St. Louis Game Time - Ducks At Blues GameDay Storystream: Can Lehtarasenko Keep It Up?We're one ugly bastard.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/10753/gt-fave.png2014-10-30T18:30:02-05:00http://www.stlouisgametime.com/rss/stream/68951262014-10-30T18:30:02-05:002014-10-30T18:30:02-05:00GameThread for Anaheim Ducks at St. Louis Blues
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<figcaption>Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Tonight's game begins a possibly long stretch of Backes-less and Oshie-less hockey.</p> <p>Tonight's going to be tough. It may be unpleasant. It's going to require lots of "man upping" and related terms. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">Blues</a> are going to have to work and work hard to manage a win over the best team in the NHL*, a team with twice as many wins as the Blues have so far.</p>
<p><a href="http://lkorac10.blogspot.com/2014/10/10-30-14-ducks-blues-gameday-lineup.html">Here're the lines for tonight from Lou Korac</a>:</p>
<p>Alexander Steen-Jori Lehtera-Vladimir Tarasenko</p>
<p>Jaden Schwartz-Patrik Berglund - <span>Joakim Lindstrom</span> (if well)</p>
<p>Dmitrij Jaskin-Steve Ott-Magnus Paajarvi</p>
<p>Chris Porter-MaximLapierre-Ryan Reaves</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Jay Bouwmeester-Alex Pietrangelo</p>
<p>Carl Gunnarsson-Kevin Shattenkirk</p>
<p>Ian Cole-Barret Jackman</p>
<p><span>Jordan Leopold</span> - if Lindstrom doesn't play</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This is your gameday thread. Have frosty cold ones ready, folks. Have them ready.</p>
<p>Let's do this. Let's go Blues</p>
<p> </p>
<p>*tied with the Habs</p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2014/10/30/7133393/gamethread-for-anaheim-ducks-at-st-louis-blues-oct-30-2014hildymac2014-10-30T14:00:03-05:002014-10-30T14:00:03-05:00Ducks At Blues Game Preview: Andersen And Allen
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<figcaption>Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Fans of alliteration should be happy tonight, as two very capable goaltenders want to continue their clubs' winning ways.</p> <p>Well, tonight should be tough.<a href="http://www.stlouisgametime.com/2014/10/30/7132533/backes-oshie-both-diagnosed-with-concussions" target="_blank"> Both David Backes and T.J. Oshie have concussions</a>, which makes half of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">Blues</a>' top six damaged goods when you factor in the still-injured <span>Paul Stastny</span>.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.stltoday.com/sports/hockey/professional/tarasenko-is-clicking-for-blues/article_42ce5dcd-ce3d-5bc2-818b-b9ba81700c07.html">Thank God for Vladimir Tarasenko and Jori Lehetra</a>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"I didn’t score for five games," Tarasenko said. "I feel a little bit better right now, probably more confident. (But) it’s not enough to play one good game and play five bad ones after it. I need to (keep) working."</p>
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<p>A positive work ethic goes a long way, especially when you're part of the line that the team needs to rely on for the foreseeable future. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.anaheimcalling.com/">Ducks</a> are banged up too, but not like the Blues are. Let's compare the injury list, shall we?</p>
<p>Injuries • Blues — C <span>David Backes</span> (head) and RW <span>T.J. Oshie</span> (head), out; C Paul Stastny (shoulder), doubtful.</p>
<p>Ducks — D <span>Ben Lovejoy</span> (hand), LW Patrick Maroon (knee), D <span>Bryan Allen</span> (lower-body injury) and D <span>Sheldon Souray</span> (torn wrist ligament), out.</p>
<p>Oh, no, that's a fair comparison of injured players right there, especially against a team that is still chugging along with the most points in the Western Conference (and is tied for tops in the league) with 16. It's getting difficult to gauge how effective of hockey the Blues have been playing with the injuries mounting. If they win tonight, much like the win in Dallas, it could be seen as a sign of the team taking the next step forward - of not being overly reliant on a couple of players.</p>
<p>It will be a tough uphill slog, and <span>Jake Allen</span> is equipped pull the team up it. He's 1-1 this year, with a 2.08 GAA and a .915 save percentage. The Blues' defense may need to make up for the offense's injuries, but that's something they did on Tuesday night once the team got its bearings, and it should be doable tonight as well.</p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2014/10/30/7132441/ducks-at-blues-game-preview-andersen-and-allen-face-offhildymac2014-10-30T11:56:08-05:002014-10-30T11:56:08-05:00Backes, Oshie Both Diagnosed With Concussions<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://twitter.com/stlouisblues/status/527860009594413057?refsrc=email">Backes, Oshie Both Diagnosed With&nbsp;Concussions</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>This makes three of the Blues' top six injured in some way, shape or form, and Lindstrom is also questionable due to the bacterial infection from hell.</p>
