Blues News

"But Emery, who turns 26 in the fall, has done little to build up goodwill around the league. He's only played 134 NHL games and he's coming off a pedestrian 12-13-4 record with a 3.13 average and .890 save percentage. Here's the usual trade suspects: Tampa, Los Angeles, St. Louis."

"The Blues need offense, and T.J. Oshie needs a place to grow his burgeoning talent. So what is keeping Oshie from signing with the Blues and being penciled into the 2008-09 lineup? Perhaps nothing."

"Meanwhile, the guy who used to wear that 95 is astonished by the attention. Upon hearing the story again Friday, Stempniak rolled his eyes, gave an “aw shucks, me?” grin, then got on with the business of preparing for the world championships."

"The Blues fired Peoria Rivermen coach Dave Baseggio on Wednesday but have not told Baseggio or the media the reason for his dismissal. Peoria, the Blues' affiliate in the American Hockey League, finished 38-33-9 in Baseggio's second season this year. After producing a 13-1-2 record in January and being on target for a playoff berth, the Rivermen won just three of their last 11 games and fell short of the AHL postseason."

"The Blues, who had a 10.7 percent chance of winning the lottery, will pick No. 4 overall and therefore will have an interesting question to answer when the draft rolls around in June."

"But with 1 minute, 34 seconds remaining, and in the least likely situation for the Blues center to be on the ice, Tkachuk buried No. 500 from long distance, icing a 4-1 victory over the Blue Jackets and putting a lofty accomplishment on a potential Hall of Fame résumé. "

"A few moments after the Blue Jackets ended their season yesterday with a 4-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues, captain Rick Nash was handed a microphone to address a crowd of 17,739 in Nationwide Arena. Most of these fine folks have endured a lot over the past seven seasons: excuses, end-of-season apologies and lots and lots of losses. Nash, keenly aware of the situation, summed it up perfectly: "You've got to be the most patient fans in the league.""

"The Blues will finish with a record below last year's 81-point total, a result that seems unimaginable after the Blues jumped out to a mark of 22-14-5 at the halfway point. But the Blues are 10-22-8 since and quickly eliminated themselves from playoff contention... Davidson also will be reviewing the performance of Blues coach Andy Murray. Murray undoubtedly will be returning to the bench, but his style of coaching, which can sometimes border on suffocating according to some sources, will be evaluated in the offseason."

"Despite a hard-working effort, the Jackets could not convert early scoring chances and fell to the St. Louis Blues 3-0 in the Scottrade Center. Blues goaltender Manny Legace made 25 saves to earn the shutout, but never laid a mitt on some the Jackets' best opportunities."

"Move forward 178 days to the home finale and the dynamics were considerably less exciting. Starting moments after the Cardinals' game ended, the Blues defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-0 in front an announced sellout of 19,150."

"Depending on how the Peoria Rivermen fare in their games this weekend, Blues rookie defenseman Erik Johnson could be asked to join the club's American Hockey League affiliate, whose playoff aspirations were looking bleak heading into Friday."

"With two games left, the Blues have guaranteed themselves a finish in the bottom five of the NHL standings. Therefore, the team has a shot at the No. 1 overall pick at Monday's draft lottery."

"After Tuesday's debacle in St. Louis, where the Blues blew a 3-0 lead and lost to the Predators, the Blues could do nothing Thursday to slow down Nashville. It got the game-winning goal in a 3-2 win from Greg De Vries in the third period to stay in control of its postseason fate."

"The collective sigh of relief heard in the air between Nashville and Chicago was the realization by the Predators that tonight’s game against the Blackhawks doesn’t matter. The Predators took care of their own business, winning 3-2 over the St. Louis Blues Thursday night at the Sommet Center. The Edmonton Oilers sealed the No. 8 playoff berth for the Predators with a 2-1 win on the road against the Vancouver Canucks."

"Only a couple of weeks after it appeared they were stumbling out of playoff contention, the Predators kicked the postseason door down on Thursday. The Predators’ come-from-behind 3-2 win over St. Louis, combined with Vancouver’s loss to Edmonton, allowed Nashville to clinch its fourth consecutive playoff berth."

