Coyotes 12.6.08

Game Time
St Louis
Four Dollars Just Like Yesterday
The Game Day Guide To St. Louis Blues Hockey
By Brad lee
It seems like every year the Blues have one shitty team that
they struggle against and just can’t solve. During the 2007-08
season, the Phoenix Coyotes were that shitty team for the Blues.
There couldn’t be a better time to drag these desert dogs into
St. Louis. The Blues should be red hot pissed over blowing Friday
night’s game against Calgary. The Blues led by two goals before
surrendering two power play goals in the third period
and losing 4-3 in overtime. It sucked big time.
In the third period, St. Louis led 3-1. On their
second goal of the game, Calgary’s first on the
power play, Todd Bertuzzi held the puck
behind the St. Louis net. His first pass didn’t
make it to the front and came right back to
him. Just before Bertuzzi’s second centering
attempt, both Jay McKee and Jeff Woywitka
reached for poke checks behind the net.
With both defensemen out of position,
Jarome Iginla found the gap between the
defensemen and the forwards and was wide
open for the pass. After scoring 50 goals a season
ago, he wasn’t going to miss less than 10 feet from the
net. That brought the Flames to within one at 3-2.
Volume 4, Issue 13
December 6, 2008
Established in 2005
caught deep in the Calgary zone. The Flames skated hard on the
breakout, but the surprisingly fast Roman Polak caught up and
evened things up. Regardless, defenseman Eric Brewer decided to
go prone and slide in an attempt to take away the pass or break up
the play all together. Flames forward Mike Cammalleri shot the
puck over a skidding Brewer and hit the near side of the net past a
shell-shocked Mason.
It was the second time in two home games where the Blues
have blown two-goal leads. Allowing power play goals is
killing the Blues. In his postgame news conference,
coach Andy Murray talked about that, but tried to
temper his criticism of the team.
“We need every single point we can get. We
realized that 82 games this season, there
would be 82 battles for us. Nothing will come
easy for us. We got a point,” Murray said.
“We could sit and whine about being up 2-0
and letting it slide, taking unnecessary
penalties. Our penalty killing group that has
been very good for us up to this point this season
hasn’t gotten the job done the last few games.
Those are the things we can talk about or we can
TM
say we need to get ready for Phoenix tomorrow
night.”
On the Flames’ third goal of the game with less than five
seconds left on a power play, Dion Phaneuf threw the puck at the
net from the left point. A crowd of three players screened
goaltender Chris Mason. Somehow the puck bounced off a
Flames forward, hit the post and bounced in. Mason barely
flinched.
The Blues were much better on the power play Friday night
after getting shutout 4-0 in Minnesota Wednesday. The return of
TJ Oshie gave Murray some flexibility he’s missed in recent weeks.
The key to an effective power play for the Blues this season has
been fast, crisp puck movement.
On the game winner in overtime, three Blues players were
(Continued on page 26)
Today’s Records, Injuries & News
Today’s Team Records:
Blues:
Coyotes:
10-11-3 (23 points)
12-11-2 (26 points)
5th in Central
3rd in Pacific
15th in Western
10th in Western
Last Ten Games:
Blues:
5-3-2
Coyotes:
4-4-2
Season Series:
0-0-0
All-Time Series:
46-46-20-1 (incl Winnipeg)
Today’s Injuries:
Today’s News & Notes:
Blues: C Andy McDonald (fractured
ankle) is out. LW Paul Kariya (lower
body) and RW Dan Hinote (lower body)
are still day-to-day.
• Canucks general manager Mike Gillis
Coyotes: C Olli Jokinen (strained
shoulder) is out.
meeting with Mats Sundin and his
agent to try to convince him to come
play for Vancouver.
• San Jose Sharks on a six-game winning
streak. They have scored 100 goals in
26 games. Yikes.
• Game Time Staff starting to get really,
really tired of back-to-back games.
CAUTION: St. Louis Game Time contains extreme sarcasm and less-than-gentle language. But it is a hockey paper, so you should fucking just get over it.
From The Editor
I really like our new ownership group and
their management team. Especially since our
first year as a paper was the last year of the
Bill and Money Laurie regime, when they
were basically bunkered up in Columbia and
doing everything they could to alienate
anyone who cared at all about this team.
The new owners and decision-maker have
made a lot of good decisions. Not all of them
have been perfect (anyone remember that
unannounced cannon-shot at the home
opener last year?), but I’d have to say
that they get it right more often than
they get it wrong. This year’s
schedule, for one, has been a nice
change. Emphasizing weekend
games and staying away from as
many Monday and Tuesday night games as
possible was a great move. It did, of course,
have some unintended side effects, such as
we’re experiencing right now.
Not to get all conspiracy-theory on you,
but sometimes it feels like a three-games-infour-nights run is written on a dry-erase
board inside the bowels of 14th and Brett Hull
Way as the ‘Let’s Try To Kill The GT Guys
Weekend!’
So, in accordance with GT Standard
Operating Procedures, at least one of my
articles in this stretch will have to be a
hodgepodge of unconnected thoughts. Guess
what? Tonight’s the night.
Possibly the biggest decision the franchise
has made since changing hands three years
ago was the choice to stop chasing endless
unfruitful playoff runs and to finally, totally
commit to a rebuilding of the team. So far, it
has been going nearly perfect. And yes, that’s
hard to say when the team is struggling along
below the .500 mark. But management said
it explicitly: this will not be easy and it will
not be quick. They were right, because this
certainly isn’t easy.
When we see a team like Calgary come in
like they did last night, though, I feel better
about where our team is going than where
their team is going. They basically have one
great forward, one great defenseman and one
great goalie. They’re prospect pipeline
doesn’t have near the promise that ours does.
And they have Mike Keenan, which means
things are going to end badly at some point
in Calgary.
Leaving a point out on the ice last night
was the shitty end of the stick, for sure, but I
feel confident in saying that the rebuilding
Blues are closer to a Stanley Cup than that
plateauing Flames team is.
Similarly, the Blues made a good
choice when designing their new third
jerseys. I’m not a fan of third jerseys in
general, and I won’t be ponying up to
buy one of the new ones with the Arch on
it, either, but I can recognize that they
are pretty nice looking.
On the other hand, I’ve heard some
people suggest that they become the new
primary design for the team. As
Hall & Oates once said, “Oh, I can’t
go for that, no can do.”
That’d be a mistake as big as
creating a new jersey with
clown-costume colors, slanty
numbers and trumpets on the shoulders.
It’s a nice third jersey and let’s just keep
it at that. The traditional look of the
existing jerseys is damn-near perfect and
I think it matches up with any of the
strongest jerseys in the league. The
single, strong Bluenote, classic colors
and simple lines is the way to go.
Speaking of the clown-costume
jerseys, one of which I do own, the white
ones really aren’t that bad, but I think if
you have the right player and number on
there it goes a long way to making it
more respectable. The Gretzky 99 ones I
never really got into, mainly because The
Great One was so not that great when he
was here for those 12 days back in 1996.
Instead, give me a good ol’ Chase 39 or
Twist 18 or Courtnall 14 and I think it’s a
good look. I’ve always been partial to the
Hull 16, too, but recently I saw one that I
liked even better.
Our writer Chris Gift just picked up a
Corson 9 version of that jersey and I
think it’s pretty good. Not just because
you don’t see that one a lot, but also
because the simple look of the 9 on
there. You don’t see a lot of people going
out to get new clown suit Blues jerseys,
but the Five Hole pulled it off.
And finally, since we’ve drifted onto
the topic of Mr. Gift, I have to relate a
story that I’ve been looking to unload for
a few weeks. At the start of the season, I
asked Chris if he could do me a favor and
pick up my son and bring him down to
the game. It keeps him from having to
stand out on the street with me for two
hours before the game and it keeps me
(Continued on page 23)
Volume 4, Issue 13
December 6, 2008
St. Louis Game Time
Established: November 6, 2005
St Louis, Missouri
Phone: 402-2266
www.StLouisGameTime.com
Godfather
Jeffio
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
Sean Gallagher
gallagher@StLouisGameTime.com
Advertising
gallagher@StLouisGameTime.com
gift@StLouisGameTime.com
Distribution
John Nicolay
Amy Benoist, Becky Benoist,
Billy Cash, Clarence Walker
Columnists
Chris Gift, Duke, Brad Lee,
Answer Man & Brian Weidler
Contributors
Jeffio, Jeff Browning, LosBri,
Childhood Trauma, Jeff Fahrenkrog,
Jeremy Pratte & Chris Reed
Photographer
Andrew D’Angelo
Mission:
Game Time will provide prospect
information, up-to-date statistics, articles
that spark discussion and humor that
points out the best and worst about our
favorite team and sport. We are all fans of
the Blues and our opinions will reflect
those of subjective fans.
The paper is published for every home
game, excluding the pre-season, which we
all know sucks.
Rights & Permissions:
All material printed herein is copyrighted
and protected. Do not reprint in any
format without expressed, written
permission from Game Time LLC.
Logos & Photos
Team logos and pictures used herein are
the property of the individual teams
and/or the NHL and are used solely for
identification and editorial purposes.
Today’s Reminder: Janet’s from Bridgeton.
G AME T IME
Page 3
Top 11 Fan Comments
Tonight’s Trivia
Last Night
By Childhood Trauma
First Period (true or false):
11.
1. Wayne Gretzky is the only person elected to the hall of
fame as a player to coach the Blues or the Coyotes.
10.
2. The Coyotes have retired a number in honor of the father
of a current Blues player.
9.
First Intermission (T/F):
3. River Phoenix is one of several actors to portray the
fictional “Indiana Jones.”
Second Period (multiple choice):
4. The Hobey Baker Award incumbent is: Chris Porter, Kevin
Porter, Ben Bishop, or Keith Yardle?
5. Who holds the record for playing the most NHL games
before scoring their first goal: Matt Walker, David Hale, Mike
Weaver, or Kurt Sauer?
8.
7.
6.
5.
4.
Second Intermission:
3.
6. Which of the following states is not part of the ‘Four
Corners’ : Arizona, Idaho, Colorado, or New Mexico.
2.
Third Period:
1.
7. Which current Sabre was the Phoenix captain between
Keith Tkachuk and Shane Doan?
Two nothing lead in the third period? You can
bring out the Zamboni, this thing is over.
With all the layoffs happening, I can’t wait for
Brewer to get his pink slip.
There’s Oshie! Teeeeeej! I’m trembling! Don’t
look at me man; I think I’m going to cry.
I think Keenan shaved his mustache because of
the smell.
Hey beer man. If I promise not to buy any
Saturday night, can I buy through the end of the
game tonight?
It’s cold outside. Colder than Gary Bettman’s
sense of humor.
We parked at the Casino Queen and took the
train over. Janet was at the blackjack tables
already.
Do not try to pronounce that new defenseman’s
name drunk. You end up yodeling.
I was going to the Mizzou football game
Saturday, but I didn’t want to die from exposure.
If Mike Keenan ever had a soul, I bet he would
have sold it for an overtime win tonight.
Well that sucked.
From the Empty Beer Cup of Brad Lee
8. What current Coyote is the active leader in most NHL
games played without reaching the playoffs?
9. The Blues sent a 1st round pick and three players to
Phoenix when they acquired Keith Tkachuk. Name the three
players.
Overtime!
10. What is the highest uniform number ever worn by a
Bluesʼ goalie, and which players have worn it.
I Am Jack’s
Seething Rage.
www.stlouisgametime.com
Corrections & Clarifications
• Game Time would like to apologize for popping your
thunder stix last night. Then again, you’re actually
lucky we didn’t stick
them up your ass.
• [Apology to be named
later.]
• Game Time printed
the wrong picture of
the Blues/Flames
game last night in
the last issue. The
correct picture is
shown here.
Calgary
Blues
1. False. Sid Abel, who coached 11 Blues games, and Leo Bovine, who
coached two seasons for the Blues, are both in the hall as players.
2. True. No. 25 was retired for Tomas Steen, Alexanderʼs father.
3. True. Harrison Ford suggested he play the teenaged Indy in
“Indiana Jones and the Lost Crusade.”
4. Coyote prospect Kevin Porter won the Hobey in 2008.
5. On Nov 26 2008, in his 231st game, David Hale scored his first
NHL goal.
6. It is Utah, and not Idaho, that meets the other three states at four
corners.
7. Teppo Numminen.
8. Olli Jokinen has played over 725 games with the Kings, Islanders,
Panthers, and Coyotes without making the playoffs.
