St. Louis Game Time - Ducks At Blues GameDay Storystream: Shattenkirk's Return DelayedWe're one ugly bastard.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/10753/gt-fave.png2015-10-29T18:30:02-05:00http://www.stlouisgametime.com/rss/stream/93971192015-10-29T18:30:02-05:002015-10-29T18:30:02-05:00GameThread for Anaheim Ducks at St. Louis Blues
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<figcaption>Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Jake Allen and the Blues have a prime opportunity to continue the Ducks' struggles.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.anaheimcalling.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Anaheim Ducks</a> are vulnerable. The <a href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Blues</a> can seize on an opportunity to add two more points to their total on the season so far, two more points coming with key special teams players missing. Tonight isn't the biggest game of the season by any stretch of the imagination, but it's an important one nonetheless. Why?</p>
<p>This:</p>
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<div data-width="500" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/St.LouisBlues/posts/10153360448418661:0" class="fb-post"><div class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/St.LouisBlues/photos/a.164987178660.118643.35837258660/10153360448418661/?type=3"> <p>Alex Pietrangelo has his Kevin Shattenkirk bobblehead. Get yours by being one of the first 12,500 at Thursday's game vs. Anaheim. TICKETS: http://bit.ly/1029bobble</p>Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/St.LouisBlues/">St. Louis Blues</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/St.LouisBlues/photos/a.164987178660.118643.35837258660/10153360448418661/?type=3">Wednesday, October 28, 2015</a> </blockquote></div></div>
<p>And lo, unto the world a tiny Shatty was born.</p>
<p>Truly monumental.</p>
<p>This is your Game Day Thread: Comment like you want to see the Blues get a coach fired.</p>
<p>Let's do this. Let's Go Blues.</p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2015/10/29/9638470/gamethread-for-anaheim-ducks-at-st-louis-blues-oct-29-2015hildymac2015-10-29T15:00:02-05:002015-10-29T15:00:02-05:00Ducks At Blues Game Preview: Last Chance For Bruce
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<figcaption>Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Ducks' putrid start to the season may spell the end for coach Bruce Boudreau in Anaheim.</p> <p>Fun fact: the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">Blues</a> have averaged 2.78 goals a game so far this season, which isn't half bad.</p>
<p>Funner fact: the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.anaheimcalling.com/">Ducks</a> have averaged just one goal a game so far this season, which is pretty God-awful terrible.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.nbcsports.com/video/ducks-poor-puck-luck-makes-abysmal-start" target="_blank">A lot has been made of the Ducks' "puck luck" so far this season being a main cause of their problems</a>. As any hockey fan can tell you, sometimes the bounces go your way and sometimes they don't. It's happened to the Blues in the playoffs in the past, and the best you can do is suck it up and move on. Shit happens. The Ducks, however, seem to have let it get to their heads. They've been doing things right - their penalty kill is the second best in the league and <span>Frederik Anderson has personally had a stellar start to the season. He has a 2.05 GAA and a .931 save percentage. He also is 0-4-2.</span></p>
<p>While coach Bruce Boudreau still tries to figure out what happened Tuesday night in Dallas, where the Ducks blew a three goal lead to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.defendingbigd.com/">Stars</a>, the Ducks must soldier on against yet another Central Division opponent.</p>
<p>Anaheim has owned some success against the Blues recently, winning five of their last six meetings. The Ducks weren't the shell-shocked team they are to begin this season, though, when they dominated the Blues. This year, well, a Blues win could get coach Bruce Boudreau fired.</p>
<p><span>Ryan Getzlaf</span> will miss another game tonight after his appendectomy, and unfortunately <span>Kevin Shattenkirk</span> will miss tonight as well. Shattenkirk, whose absence is being felt on special teams (the Blues' power play has been hampered significantly by his loss, along with the loss of <span>Paul Stastny</span> and <span>Jaden Schwartz</span>), is celebrating a bobblehead night tonight, so even if fans don't get a chance to see him play, at least 10,000 will get their own personal little Shatty to wrap in bubble wrap.</p>
<p>Facing off against Anderson tonight is <span>Jake Allen</span>. His solid 2-0 shutout of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.rawcharge.com/">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> Tuesday night has earned him a second straight start.</p>
<p><span>Scottie Upshall</span>, who was banged up Tuesday night, will not play. This will give <span>Ty Rattie</span> a chance to get back into the line-up on a third line with <span>Dmitrij Jaskin</span> and <span>Scott Gomez</span>. <a href="http://www.stltoday.com/sports/hockey/professional/blues-say-ducks-are-better-than-their-record/article_a934e2a2-f31e-58f3-8e70-919914400b4f.html" target="_blank">Here are tonight's lines from Jeremy Rutherford</a>:</p>
<p><strong>TONIGHT'S PROJECTED LINEUP</strong></p>
<p><em>Forwards</em></p>
<p><strong><span>Alexander Steen</span></strong>-<strong><span>Jori Lehtera</span></strong>-<strong><span>Vladimir Tarasenko</span></strong></p>
