview with the Post-Dispatch's Jeremy Rutherford,</a> is in prime "playoffs!?!?" mode.</p>
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<p>"First of all, we couldn’t get a better opponent, other than it being Los Angeles you couldn’t get a better opponent to measure," Hitchcock said. "I think the first thing we can do is not talk about the playoffs. I think when you’re in the playoffs for a few years in a row, you just assume that you’re going to get there. That’s the biggest mistake you could make.</p>
<p>"What you should be thinking about is playing your best hockey for as long as you can, knowing that there’s going to be dips in the road and you’re going to have to manage them. It’s all about managing the potholes. I think we’re going to need to do that to get into the playoffs."</p>
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<p>He raises a good point - coasting and entitlement won't get you anywhere, though it's never seemed that was the Blues problem. The Blues did fix the problem - quality depth at center - by adding Paul Stastny and Jori Lehtera, who had a very impressive pre-season. The Blues have added some finesse and scoring punch while maintaining their defensive prowess.</p>
<p>The Rangers have been a good opponent for the Blues to deal with. They've beaten New York three games in a row, scoring seven goals in two games last year. Their power play, which is occasionally an issue, clicked, going three for eight. Keep your eyes on David Backes and Alexander Steen. In just two games they each had five points against the Rangers, with two goals and three assists apiece. Part of this success - to the tune of four goals in 40 minutes of play - came against Martin Biron. It's tough to know if the Blues can replicate that success against Henrik Lundqvist. I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that tonight's game will be closer to last year's 2-1 win back on January 23rd than the Blues' 5-3 win last October 12th.</p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2014/10/9/6951675/rangers-at-blues-opening-day-preview-lundqvist-backes-mcdonagh-pietrangelohildymac2014-10-09T11:00:03-05:002014-10-09T11:00:03-05:00Lighting the Lamp: Memorabilia Memoirs
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<img alt="Frank St. Marseille home jersey circa 1968-69 with original Giesler-Jorgen tags" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/wGLKpfeq49BjrHC_gPNNP6HltTk=/0x15:3010x2022/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/41345028/HPIM3999.0.0.JPG" />
<figcaption>Frank St. Marseille home jersey circa 1968-69 with original Giesler-Jorgen tags | 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 class="MsoNormal">Welcome back! It's been nothing but good news for the <a href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">St. Louis Blues</a> since their horrifying series loss to the arch-rival <a href="https://www.secondcityhockey.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Blackhawks</a> last April. The Blues loaded up at the amateur draft in June, adding slick center Robbie Fabbri and winger <span>Ivan Barbashev</span> (although both were returned to their junior teams after impressing in training camp). Then during the summer, GM Doug Armstrong signed centers <span>Paul Stastny</span> and <span>Jori Lehtera</span>, as well as veteran Swedish winger <span>Joakim Lindstrom</span> and finally <span>Jaden Schwartz</span>, all under the salary cap. Armstrong also added defenseman <span>Carl Gunnarsson</span> from Toronto for Roman Polak. The Blues are well stocked and ready to rock and roll through the regular season and into the playoffs. This edition of the Note is arguably the most complete, deep and best team in St. Louis hockey history (something I also wrote in the first edition of St. Louis Game Time at this time last year), able to realistically challenge for the division and conference championship titles, as well as the Stanley Cup.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">If you are reading this article, then chances are pretty good that you are more than just a casual hockey fan or just simply killing time until the next Cardinals, Rams or Mizzou game is played. It is far more likely that you are a seasoned hockey veteran with a well- above average knowledge of the game and the NHL club in St. Louis. After all, you knew enough to either purchase our fine magazine at the rink and/or find us online in order to get more information and opinions about the Blues and hockey in general. Chances are also pretty good that you will attend more than ten games during the regular season and as many during the playoffs as you can afford. Some take being a hockey fan further, though, especially those still able to play the game, whether it be in a pick-up street-hockey game with the guys or in an established amateur league in the St. Louis metropolitan area. And there are others who write about their favorite sport, especially online in various blogs, message boards and hockey forums. Serious fans also enjoy immersing themselves in fantasy leagues, in which they play General Manager and choose actual players that earn them points based on superior performances in real NHL games.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">And then there are those hockey fan(atic)s who collect memorabilia.</p>
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<img alt="Frank St. Marseille home jersey circa 1968-69 with original Giesler-Jorgen tags" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xlfJePh76s5E-An19M9hgfqO2xQ=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2339302/St._Marseille_jersey_003.0.JPG">
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<p class="caption">Signed "The Saint #9" and authenticated by St. Marseille himself</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It usually starts innocently enough with a souvenir from that first professional game, either a program or a pennant or even a puck. Then as favorite players are recognized, hockey cards are available at a relatively nominal cost, eventually followed by getting the souvenir signed by a favorite player. And that quickly leads to getting more items autographed, including the purchase of a jersey when the person finally self-identifies as a real fan of the sport or home team. That first jersey is usually a replica, most likely without a player's name and number, although sometimes popular (high-scoring) players' names such as Oshie or Tarasenko are chosen even if a little more costly. For the fanatics, though, that starter replica jersey is just the beginning.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The number of game worn hockey jerseys available for sale or trade is staggering, as is the cost for the most popular ones. For example, a well-worn Brett Hull Blues jersey starts at auction at $1,000 and can easily bring in as much as $4,000, or more. There is something extra-special about owning a jersey actually worn in a game, and that soon includes the desire to own and/or display game used sticks and even pucks, skates and other equipment. Those obsessed with goaltenders can and do spend thousands of dollars on game used helmets, blockers, gloves and pads. Yet there is something truly noteworthy and extraordinary about jerseys that endear them to the true collector, some of whom keep them in pristine condition, refusing to "spoil" them with an autograph from the player or even wear them in public or to a game, risking (Horrors!) spilled food or beer.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I am not that particular about my collection of hockey jerseys, now numbering 250, including 117 game worn or team issued jerseys. 145 of them are signed (61 gamers) and I have no problem wearing any of them in public or to games. As it turns out, my most valuable game worn jersey was the very first one I ever obtained, directly from the hands of Emile Francis at the Blues' garage sale in 1982 when the club was in dire need of cash and on the brink of moving to Saskatoon. I was able to purchase a #9 white (home) jersey at a (now nominal) cost of $30 (cash only) that was later identified and authenticated by Frank St. Marseille himself as a jersey he wore during the 1968-69 season. I was also fortunate to pick up a signed game used St. Marseille stick at a later date, although the $200 price was a bit steep. In the long run, though, money issues all even out.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As the season progresses, I will continue to share my memorabilia collection with you and relate stories about interactions with players both past and present. For those willing to put the time and money into collecting hockey memorabilia and autographs, it is tremendously rewarding and fulfilling as hockey-related treasures and memories help one appreciate the rich history of the greatest game on earth.</p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2014/10/9/6950923/lighting-the-lamp-memorabilia-memoirshildymac