9. Ladislav Nagy, Jeff Taffe, and Michael Handzus.
10. Chris Mason currently wears No. 50, previously worn by
Reinhard Divis.
Page 4
Volume 4, Issue 13
December 6, 2008
Page 5
G AME T IME
The Five Hole
With Chris Gift
Most of the time, our Top 11 lists are 11 attempts at humor.
Certain times, we play hunches.
seriously…Brad Winchester, Chris Porter, Steve Regier, Steve
Wagner, Mike Weaver, Cam Janssen?
For example in Game Time for the Edmonton game (or
for those who like to be official, St. Louis Game Time,
Volume 4, Issue 11) two of the 11 ways Erik Johnson is
passing the time while recovers from knee surgery were
“Older Chicks” and “Younger Chicks.” So unless he’s
monogamous with someone his age, we’re probably right on
target there.
Just to show how far things have come, here are a few
names from the Blues’ roster from Game Time’s first issue in
November of 2005: Andy Roach, Colin Hemingway, Jeff
Hoggan, and Peter Sejna.
Sometimes, there’s a hell of a lot of truth in those
smartass comments. Take Sean’s Top 11 Ways the Blues Are
Thanking Season Ticket Holders also from Saturday’s
Edmonton issue. Okay, other than No. 2, “A swift kick in the
nuts,” being this year’s Christmas gift, there is truth to the
other ten things that Sean listed.
Just to show how far things have come, here are a few
names from our roster from Game Time’s first issue in
November of 2005: Robb Schunemann, Chris Zacher, and
Chris Moresi.
Closing the concession stands upstairs so we can
get more in-game exercise. And Not re-investing the
ticket price into hiring more ushers.
Yes, I’ve heard that “Christmas gift” is pretty close to my
name. Michael Hunt has also heard that his name is pretty
close to…nevermind.
Two for one here, but the team is sending the same
message. The diehard fan in the upper deck, go screw yourself
and your cheap tickets. We could care less if somebody walks
up the aisle during play, and we don’t care how far you have
to walk to get something to eat.
Without rehashing all of them one by one, I’ll just touch
on a few.
Want proof of the first one? The large concession stand
near section 306 has been closed for the last few games.
Sean wrote: Great half-price ticket deals for everyone who’s not a season ticket holder.
I’ll repeat what I’ve said in this space before, there are few,
if any, ushers in the 300 level that enforce the “wait until a
stoppage in play” rule. Of all of the off-ice stuff this team
needs to add this must be priority number one.
Season ticket holders do get a little bit of a break off of
the face value of “walk-up” tickets when those tickets are
sold at face value, but you’d have to be as out of it as Cam
Janssen on a power play to not see the “great ticket deals”
that the Blues are advertising.
I re-upped my season tickets in July, and I know most of
you probably did it before that. My ticket rep called me
during last season’s playoffs and started out with the
innocent question of “So, what do you think about the
season?” He was referring to the upcoming season. I knew
it. But, being a smartass, I had to say something along the
lines of “They really have to be disappointed in San Jose, a
great regular season and couldn’t make it to the conference
finals. Probably’ll cost Ron Wilson his job.”
Season tickets are the best deal that the Blues offer. My
seat that I paid $10 for to the Edmonton game has a face
value of $28. The same goes for the $23 I paid for my “$28”
seat for tonight. But when I see “deals” all over the place, it
kind of makes me think that I’m getting screwed.
Here’s an idea, Blues management: Give season ticket
holders vouchers for upgrading their seats to select games.
Forty-eight hours before the game, we can walk up with
seats for Game X, if there are better seats available we could
use an upgrade voucher to get better unused seats for that
night.
2009 pricepoints; 2005 roster.
This isn’t so much about the price of the tickets, and the
current roster is the way it is because of injuries, but
I’m willing to bet a good deal of your salary that the
annoying person in your section that keeps violating this rule
(Continued on page 22)
The Jeffio Joke of the Day
Bob Plager went into a tavern and saw a beautiful
woman sitting by herself at the bar. He went up to her
and asked, “Would you mind if I chatted with you for a
while?”
She responded by yelling, at the top of her lungs,
“No, I won’t sleep with you tonight!” Everyone in the
bar began staring at them.
After a few minutes, the woman walked over to
Plager and apologized. She smiled at him and said,
“I’m sorry if I embarrassed you. You see, I’m a
graduate student in psychology and I’m studying how
people respond to embarrassing situations.”
To which Plager responded, at the top of his lungs,
“What do you mean $200?”
Volume 4, Issue 13
December 6, 2008
Page 6
St. Louis Blues Statistics
Skater Statistics
PLAYER
Brad Boyes, RW
Andy McDonald, C
Keith Tkachuk, C
Paul Kariya, LW
David Perron, LW
Patrik Berglund, C
David Backes, RW
Eric Brewer, D
Barret Jackman, D
Jay McClement, C
Jeff Woywitka, D
Steve Regier, LW
T.J. Oshie, C
Carlo Colaiacovo, D *
Jay McKee, D
Cam Janssen, RW
Cam Paddock, C
Yan Stastny, C
Roman Polak, D
Steve Wagner, D
Chris Porter, C
Mike Weaver, D
Brad Winchester, LW
D.J. King, LW
Alex Pietrangelo, D
B.J. Crombeen, RW *
Dan Hinote, RW
David Koci, D (TB)
Alexander Steen, LW *
Goalie Statistics
PLAYER
Manny Legace
Chris Mason
Ben Bishop
Marek Schwarz
* statistics with Blues only
GP G A PTS +/- PIM
24 13 9
22 -15
10
16 6 12
18 -12
12
24 11 5
16
-7
27
11 2 13
15
1
2
23 2 13
15
3
16
19 7 7
14
10
2
24 5 4
9
-1
77
24 1 4
5 -15
18
24 2 3
5
-2
32
24 1 4
5
-6
8
10 0 4
4
1
12
8 3 1
4
-1
4
11 2 2
4
2
0
5 0 3
3
-1
4
24 1 1
2
-2
10
21 0 2
2
-5
53
10 1 1
2
-3
0
18 1 1
2
-9
7
24 0 2
2
-3
14
16 1 1
2
-5
18
6 1 1
2
-1
0
10 0 1
1
-2
0
6 0 1
1
-2
15
1 0 1
1
E
0
8 0 1
1
E
2
8 0 1
1
-2
12
10 0 0
0
-2
9
4 0 0
0
-2
9
5 0 0
0
-2
2
GP W
13 6
11 3
3 1
2 0
Blues Leaders
Goals
Brad Boyes
Assists
Kariya / Perron
Points
Brad Boyes
Plus/Minus Patrik Berglund
PP Goals
Keith Tkachuk
Wins
Manny Legace
GAA
Chris Mason
Save PCT
Chris Mason
L
5
6
0
0
GAA
3.19
2.53
2.41
0.00
13
13
22
10
8
6
2.53
92.1%
ATOI PPG PPA SHG SHA SOG SPCT
20:01
7
5
0
0
62
21
19:55
2
9
1
0
46
13
18:23
8
1
0
0
59 18.6
18:06
0
9
0
0
31
6.5
15:03
0
4
0
0
41
4.9
14:58
2
3
0
0
35
20
16:34
2
1
0
0
38 13.2
25:29
1
2
0
0
41
2.4
22:24
0
0
0
0
25
8
16:44
0
0
0
0
34
2.9
17:36
0
3
0
0
12
0
10:59
2
0
0
0
11 27.3
15:39
1
0
0
0
14 14.3
16:25
0
3
0
0
9
0
16:48
0
0
0
0
15
6.7
5:50
0
0
0
0
8
0
11:03
0
0
0
0
10
10
13:08
0
0
0
0
14
7.1
19:50
0
1
0
0
23
0
16:32
0
1
0
0
11
9.1
10:32
0
0
0
0
7 14.3
10:55
0
0
0
0
3
0
11:34
0
1
0
0
6
0
8:20
0
0
0
0
0
0
16:31
0
1
0
0
7
0
11:50
0
0
0
0
11
0
11:12
0
0
0
0
4
0
3:37
0
0
0
0
5
0
17:35
0
0
0
0
5
0
SV
SV% SHO TGA TSA PIM ENG
302 89.1%
0
37 339
0
1
291 92.1%
1
25 316
0
4
66 91.7%
0
6
72
0
0
5 100.0%
0
0
5
0
0
Blues All-Time
Games Played
Goals
Points
PIM
Goalie GP
Wins
GAA
Shutouts
Leaders
Bernie Federko
Brett Hull
Bernie Federko
Brian Sutter
Mike Liut
Mike Liut
Jacques Plante
Glenn Hall
927
527
1,073
1,873
347
151
2.07
16
G AME T IME
Page 7
Phoenix Coyotes Statistics
Skater Statistics
PLAYER
Shane Doan, RW
Olli Jokinen, C
Martin Hanzal, C
Peter Mueller, C
Keith Yandle, D
Steve Reinprecht, C
Mikkel Boedker, LW
Ed Jovanovski, D
Kevin Porter, C
Zbynek Michalek, D
Kyle Turris, C
Derek Morris, D
Enver Lisin, RW
Todd Fedoruk, LW
Viktor Tikhonov, LW
Ken Klee, D
Kurt Sauer, D
Daniel Carcillo, LW
David Hale, D
Daniel Winnik, C
Brian McGrattan, RW
Garth Murray, C
Goalie Statistics
PLAYER
Ilya Bryzgalov
Mikael Tellqvist
GP G A PTS +/- PIM ATOI PPG PPA SHG SHA SOG SPCT
25 12 12
24
4
29 20:52
4
4
0
2
71 16.9
21 7 11
18
3
29 18:00
3
5
1
0
66 10.6
25 6 10
16
1
23 17:35
0
2
2
1
35 17.1
25 5 9
14
-4
10 16:37
3
4
0
0
46 10.9
21 1 12
13
1
21 16:29
0
2
0
0
34
2.9
23 5 7
12
3
2 15:48
0
1
0
0
38 13.2
25 5 7
12
5
4 17:47
0
0
0
0
39 12.8
25 1 9
10 -11
18 22:17
1
4
0
0
73
1.4
23 5 5
10
3
2 13:50
1
1
0
0
32 15.6
25 1 7
8
5
6 23:39
0
0
0
1
22
4.5
23 2 6
8
-6
6 12:15
1
4
0
0
31
6.5
22 3 4
7
1
6 19:45
0
0
1
0
26 11.5
9 4 2
6
-1
2 14:03
0
0
0
0
18 22.2
25 3 2
5
-2
36 10:56
0
0
0
0
21 14.3
25 2 3
5
-2
4 11:14
0
0
0
1
33
6.1
14 0 3
3
3
4 13:20
0
0
0
0
6
0
25 0 3
3
6
24 20:51
0
0
0
1
14
0
21 2 1
3
-3
61 12:49
2
0
0
0
53
3.8
18 1 1
2
-5
11 13:28
0
0
0
0
6 16.7
19 0 1
1
1
33 14:07
0
0
0
0
35
0
3 0 0
0
-1
12 4:28
0
0
0
0
2
0
8 0 0
0
-1
12 9:41
0
0
0
0
11
0
GP W
19 8
8 4
Coyotes Leaders
Goals
Shane Doan
Assists
Doan/Yandle
Points
Shane Doan
Plus/Minus
Kurt Sauer
PP Goals
Shane Doan
Wins
Ilya Bryzgalov
GAA
Mikael Tellqvist
Save PCT
Mikael Tellqvist
L GAA
9 2.70
2 2.24
SV SV% SHO TGA TSA PIM ENG
489 91.2%
0
47 536
2
2
226 93.0%
0
17 243
0
1
12
12
24
6
4
8
2.24
93.0%
Coyotes All-Time Leaders*
Games Played Teppo Numminen 1,098
Goals
Dale Hawerchuk
379
Points
Dale Hawerchuk
929
PIM
Keith Tkachuk
1,508
Goalie GP
Bob Essensa
311
Wins
Bob Essensa
129
GAA
Sean Burke
2.39
Shutouts
Nikolai Khabibulin
21
*includes Winnipeg Jets franchise stats.
The Comments Are Half The Fun.
www.StLouisGameTime.com
Volume 4, Issue 13
December 6, 2008
Page 8
Top 11 Items On The
Franchise Christmas List
11.
10.
9.
8.
7.
6.
5.
4.
3.
2.
1.
Tkachuk: “Just For Men Beard Kit.”
Legace: His job back.
Oshie: To be just a little less popular.
Murray: Throat lozenges. Lots and lots of throat
lozenges.
McDonald: A bionic leg.
Brewer: Earplugs to keep the boos out.