<p><strong>Dmitrij Jaskin</strong>-<strong><span>David Backes</span></strong>-<strong><span>Troy Brouwer</span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span>Robby Fabbri</span></strong>-<strong>Scott Gomez</strong>-<strong>Ty Rattie</strong></p>
<p><strong><span>Steve Ott</span></strong>-<strong><span>Kyle Brodziak</span></strong>-<strong><span>Ryan Reaves</span></strong></p>
<p><em>Defensemen</em></p>
<p><strong><span>Jay Bouwmeester</span></strong>-<strong><span>Alex Pietrangelo</span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span>Carl Gunnarsson</span></strong>-<strong><span>Colton Parayko</span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span>Joel Edmundson</span></strong>-<strong><span>Robert Bortuzzo</span></strong></p>
<p><em>Goalie</em></p>
<p><strong>Jake Allen</strong></p>
<p><strong>***</strong></p>
<p><strong>DUCKS' PROJECTED LINEUP</strong></p>
<p><em>Forwards</em></p>
<p><strong>Carl Hagelin-Ryan Kesler</strong>-<strong>Cory Perry</strong></p>
<p><strong>Jiri Sekac-Mike Santorelli</strong>-<strong><span>Jakob Silfverberg</span></strong></p>
<p><strong>Andrew Cogliano-Rickard Rakell</strong>-<strong><span>Chris Stewart</span></strong></p>
<p><strong>Patrick Maroon-Shawn Horcoff-Chris Wagner</strong></p>
<p><em>Defensemen</em></p>
<p><strong>Hampus Lindholm-Kevin Bieksa</strong></p>
<p><strong>Cam Fowler-Korbinian Holzer</strong></p>
<p><strong>Clayton Stoner-Sam Vatanen</strong></p>
<p><em>Goalie</em></p>
<p><strong><span>Frederik Andersen</span></strong></p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2015/10/29/9638318/ducks-at-blues-game-preview-last-chance-for-boudreauhildymac2015-10-29T11:00:06-05:002015-10-29T11:00:06-05:00Lighting The Lamp: Remembering Jimmy Roberts
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<figcaption>1971-72 O-Pee-Chee, #116.</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> <h4>Lighting the Lamp <span>with Rick Ackerman</span><span> </span>
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<p class="MsoNormal">After a not-so-thrilling <span>Jake Allen</span> 2-0 shutout over <span>Ben Bishop</span> and the <a href="https://www.rawcharge.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tampa Bay Lightning</a>, the home stand continues as the under-achieving and overwhelmed <a href="https://www.anaheimcalling.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Anaheim Ducks</a> wing their way into town to do battle with the resilient <a href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Blues</a>. The no longer mighty Ducks have only won one of the club's first nine games, scoring a paltry nine goals while allowing 25 against. Goaltender Frederik Andersen has played very well, yet has not won a game despite allowing only 2.05 goals against with a sparkling .931 save percentage in seven games. Ouch!</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Anaheim's leading scorer is <a href="https://www.litterboxcats.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Panthers</a>, <a href="https://www.arcticicehockey.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Jets</a>, <a href="https://www.nucksmisconduct.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Canucks</a>, <a href="https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Maple Leafs</a> and <a href="https://www.ontheforecheck.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Predators</a> reject <span>Mike Santorelli</span> with two goals and an assist in nine games. No other Duck has more than one goal. <a href="https://www.defendingbigd.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Stars</a> Corey Perry, <span>Ryan Getzlaf</span> (out with appendicitis) and <span>Ryan Kesler</span> have not scored and only have a combined five assists. Ex-Blue Chris Stewart is pointless in eight games. Yikes!</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There is nary a single Anaheim player with a plus rating, while minus ratings abound, led by defenseman <span>Cam Fowler</span> and center <span>Rickard Rakell</span> (-7), winger <span>Andrew Cogliano</span> (-6) and Kesler, Getzlaf, winger <span>Jakob Silfverberg</span> and defensemen <span>Kevin Bieksa</span> and <span>Hampus Lindholm</span> (-5). Center Shawn Horcoff leads the plus/minus category with a 0.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In comparison, the Blues plus/minus leader is rookie defenseman <span>Colton Parayko</span> (+6), followed by winger <span>Troy Brouwer</span> (+5) and the disabled duo of <span>Paul Stastny</span> and <span>Jaden Schwartz</span> (+4). The only minus St. Louis players are <span>David Backes</span>, <span>Scottie Upshall</span> and <span>Dmitrij Jaskin</span> (all -1). Of course, the Note has not allowed more than three goals in any one of nine games so far.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Blues made a wardrobe change for the Lightning game that many in the sellout crowd may not have noticed. A small patch bearing the initials "JR" was added to the players' helmets, honoring the recently deceased Jimmy Roberts, the first skater chosen by the Blues in the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft in the third round at number 15 overall. Goalies were taken in the first and second rounds, and the Blues selected Glenn Hall at number 3 and Don Caley at number 12. Caley played just one game for the Blues (30 minutes) and allowed three goals against and was traded after that first season. He never played for another NHL team and eventually retired from hockey to become a dentist.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">James Wilfred Roberts was a Toronto native born in 1940. After working his way up through the amateur ranks with the Peterborough T.P.T.'s (coached by Scotty Bowman), the 19 year old signed with the <a href="https://www.habseyesontheprize.