St. Louis Game Time - Blues At Sabres Game Day Storystream: Blues Can Bounce Back With Addition Of StastnyWe're one ugly bastard.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/10753/gt-fave.png2015-11-23T22:05:48-06:00http://www.stlouisgametime.com/rss/stream/95446892015-11-23T22:05:48-06:002015-11-23T22:05:48-06:00Blues Vs. Sabres Recap: Nothing Comes Fabbri-Z
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1qOf89-20UqCxDnkx81Z0F-ka8g=/0x307:2400x1907/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47729547/usa-today-8943841.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Posts. Lots of posts. </p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">St. Louis Blues</a> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.diebytheblade.com/">Buffalo Sabres</a> locked up tonight at First Niagara Center. It was <span>Jake Allen</span> in net for the Blues. The Sabres would start goaltender Linus (No Blanket) Ullmark who was impressive in the loss at Scottrade just a few nights before. <span>Paul Stastny</span> would return after being out for 5 weeks with an ankle issue. The forward lines would see the return of the Steen/Stastny/Tarasenko line. The other three lines would start off as: Paajarvi/Lehtera/Jaskin, Upshall/Backes/Brouwer, and Ott/Brozdiak/Fabbri. Your D-parings would be: Bouwmeester/Pietrangelo, Gunnarsson/Shattenkirk and Parayko/Bortuzzo.</p>
<p><b>First Period:</b></p>
<p><b></b> Right off the bat this game would see a fight between Bortuzzo and Foligno. Bortuzzo would hit <span>Tyler Ennis</span> cleanly. Apparently, Marcus took offense to that because he comes over and challenges Bortuzzo. Decent fight. Here's the hit that started it:</p>
<p><iframe height="395" width="640" frameborder="0" src="http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=2015020308-8-a&site=blues"></iframe></p>
<p>The Buffalo power play is well, it's bad. At least in the two games that the Blues and Sabres have played this year it has been. I mean they gave up a break away to <span>Steve Ott</span> for Christ sake.</p>
<p><iframe height="395" width="640" frameborder="0" src="http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=2015020308-64-a&site=blues"></iframe></p>
<p>But really, Buffalo had three more chances on the man advantage tonight (To include a min of 6 on 4 play but I'm getting ahead of myself) and couldn't well, you know, take advantage. I mean credit to the Blues PK and to Jake Allen. Not sure who said it, but I would have to agree that Allen has been the best if not the best penalty killer for the Blues this year. The best player on the ice tonight for the Blues was probably the post. Just kidding. (Kind of.) <span>Johan Larsson</span> looked like he had goal number one tonight, but a combination of Jake Allen and the post would stop him.</p>
<p><iframe height="395" width="640" frameborder="0" src="http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=2015020308-76-a&site=blues"></iframe></p>
<p>The Blues and Sabres each had 8 shots (per the Blues box score) at the end of the period, but clearly the Sabres had the better chances in the first.</p>
<p><b>Second Period:</b></p>
<p>PASS. Wait, I can't? I think the Blues did. No? Ok. If you had the "The Blues Are Going To Have A Shitty Second Period Against Buffalo" ticket you win. Not sure what, but you win. Sabres would have a great chance here, but <span>David Backes</span> would make a great defensive play to rob a 1-0 lead for the bad guys:</p>
<p><iframe height="395" width="640" frameborder="0" src="http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=2015020308-359-a&site=blues"></iframe></p>
<p>More Jake Allen. Here he flashes the glove against Brian Gionta. May have been an easy save for him, but I just thought it looked cool to be honest.</p>
<p><iframe height="395" width="640" frameborder="0" src="http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=2015020308-380-a&site=blues"></iframe></p>
<p>Later in the period, the Sabres would finally get that goal courtesy of an unassisted goal from <span>David Legwand</span></p>
<p><iframe height="395" width="640" frameborder="0" src="http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=2015020308-387-a&site=blues"></iframe></p>
<p>I mean it wasn't exactly a scorcher, but it crossed the goal line so it counts just the same. The Blues would show a little oomph at the end of the period, but it would stay 1-0.</p>
<p><b>Third Period:</b></p>