Perron: Puberty.
Berglund: Some tighter shirts.
Janssen: A taller levee.
Angellla: To stop being called sloppy firsts.
Polak: Three brothers to help him screw in a
lightbulb.
From the Empty 12 Ounces Beer Cup of Brad Lee
and Sean Gallagher
Only About
86% Drunk.
The Big Johnson Joke of the Day
Dear Phoenix, you wanna know how big my
Johnson is?
My Johnson is so big, OJ is going
to the joint for 15 years for trying
to kidnap it.
My Johnson is so big, it
moved its team from Winnipeg,
too.
The Roman Polak Joke of the Day
Roman Polak and his brother are driving their
moving truck on the highway when
they
approach an overpass. A
sign says, ‘Clearance: 11”2.’
So they stop, get out, measure
the rental truck, and realize
that it's 11”6.
Roman thinks for a minute,
looks at his brother and says,
“I don’t see any cops around... Let’s go for it!”
www.stlouisgametime.com
Wanna Be Semi-Famous
(Regionally)?
Do you have a different
perspective?
Passion? Knowledge? Desire?
Work well under deadlines?
Ever pay kick-backs to an editor
to get better space?
We’re looking for writers, graphic artists,
statisticians and comedy writers.
Contact: gallagher@stlouisgametime.com
The BJ Crombeen Joke of the Day
One of Phoenix’ rookies sits down at a bar.
“What can I get you?” the bartender inquires.
“I want six shots of Jagermeister,”
responds the young man.
“Six shots?!” the bartender asks,
“Are you celebrating something?”
“Yeah, my first BJ,” the young man
replies.
“Well, in that case, let me give you a
seventh on the house,” the bartender
says.
“No offense, sir,” the young man says, “but if six shots
won't get rid of the taste, nothing will.”
Your Kids Gotta Learn Bad Words Somewhere.
www.stlouisgametime.com
G AME T IME
Page 9
Ask A Blues Fan
TJ Oshie returned to the lineup after missing 13 games to injury. What kind of impact do you think
he’ll have on the team?
Elisha Cuthbert,
Puck bunny
“Well, I’m gonna have his
baby at some point, I know
that.”
TJ Oshie,
Blue
“Well, the number of frosted
tips in the locker room just
went through the roof.”
John Davidson,
HMFIC, Hockey Operations
“We’re not going to put a lot of
pressure on him (playoffs) or ask
that he do too much (playoffs).
“He’s a rookie (we traded Dutchie
to give you more time) and he’s got
to play his game (playoffs).”
Not Afraid To Take The Low Road.
www.StLouisGameTime.com
Ask A Coyotes Fan
The impression around the NHL is that the Coyotes have a hard time drawing fans to their games,
while their management and fans argue otherwise. What do you think?
Kurt Warner
Football fan
“It took people in this town 20 years just
to find the football team. You think
they’re gonna go to hockey?
“Maybe check back in a decade and
see what’s up.”
Jason Kidd
Former Phoenix Sun
“Hockey’s so boring. Those guys
barely ever beat up their wives.”
The Desert Twins,
Entertainers
“You know, if our intermission
show, ‘Mandy and Sandy’s No
Hands Glass Cutting’ can’t put
people in this building, there’s
no way a stupid hockey team
can.”
Volume 4, Issue 13
December 6, 2008
Page 10
The Ghost of the Blues
With Jeff Browning
Keith Tkachuk just scored point number one thousand. Quite
the achievement. But the sad truth is, Tkachuk isn’t nearly
the beast that he was in his youth. Now, when he was the
captain of the Coyotes and the Jets, he
was one of the league’s premier players.
During his rookie season, him and fellow
freshmen Teemu Selanne were in a goal
scoring race of sorts. Tkachuk lost--by 48 goals-but his 28 tallies were still very impressive, and
he added 41 the next season. He would have back to back 50
goal seasons later on, including a league leading 52 goals (and
228 penalty minutes) in 1996-97.
Tkachuk is number three all-time in Jets/Coyotes scoring
with 323 goals, 623 points, and 640 games, and number one
in penalty minutes by a long shot. The two guys above him,
who both played for Winnipeg and never Phoenix, are shorttime Blue Dale Hawerchuk (no relation to Keith Tkachuk)
and Thomas Steen (yes relation to Alexander Steen). In 420
games with the Blues, Tkachuk has 362 points and 181 goals,
which while very close to the percentages he scored in
Phoenix, he has never made as big of a single season impact.
That is, in the regular season. Before coming to the Blues,
Tkachuk’s team has never made it out of the first round of the
playoffs. At least things were different for him early in his
Blues’ career.
Thomas Steen, Alexander’s father, is not only one of the
greatest Jets of all time, but is one of the greatest Swedes ever.
He is the only Swedish player to have his jersey retired, and he
and Alex are the only father-son duo representing the blue and
gold to both score goals in the NHL.
Todd Fedoruk spent two seasons with Barret Jackman on
the Regina Pats. While Fedoruk has been one of the league’s
biggest goons since moving up (just ask Aaron Downey…who
probably doesn’t remember. Thank God for YouTube), his 180
junior penalty minutes look like nothing compared to
Jackman’s 480 in the same time period. (That
period is two seasons. Yep, 480 PIM in two
seasons. Wow.)
The Blues have a few players who have been
with the San Antonio Rampage, Phoenix’s current
AHL affiliate. Chris Mason was there years ago,
back when it was Florida’s team. But Cam Paddock was there
the last two years, and boy did he play with some former Blue
A-listers. Pascal Rheaume, Jon DiSalvatore, Mike Zigomanis,
Jeff Taffe, and of course Tyson Nash. All of those guys must be
so good that they have moved on, but Joel Perrault and Jeff
Hoggan are still with the team. Man, I hope we have enough
‘Blues Heroes’ posters to go around.
Blues Record When…
Playing at StickyFloorCentre
Playing on the road
Still pissed at Gretzky
They score first
The other team scores first
They score 4 or more goals
They score fewer than 4 goals
They score on the PP
The other team scores on the PP
The other team scores shorthanded
A Blues players has multiple goals
An opposing player has multiple goals
They take 30 or more shots
They allow 30 or more shots
Sunday Game
Monday Game
Tuesday Game
Wednesdays sure suck ass
Thursday Game
Friday Game
Saturday Game
Playing in October
Playing in November
Playing in December
Injure a player get suspended for
5-5-2
5-6-1
10-11-3
5-2-3
4-9-0
6-0-1
4-11-2
8-4-3
3-7-2
1-1-0
4-1-1
2-1-1
3-2-0
6-5-2
1-0-1
1-0-0
1-0-0
0-5-0
1-1-1
3-1-1
3-5-0
5-4-0
5-6-2
0-1-1
3-games-OK
With LosBri
League keeps turning into a bad joke
10-11-3
Leading after the 1st
5-2-3
Tied after the 1st
2-2-0
Trailing after the 1st
3-7-0
PTMFUS!
10-11-3
Leading after the 2nd
6-0-1
Tied after the 2nd
2-2-2
Trailing after the 2nd
2-9-0
Fight! Fight! Fight!
3-6-1
They are called for 7 or more penalties
3-4-2
Other team called for 7 or more penalties
3-3-1
Emmanual "I kinda suck this year" Legace starts
6-6-1
Chris "I make more than you" Mason starts
3-5-1
Ben Bishop Starts
1-0-1
Playing the Eastern Conference
3-4-1
Playing the Atlantic Division
0-2-0
Playing the Northeast Division
1-1-1
Playing the Southeast Division
2-1-0
Game is on FSN
4-7-3
Game is on KPLR
3-3-0
Playing the Western Conference
7-7-2
Playing the Central Division
4-1-0
Playing the Northwest Division
1-3-1
Playing the Pacific Division
2-3-1
Run your mouth get suspended for
6-games-?
Page 11
Franchise Foundations
St. Louis Blues
Year
Player
1999
2001
2002
2003
2004
Barret Jackman ~ Drafted 1st rd (17 overall) by STL
Jay McClement ~ Drafted 2nd round, 57 overall by STL
D.J. King ~ Drafted in 6th rd (190 overall) by STL
David Backes ~ Drafted in 2nd rd (62 overall) by STL
Roman Polak ~ Drafted in 6th rd (180 overall) by STL
T.J. Oshie ~ Drafted in 1st rd (24 overall) by STL
Eric Brewer ~ Acquired from EDM with Jeff Woywitka
and Doug Lynch for Chris Pronger
Jeff Woywitka ~ Acquired from EDM with Eric Brewer
and Doug Lynch for Chris Pronger
Erik Johnson ~ Drafted in 1st rd (1 overall) by STL
Patrik Berglund ~ Drafted in 1st rd (25 overall) by STL
Jay McKee ~ Signed as Free Agent (BUF)
Dan Hinote ~ Signed as Free Agent (COL)
Manny Legace ~ Signed as Free Agent (DET)
Yan Stastny ~ Acquired from BOS for 5th rd pick in
2007
Brad Boyes ~ Acquired from BOS for Dennis
Wideman
Steve Wagner ~ Signed as Free Agent (undrafted)
David Perron ~ Drafted in 1st rd (26 overall) by STL
Keith Tkachuk ~ Signed as Free Agent. Originally
acquired from PHX in 2001 for a 1st rd pick in 2002,
Ladislav Nagy, Michal Handzus and Jeff Taffe
Paul Kariya ~ Signed as Free Agent (NAS)
Andy McDonald ~ Acquired from ANA for Doug
Weight, Michal Birner and a 7th rd pick in 2008
Cam Janssen ~ Acquired from NJ for Bryce Salvador
Mike Weaver ~ Signed as Free Agent (VAN)
Chris Mason ~ Acquired from NAS for a 4th rd pick in
2008
Cam Paddock ~ Signed as Free Agent (PIT)
B.J. Crombeen ~ Claimed off waivers (DAL)
Alexander Steen ~ Acquired with Carlo Colaiacovo
from TOR for Lee 'Dutchie' Stempniak
Carlo Colaiacovo ~ Acquired with Alexander Steen
from TOR for Lee 'Dutchie' Stempniak
2005
2006
2007
2008
Phoenix Coyotes
Year
Player
1995 Shane Doan ~ Drafted in 1st rd (7 overall) by WIN
Enver Lisin ~ Drafted in 2nd rd (50 overall) by PHX
Kevin Porter ~ Drafted in 4th rd (119 overall) by PHX
Daniel Winnik ~ Drafted in 9th rd (265 overall) by PHX
2004
Derek Morris ~ Acquired from COL with Keith Ballard
for Chris Gratton, Ossi Vaananen and a 2nd rd pick
(Paul Stastny) in 2005
Martin Hanzal ~ Drafted in 1st rd (17 overall) by PHX
Keith Yandle ~ Drafted in 4th rd (105 overall) by PHX
2005
Zybnek Michalek ~ Acquired from MIN for Erik
Westrum and Dustin Wood
Mikael Tellqvist ~ Acquired from TOR for Tyson Nash
and a 4th rd pick in 2007
Steven Reinprecht ~ Acquired with Philippe Sauve
2006 from CGY for Brian Boucher and Mike Leclerc
Peter Mueller ~ Drafted in 1st rd (8 overall) by PHX
Ed Jovanovski ~ Signed as Free Agent (VAN)
Joel Perreault ~ Claimed off waivers from STL
Kyle Turris ~ Drafted in 1st rd (3 overall) by PHX
Daniel Carcillo ~ Acquired with a 3rd rd pick in 2008
2007
from PIT for Georges Laraque
Ilya Bryzgalov ~ Claimed off waivers from ANA
Olli Jokinen ~ Acquired from FLA for Keith Ballard and
Nick Boynton
Mikkel Boedker ~ Drafted in 1st rd (8 overall) by PHX
Viktor Tikhonov ~ Drafted in 1st rd (28 overall) by PHX
Kurt Sauer ~ Signed as Free Agent (COL)
2008
Brian McGrattan ~ Acquired from OTT for a 5th rd pick
in 2009
David Hale ~ Signed as Free Agent (CGY)
Todd Fedoruk ~ Signed as Free Agent (MIN)
Ken Klee ~ Claimed off waivers from ANA
What’d McGrath Trade For These Guys?