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Montreal Canadiens</a> and played several seasons for the Montreal Royals and Hull-Ottawa Canadiens (coached by Scotty Bowman) of the old EPHL. After one playoff game with the Cleveland Barons, Roberts started the 1963 season with the parent Canadiens and after recording one assist and two penalty minutes in 15 games was sent to the Omaha Knights of the CPHL (coached by Scotty Bowman). St. Louis had a team in that league, so veteran Blues' fans who attended Braves games easily remember Roberts, as well as eventual Blues Ernie Wakely, Barclay Plager, Bill McCreary, Noel Picard and Norm Dennis. Other NHL notables on that championship team included Claude Larose, Bryan "Bugsy" Watson and goaltender Cesare Maniago.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Roberts also played for the Barons and Quebec Aces that season before being promoted to Montreal for good in 1964. After three season there (and two Stanley Cups), he was drafted by the expansion Blues (coached by Scotty Bowman) and wore the Note for five seasons (including one year as team captain) before returning to Montreal (now coached by Scotty Bowman in 1971 in a trade (for Phil Roberto). After six more season in Montreal (and three more Cups), Roberts returned to St. Louis in 1977, where he retired as a player in 1978.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Roberts went on to coach with his old mentor Bowman in Buffalo in 1981 and then in Springfield (MA), winning championships in 1990 and 1991, after which he was named head coach of the Hartford Whalers. He later became the GM/Coach of the Worcester IceCats of the AHL in 1994 before returning to St. Louis in 1996 as an assistant coach and interim head coach in 1997 (when Mike Keenan was fired). He served as an associate coach under Joel Quenneville as well and finally retired in 2000.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Roberts was an active member of the Blues Alumni Association and attended several fantasy camps, where I was blessed with his company for many a talk about the old days of the CPHL and the 1990 championship season with Springfield. Alumni Director Terry Yake (35 goals and 42 assists in 60 games for the Indians) was on that team, and I was part of a fascinating hour or so discussion recalling that club, along with current Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin (four goals and 23 assists in 58 games) who happened to attend fantasy camp that year. Jim remembered the Omaha Knights championship year as one of his best ever, learning from the masterful Bowman and making friendships with many players who would join him with the expansion Blues the first five years in St. Louis. Roberts' biggest thrill, however, was the time he raised his first of five Stanley Cups to the Montreal Forum faithful in 1965.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The first player to wear #6 for the Blues will certainly be missed, not only by hockey fans in Canada and the U.S., but also by the many players he played with and coached and lives he influenced in his long career.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">R.I.P, my friend.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2015/10/29/9631172/lighting-the-lamp-remembering-jimmy-robertshildymac2015-10-29T08:00:03-05:002015-10-29T08:00:03-05:00Ducks At Blues Morning Open Thread: Judgement Day
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<figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Anaheim Ducks are reeling, and their captain just went down with an appendectomy. </p> <p>In case you missed it, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.anaheimcalling.com/">Anaheim Ducks</a> are off to a rip-roaring 1-6-2 start. This is a team that some pundits picked to finish tops in the West for the season, even making it to the Cup Finals. They have a coach who can't seem to lead their players through the playoffs regardless of the offense that he's been given, and now Bruce Boudreau is on the hot seat. You think Ken Hitchcock's "aw, fuck me" at the end of the playoffs last year was bad? This is worse:</p>
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<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
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<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">This extreme zoom-in on Bruce Boudreau is everything: <a href="https://t.co/g84xLmfLzV">https://t.co/g84xLmfLzV</a></p>
— Josh Gold-Smith (@GoldAndOrSmith) <a href="https://twitter.com/GoldAndOrSmith/status/659207105556160512">October 28, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
<p>The Ducks have to deal with the loss of captain <span>Ryan Getzlaf</span> to an appendectomy on top of this train wreck.</p>
<p>Will tonight be an easy win for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">Blues</a>? There aren't any of those in the NHL. Can they win? Absolutely, and these are the games that they need to.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.stltoday.com/sports/hockey/professional/morning-skate/shattenkirk-still-not-ready-to-play/article_21306242-0c48-56e4-b751-5398166b151e.html#utm_source=[domain]&utm_campaign=%2Fnewsletters%2Fbluesletter%2F&utm_medium=email&utm_content=image" target="_blank">Unfortunately Kevin Shattenkirk will not be back on his bobblehead night</a>. Darnit.</p>
<p>This is your morning open thread. Check back for a Lighting the Lamp and your preview, along with any ShattyWatch updates that may pop up, or any other elderly men signed to PTOs. While you're waiting for puck drop, head over to <a href="http://www.anaheimcalling.com/">Anaheim Calling</a> and see how they're holding up.</p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2015/10/29/9632920/ducks-at-blues-morning-open-thread-no-getzlaf-no-problemhildymac