St. Louis Game Time - Maple Leafs At Blues GameDay Storystream: Roman ReturnsWe're one ugly bastard.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/10753/gt-fave.png2015-01-17T17:30:02-06:00http://www.stlouisgametime.com/rss/stream/73322382015-01-17T17:30:02-06:002015-01-17T17:30:02-06:00GameThread for Leafs at Blues: Welcome, Tire Fire.
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<figcaption>Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Toronto Maple Leafs have hit the point of their season where they might need to consider tearing themselves down on purpose.</p> <p><a target="_blank" href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theglobeandmail.com%2Fsports%2Fhockey%2Fleafs-beat%2Fmirtle-leafs-in-limbo-after-pointless-california-trip%2Farticle22485560%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stlouisgametime.com%2F2015%2F1%2F17%2F7629509%2Fgamethread-for-toronto-maple-leafs-at-st-louis-blues-jan-17-2015" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">Always excellent James Mirtle published a post yesterday on the Globe and Mail</a> in which he extolls the virtues of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/">Maple Leafs</a> realizing that maybe they need to embrace the rebuild instead of pretending that things'll just turn around.</p>
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<p>The Leafs seem to put up a door frame every year before sitting back and saying "it might turn into a house."</p>
<p>Then it falls over sometime between January and March and the process starts anew.</p>
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<p>Ouch. And yet, that's the most accurate description of the Leafs I've read. They begin the year with one hell of a promising door frame, and then at the end of the season they have a smoldering pile of rubble that's never rebuilt quite right because they didn't just go on and clear it all out before trying again. They put another doorframe up right on top of that pile and repeat the process.</p>
<p>This is your gameday thread. Comment like you still love <span>Roman Polak</span> because, come on, I know that you do.</p>
<p>Let's do this. Let's go <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">Blues</a>.</p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2015/1/17/7629509/gamethread-for-toronto-maple-leafs-at-st-louis-blues-jan-17-2015hildymac2015-01-17T15:32:57-06:002015-01-17T15:32:57-06:00Update: Jaskin Scratched Again Against Leafs<blockquote>
<p><p>Tonight's Projected Lines</p></p>
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<div class="source"><p><p>Alexander Steen-David Backes-T.J. Oshie<br></p>
<p>Jaden Schwartz-Jori Lehtera-Vladimir Tarasenko<br></p>
<p>Patrik Berglund-Paul Stastny-Joakim Lindstrom<br></p>
<p>Steve Ott-Maxim Lapierre-Ryan Reaves<br><br></p>
<p><a href="http://www.stltoday.com/sports/hockey/professional/polak-returns-tonight-with-toronto/article_57a3a115-8f9a-5e35-90dd-23b2e08d11a1.html">Tonight's lines from Jeremy Rutherford</a>.<br>
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<br />So much for Hitch's earlier hint that both of the forwards will be playing against Toronto tonight. Lindstrom will be in for his second consecutive game.</p></p></div>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2015/1/17/7632715/update-jaskin-scratched-again-against-leafshildymac2015-01-17T14:23:43-06:002015-01-17T14:23:43-06:00Carl Gunnarsson Gunning For Tyler Bozak<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://twitter.com/markhmasters/status/556518281775824896">Carl Gunnarsson Gunning For Tyler&nbsp;Bozak</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>Isn't it fun when old teammates face each other? I'm sure that Polak has a hit list too. I weep for whoever's on it.</p></p></div>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2015/1/17/7629661/carl-gunnarsson-gunning-for-tyler-bozakhildymac2015-01-17T14:00:02-06:002015-01-17T14:00:02-06:00Maple Leafs At Blues Preview: Predators Lite?