St. Louis Game Time
Volume 4, Issue 13
December 6, 2008
Page 12
NHL Leaders
NHL Leaders
Points
1. Evgeni Malkin, PIT
2. Sidney Crosby, PIT
3. Alex Ovechkin, WAS
4. Ryan Getzlaf, ANH
5. Marc Savard, BOS
40. Brad Boy es, STL
41
39
34
32
32
22
Goals Against Average
1. Tim Thomas, BOS
2. Dany Sabourin, PIT
3. Brian Boucher, SJ
4. Craig Anderson, FLA
5. Alex Auld, OTT
20. Chris Mason, STL
Goals
1. Jeff Carter, PHI
2. Thomas Vanek, BUF
3. Phil Kessel, BOS
4. Alex Ovechkin, WAS
5. Marian Hossa, DET
9. Brad Boyes, STL
18
18
15
14
14
13
Save Percentage
1. Craig Anderson, FLA
2. Tim Thomas, BOS
3. Jonas Hiller, ANH
4. Dany Sabourin, PIT
5. Mike Smith, TB
11. Chris Mason, STL
Plus/Minus
1. Alexander Semin, WAS
2. Marc Savard, BOS
3. Simon Gagne, PHI
4. Devin Setoguchi, SJ
5. Patrick Marleau, SJ
24. Patrik Berglund, STL
17
15
15
15
14
10
Wins
1. Henrik Lundqvist, NYR
2. Evgeni Nabokov, SJ
3. Miikka Kiprusoff, CGY
4. Niklas Backstrom, MIN
5. Carey Price, MON
25. Manny Legace, STL
1.83
1.86
1.88
1.89
1.96
2.53
94.7%
94.2%
93.3%
93.1%
92.8%
92.1%
16
15
15
14
13
6
Shootout Goals
1. Nikolai Zherdev, NYR
2. Johnathan Toews, CHI
3. Wojtek Wolski, COL
4. Brad Boy es, STL
5. Drew Stafford, BUF
5
4
4
3
3
Rookie Points
1. Kris Versteeg, CHI
2. Derrick Brassard, CLB
3. Mikhail Grabovski, TOR
4. Patrik Berglund, STL
5. Blake Wheeler, BOS
22
20
18
14
13
Defensemen Points
1. Shea Weber, NAS
2. Dan Boyle, SJ
3. Rob Blake, SJ
4. Andre Markov, MTL
5. Sheldon Souray, EDM
113. Jackm an/Brewer
24
23
21
20
20
5
Around The
Captain Canuck Going To The Rafters — In his first
season of retirement, Trevor Linden will be honored in a way
that many other players have to wait years, or decades, to
receive. On Dec. 16, Vancouver will retire Linden’s No. 16 in a
pre-game ceremony.
As part of the celebration, the Canucks are having ‘16 Days
of Linden’ leading up to the event. Each day they are talking
about a different part of his career, from draft day in 1988
when he was taken second overall, to his Stanley Cup final
heroics in a failed Game 7 against the Rangers, through his
trade and return later in his career.
In his 20-year NHL career (16 with Vancouver), Linden
posted 867 points (375 goals/492 assists) in 1,382 games.
Why Can’t The Blues Ever Have This Happen? —
When the Florida Panthers acquired Craig Anderson for a
sixth round pick two years ago, they assumed they were
getting a decent back-up goalie. Anderson, however, seems to
be blossoming beyond expectations.
Last March on Long Island Anderson stopped a record 53
shots in earning a 1-0 victory. He followed that up with a 40save shutout in Boston two days later. Since then, Anderson’s
record with the Panthers is 9-2-3. His goals against: 1.76. His
save percentage: 95.2%.
We Hope The Blues Never Have This Happen — The
Florida Panthers have a new show debuting this month
profiling Richard Zednik, who was thrust into the
international spotlight last season when his carotid artery was
accidentally sliced by a teammates’ skate.
The show interviews those who saved Zednik’s life that
night in Buffalo, including the Panthers’ trainer, the Sabres’
team doctor, and the head of emergency Medicine at Buffalo
General Hospital. It will be replayed several times throughout the year.
He’s No Kurt Warner — It’s not exactly an NHL version
of Kurt Warner’s rags to riches tale where he rose from the
night shift at a grocery store to Super Bowl MVP, but
Canucks goalie Cory Schneider is having fun with it.
Schneider was in Warner’s shoes last Saturday, bagging
groceries at a local supermarket in Winnipeg as part of the
Manitoba Moose’s Holiday Food Drive. Working in Lane
Three for a two-hour shift, Schneider, Vancouver’s first
round pick in 2004, mastered the art of grocery packing to
perfection at the same time that Roberto Luongo injured his
groin against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Word travels fast and Schneider assumed he’d be called
up to the Canucks and not long after his grocery shift ended
he was gathering some clothes and preparing for liftoff.
“The guys and I were joking about it, it’s definitely rags to
riches,” Schneider told the Canucks’ website.
After a stellar three-year career at Boston College,
Schneider struggled early with the Moose last season before
going 16-5-2 over his last 23 appearances.
Volume 4, Issue 13
December 6, 2008
Page 13
Fried Chicken’s
www.hockey
www.hockey--fights.com
Tonight’s Matchup: Phoenix has accumulated 17 fight majors so far this season, and these two teams hooked up for four fights
last season. Phoenix has dressed its top fighter only three times so far, but they dress super-pest Daniel Carcillo nightly. Carcillo is
always stirring the pot, so that creates some potential entertainment for all the fight fans in the arena tonight.
St. Louis Blues Probable Fighters
Phoenix Coyotes Probable Fighter
•Cam Janssen – Cam is the most active pugilist on the Blues
•Brian McGrattan – At 6’4, 235 pounds, McGrattan has the
roster, with seven fights. He has done quite well so far,
hanging in there with much bigger opponents. With DJ king
out for the season, Janssen figures to be the most prominent
fighter for the Blues this season. He had a spirited battle last
night with Calgary’s Brandon Prust.
size of a heavyweight, and he’s a pretty damn good fighter. He
spent the first three years of his NHL career as Ottawa’s top
enforcer, and signed with the Coyotes this season. The
problem is that Phoenix has only dressed him for three games,
and he has had no fights.
•Brandon Crombeen – Crombeen is a high energy, physical
•Todd Fedoruk – “Fridge” has been around for quite a
player who is willing to drop the gloves when need be. He is
6’2, 212 pounds, and he’s a decent fighter who will win some
and lose some. His last fight was on 11/30, against Atlanta’s
Eric Boulton.
while, and has made a name for himself as an enforcer who
won’t hesitate to stick up for his teammates. He’s built like a
refrigerator, standing 6’2 and weighing 240 pounds. Fedoruk
is a decent fighter, but he has suffered some pretty bad
losses…which have led to concussion problems.
•David Backes – Backes had five fights last year, and two of
those came against the Coyotes. He has had two fights during
this campaign, his last coming 11/29 against Edmonton’s
Shawn Horcoff. Backes is a big guy who doesn’t drop the
gloves too often, but he will when he needs to…and he handles
himself pretty well when he does.
•Daniel Carcillo – Carcillo is an active middleweight fighter,
who finished last season with 19 fights. He has been involved
in five fights thus far during the current season. He is an
agitator, who loves to hit and get in the faces of his opponents.
He’s a bit like the Stars’ Sean Avery, except he drops the gloves
often and hasn’t made any ‘sloppy seconds’ comments to the
media as of yet.
Best bet of the night: Janssen vs Carcillo – Jason Travers, hockey-fights.com
Date
Combatants
Description
Decision
10/30/2007
David Backes vs
Ed Jovanovski
This happened late in the game. Backes and Jovocop both
threw a few body blows and wrestled each other down in a
crap fight.
Draw.
10/30/2007
Jamal Mayers vs
Daniel Carcillo
Mayers went with Carcillo right off the draw. They had
words in the pregame, so it was predetermined. Both guys
landed a few before wrestling each other down.
Draw.
10/4/2007
Eric Brewer vs
Nick Boynton
Brewer landed a good shot to knock Boynton's helmet off,
followed by a nice shot that sent Boynton down to a knee.
Boynton then wrestled Brewer down and landed a few while
on the ice.
Win: Brewer.
10/4/2007
David Backes vs
Keith Ballard
After a big hit by Ballard they dropped the gloves and
squared off. Both came together and threw a few, and both
fell down quickly.
Draw
Volume 4, Issue 13
December 6, 2008
Page 14
#
4
5
7
9
10
13
15
18
19
20
21
22
25
26
28
29
42
43
46
55
57
65
74
77
#
34
50
Player
Pos
Eric Brewer
D
Barret Jackman
D
Keith Tkachuk
C
Paul Kariya
L
Andy McDonald
C
Dan Hinote
R
Brad Winchester
L
Jay McClement
C
D.J. King
L
Alexander Steen
C
Patrik Berglund
C
Brad Boyes
R
Yan Stastny
C
B.J. Crombeen
R
Carlo Colaiacovo D
Jeff Woywitka
D
David Backes
C
Mike Weaver
D
Roman Polak
D
Cam Janssen
R
David Perron
L
Cam Paddock
C
T.J. Oshie
C
Jay McKee
D
TOTALS
Player
Manny Legace
Chris Mason
TOTALS
Wt
222
203
232
180
183
187
228
201
228
205
187
195
191
212
200
217
216
182
227
210
180
178
170
203
S
L
L
L
L
L
R
L
L
L
L
L
R
L
R
L
L
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
L
Rk GP
24
24
24
11
16
10
6
24
1
25
Y
19
24
18
Y
23
15
10
24
10
24
21
23
10
11
24
Y
Y
ON
QC
CO
ON
AB
MN
ON
General Manager:
Ray Bennett
Andy Murray
Larry Pleau
Pts
5
5
16
15
18
0
1
5
1
4
14
22
2
6
4
4
9
1
2
2
15
2
4
2
159
OT
1
1
2
+/-15
-2
-7
1
-12
-2
-2
-6
0
-6
10
-15
-9
-3
-3
1
-1
-2
-3
-5
3
-3
2
-2
-81
SO
0
1
1
PIM TOI/G
18 25:29
32 22:23
27 18:23
2 18:06
12 19:55
9 11:11
15 11:34
8 16:43
0
8:20
8 16:01
2 14:57
10 20:00
7 13:07
38 10:00
10 16:43
12 17:35
77 16:34
0 10:54
14 19:50
53
5:50
16 15:02
0 11:03
0 15:39
10 16:47
380
GAA
Sv%
3.19 89.1%
2.53 92.1%
Salary
$4,500,000
$2,500,000
$4,500,000
$6,000,000
$3,333,333
$1,000,000
$600,000
$950,000
$550,000
$1,700,000
$850,000
$2,500,000
$500,000
$550,000
$1,400,000
$725,000
$2,500,000
$700,000
$475,000
$550,000
$875,000
$510,000
$850,000
$4,000,000
$42,618,333
Salary
$2,500,000
$3,000,000
$5,500,000
$48,118,333
Rick Wamsley
Brad Shaw
Head Coach:
A
4
3
5
13
12
0
1
4
1
2
7
9
1
5
4
4
4
1
2
2
13
1
2
1
101
L
5
6
11
Asst / Goalie Coach:
Asst Coaches:
St. Louis Blues Rosters
and Statistics
S/P
BC
BC
MA
BC
ON
FL
WI
ON
SK
MB
Ht
75
72
74
70
71
72
77
73
74
73
76
72
70
74
73
74
75
69
73
72
72
72
71
76
MO