<p><b></b>For the love of everything that is great Hitch took Fabbri off of the fourth line. Why he was on the fourth line tonight? I don't have an explanation for that except...Hitch. Creepy awesome mustache of Movember so far has to be <span>Troy Brouwer</span>. It's pretty epic. You know what else is pretty epic? This game tying goal!</p>
<p><iframe height="395" width="640" frameborder="0" src="http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=2015020308-510-a&site=blues"></iframe></p>
<p>What a sweet backhand from Brouwer there to get past Ullmark. Shatty and Backes would get the assists. Shattenkirk extends his point streak to six games. Hitch moving Fabbri up would pay off for the Blues as Fabbri would score the go ahead goal for the Blues. Talk about a lucky break, bounce, whatever. Thank you. I will take that and the Blues would take the 2-1 lead. After the goal the Sabres would challenge the play. Somehow Brouwer managed to stay onsides and the goal was upheld.</p>
<p><iframe height="395" width="640" frameborder="0" src="http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=2015020308-542-a&site=blues"></iframe></p>
<p>Paul Stastny would lead the way for the forwards tonight with 19:37 played. He didn't look like he missed a beat. Granted he does play with Tarasenko and Steen. Even with that, he was skating around at the level he was before he went down with the injury.</p>
<p>Brouwer would almost make it 3-1 here but was denied by...the crossbar.</p>
<p><iframe height="395" width="640" frameborder="0" src="http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=2015020308-652-a&site=blues"></iframe></p>
<p>The Blues would go on to win 2-1 despite a horrid hand covering the puck call. That would give the Sabres a 6 on 4 power play (pulled goalie) for about a minute at the end of the game. That call is about the dumbest in hockey. Tied right along with the delay of game, but that's for another time. The Blues would win for the first time this year after being down after 2 periods (0-6-2). Sabres were 6-0-0 when leading after two but...not anymore. The Blues travel to Pittsburgh to take on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pensburgh.com/">Penguins</a> Wednesday night.</p>
<p><b>Three <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.defendingbigd.com/">Stars</a>:</b></p>
<p>3rd: David Legwand (1 goal, Looks like he's balding in his NHL.com pic)</p>
<p>2nd: <span>Robby Fabbri</span> (1 goal, Didn't even know he was the one that scored it. Seriously.)</p>
<p>1st: Troy Brouwer (1 goal, GO GO BROUWER RANGER. Also, #ByTheBrouwerOfGreySkull for the Gametime charity hashtag)</p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2015/11/23/9789524/blues-vs-sabres-recap-nothing-comes-fabbri-zJustin422015-11-23T17:30:02-06:002015-11-23T17:30:02-06:00GameThread for St. Louis Blues at Buffalo Sabres
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7scBPFOHJNgRSYW4hrblQKDr29E=/0x41:3396x2305/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47727877/usa-today-8368888.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Will we see another exciting three on three session, or will the addition of Paul Stastny help end this one in regulation?</p> <p>Last week, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.diebytheblade.com/">Sabres</a> visited St. Louis and hung a couple goals on <span>Jake Allen</span> in under two minutes to force a thrilling three on three overtime session. These Sabres aren't last year's Sabres. They're not content with tanking. Their one game between matches with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">Blues</a> was a 3-0 loss to the Central Division leading <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.defendingbigd.com/">Dallas Stars</a>, so they should be looking to right the ship.</p>
<p>The Blues have lost four of their last six games and have looked tired at best (<span>Alex Pietrangelo</span> played over 32 minutes Saturday night, for an example of some players' workloads), but will be getting a shot in the arm tonight. <span>Paul Stastny</span>, who has missed fifteen games with a lower body injury, will be back in tonight. <a href="http://www.stltoday.com/sports/hockey/professional/morning-skate/stastny-will-be-back-in-blues-lineup-tonight/article_0ce1290e-6e88-5c79-b646-ad3ed0449d12.html" target="_blank">He'll also be centering Alexander Steen and Vladimir Tarasenko</a>, so there go any worries about Paul Stastny, Third Line Center... for now.</p>
<p>This is your game day thread. Comment like you're in the Colton for Calder camp. This Eichel kid's got nothing on Parakyo.</p>
<p>Let's do this. Let's Go Blues.</p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2015/11/23/9788638/gamethread-for-st-louis-blues-at-buffalo-sabres-nov-23-2015hildymac2015-11-23T13:00:02-06:002015-11-23T13:00:02-06:00Who's Next: Blues at Buffalo Sabres Preview