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<figcaption>James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Coach Ken Hitchcock sees shades of the Preds' defense in the Horachek-era Leafs. Will fans be seeing that in action tonight?</p> <p>Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun published a very interesting interview with Ken Hitchcock ahead of tonight's game. Hitch had some interesting thoughts of the (some would say nonexistent) new defensive mindset of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Former Nashville assistant coach Peter Horachek is now the head coach of the Maple Leafs, <a href="http://m.torontosun.com/2015/01/16/st-louis-blues-coach-ken-hitchcock-likens-suddenly-defensive-maple-leafs-to-predators" target="_blank">and Hitch is seeing some similarities between the two teams</a>.</p>
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<p>"Everything I see is Nashville," Hitchcock said on Friday at the Blues’ suburban practice facility.</p>
<p>"That’s the way Nashville played for years. You can see the implementation of it.</p>
<p>"I told our coaches you could show Nashville clips from last year, the year before, five years ago, that is the way they are going to play (when the Leafs and Blues meet at the Scottrade Center on Saturday night).</p>
<p>"There is going to be a tight gap. You’re going to have to get the puck behind them because there is not going to be any room in front of them. You can see that."</p>
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<p>Horachek has only coached for five games, so it's tough to see if what Hitch is seeing will play out long term. The Leafs have only won one game during his brief tenure, a 5-2 home win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. They just finished up a trip to California in which they lost every game and were shut out by the Kings and Ducks in back to back games. They've allowed 17 goals during the past five games as well.</p>
<p>If the Blues can pick up the scoring pace after taking most of the game off Thursday night, it won't matter if the Leafs are trying to emulate the Predators. Tonight's starter Jonathan Bernier has not benefited from their new strategies in the least. The Leafs allow 33.5 shots a game (which has improved greatly under Horachek - they've been allowing about 10 fewer per game during his brief tenure), and surrender 3.07 goals a game. Pepper the guy with shots, and some will go in. Law of averages, and it's helpful when the Leafs encourage other teams to take as many shots as possible.</p>
<p>Alexander Steen is riding an eight-game point streak, which should help the Blues add to their seven-game point streak against the Maple Leafs. And, of course, Roman Polak, Helmet Farter is back.</p>
<p><iframe src="http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=727966&site=blues" frameborder="0" width="640" height="395"></iframe></p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2015/1/17/7629389/maple-leafs-at-blues-preview-predators-litehildymac2015-01-17T11:00:02-06:002015-01-17T11:00:02-06:00Memorabilia Memories: Sweden, Part 5
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<figcaption>Opening face off for game 2 of the NHL Premiere Series in Stockholm | 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 Memories" will be featured every home game day.</p> <p><span>Memorabilia Memories <span>with Rick Ackerman</span></span></p>
<p><span></span><span>Part 5</span><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span></span>On the buses on the way to game two of the 2009 NHL Premiere event in Sweden, the group of 100 or so <a href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Blues</a>' fans from St. Louis was delighted to see the Globe Arena now awash in a brilliant blue light, designating the Blues as the home team for this second game in Stockholm. Having won 4-3 the night before when Detroit was the home team and the Globe was illuminated in red, the Blues could do no worse than split the two-game series with the <a href="https://www.wingingitinmotown.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Red Wings</a>. However, that was never a consideration for this loyal band of Blues brothers and sisters who anticipated, and got, another come-from-behind victory over the despised squad from the Motor City.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span><span>Ty Conklin</span>, now the goalie coach for the Blues AHL farm team in Chicago, manned the nets for his first game as a member of the Blues, and rookie <span>Jimmy Howard</span> tended goal for the Red Wings. As expected, Detroit came storming out in the penalty-filled first period, out shooting St. Louis 15 to 9, scoring two goals to the Blues' one. The Red Wings scored first when <span>Tomas Holmstrom</span> tipped in a shot by defenseman <span>Brian Rafalski</span> and took a 2-0 lead when Dan Cleary deflected a <span>Henrik Zetterberg</span> pass into the net just two minutes and eight seconds into the game. So, as the night before, the Blues had to play catch-up with Detroit, out shot 11-1 at one point. However, the Blues managed to hang in there and battle back. They could only muster one shot on goal during a five-on-three power play, yet <span>Keith Tkachuk</span> scored<span> </span>on a pass from <span>Andy McDonald</span> five seconds after the first penalty expired. <span>Paul Kariya</span> also assisted on Big Walt's first goal of the series.