QC
BC
WA
ON
Ctry
CAN
CAN
USA
CAN
CAN
USA
USA
CAN
CAN
CAN
SWE
CAN
CAN
USA
CAN
CAN
USA
CAN
CZE
USA
CAN
CAN
USA
CAN
DOB
Apr 17 '79
Mar 05 '81
Mar 28 '72
Oct 16 '74
Aug 25 '77
Jan 30 '77
Mar 01 '81
Mar 02 '83
Jun 27 '84
Mar 01 '84
Jun 02 '88
Apr 17 '82
Sep 30 '82
Jul 10 '85
Jan 27 '83
Sep 01 '83
May 01 '84
May 02 '78
Apr 28 '86
Apr 15 '84
May 28 '88
Mar 22 '83
Dec 23 '86
Sep 08 '77
S/P Ctry Ht Wt C Rk GP
ON CAN 70 200 L
13
AB CAN 72 195 L
11
City
Vernon
Trail
Melrose
Vancouver
Strathroy
Leesburg
Madison
Kingston
Meadow Lake
Winnipeg
Vesteras
Mississauga
Quebec City
Denver
Toronto
Vermilion
Minneapolis
Bramalea
Ostrava
St. Louis
Sherbrooke
N. Vancouver
Mt. Vernon
Kingston
DOB
City
Feb 04 '73 Toronto
Apr 20 '76 Red Deer
G
1
2
11
2
6
0
0
1
0
2
7
13
1
1
0
0
5
0
0
0
2
1
2
1
58
W
6
3
9
Page 15
Associate Coach:
Head Coach:
General Manager:
Doug Sulliman
Ulf Samuelsson
Wayne Gretzky
Don Maloney
Grant Fuhr
Assistant Coach:
Goaltending Coach:
DOB
City
S/P Ctry Ht Wt S Rk GP G
A Pts +/- PIM TOI/G
Apr 24 '71 Indianapolis
IN USA 73 210 R
17 0
3
3
3
8 13:58
Sep 09 '86 Boston
MA USA 74 195 L
21 1
12
13
1
21 16:29
Dec 23 '82 Jindrichuv Hradec
CZE 74 210
25 1
7
8
5
6 23:39
Feb 20 '87 Pisek
CZE 77 218 L
25 6
10
16
1
23 17:34
Dec 05 '78 Kuopio
FIN 75 215 L
21 7
11
18
3
29 18:00
Jan 28 '85 King City
ON CAN 72 205 L
21 2
1
3
-3
61 12:49
Sep 02 '81 Hamilton
ON CAN 76 235 R
3 0
0
0
-1
12
4:27
Feb 13 '79 Redwater
AB CAN 74 240 L
25 3
2
5
-2
36 10:56
Apr 22 '86 Moscow
RUS 73 190 L
9 4
2
6
-1
2 14:02
Oct 10 '76 Halkirk
AB CAN 73 224 R
25 12
12
24
4
29 20:52
Jun 18 '81 C olorado Springs CO USA 74 213 L
18 1
1
2
-5
11 13:28
Mar 12 '86 Detroit
MI USA 72 195 L Y 23 5
5
10
3
2 13:50
May 07 '76 Edmonton
AB CAN 72 195 L
23 5
7
12
3
2 15:48
Mar 06 '85 Toronto
ON CAN 74 210 R
19 0
1
1
1
33 14:06
May 12 '88 Riga
LVA 74 187 R Y 25 2
3
5
-2
4 11:14
Jan 16 '81 St. Cloud
MN USA 76 220 L
25 0
3
3
6
24 20:51
Aug 24 '78 Edmonton
AB CAN 72 221 R
22 3
4
7
1
6 19:45
Jun 26 '76 Windsor
ON CAN 74 214 L
25 1
9
10 -11
18 22:16
Apr 14 '88 Bloomington
MN USA 74 205 R
25 5
9
14
-4
10 16:36
Dec 16 '89 Brondby
DNK 71 195 L Y 25 5
7
12
5
4 17:46
Aug 14 '89 New Westminster BC CAN 73 180 R Y 23 2
6
8
-6
6 12:14
65 115 180
1 347
S/P Ctry Ht Wt C Rk GP W
L OT SO GAA Sv%
RUS 75 199 L
19 8
9
1
0 2.70 91.2%
SWE 72 189
8 4
2
1
0 2.24 93.0%
12 11
2
0
DOB
City
Jun 22 '80 Togliatti
Sep 19 '79 Sundbyberg
Phoenix Coyotes Rosters
and Statistics
# Player
Pos
2 Ken Klee
D
3 Keith Yandle
D
4 Zbynek Michalek
D
11 Martin Hanzal
C
12 Olli Jokinen
C
13 Daniel Carcillo
L
16 Brian McGrattan
R
17 Todd Fedoruk
L
18 Enver Lisin
R
19 Shane Doan
L
21 David Hale
D
23 Kevin Porter
C
28 Steven Reinprecht
C
34 Daniel Winnik
L
41 Viktor Tikhonov
R
44 Kurt Sauer
D
53 Derek Morris
D
55 Ed Jovanovski
D
88 Peter Mueller
R
89 Mikkel Boedker
R
91 Kyle Turris
C
TOTALS
# Player
30 Ilja Bryzgalov
32 Mikael Tellqvist
TOTALS
Salary
$1,250,000
$635,000
$1,400,000
$850,000
$5,250,000
$850,000
$605,000
$1,000,000
$850,000
$4,550,000
$675,000
$895,000
$2,000,000
$510,000
$875,000
$1,750,000
$3,950,000
$6,500,000
$850,000
$875,000
$875,000
$36,995,000
Salary
$4,000,000
$800,000
$4,800,000
$41,795,000
Legend: S:Shoots; C: Catches; Rk: Rookie (any player who has played fewer than 25 games in the previous season or fewer than 26 in the previous two years
and has not reached age 26); GP: Games Played; G: Goals; A: Assists; Pts: Points; PIM: Penalties in Minutes; TOI/Game: average Time On Ice per Game.
Volume 4, Issue 13
December 6, 2008
Page 16
NHL Referee Statistics
2008-2009
Since 2007
1st
O
Blues Blues Blues
No. Official
Born
Blues Blues Blues
Game
W L T
Games PP
PK
Games PP
PK
L
Sarnia, ON
1980
2
5
12
1 1 0
7
26
31
2
Fraser, Kerry
North Bay, ON
1997
1
3
3
0 1 0
8
37
34
3
Leggo, Mike
Georgetown, ON
2003
2
4
7
0 2 0
5
14
18
4
McCauley, Wes
Boston, MA
2000
3
11
12
1 2 0
10
46
53
5
Rooney, Chris
Edmonton, AB
1984
1
3
5
0 1 0
3
9
13
6
Marouelli, Dan
Guelph, ON
1984
3
16
11
1 2 0
5
26
20
7
McCreary, Bill
Montreal, PQ
1990
1
3
4
0 1 0
6
21
27
8
Jackson, Dave
Guelph, ON
1989
3
13
15
1 1 1
5
24
24
10 Devorski, Paul
Richmond, BC
2000
3
14
11
1 2 0
7
25
23
11 Sutherland, Kelly
Dartmouth, NS
1981
2
12
6
12 Koharski, Don
Essex, ON
1995
2
15
16
1 0 1
8
36
49
13 O'Halloran, Dan
Savannah, GA
1991
6
24
26
14 LaRue, Dennis
Montreal, PQ
2000
6
34
43
15 Auger, Stephane
Port Alberni, BC
1986
2
6
8
2 0 0
8
24
33
16 Shick, Rob
Toronto, ON
1996
2
8
10
0 1 1
9
32
37
18 Kimmerly, Greg
Toronto, ON
1999
3
14
12
1 2 0
9
41
31
20 Peel, Tim
1993
1
6
4
1 0 0
8
33
36
21 VanMassenhoven, Don Parkhill, ON
Regina, Sas
1996
3
16
16
1 1 1
8
35
40
23 Watson, Brad
Verdun, PQ
1999
4
18
22
1 2 1
6
25
30
25 Joannette, Marc
Winnipeg, MB
1996
2
7
11
0 2 0
11
47
58
26 Martell, Rob
Trois-Rivieres, PQ
2001
1
4
3
1 0 0
4
18
19
27 Furlatt, Eric
St John, NB
2001
2
13
13
0 1 1
6
28
31
28 Lee, Chris
Philadelphia, PA
2000
2
8
8
0 2 0
5
17
21
29 Walsh, Ian
Regina, SK
2000
3
9
10
30 Hasenfratz, Mike
Vernon, BC
2000
6
30
29
32 Kowal, Tom
Kincardine, ON
2000
1
4
3
1 0 0
6
26
27
33 Pollock, Kevin
Dayton, OH
1999
1
4
2
1 0 0
8
34
30
34 Meier, Brad
Toronto, ON
1999
6
34
25
35 Warren, Dean
Peterborough, ON
2000
1
7
6
36 Morton, Dean
Stettler,
AB
2008
1
5
5
1
0
0
1
5
5
37 Rehman, Kyle
Greenfield Park, PQ 2006
1
6
6
1 0 0
4
16
18
38 St Laurent, Francois
Halifax, NS
2003
5
22
20
39 Dwyer, Gord
Penticton, BC
2006
6
30
26
40 Kozari, Steve
Calgary, AB
1999
2
11
7
42 O'Rourke, Dan
Detroit, MI
2006
1
4
3
1 0 0
4
18
23
43 Pochmara, Brian
Dolbeau, PQ
2003
5
23
22
45 St. Pierre, Justin
TOTALS
24
105
111 9 12 3
450
476
W L
3
3
1
3
0
2
4
2
1
1
5
1
4
2
3
3
6
3
1
7
3
2
1
1
1
3
4
1
1
1
1
2
3
0
1
3
42
4
5
3
5
3
3
2
2
5
1
2
2
1
5
5
4
1
2
4
4
0
2
4
1
3
3
3
3
0
0
2
3
3
1
3
1
48
NHL Linesmen
#
17
47
54
56
57
59
60
Name
Heyer, Shane
Schachte, Dan
Devorski, Greg
Wheler, Mark
Sharrers, Jay
Barton, Steve
Dapuzzo, Pat
#
61
65
66
67
68
70
71
Name
Seitz, Lyle
Racicot, Pierre
Gibbs, Darren
Champoux, Pierre
Driscoll, Scott
Nansen, Derek
Kovachik, Brad
#
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
Name
Rody, Vaughan
Cameron, Lonnie
Amell, Derek
Cormier, Michel
Nowak, Tim
Mach, Brian
Pare, Mark
#
80
82
84
86
88
89
90
Name
Nelson, Thor
Galloway, Ryan
Sericolo, Tony
Lazarowich, Brad
Cvik, Mike
Miller, Steve
McElman, Andy
#
91
92
93
95
96
97
Name
Henderson, Don
Shewchyk, Mark
Murphy, Brian
Murray, Jonny
Brisebois, David
Morin, Jean
O
T
L
0
0
1
2
0
0
0
1
1
0
1
3
1
0
1
2
1
3
1
0
1
2
0
1
2
0
1
2
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
1
15
G AME T IME
Page 17
St. Louis Game Time Scorecard
St. Louis Blues vs. Phoenix Coyotes; Saturday, December 6, 2008
Referee: ________________________
Referee: ________________________
Linesman: ______________________
Linesman: ______________________
Shots
Team
1st
2d 3rd OT
Score
SO
F
Team
1st
Coyotes
Coyotes
Blues
Blues
Blues Starting Lineup
C:
2d 3rd OT
1st Assist
LW:
RW:
D:
D:
G:
Coyotes Starting Lineup
C:
LW:
RW:
Penalties Called
Per.
D:
G:
Three Stars of the Game
1st Star:
2nd Star:
3rd Star:
Other Stars of the Game
GWG:
GW Goalie:
Hard Hat:
Game Notes:
F
Goal Scoring
Per. Tim e Team Goalscorer
D:
SO
Time
Team
Penalized Player
Penalty
2nd Assist
Volume 4, Issue 13
December 6, 2008
Page 18
Ask Game Time’s Answer Man
This is Episode Four of “Dear Answer Man, how you I get
started in adult Rec. League Hockey.” This question was
asked by Richard in St. Louis, MO.
Quick recap. In Episode One we discussed the commitment
and getting skates and your helmet. In Episode Two we
discussed skating. In Episode Three we discussed sticks.
This is my final installment, Episode Four - Tying it All
Together a.k.a. “The Money Shot.”
Alright Richard, you have your skates, helmet and stick. I
will not go into all the other pieces of equipment. Too many
variables and your local pro-shop will help
you get those or go the craigslist
route. If you go the craigslist route
don’t get someone’s cup. You could
get crabs and trust me, that sucks
the big one. Oh, and no matter how
many times your mom’s friend tries
to tell you, it is not a nose guard. It is
a cup and supporter and it is not
good luck to put your tongue on it or
sleep in it for one week straight.
Trust me.
Once you have the equipment out for a few spins, you
need to go one of two routes. One is a Learn-To-Play. The
other is finding a group that plays pick up every week.
Sprinkle in some stick and puck sessions and you’ll be on
your way.
The benefit of a pick up league is you get a first-hand, real
-life education on how the game is played. I compare this to a
street education. You will learn first-hand the code of the
game. This cannot be taught in a book or coaching session.
You have to break the code, take your punishment and learn
from it. Again, it is a street education. Not only that, when
you are in the locker room you will be able to learn the latest
in homoerotic jokes and uncomfortable man-humor. That is
free of charge.
The other route is the Learn-To-Play. This is a good
direction as well. They are able to break the game down into
bites size chunks. This can be boring because it will be a
while prior to you getting into a real game type of situation
but you will learn some great fundamentals. I know some
dudes who have taught these sessions and they are solid guys
but not the smartest apples in the bunch. I can see people
progressing through a program like this and be able to get
into a league and be more successful quicker. If you go the
“pick up” router, you never know. If your group it too
advanced for you, it will not be fun at all and they will call
you names. You need enough of a challenge all the while
giving you a chance to score.
