St. Louis Game Time - Blues At Jets GameDay Storystream: Healthier Jets, Better BluesWe're one ugly bastard.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/10753/gt-fave.png2015-03-19T18:30:02-05:00http://www.stlouisgametime.com/rss/stream/80209542015-03-19T18:30:02-05:002015-03-19T18:30:02-05:00GameThread for St. Louis Blues at Winnipeg Jets
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<figcaption>Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Blues need to add to their division lead, and the Jets need to stay afloat in the busy Western Conference.</p> <p>Why are the Blues playing so well? <a href="http://blues.nhl.com/gamecenter/en/preview?id=2014021058&navid=DL%7CSTL%7Chome">David Backes has an idea.</a></p>
<p>"I think it’s a combination of playing in the offense zone as much as we can," said Blues captain <a href="http://blues.nhl.com/club/player.htm?id=8470655">David Backes</a>. "That’s our recipe, along with some great goaltending and great penalty kills that have limited the other teams’ chances. When we do give up a good chance, our goaltenders have been real solid.</p>
<p>"Knock on wood that shutout streak continues and we talk about it again after tonight."</p>
<p>Well, Captain Dave, considerin that you've mentioned the s-word, I won't hold my breath. But limiting the Jets' to just a goal or two while taking advantage of Ondrej Pavelec, who is tonight's starter. Flubber Pads McGee has been playing pretty not badly recently. Let's see if the Blues can change that.</p>
<p>This is your GameDay Thread. Let's see if the comments can exceed Pavs' GAA. It couldn't be that hard to do.</p>
<p>Let's do this. Let's Go Blues.</p>
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https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2015/3/19/8258709/gamethread-for-st-louis-blues-at-winnipeg-jets-mar-19-2015hildymac2015-03-19T12:00:04-05:002015-03-19T12:00:04-05:00Abracadabra: Blues At Winnipeg Jets Preview
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<figcaption>"Hmmm..... what IS the pompatus of love, anyway. I should KNOW this." | Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Once again, the Blues face a divisional rival, hungry for points and a playoff contender</p> <p>Stop me if you've heard this before: tonight's opponent is going to be really fighting for these standings points, so the <a href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Blues</a> will need to match that intensity. Our own playoff ticket is all but punched, but we cannot afford to be lackadaisical about tonight's game. More importantly, this could very well be our playoff opponent in the first round. Before we catch the jet airliner to the next game, we need to make sure they know we have their number.</p>
<p>Little has changed since the last time these two teams faced each other, the 5-4 win at the DrinkScotch on March 10th. The biggest impact on the <a href="https://www.arcticicehockey.com/" class="sbn-auto-link" style="background-color: #ffffff;">Jets</a> team from that game was the question that arose over the goaltending situation. Newcomer <span>Michael Hutchinson</span> had taken over the starter's role, and started against the Blues last week. After giving up 4 goals on 7 shots (a .429 Save Percentage, BTW), he gave way to <span>Ondrej Pavelec</span> about halfway through the game. Pavelec held on for most of the game, but gave up the GWG on a <span>Barret Jackman</span> dump-in-turned-goal from center ice. Neither goalie came away with much positives from that game. Should coach Paul Maurice stick with the rookie, and let him play through his problems, or should the incumbent Pavelec be given a chance to reclaim his crease? In the three games since, Hutchinson started the next one (4-2 loss to Florida), and Pavelec the following two (2-1 win over Tampa, and a 5-2 spanking of the <a href="https://www.fearthefin.com/" class="sbn-auto-link" style="background-color: #ffffff;">Sharks</a>).</p>
<p>Overall, the Jets have been playing pretty well. It would be easy to just take the money and run to a new team in the offseason, but the players seem to have bought in to Maurice's system. They've gone 5-3-2 in their last 10 games, and they've scored plenty over that stretch. That run includes putting up 5 goals each over LA and San Jose, and 4 tallies against Nashville. <span>Blake Wheeler</span> has 9 points so far in his 5-game point streak. Other hot sticks right now are <span>Mark Scheifele</span> (11 points in 10 games) and <span>Drew Stafford</span> (6 points in 5 games). The goals are coming, but the rest of the team needs to be sure that those goals count.</p>