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>It was the Blues turn to dominate during the second period. After McDonald and Detroit's Niklas Kronwall traded power play goals, the Blues took over. <span>Brad Boyes</span> and <span>Patrik Berglund</span> each scored their first goal, both even-strength goals. Boyes' wicked wrist shot somehow trickled through Howard's pads five-hole, while Berglund's booming slap shot was in the net before Howard could even move. That spectacular goal was really the result of a nifty pass from defenseman Erik Johnson. The Blues worked hard to get the 4-3 lead, out shooting the Red Wings 13 to 7 in the second period.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>The third period was evenly played as Detroit had 11 shots on goal and St. Louis 10. The only real difference came when Tkachuk scored his second power play goal of the game with around eight minutes left, assisted by Kariya<span> </span>and Johnson, for each their second of the night. That goal prompted those of us sitting behind the Blues' bench to begin chanting, "We've got ta-cos!", a reference to a free-taco promotion when the team scores five goals in St. Louis.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>How Swede it was to see the Blues hold on and earn yet another come-from-behind victory, 5-3!</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>Instead of taking us back to our hotel, we talked our bus driver into taking us to the Blues' hotel instead, where we formed two lines in the lobby of the Sheraton to welcome our victorious warriors. As the team entered the hotel, the raucous and boisterous crowd began chanting the names of the players, coaches and management. As Erik Johnson told the Post Dispatch's Jeremy Rutherford, "It was awesome. Obviously we won two big games, but it seemed like we won something a lot more with the fans doing something like that." Entering the lobby to the chant of "J-D! J-D!", Blues' President John Davidson told Rutherford he was overwhelmed. "It was like being part of the Olympics. It was an emotional experience for us. That was totally unexpected." The celebration continued as the players mingled with the fans, fist-bumping and shaking hands, exhilarated and overjoyed to be there, basking in the adoration and excitement of the moment.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>Yes, after year after year of heartache and disappointment after games with Detroit, it was the Blues' turn to claim bragging rights after completing the two game sweep in Stockholm. For a team trying to earn more respect around the NHL, St. Louis received a huge payoff on what Davidson called a big gamble playing the Red Wings twice to open the season. As he told Rutherford after the game, "It was a big stage and our players got big-stage experience, which is hard to come by. If you come home 0-2, it certainly wouldn't have been enthusiastic for us. But sometimes that's what sports are. If you want to move up in your master plan, you've got to do these things...so we did it." Andy McDonald echoed these sentiments, telling Rutherford, "It's exciting going forward. Obviously Detroit is one of the better teams in the league. We knew it was going to be a challenge, and it was a good indication of where we are as a team."</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>We partied into the night at the Sheraton, outlasting the Blues' players and coaches who retired due to their early flight out the next morning. It was a joyous and happy bunch of American Blues' fans who for the most part walked back to our hotel, singing and laughing in the streets of Stockholm well past the midnight hour. And so it was a happy flight indeed back to the States later that afternoon, capping off an excellent Swedish adventure that everyone who went will remember for the rest of their lives. Thank you good people of Stockholm and thank you Blues!</p>
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<p> <span> Don't miss part six, the last of the series, in the next edition of St. Louis Game Time.</span></p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2015/1/17/7573005/memorabilia-memories-sweden-part-5hildymacAckermania2015-01-17T08:30:03-06:002015-01-17T08:30:03-06:00Leafs At Blues AM Open Thread: Phil The Thrill
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<figcaption>Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Phil Kessel and (more importantly) Roman Polak will be meeting up with the Blues tonight at Scottrade. The Blues have a solid chance to get back in the win column.</p> <p>I am an unabashed, unashamed <span>Phil Kessel</span> fan. It's not entirely because of the fact that he's an excellent hockey player; it's because he doesn't tolerate stupid people well. When you're in Toronto and you have to deal with their news media, you are in an environment of near constant stupidity. I can watch this video of Kessel snapping on Dave Feschuk on loop for all eternity.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/LvpY3i-UcCg" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p>If you've ever wanted to tell off an idiot but can't at your job, just live vicariously through Phil.</p>