Think of it this way, picking your first pick up group to
skate with is like picking up an ugly chick to bone. Don’t go
too ugly or it will be a total drag and you won’t want to tell
your friends about it. You know, nothing with like an eye
patch and a limp. You want to find one that has some miles
on her, likes to drink and thinks you are funny. That way
when you score, it isn’t all the time and each time is special
or very late in the evening and she made you pay for Red
Lobster in Bridgeton. Once your skills advance enough you
can upgrade or join a league.
Joining a league and being a part of a team is why you are
doing all of this isn’t it? It helps give you an identity. You are
an official hockey player. When I played for the Ironmen, it
was great. We won the Junior C National title and it was like
being on top of the world as a ripe 15 year old. Nowadays we
compete for “Session Champion” or “Tier Champion for
Winter 2008-2009.” It doesn’t have the zip of a “National
Champion” but you are a champ. Like I tell my goalie every
time when we play in the finals, you will call me Champ at
the end of this and I will call you by your first name once and
in front of at least two people. It is that special.
When you do finally join the ranks of Senior Rec Leaguers
it is your duty to follow The Code and never think you are
bigger or better than this game. It is up to you to carry the
torch and know when you should pass it on to the next
generation. This keeps our game great, tight and fresh.
Richard, hopefully this has been helpful to you. Too bad
you made the mistake of not getting into organized hockey as
a kid. You missed out on a lot of great times and missed out
on meeting some of the biggest degenerates you’ll ever come
across. This is your chance. Do it right and for God’s sake,
don’t ever cry and allow a European on your team. Trust me,
they ruin everything.
Lastly, go Blues!
Send your questions on hockey (NHL or rec league),
Busch beer or any other thing that keeps you awake at night
to: answer-man@stlouisgametime.com and have them
answered here.
Ask Answer Man; He’ll Give You The Fist.
www.stlouisgametime.com
G AME T IME
Page 19
The Fantasy Files
By Duke
To be a Blues fan and a competitive fantasy hockey player can
be tough sometimes. Cardinals fans can easily ride Albert
Pujols to a championship and the half-dozen Rams fans left
in town can always count on Steven Jackson to put up
occasional explosive production, but who can you look to on
the Blues roster to lead you to the glory of tiny little digital
trophies and yoo-hoo showers?
The answer
is: nobody.
There isn’t a
clear-cut “stud”
on the Blues
roster right
now, which is
evidenced by
the team’s
complete
absence on any
sort of “top-100
Not many Blues are considered to
fantasy” lists or
be valuable in fantasy leagues, but
Yahoo’s “Big
we have some suggestions.
Board.” Andy
McDonald
warranted some heavy consideration with six goals and 12
helpers in 18 games before meeting the boards ankle-first.
Paul Kariya was even rehashing memories of his glory days
with 15 points in 11 games, including nine assists on the
power play, before his hip landed him on the IR a month ago
today.
Don’t panic, though – there is value out there for those
willing to dig for it. I’m not talking value like Sidney Crosby
or Alexander Ovechkin, but value more along the lines of
getting something out of a player for whom you had to give
little and/or nothing. I’m willing to bet that Brad Boyes and
Keith Tkachuk are already owned, but we’re looking more at
guys that you can plug-and-play with pride while drinking
your way through all of the back-to-back games that are
coming up on the schedule. Without further ado, my in-noparticular-order top-5 fantasy values on the Blues roster for
the rest of this season.
Chris Mason – his stock is way up since that first beating
he took on Long Island and he’s pressing Manny for time on a
nightly basis. It’s no secret that he’s got the ability to carry a
team after his incredible ’06-’07 season, and his peripheral
numbers put him among the top goaltenders in the league.
Stack all of that on top of the fact that Manny is a free agent at
the end of the season, and thus potential trade-deadline meat,
and Mason warrants a roster spot in just about any format.
T.J. Oshie, Patrick Berglund – I’ll count the rookie
centers as one entity here; center is a deep, deep position, but if
you’ve got the ability to pick one or the other up for a game here
and there they’ve shown the ability to post all sorts of numbers
as long as they’re getting time on the ice.
David Backes – he’s just off of his 30-point pace from last
season, but his ability to stay healthy and earn meaningful ice
time combined with his PIM/game has nearly tripled this year
when compared to the first season and a half, and you’ve got a
pretty useful option on the wing. He’s fun to watch, so slotting
him into an empty RW slot when the Blues are playing on a
lightly scheduled day gives you yet another reason to root for
No. 42.
Carlo Colaiacovo – I still don’t know a lot about him,
much less how to pronounce his name, but the pass that he
made on the man-advantage to Boyes last weekend in Atlanta
leads me to believe that he’s going to get his chance to shine on
the power play, and blueliners who get power play time are
always valuable in fantasy.
David Perron – I realize that he’s French-Canadian, but
the way that he plays has quickly vaulted him into my personal
realm of all-time-favorite Blues. Just as with Backes, Perron’s
icetime and power play opportunities have come as a direct
result of skating his ass off and staying healthy.
I’m not saying that these guys are going to light the world on
fire from now until April, but they’re each in a good position to
put up nice numbers on any given night, which makes each of
them a healthy consideration for a quick “add” on any night
where the Blues play and your roster looks a little light.
Let’s go Blues!
The Degenerate Gambler’s Guide
To Tonight's Game
•
Over/Under on number of lower-torso wiggles the
mascot gets in near your kid before it gets really
uncomfortable: 7.
•
Odds that Sec. 307 gets into another fight with
Sec. 308 on whether Towel Boy should jump or
not: 2:1.
•
Odds that last night’s issue was the grossest issue
we’ve ever printed: 100,000:1.
•
Over/Under on number of cups the Red Berenson
Cowboy stacks up tonight: 3.5.
•
Over/Under on number of goals the Blues need to
have in hand to avoid blowing another lead: 3.5.
•
Odds that Janet Jones Gretzky doesn’t make it
back to Bridgeton much: 750:1.
Volume 4, Issue 13
December 6, 2008
Page 20
Tomorrow’s Blues
By Brian Weidler
2009 Draft Preview: College and USHL Players
Last night, we got to know some of the European players
who are likely to get a long look from the Blues in the 2009
NHL Entry Draft. Tonight, we’ll come back across the pond
and take a look at some players from the NCAA and USHL
ranks who could also hear their names called by Jarmo
Kekalainen and the Blues this coming June.
Throughout their history at the NHL draft, the Blues have
often gone for college players, and for juniors who were
college-bound. Three recent Blues draftees, defensemen Ian
Cole and Cade Fairchild, and forward Aaron Palushaj, were
recently named to Team USA for the U-20 World Junior
Championships, to be played
in Ottawa between Christmas
and New Years. Also named
to Team USA is freshman
Jordan Schroeder, Fairchild's
teammate with the University
of Minnesota’s Golden
Gophers.
scorer with a competitive nature and a good shot.
While forwards are the top college prospects available for
this season’s draft, the United States League features two of
the top defense prospects, and one of the top goalies,
available. Possibly the top USHL defender in this year’s draft
pool is Sioux City's Seth Helgeson.
A mountain on skates at 6’4, 221, Helgeson has
“exceptional mobility for his size,” according to McKeens
Hockey Prospects. His backwards skating is particularly
effective, which is a good thing for a defenseman, and he
maintains the smallest possible gap and stays focused on the
attacker’s body, not buying into fancy dekes and
stickhandling moves.
Helgeson’s size, along with
his exceptional mobility and his
ability to send opponents into
orbit with his checks, has
drawn the inevitable comparisons to ex-Blue Chris Pronger.
Like Pronger, Helgeson is a
power play weapon for his
team, with a hard, low slapshot
and a quick, accurate wrist
shot. Also like Pronger, Helgeson is a solid defensive player
as well, able to drop to one
knee quickly for either a shot
block or to clog a passing lane
Schroeder, a 5’9, 183pound LW from Prior Lake,
Minnesota, will be making his
second appearance for Team
USA in the U-20 tournament.
Last year, the then-17 year old
Schroeder put up a goal and Minnesota's Jordan Schroeder is the top-rated NCAA
six assists for seven points, a
prospect for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
plus-1, and two PIM for the
The Faribault, Minnesota
fourth-place Americans. His assist totals in the World
native
skated
for
the
gold-medal
winning Team USA at the
Juniors, and his 12 assists in 19 games this season with the
World
Junior
A
Challenge
in
Camrose,
Alberta earlier this
Gophers, back up the McKeens Hockey Prospects analysis of
year,
and
was
held
pointless
in
five
games
while racing up
Schroeder as “more of a playmaker than a goal scorer,” and
eight
minutes
in
penalty
time.
In
17
games
for
Sioux City this
their note that “setting up nifty plays seems to come
season,
Helgeson
is
2-6-8
with
23
minutes
in
the sin bin.
naturally to him.”
Both of his goals have come on the power play, and his
Skating and hockey sense are Schroeder’s best assets, as
minus-10 mark matches his team's goal-for/goals-against
he has an exceptionally quick first step and an elite-level top
ratio of 57/67. Helgeson has committed to attend the
gear as well as an ability to anticipate the play and make the
University of Minnesota starting in 2009-10.
right decision in all situations on the ice. Schroeder plays on
Skating stride-for-stride with Helgeson for the title of Best
the power play and penalty killing teams for Minnesota, and
Defenseman Available from the USHL this year is Winnetka,
is accomplished in the faceoff circle as well as having a
Illinois’ favorite son, John Moore of the Chicago Steel.
strong work ethic and intensity.
McKeens Hockey Prospects calls Moore “a skilled two-way
Schroeder has been on most scouts’ radar for three years,
defenseman with phenomenal skating ability,” and notes
and broke out with 53 points (21 G, 32 A) in 55 games for the
that he “boasts prototypical mobility for the defensive
US National Team Development Program last season. Only
position, as his feet are of an elite quality and his recovery
his lack of size keeps him from being a rock-solid lock for a
speed is dynamic.”
top ten pick this year. Through 14 games this year,
The 6’2, 185-pound Moore is rock-solid defensively, playSchroeder is 7-12-19 with 10 minutes in penalty time, a plusing
against the opponents’ top lines every night and keeping
12, three PPG and one GWG (in a 5-2 win at DU on Nov. 21).
them under control. Like Helgeson, Moore maintains a very
Other college players to keep an eye on for this draft intight gap in his coverage, and is a smooth backwards skater
clude Rensselaer (ECAC) center Patrick Cullen (6’0, 193, 13
who, according to McKeens, “maintains a fairly low and wide
GP, 5-4-9, 22 PIM), a speedy forward with stickhandling
stance, and can angle opponents to the boards and finish the
skills and a physical game, and Harvard winger Michael
(Continued on page 21)
Biega (5’11, 195, 11 GP, 2-3-5, plus-3, 4 PIM), a natural goal
G AME T IME
Page 21
his two goals that night was also the game-winner.
Like his countryman Eller, Boedker came up through the
Frölunda system in Sweden, and played with Eller on the
2006-07 J20 Superelit team in Göteborg. Boedker finished
that season with 19 goals and 49 points, posting a plus-25
mark and only ten minutes in penalty time.
By Brian Weidler
In 2007-08, Boedker came to North America to skate for
the Kitchener Rangers (OHL), and had a
breakthrough year. In 62 regular-season games
for the Rangers, Boedker struck for 29 goals
(13 with the man advantage) and added 44
helpers for a total of 73 points. He also nailed
down a solid plus-6 mark, and racked up a
mere 14 minutes in the sin bin.
Mikkel Boedker
Shoots:
Left
Height:
5' 11
Weight:
195
Birthdate:
December 16, 1989
Birthplace:
Brondby, Denmark
In the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, the Blues made
Lars Eller the highest-ever Danish draft pick in
the NHL, selecting him 13th overall. It only
took a year for that to fall, when Phoenix
selected Mikkel Boedker fifth overall in 2008.
Speed is Boedker’s game, and he uses his speed to create
offensive chances by the bucketful. He scored his first NHL
goal in his second pro game, and his first multiple-goal
game came on Nov. 8 against Florida, where the second of
As impressive as his regular-season totals
were, Boedker's star shone even brighter in the
2008 OHL playoffs. In 20 playoff games for
the OHL champion Rangers, Boedker put up 926-35 totals with a plus-11 and only two minutes of penalty time. In the Memorial Cup
tournament, Boedker was 2-4-6 in five games,
with no penalty minutes and a minus-1.