<p>The Jets can score; that's really never been the issue. If they can get some solid defense and a critical save or two, the Jets can keep on the playoff trail. One thing that'll help is that injured players are starting to skate again. <span>Bryan Little</span> is back at practice, but could be out a little longer yet - he's on the right path, though. Team leader <span>Dustin Byfuglien</span> was considered a game-time decision at the Sharks game, so could be ready to go tonight. They could sure use him out there.</p>
<p>The Joker card is that Coach Paul Maurice has not announced a starter yet (check the twitter stream below for details. He's been cagey like that for some time now. The Blues have not named a starter either, so I guess two can play at that game.</p>
<p><b>Further Reading:</b></p>
<p><a href="http://www.arcticicehockey.com/">Arctic Ice Hockey</a></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://jetsnation.ca/">Jets Nation</a></p>
<p><span>Blues vs Jets coverage</span></p>
<p><b>GameDay Twitter Feed:</b></p>
<p><span><a data-widget-id="516033528023105536" href="https://twitter.com/CrossCheckRaise/lists/gameday" class="twitter-timeline">Tweets from https://twitter.com/CrossCheckRaise/lists/gameday</a></span></p>
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<p><b>Final Verse: </b>The puck drops at 7:00 PM St Louis time, and the GDT should drop shortly beforehand. The TV broadcast is on Fox Sports MW, and the radio call will be on KMOX 1120 AM. Please drop by and hang out with us. This should be a fun game, even more so if there are any goals like this:</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lolbZYFrrFI" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p>LGB!!!</p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2015/3/19/8255357/abracadabra-blues-at-winnipeg-jets-previewCrossCheckRaise2015-03-19T08:34:28-05:002015-03-19T08:34:28-05:00Do the Blues finally have a killer instinct?<blockquote>
<p><p>"We wanted to step on their throats, and not give them a sniff."</p></p>
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<div class="source"><p><a href="http://www.stltoday.com/sports/hockey/professional/blues-are-finding-their-stride/article_e7da8eaf-5fee-56f3-bd05-f6065cca22d8.html">Brian Elliott, discussing the Blues' latest strategy with Jeremy Rutherford.</a> Have they finally figured out how to shut teams down? Can they do it tonight?</p></div>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2015/3/19/8257085/do-the-blues-finally-have-a-killer-instincthildymac2015-03-19T08:00:05-05:002015-03-19T08:00:05-05:00Blues At Jets Morning Open Thread: Stay On Top
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<figcaption>Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Blues have a small lead over the Nashville Predators and Chicago Blackhawks in the Central Division. Tonight's the perfect test of their determination to keep it.</p> <p>Well, these standings are uncomfortably snug, aren't they?</p>
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<p>The top three teams are right there, neck and neck with each other. One misstep could mean a loss of ground. A slump? Disastrous. The Central Division is absolutely the toughest and closest in the NHL right now - and the Blues are playing the Jets tonight, who want nothing more than to solidify their hold on the last wild card slot in the West. They have Dustin Byfuglen back. They have Tyler Myers back. Their blueline is large, they play a rough game, and somehow or another their goaltenders are actually playing well again.</p>
<p>When last we saw them, the Jets executed a comeback on the Blues that was aided by a third period collapse that was inexcusable; the Blues were fortunate to have won on a third period goal that was equally as inexcusable.</p>
<p>This is your morning open thread. Check back later on for a Road Music and your GDT. While you're killing time today, don't forget to say hi to our friends at <a href="http://www.arcticicehockey.com/">Arctic Ice Hockey</a> to see how (if?) they keep hope alive. Also, <a href="http://illegalcurve.com/">head to Illegal Curve for some killer game day coverage</a> (and postgame!) from the Jets' POV.</p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2015/3/19/8256715/blues-at-jets-morning-open-thread-stay-on-top-of-the-centralhildymac