<p>We just can't have nice things. Tonight is going to be a difficult game.</p></p></div>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2014/10/30/7132533/backes-oshie-both-diagnosed-with-concussionshildymac2014-10-30T10:30:01-05:002014-10-30T10:30:01-05:00Memoribilia Memories: Camping Out
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<figcaption>Rick Ackerman</figcaption>
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<p>You might recognize the "Memorabilia Memories" (formerly "Lighting the Lamp") feature from the Game Time paper. Rick Ackerman has been nice enough to send over his column for the website. "Memorabilia Memoirs" will be featured every home game day.</p> <p><i>Memorabilia Memories, with Rick Ackerman</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Part 1</p>
<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In one of my life's great ironies, I left St. Louis in 1967, the year the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">Blues</a> were born, to attend college in Ohio. Of course, I returned several times a year to visit with friends and family, and more importantly, to attend Blues games, including Stanley Cup Finals games those first three years. Unfortunately, I was not around for any training camps or practices or promotional and charity events such as the Blues Alumni Fantasy Camp. I had seen ads and brochures for Fantasy Camp, in which amateur skaters could sign up to play hockey with current and former Blues players, yet could never attend the annual event in early September due to the conflict with being a high school teacher in Ohio, starting a new year, unable to get away. That changed when I returned home in the fall of 2005, free at last after my 30 year stint as a teacher.</p>
<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There was no camp in 2006, so I had to wait until 2007 to don my skates and play some hockey with the Blues. However, I didn't have any skates (or any other equipment for that matter), and had not played since the mid-1990s, due to a back injury and wobbly knees caused by playing over 20 years in a garage league in Dayton. So, I contacted Bruce Affleck, then the director of alumni affairs, and asked if I could borrow all the equipment in order to play. He graciously invited me to the alumni locker room at the Summit Center (now the Hardee's Iceplex) in Chesterfield and opened the back room so I could scrounge up all the gear I would need, including skates, gloves previously worn by Brett Hull and even a couple of sticks, one game-used by Steve Yzerman</p>
<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I found myself on a team with the likes of Bernie Federko (HHoF 2002), current Blues' owner Tom Stillman, Jimmy "Soup" Campbell, Bruce Racine (who played defense instead of goal), ex-<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.habseyesontheprize.com/">Montreal Canadiens</a> scrapper Chris "Knuckles" Nilan, Scott Rupp (StLHHoF 2014) and coaches <span>Jimmy Vesey</span> (a top scorer for the Peoria Rivermen) and star center Craig Janney. Although I hadn't skated for over ten years, the guys made up for my lack of skill by telling me to head for the net and screen the opposing goaltender and wait for a pass to deflect or shoot. Of course, they didn't warn me that Bob Plager would be playing defense for the other team in our first of six games, and sure enough, Plager hip-checked me down as I skated into his territory. "You have to throw one or two every game just to knock them down", Plager quipped afterwards.</p>
<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To make matters worse, my hockey pants didn't fit and they kept falling down to my ankles, much to the amusement of my teammates. Coach Janney took care of that, though, by taping them up around my waist until he could find me a decent pair of suspenders to hold them up. Even though I was possibly the worst skater on the ice that year, I managed to keep up and assisted on a couple of goals, the best of which was a nifty five-hole shot by line mate Rupp. However, through the first five games, I could not find the back of the net and the pressure was on for our last game. The coaches put me on a line with Stillman at left wing and Federko at center (the helicopter line; no wings), and that did the trick. Midway through the first period, Stillman dug the puck out of the corner and slid it to Federko, who found me open on the right side of the net and put the puck right on the tape of my stick for an excellent scoring opportunity. I lofted a wrist shot and scored top shelf. That was even more thrilling then getting knocked down by Bob Plager!</p>