Currently this season, Boedker is a solid 5-7-12 in 25
games for the Coyotes, with a strong plus-5 mark and only
four penalty minutes.
Tomorrow’s Blues
(continued)
(Continued from page 20)
hit.” Moore can play physically, and with a chip on his
shoulder, when necessary, but that’s not the be-all-and-end-all
of his game.
On offense, Moore is a first-class power play quarterback
with excellent vision and superb puck-distribution ability.
When on the attack, Moore can execute a give-and-go with the
best of them before driving to the net and becoming a scoring
threat himself. He makes an accurate first pass out of the zone,
and has a strong slapshot from the point. Overall, according to
McKeens, Moore is “an excellent package off skating, skill,
hockey sense, and decent size,” and is “the most dominant
player in the USHL this season ... above this level of play.”
Moore also competed for Team USA in the World Junior A
Challenge in October, and managed a pair of assists with no
PIM in five games. In 18 games with the Steel this season,
Moore has put up seven goals and 17 points, and sports a
minus-1 mark with ten minutes in penalty time. Seven of
Moore’s 17 total points (3 G, 4 A) have come on the power
play, and he also has a shorthanded goal and a game-winning
goal. The shorty and the game-winner were, in fact, the same
goal -- the third goal in a 5-2 win over Des Moines on Nov. 27.
The shorthanded game-winner was also the first of Moore’s
three goals in that game.
One of the top goaltenders available in the upcoming draft
is Fargo's Mike Lee, a 6’0, 190-pound native of Roseau,
Minnesota. Through 21 games, Fargo is 7-13-1 with 68 goals
against, and Lee has won six of those games, against eight
losses and one OT loss, and surrendered only 41 goals in 16
games played for a 2.73 GAA and a 92.3% save percentage.
Lee started this season with a bang, helping Team USA to
the gold medal at the World Junior A Challenge with a 4-0-0
record, 1.75 GAA and 93.3% save percentage while being
named the tournament’s Top Goaltender. A classic butterfly
goaltender, Lee has excellent up-and-down and lateral
movement, and is athletic and competitive. His rebound
control is excellent, and his puckhandling and passing ability
is impressive. He does have a tendency to go down early and
often, but has the reflexes and dexterity to recover quickly, and
is good at making the shooter commit first. Lee has committed
to St. Cloud State for the 2009-10 season.
Other USHL players on the radar include Omaha center
Louis Leblanc (6’0, 178, 22 GP, 9-11-20, plus-1, 26 PIM), a
Quebec native with a good two-way game and a rare combination of grit and scoring ability, and Chicago defenseman Philip
Samuelsson (6’2, 195, 19 GP, 0-7-7, plus-1, 25 PIM), son of
former NHLer Ulf Samuelsson who plays the same gritty, hard
-nosed game as his father with a little more offensive finesse.
In the third and final part of our Draft Preview, we’ll take a
look at some of the multitude of major junior prospects not
named John Tavares. Until then, remember... “if we do not
prepare for ourselves the role of the hammer, there will be
nothing left but that of the hammer.” Auf wiedersehen.
Volume 4, Issue 13
December 6, 2008
Page 22
The Five Hole
(continued)
(Continued from page 5)
“Whatever it Takes” may be the worst slogan they’ve had,
and hopefully it will be gone after this season.
is the same person that got a hell of a deal on their tickets and
is paying less than we are for better seats than what we have.
Get everyone to like your young shooter. Get
everyone to buy his jersey. Come out with a new
jersey for them to get customized with his name.
Trade young shooter.
Remember the cool season ticket holder book with
the cool picture tickets that was worth keeping as a
souvenir last year? Yeah, not doing that anymore.
Okay, I’ll give the Blues a pass on this one. Game Time’s
Brad Lee reports that the company the Blues hire to produce
those snazzy season tickets had labor issues (their employees
went on strike, they didn’t begin childbirth) just before the
Blues’ order came in. The Blues had nothing to do with it, and
with the season quickly approaching the team was forced to
print the generic tickets for everybody this season.
Probably coincidental, but it is a tad odd that the Blues
unveil the new sweaters, and Lee Stempniak scores the game
winning goal in overtime wearing the new sweater. Two days
later, Stempniak was dealt to Toronto. As all of you know,
Dutchie quickly became a Game Time favorite, and although
the trade may work out in the long run for the Blues, and
hopefully for Stempniak too, this was the swift kick to the nuts
that we weren’t expecting.
Didn’t exactly do “Whatever it Takes” last year,
might as well keep the motto and see if we can do
“Sort of what it takes” this year.
Some of the things that we touched on may sound
unimportant, but if the team keeps pissing off their customers,
pretty soon those customers stop being customers.
Just ask the Rams.
Blues marketing campaigns usually go in two year cycles.
Remember the “Do You Bleed Blue?” days, when they showed
bloodshot eyes with the blood being blue, or that van that is
parked at 15th and Market that still has a band-aid with blue
blood painted on it? That was the first year.
Tell me what’s pissing you off, drop an email to the address
below and I’ll publish it and expand on it. Unless, of course, I
think you’re whining, then I’ll just forward it to everybody on
the GT staff to laugh about.
Then they switched to the retro 1950’s “Bleeding Blue is
Cool” motif, with the cheesy music and graphics the next
season.
Contact: gift@stlouisgametime.com
Remember Me?
Lee Norwood
Born: Feb. 2, 1960
Played for St. Louis: 1985-86,
1991-93
Though never considered an
outstanding player, Lee
Norwood was in demand
during his time in the NHL.
After Quebec drafted him in
the 1979 draft and making his
NHL debut in the 1980-81
season, Norwood would go on
to play for six more NHL teams with two stints in
St. Louis five seasons apart.
His first go-round with St. Louis, Blues coach Jacques
Demers asked Norwood to play a physical role and the
point on the second power play unit. In the playoffs he
had nine points in 19 games on the team that pulled off
By Brad Lee & Chris Gift
the Monday Night Miracle. When Demers moved on to
Detroit, he traded for Norwood and made him a Red
Wing. His second tour with St. Louis lasted two seasons
with his role being insurance on the blueline. He played
44 games after being traded to the Blues from Hartford
early in the 1991-92 season and then struggled with
injuries playing only 32 games.
‘Hacks’, as he was called, played only 16 games for
Calgary the following year before finishing his career in
the minors playing for teams such as the San Diego
Gulls, Detroit Vipers, Saginaw Lumber Kings and
San Antonio Dragons. He retired from pro hockey in
1997 with 503 career games in the NHL with 58 goals
and 153 assists.
In retirement, Norwood coached the Central Texas
Stampede Hockey Club in the late 1990s. He served as
president of the Red Wings Alumni from 2004 to 2006
before he was hired as the head coach of the Eastern
Michigan University hockey team before the 2006-07
season. Alas, he was fired after only two years on the job.
G AME T IME
Page 23
2 009
8
0
0
ffle
Th e 2
u
h
S
e
Skat
y
k
c
u
L
er
Track
Finishing Point
Times Occurred
This Year /
Percentage
Puck finishes in same
skate as starting point.
Puck finishes in skate one
place lower than start
point.
Puck finishes in skate one
place higher than start
point.
8 / 72.7%
Top 11 Signs You Got Too
Drunk Last Night
11.
10.
9.
8.
7.
6.
5.
4.
3 / 27.3%
3.
2.
1.
You know from firsthand experience that a
Zamboni will not fit through the White Castle
drive thru.
Waking up, you think it’s still night because the
big blue bear head blocks out most light.
You have Tom Calhoun’s phone number in your
pocket.
Towel Boy autographed a towel for you – your
bathroom towel.
You know from firsthand experience that it is
difficult to evade police officers on the ice.
The beer vendor starts calling you “401-K.”
Waking up, you realize you passed out on the
sidewalk outside the arena – in Peoria.
You come home with a Christian Backman jersey
telling your wife it was too good a deal to pass up.
Jeffio’s liver feels bad for your liver.
Bob Plager spends the evening telling you to
consider rehab.
Waking up, there’s a Red Wings fan in your bed.
0 / 0.0%
From the Empty Beer Cup of Brad Lee
Game Time Gear
From The Editor
(continued)
(Continued from page 2)
from having to kill him after he asks, “Can we go in yet?” for
the 400th time. It’s a win-win, really.
Well, it turned out that Chris didn’t have to pick up my kid
that night, but he did get something out of it. After the game
that day, Gift found a possum living in the back seat of his car.
Yes, the same back seat that would have been the seat for my
kid.
And what, exactly, is the point of that story? Well, I don’t
know, but I think it illustrates that just like management,
sometimes even our best-intentioned decisions can go sideways
on us.
Time to get your gear.
Any color. Any size.
Represent.
-Sean “don’t accept rides from GT guys” Gallagher
StLouisGameTime.com
Volume 4, Issue 13
December 6, 2008
Page 24
NHL Standings—Play For Both Points
Eastern Conference
ATLANTIC
NY Rangers
Pittsburgh
Philadelphia
New Jersey
NY Islanders
NORTHEAST
Boston
Montreal
Buffalo
Toronto
Ottawa
SOUTHEAST
Washington
Carolina
Florida
Tampa Bay
Atlanta
GP
29
25
25
23
25
GP
25
25
25
26
23
GP
26
26
25
25
25
Western Conference
CENTRAL
Detroit
Chicago
Nashville
Columbus
St.Louis
NORTHWEST
Vancouver
Minnesota
Calgary
Edmonton
Colorado
PACIFIC
San Jose
Anaheim
Phoenix
Los Angeles
Dallas
GP
25
23
25
25
24
GP
27
25
26
25
26
GP
26
27
25
25
26
W
18
15
12
13
10
W
17
15
11
9
9
W
14
12
11
6
8
L OTL PTS
9
2
38
6
4
34
7
6
30
8
2
28
13 2
22
L OTL PTS
4
4
38
6
4
34
11 3
25
11 6
24
10 4
22
L OTL PTS
9
3
31
12 2
26
11 3
25
11 8
20
14 3
19
GF GA PP% PK% HOME AWAY
77 73 15.4 90.1 11-5-1 7-4-1
82 68 17.5 83.5 7-3-2 8-3-2
82 77 24.0 86.0 6-4-3 6-3-3
68 62 13.4 76.3 7-4-1 6-4-1
67 85 17.5 80.7 5-7-1 5-6-1
GF GA PP% PK% HOME AWAY
85 56 22.7 82.8 9-1-1 8-3-3
78 67 14.5 81.4 8-2-2 7-4-2
66 73 19.0 87.4 7-6-1 4-5-2
79 94 20.5 76.5 4-4-4 5-7-2
57 57 20.0 87.6 6-5-2 3-5-2
GF GA PP% PK% HOME AWAY
85 82 22.7 78.6 10-1-1 4-8-2
67 80 13.2 79.5 6-8-0 6-4-2
63 69 14.9 81.5 6-3-2 5-8-1
57 79 16.8 79.5 3-5-5 3-6-3
72 92 18.3 72.5 5-6-1 3-8-2
W
17
11
13
11
10
W
15
15
15
12
12
W
22
14
12
10
10
L OTL PTS GF GA PP% PK% HOME
4
4
38 90 76 30.2 81.7 7-2-2
6
6
28 79 67 21.6 82.9 7-1-4
10 2
28 73 79 13.9 80.0 6-3-1
11 3
25 73 78 9.9
78.5 7-5-1
11 3
23 66 75 23.0 84.9 5-5-2
L OTL PTS GF GA PP% PK% HOME
10 2
32 82 69 17.6 80.8 7-3-1
9
1
31 72 55 26.6 89.1 8-6-1
10 1
31 77 80 19.8 84.2 9-4-1
11 2
26 71 76 19.6 76.1 3-3-2
13 1
25 67 76 16.8 79.0 6-5-0
L OTL PTS GF GA PP% PK% HOME
3
1
45 100 61 23.0 84.7 14-0-1
10 3
31 77 76 21.6 81.5 7-6-2
11 2
26 65 68 13.5 81.3 8-4-1
11 4
24 66 72 16.2 82.7 7-6-4
12 4
24 72 93 14.0 75.7 4-4-3
AWAY
10-2-2
4-5-2
7-7-1
4-6-2
5-6-1
AWAY
8-7-1
7-3-0
6-6-0
9-8-0
6-8-1
AWAY
8-3-0
7-4-1
4-7-1
3-5-0
6-8-1
Wish You Had Game Time When
You Watch The Blues At Home?