<figure>
<img alt="Don't Cry .... Don't Raise Your Eyes....." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/eDc18s523vErsiGuxdeBIbMc6Yk=/0x0:3600x2400/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47720581/usa-today-8936864.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Don't Cry .... Don't Raise Your Eyes..... | Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>It's only Teenage Wasteland</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Blues</a> might have been surprised by the <a href="https://www.diebytheblade.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Sabres</a> on Thursday, but they won't get fooled again. This is a MUCH different Buffalo team from what we've seen in years past. For one, management is actually trying to win this time around. Also, the "real" team has been assembled, not the ghosts of teams past or pickups from the waiver wire bargain bin. The first phase of their rebuild project culminated with their last-place finish and, therefore, best-possible position for the upcoming draft lottery. They had to "settle" for <span>Jack Eichel</span> as their second-overall pick, but combined with their trades (notably <span>Evander Kane</span> at the deadline and <span>Ryan O'Reilly</span> in the offseason) they now had a chance to start building up again.</p>
<p>As evidenced in Thursday's game, the Sabres can now start utilizing the players that they've stockpiled. There are 6 players on this roster that are still on their Entry-Level Contracts (one is on IR, <span>Zemgus Girgensons</span>), and a total of 13 players under the age of 25. Four of their top five goal-scorers are in that age range. They are primed for a quick bounce-back this year, and it would be foolhardy to underestimate these guys.</p>
<p>That's one possible explanation for Thursday's result. Sure, the Blues won - and allowing a point to the Eastern Conference doesn't hurt us at all in the standings. However, the Blues are better than the Sabres, and by a wider margin that what we've seen from them. The recent Blues malaise has been attributed to fatigue, which can be understood a little. The injuries that have plagued the Blues this year lead to short benches, constant call-ups, line mixing ... all of those can contribute to fatigue. Unfortunately, that's the last thing you want when you're competing against the young legs of the Sabres. Hockey players are known for expending their energy in bursts, recuperating quickly, and then doing it all over again. Let's hope that they had a good day off and a nice relaxing flight to Buffalo.</p>
<p>Speaking of injuries, there has been some good news on that front. <span>Jori Lehtera</span> and Coloton Parayko have already returned, and <span>Paul Stastny</span> is travelling with the team. He's been getting in tune with the team at practice, just waiting on bones to heal and the OK from the docs. He could return to the lineup as soon as tonight, depending on how the morning skate goes. I'm sure news will break once that decision's reached.</p>
<p>As for your starting goalies, I expect <span>Brian Elliott</span> to get one of these Eastern Conference starts, but it could just as easily be the de facto starter <span>Jake Allen</span>. For Buffalo, they could use <span>Chad Johnson</span> again (who played in the loss to Dallas on Saturday) or go with the proverbial hot hand in <span>Linus Ullmark</span>.</p>
<p><b>Further Reading:</b></p>
<p><a href="http://www.diebytheblade.com/">Die By The Blade</a></p>
<p><a href="http://twointhebox.com/" target="_blank">Two In The Box</a></p>
<p><a href="http://sabres.buffalonews.com/" target="_blank">Buffalo News Sabres blog</a></p>
<p><b>GameDay Twitter Feed:</b></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/CrossCheckRaise/lists/gameday" data-widget-id="516033528023105536" class="twitter-timeline">Tweets from https://twitter.com/CrossCheckRaise/lists/gameday</a>
<script type="text/javascript"><!--
!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+"://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");
// --></script>
</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Final Verse:</b> Another early start tonight, with the puck dropping at 6:00 PM St Louis time. As usual, the TV broadcast will be on Fox Sports MW, and the radio call will be on KMOX 1120. The GDT should drop shortly before the puck does. Come on down and hang out with us, we'll supply the gifs, you supply the inventive cursing. In the meantime, check out a musical tribute <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/ryan-o-reilly-hits-tim-horton-s-in-new-truck--charged-with-impaired-driving--report-000011381.html" target="_blank">to a big Tim Horton's fan</a>...</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gY5rztWa1TM"></iframe></p>