<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At the dinner after the game, I was invited by my "new best friend", Coach Vesey, to sit at the alumni table with the likes of Janney, Campbell, Racine, Al MacInnis, Scott Mellanby, Garth Butcher, Tyson Nash, Pat Jablonski and Brett Hull, who made a surprise visit to camp that night. As it turned out, the main topic of discussion at the table that evening was Mike Keenan. And, no, I will not repeat any of that expletive-laced conversation in which the players' disdain for "Iron Mike" was made quite apparent. Suffice it to say their memories were not at all kindhearted or joyful under Keenan's tutelage in St. Louis. </p>
<p></p>
<p>My biggest surprise came after dinner when Affleck called me up to the podium to receive the camp's MVP award. My poor skating ability and lack of talent did not stop the Alumni from recognizing my enthusiasm, spirit and determination to be the best hockey player I could and rewarded me by allowing me to keep all the equipment I borrowed, including my pair of Hull gloves and Yzerman stick (which I give most of the credit to for that top shelf goal). What an honor! Playing a competitive hockey game with living legends like Federko and Plager is something that diehard Blues fans can only dream about, so, believe me, I kept pinching myself many times that night to make sure I wasn't just dreaming it all up.</p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2014/10/30/7131275/memoribilia-memories-camping-outhildymac2014-10-30T08:49:27-05:002014-10-30T08:49:27-05:00Hitchcock On Blues' Lineup For Tonight<blockquote>
<p><p>"We really don’t know, to be honest with you. I would say nobody’s ruled out. A couple of guys that got banged up yesterday aren’t ruled in yet. We’ll get a better evaluation tomorrow. We’re expecting that we’ll be pretty close to the same roster, but we’re not sure yet."</p></p>
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<div class="source"><p><a href="%E2%80%9CWe%20really%20don%E2%80%99t%20know,%20to%20be%20honest%20with%20you.%20I%20would%20say%20nobody%E2%80%99s%20ruled%20out.%20A%20couple%20of%20guys%20that%20got%20banged%20up%20yesterday%20aren%E2%80%99t%20ruled%20in%20yet.%20We%E2%80%99ll%20get%20a%20better%20evaluation%20tomorrow.%20We%E2%80%99re%20expecting%20that%20we%E2%80%99ll%20be%20pretty%20close%20to%20the%20same%20roster,%20but%20we%E2%80%99re%20not%20sure%20yet.%E2%80%9D">Ken Hitchcock, from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch</a>. Does this mean Backes is good to go? There's no medical report yet, but I'd be impressed if he is out there considering his history.</p></div>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2014/10/30/7131333/hitchcock-on-blues-lineup-for-tonighthildymac2014-10-30T08:00:04-05:002014-10-30T08:00:04-05:00Ducks At Blues Morning Open Thread: More Offense?
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<figcaption>Ronald Martinez</figcaption>
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<p>The line of Alexander Steen, Jori Lehtera, and Vladimir Tarasenko were on fire Tuesday night against Dallas. Are we in store for a repeat performance?</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">Blues</a> finished their game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.defendingbigd.com/">Dallas Stars</a> even more short hande than they began it, with captain <span>David Backes</span> leaving at the end of the first period due to an "upper body injury." His head hit the ice hard after a hit away from the play by <span>Trevor Daley</span>, and he did not return. It cost the Blues their bearings during the second period, but the line of <span>Alexander Steen</span>, <span>Jori Lehtera</span>, and <span>Vladimir Tarasenko</span> decided to go on and put on a clinic anyway. They combined for eight points, with Lehtera assisting on two of Tarasenko's goals and adding his own for good measure.</p>
<p>Stars goalie <span>Kari Lehtonen</span> mentioned Tarasenko's "hot stick" to Panger. Let's see if <span>Frederik Andersen</span> can't marvel at the same thing. The last time these two teams played, Andersen shut the Blues out.</p>
<p>This is your morning open thread. Check back for some Memorabilia Memories later on around lunchtime, and head over for a preview and yoru GDT along with some other stuff. While you're biding your time until game time, say hi to our friends at <a href="http://www.anaheimcalling.com/">Anaheim Calling</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.battleofcallifornia.com">Battle of California</a>. <a href="http://www.battleofcali.com/2014/10/29/7129453/anaheim-ducks-frederik-andersen-reservoir-dogs-mask-quentin-tarantino" target="_blank">They have a fantastic feature on Andersen's new Resivoir Dogs-themed mask that is for sure worth checking out</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.battleofcali.com" target="_blank"></a></p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2014/10/30/7131025/ducks-at-blues-morning-open-thread-can-lehtarasenko-keep-it-uphildymac