Subscribe!
gallagher@stlouisgametime.com
L10
6-4-0
6-2-2
7-1-2
6-4-0
6-4-0
L10
8-1-1
6-2-2
2-8-0
3-5-2
3-5-2
L10
4-5-1
4-6-0
5-3-2
1-5-4
2-7-1
L10
7-2-1
4-3-3
6-3-1
4-5-1
5-3-2
L10
5-4-1
5-5-0
7-3-0
4-5-1
4-5-1
L10
9-0-1
5-3-2
4-4-2
3-5-2
5-4-1
G AME T IME
Page 25
St. Louis Blues Schedule and Results
October
January (continued)
DATE
Oct
Oct
Oct
Oct
Oct
Oct
Oct
Oct
Oct
10
11
13
16
18
22
24
25
30
Fri
Sat
Mon
Thu
Sat
Wed
Fri
Sat
Thu
WINNING/LOSING
OPPONENT
SCORE RECORD
GOALIE
Predators
5-2
1-0-0
Legace/Ellis
@Islanders
2-5
1-1-0 MacDonald/Mason
@Maple Leafs 5-4 SO 2-1-0
Legace/Toskala
Stars
6-1
3-1-0
Legace/Turco
Blackhaw ks
4-3 SO 4-1-0 Legace/Khabibulin
Red Wings
3-4
4-2-0
Conklin/Legace
Kings
0-4
4-3-0 LaBarbera/Legace
Panthers
4-0
5-3-0
Bishop/Anderson
Hurricanes
0-1
5-4-0
Ward/Mason
Novem ber
Decem ber
Dec
Dec
Dec
Dec
Dec
Dec
Dec
Dec
Dec
Dec
Dec
Dec
Dec
Dec
Dec
3
5
6
8
10
11
13
16
18
20
21
23
27
28
30
OPPONENT
Wed
Fri
Sat
Mon
Wed
Thu
Sat
Tue
Thu
Sat
Sun
Tue
Sat
Sun
Tue
@Wild
Flames
Coyotes
Predators
@Ducks
@Kings
@Sharks
Flames
@Capitals
Wild
Bruins
@Red Wings
Sharks
Ducks
Devils
January
DATE
Jan
Jan
Jan
Jan
Jan
Jan
2
3
9
11
13
15
OPPONENT
Fri
Sat
Fri
Sun
Tue
Thu
Jan
Jan
Jan
Jan
Jan
Jan
Jan
OPPONENT
17
19
21
24
25
29
31
Sat
Mon
Wed
Sat
Sun
Thu
Sat
SCORE RECORD
WINNING/LOSING
GOALIE
Blackhaw ks
@Bruins
@Blackhaw ks
All-Star Skills/Young Stars Game
All-Star Game
Senators
Flyers
February
WINNING/LOSING
DATE
OPPONENT
SCORE RECORD
GOALIE
Nov 1 Sat Penguins
3-6
5-5-0
Fleury/Mason
Nov 5 Wed @Ducks
2-5
5-6-0
Giguere/Mason
Nov 6 Thu @Sharks
4-5 SO 5-6-1
Nabokov/Bishop
Nov 8 Sat @Kings
3-5
5-7-1
Ersberg/Legace
Nov 12 Wed @Sabres
3-4
5-8-1
Miller/Mason
Nov 14 Fri @Blackhaw ks 4-3 OT 6-8-1 Legace/Khabibulin
Nov 16 Sun Canadiens
2-3 SO 6-8-2
Price/Legace
Nov 21 Fri Ducks
3-2 OT 7-8-2
Legace/Giguere
Nov 22 Sat @Wild
2-1
8-8-2
Mason/Backstrom
Nov 25 Tue @Predators
1-0 SO 9-8-2
Mason/Ellis
Nov 26 Wed @Avalanche
1-3
9-9-2
Budaj/Legace
Nov 29 Sat Oilers
2-4
9-10-2
Roloson/Legace
Nov 30 Sun @Thrashers
4-2
10-10-2
Mason/Pavelec
DATE
DATE
@Hurricanes
Blue Jackets
@Canucks
@Oilers
@Flames
Avalanche
DATE
Feb
Feb
Feb
Feb
Feb
Feb
Feb
Feb
Feb
Feb
Feb
Feb
Feb
Feb
OPPONENT
2
3
5
7
10
12
13
16
18
19
21
24
26
28
March
WINNING/LOSING
SCORE RECORD
DATE
GOALIE
0-4
10-11-2 Backstrom/Legace Mar
3
3-4 OT 10-11-3 Kipprusoff/Mason Mar
6
Mar
7
Mar
10
Mar
12
Mar
14
Mar
15
Mar
17
Mar
19
Mar
20
Mar
24
Mar
26
Mar
28
Mar
29
April
WINNING/LOSING
DATE
SCORE RECORD
GOALIE
Apr
Apr
Apr
Apr
Apr
Apr
Mon
Tue
Thu
Sat
Tue
Thu
Fri
Mon
Wed
Thu
Sat
Tue
Thu
Sat
Wed
Thu
Sat
Tue
Fri
Sun
SCORE RECORD
WINNING/LOSING
GOALIE
SCORE RECORD
WINNING/LOSING
GOALIE
Red Wings
@Lightning
@Panthers
Stars
Sharks
Red Wings
Wild
@Oilers
@Canucks
@Flames
Kings
Canucks
Blue Jackets
@Blue Jackets
OPPONENT
1
2
4
7
10
12
WINNING/LOSING
GOALIE
@Red Wings
@Blue Jackets
Oilers
Avalanche
Canucks
@Predators
Blackhaw ks
Rangers
@Blue Jackets
@Predators
Predators
Coyotes
@Stars
@Coyotes
OPPONENT
Tue
Fri
Sat
Tue
Thu
Sat
Sun
Tue
Thu
Fri
Tue
Thu
Sat
Sun
SCORE RECORD
@Blackhaw ks
@Red Wings
@Stars
@Coyotes
Blue Jackets
@Avalanche
Volume 4, Issue 13
December 6, 2008
Page 26
Time To Kick The Dawg
(continued)
(Continued from page 1)
“We definitely changed the system
up. We’re shooting the puck more,”
Brad Boyes told Dan MacLaughlin on
FS Midwest during an intermission
interview. “On my goal, Carlo got back,
shot the puck, Bergie made a great play
converging. Walt has been a rock in
front screening goalies. I think it’s
about shooting the puck and moving it
well. We’ve got two units. Our second
unit is great too with Oshie, now we’ve
got Steen out there and Backes in front
of the net. It’s about getting shots on
net.”
Emmanuel Legace figures to be in
goal tonight after Chris Mason has
gotten five of the last seven starts,
including the last three in a row. And
with the opportunity to cement himself
as the starter, Mason has to be
disappointed to see himself allow nine
goals in just over 180 minutes with the
Blues going 1-1-1.
“We played hard and the first two
periods I think we controlled the game.
We came out in the third period, took a
couple penalties and gave them back
the momentum that we had worked
hard for 40 minutes to get. That’s
unacceptable and they got two free
points out of it,” a dejected Mason told
MacLaughlin after the game. “We’ve
relied heavily on our penalty killers and
they’ve done an unbelievable job this
year. But if you do it too many times,
eventually it’s going to come back and
haunt you – especially when you play a
team with the firepower they have. It
caught up to us tonight.”
When asked if Murray had spoken to
Mason about the No. 1 status, Mason
said, “He kind of tells us day to day. I
imagine we’re going to switch it up here
and go back with Manny.
“We’re playing when we’re told to
and they usually give us a day or two
notice.”
Friday’s loss has to be one of the
most disappointing of the season to this
point. And with another game just 24
hours later, Murray told reporters the
importance of not dwelling on the loss.
“We’re battling our tales off out there
and we need to show up with a positive
mindset tonight,” Murray said. “I don’t
have time to think about what we didn’t
do well tonight. I have to get our guys
focused on what we need to do well
tomorrow.”
So instead of talking anymore about
the Calgary defeat, let’s cover the Blues’
futility last season against the Coyotes.
The Blues opened last season at
Phoenix with a 3-2 loss. St. Louis
allowed the Coyotes to take a 3-0 lead
on two goals less than a minute apart
about seven minutes into the third
period. Goals by Keith Tkachuk and
David Backes weren’t enough to close
the gap in the waning moments. In the
second game, the Blues lost 2-1 on
home ice. All three goals came in the
third period where the Blues failed to
hold a 1-0 lead on a Brad Boyes goal. In
the third game of the season series, the
Coyotes held serve at home with a 2-0
shutout win. It was goaltender Ilya
Bryzgalov’s first career victory over
St. Louis. In the final meeting of last
season, the Yotes won 2-1 on
Drinkscotch Center ice. The Blues held
another 1-0 lead in this game on a Ryan
Johnson goal, but Phoenix responded
with unanswered goals later in the first
period, and that was all the scoring in
the game.
Of course when I say the Blues were
dominated by a shitty team, I should
point out that the Coyotes finished last
season with 83 points…four more than
St. Louis. Still, that should lead you to
believe they were evenly matched
teams. And Phoenix was unbeatable. So
far this season the Kings are the crappy
unstoppable force for the Blues who are
0-2 against Los Angeles. Someday the
Blues are going to figure out how to
beat those guys.
Shane Doan is playing possibly the
best hockey of his career this year. The
32-year-old leads Phoenix in goals with
12 and is tied for the team lead in
assists with 12. In 25 games so far this
season, Doan’s longest streak of games
without scoring a goal or an assist is
two. He’s had four points in his last
three games. The captain is on pace to
match his performance of 78 points a
season ago. Now in his 11th season, the
former first round draft pick played one
season in Winnipeg before moving with
the team to the desert before the 199697 season. Poor bastard.
When Olli Jokinen finally got his
ticket out of Florida this past summer,
he probably was relieved…until he
realized he was going to Phoenix. His
new team has 26 points, one better
than his old team, the Panthers. The
ugly forward has seven goals and 11
assists and one face only a mother
could love.
The Coyotes are banking on Martin
Hanzal, age 21, and Peter Mueller, age
20, getting better this season. So far,
the results have been decent, but not
great. In the Coyotes’ 6-3 win Thursday
night against Toronto, Hanzal scored a
hat trick giving him four of his six goals
on the season in just his last two games.
Mueller has five goals and nine assists
with two of his helpers coming in his
last three games.
At age 18, 2008 first round pick
Mikkel Boedker has played fairly well in
his rookie season. He’s played in all of
Phoenix’s games and scored five goals
and seven assists. He’s a plus-5 on the
season. Even David Perron is impressed
with that.
Ed Jovanovski is a prick.
I’m sure the Coyotes had higher
hopes for Ilya Bryzgalov when they
claimed him off waivers from Anaheim
a little more than a year ago. He’s been
average at best with an 8-9-1 record,
2.70 goals-against average and 91.2
save percentage. None of those
numbers are better than 15th in the
30-team league.
Coach Wayne Gretzky has to wonder
why the hell he’s behind the bench of an
average team at best when he could be
sitting by the pool every day or hitting
up Vegas with his wife.
Let’s Go Blues!
G AME T IME
Page 27
Game Time Bingo!
Fragile Jay McKee
blocks a shot,
which is easily
worth $4 million.
One of the Maple
Leafs scores his first
as a Blue.
Cotton Eyed Joe
guy makes you
want to leave.
Angellla veering
Blues score more
ever closer to
goals than Chase
adding another ‘L’. Daniel throws picks.
Spot a ‘Corson’
jersey.
Chris Mason has
5 o’clock shadow
on his head.
Another $200
stick breaks at the
worst possible
time.
Janet bets the
under.
The Kid Line gets
more than three
shifts together.
Charles Glenn
rules all.
Fight!
Red Berenson
Cowboy sends his
lady out early to
secure a table for
intermission.
Oshie walks on
water.
“Maybe I’ll get a
No. 42 jersey.”
Fight!
Fight!
Sure doesn’t feel Wayne Gretzky still
like the ‘world’s
the best player at
biggest sports bar.’
the rink tonight.
You love Boyes. Not
You guess the
Manny just being
that there’s anything ‘Vision Test’ within
Manny again.
wrong with that.
five seconds.
Andy Murray flips
his wig at a bad
call.
Towel Boy
disappoints
Sec. 307 by not
jumping.
Can’t decide on
whether you prefer
calling Berglund
‘IceBerg’ or
‘TechoViking’.
Get five in a row in any direction and you win!
Tales
From
The
Crease
By Jeremy Pratte
Count five No. 12
jerseys.
Someone asks the
announcer how
much time is left.
Trust Us.
We’ll Pick Out The
Good Stuff For You.
St. Louis
Game Time