<p>To be honest, the Leafs are a bit of a train wreck. They fired head coach Randy Carlyle, and while playing a tiny bit better, this road trip has not been kind. They were shut out by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.jewelsfromthecrown.com/">Kings</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.anaheimcalling.com/">Ducks</a>, and lost to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fearthefin.com/">Sharks</a> on Thursday 3-1. They're rudderless, and a jigsaw of random parts that're expected to fit, yet somehow don't. That falls to the front office, not the coach.</p>
<p>Former Blue <span>Roman Polak</span> may be the Leafs' one quality addition. Here's Roman, proving he's still a BAMF.</p>
<p><iframe seamless="seamless" frameborder="0" height="270" width="480" src="http://player.theplatform.com/p/9KPFDC/washington/embed/select/Rs0lzPoNgVsG?params=zone%3Dcsnvideo&autoPlay=false&playAll=false"></iframe></p>
<p>Never change, big guy.</p>
<p>This is your morning open thread. Check back later for the second to last part of Rick's Sweden Saga, your preview, and whatever else we can find. Head over to <a href="http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/">Pension Plan Puppets</a> and say hi to our compatriots in cynicism.</p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2015/1/17/7572087/maple-leafs-at-blues-morning-open-thread-phil-the-thrillhildymac2015-01-16T15:35:37-06:002015-01-16T15:35:37-06:00Jaskin Presses The "Reset Button"
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<figcaption>Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Ken Hitchcock wants Joakim Lindstrom back in Saturday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs, so who comes out?</p> <p>There has been talk recently of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">Blues</a> having three solid and clicking offensive lines. The third line, composed of <span>Patrik Berglund</span>, <span>Paul Stastny</span>, and <span>Dmitrij Jaskin</span> has played well, though not on the same level as the team's top two lines. Regardless, they're creating chances. Jaskin has a goal and an assist in his last five games, but after a defensive clunker against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canescountry.com/">Carolina Hurricanes</a>, you could see where he would be based on <a target="_blank" href="http://www.stltoday.com/sports/hockey/professional/bluenotes-lindstrom-trying-to-stay-positive-while-sitting-out/article_36beeee5-d20b-5cc5-ad61-1aaee423608b.html">this quote from Ken Hitchcock prior to that game</a>:</p>
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<p>"If he goes in, the way [Lindstrom]’s going at it now, I don’t think he’s going to come out," Hitchcock said Thursday. "I think he’s got second wind now. I think this first go was tough for him because it was a lot new, but we see things at practice that are pretty impressive. … If someone happens to blink here, I think he’s really going to take advantage of it. He seems to have really risen his level. I think we have a new appreciation having worked with him how smart he is defensively. I think he’s going to take advantage of the next situation because he’s got his wind back again."</p>
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<p>He had the clunker on the 10th, didn't really do much to redeem himself against Edmonton, so out Jaskin came. In goes someone who admittedly has been busting his tail during practice. How did Lindstrom "take advantage of it?" He had a shot in a little over 10 minutes of icetime. Nonetheless, Lindstrom impressed Hitchcock, and if the coach doesn't make another lineup tweak, Jaskin will be out again on Saturday night. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.stltoday.com/sports/hockey/professional/morning-skate/lindstrom-will-remain-in-blues-lineup-saturday/article_a4f175d2-0dd4-5c59-9afa-2dc949a0556d.html#utm_source=stltoday&utm_campaign=/newsletters/bluesletter/&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline">Said Hitchcock to Jeremy Rutherford</a>:</p>
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<p>"We're probably going to play him," Hitchcock said. "He's a young guy and still on the learning curve. It's not on the learning curve on what they do on the ice. It's the mental wear and tear of having to be an every-shift, everyday, all-the-time player. I think for young people wears on them.</p>
<p>"If we have a chance with him to hit reset, we do it because we know we're going to get four or five games where we're going to get a real solid player. We've got enough veteran depth to hit the reset button, especially with the way Lindy played yesterday. We really liked him."</p>
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<p>So, who is the candidate for rest if both Jaskin and St. Louis' new Lucky Lindy get in the lineup? I would assume it's one of our fourth liners, so <span>Maxim Lapierre</span>? If that's the case, who's the guy who gets to skate with <span>Steve Ott</span> and <span>Ryan Reaves</span>?</p>
<p>I can't wait to find out.</p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2015/1/16/7559277/dmitrij-jaskin-and-joakim-lindstrom-in-lineup-against-maple-leafshildymac