<p>LGB!!!</p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2015/11/23/9780216/whos-next-blues-at-buffalo-sabres-previewCrossCheckRaise2015-11-23T11:42:09-06:002015-11-23T11:42:09-06:00Stastny is In<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://twitter.com/lkorac10/status/668841269578350594">Stastny is&nbsp;In</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>Return Of The Mack Stastny: confirmed through multiple sources, Paul Stastny is back in the lineup. </p>
<p>more details:</p>
<p></p>
<br /><p>Bortuzzo will play tonight. Edmundson will sit. With Stastny in, Gomez is out tonight. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/stlblues?src=hash">#stlblues</a></p>— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) <a href="https://twitter.com/lkorac10/status/668844218887053312">November 23, 2015</a> </p>
<p>and </p>
<p><p>With Stastnyin, Scott Gomez comes out for the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/stlblues?src=hash">#stlblues</a>. Robert Bortuzzowill play and Jake Allen is your starter.</p>— Joe Yerdon(@JoeYerdon) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeYerdon/status/668843848773275650">November 23, 2015</a> </p>
<p>Good news for Blues fans!
<br />Hopefully, we'll see a return of the #BloodLine tonight. Stay Tuned.</p></div>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2015/11/23/9783728/stastny-is-inCrossCheckRaise2015-11-23T08:00:04-06:002015-11-23T08:00:04-06:00Blues At Sabres Morning Open Thread: Stastny Back?
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/PwgP739RrtFAQRZPms1VuMeWzNI=/0x0:3965x2643/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47720071/usa-today-8199737.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Blues may be getting one of their key players back from a lengthy stay on the IR.</p> <p>Last night's 4-3 overtime loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.wingingitinmotown.com/">Detroit Red Wings</a> showcased problems that the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">Blues</a> have been having: defensive lapses, looking worn out, and defaulting to "Tarasenko will save us" mode. Said Jay Bouwmeester to Jeremy Rutherford in post-game comments:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><span>"We wish we would have got it out, but it doesn’t change anything," Bouwmeester said. "You’re still trying to kill the penalty. The goal goes off a guy’s stick. It’s not like we gave him a wide open net. Any time you take a penalty in overtime — I don’t think it was a very good call — but that’s the way it goes."</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>That was on a puck that he failed to clear. That is not something that you want to hear from your top pairing defenseman this early in the season; perhaps it speaks to exhaustion. The Blues have not been able to play with a set line-up for a complete game since opening night. Eventually, something has to give. It almost gave way to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.diebytheblade.com/">Sabres</a> on Thursday night, and it did give way to the Red Wings on Saturday.</p>
<p>Thankfully, the Blues may be getting some reinforcements tonight in Buffalo, and in a big way:</p>
<p>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</p>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/stlblues?src=hash">#stlblues</a> will know after the morning skate whether <span>Paul Stastny</span> will return to the lineup tomorrow. He's traveling to Buffalo & Pittsburgh.</p>
— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) <a href="https://twitter.com/lkorac10/status/668519344004009984">November 22, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
<p>This is something that might be a shot of adreneline in the arm of a tired team. Here's hoping Stastny is fully recovered and doesn't wind up a third-line fixture upon his return.</p>
<p>This is your morning open thread. Check back later on for some Road Music from CCR, your GDT, and whatever Stastny updates come through the pipeline. While you're waiting, head over to <a href="http://www.diebytheblade.com/">Die By The Blade</a> and say hi.</p>
https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2015/11/23/9780530/blues-at-sabres-morning-open-thread-will-paul-stastny-return-tonighthildymac