"Blues forward Jamal Mayers left Thursday's game against Nashville in the first period with multiple lacerations near his left eye and on his eyelid, according to the team. Mayers had tripped going into the Blues' offensive zone and slid into the sideboards. On his knees, Mayers looked up and took a stick to the face from the Predators' Greg Zanon. "

"Nashville can clinch a playoff berth with wins in its final two games. The Predators are 4-0-1 over their past five games. Nashville has won four in a row against the Blues."

"The jeers, though, were nothing compared to the silent treatment the club received when Nashville's Rich Peverley scored 1:43 into overtime, completing a 4-3 comeback victory for the Predators and forcing the Blues' futility to hit a low. "

"With an impressive relief performance, Chris Mason gave the Predators a chance to rally from a three-goal deficit, exploiting Blues backup Hannu Toivonen for a 4-3 overtime win in front of 17,357 fans at Scottrade Center."

"The Predators came up with a huge 4-3 overtime win on Tuesday at St. Louis after trailing 3-0 in the first period. Rich Peverley scored the game-winner in overtime and Nashville vaulted into the eighth and final playoff spot for the time being."

"Heading into the final week of the regular season, only Detroit has guaranteed itself a spot in the NHL playoffs, and Nashville — all but forgotten following a tumultuous start — is the only other team from the division still harboring playoff hopes. With 87 points, the Predators are in ninth place in the West, one point behind Vancouver for the final spot. "

"The Blues have a couple of home-and-home series against Nashville and Columbus left on their schedule. The club needs four victories (eight points) to eclipse last season's point total of 81."

"After holding Nashville to just four goals in their first three matchups this season, the Blues have allowed the Predators to score 13 goals in the last three contests, with Nashville winning all three."

"Janssen's actions came 1 minute 42 seconds into Saturday's game, just seconds after the Blues helped knock a puck into their own net for an early Chicago goal. But after Janssen's crowd-pleasing fight with the Blackhawks' Craig Adams, the Blues' mistakes would only multiply as Chicago scored two shorthanded goals in a 4-3 victory."

"In a game that featured two first-period fights, a melee in the final seconds and pushing and shoving after nearly every whistle, the Hawks defeated the Blues 4-3 before a crowd of 19,150 at the Scottrade Center."

"The Blackhawks found a new way to win Saturday, using two short-handed goals to get a 4-3 victory over the St. Louis Blues and keep their slim playoff hopes alive."

"Just when the Blues looked like they had blown their second potential win in five days, Brad Boyes netted his 40th goal of the season and helped the club win its first game in regulation overtime this year. Boyes' second goal of the game — a wrist shot as he faded away from Detroit goalie Chris Osgood — gave the Blues a 4-3 OT victory over Detroit at Joe Louis Arena."

"The Blues, despite having lost 15 of their last 17 games, defeated the Wings 4-3 in overtime. Two third-period goals by Johan Franzen tied the score at 3 and got the crowd roaring. "

"That the Red Wings lost, 4-3, to the St. Luis Blues in overtime Friday night before a capacity crowd of 20,066 at Joe Louis Arena was the only part that didn't fit the script. From the opening moment, when coach Mike Babcock delighted fans and his team by using Darren McCarty with Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby, to the third period, when Johan Franzen scored two goals in less than two minutes, the night was something just a little special."

"Which brings us back to Burish, who said Friday he didn't believe the Blues were out of line in the last meeting but will be on the lookout Saturday night if there's trouble."

"Given the comments made by Blackhawks coach Denis Savard after his team's last meeting with the St. Louis Blues, you would think tonight's last meeting of the season between the Central Division rivals might turn into a brawl. But Savard doesn't think so."

"The Blues are expecting their 19th sellout of the season tonight when they face the Chicago Blackhawks at Scottrade Center. With two more home games after tonight, the Blues have a chance to reach 20 sellouts for the season. Where would that rank in recent history?"

"Coming off a 2-1 loss to Detroit on Tuesday, the Blues face the Red Wings for the final time this season. With a win, the Blues would finish the season series with a split (four games apiece). "

"After a disastrous 2-12-3 stretch, the St. Louis Blues are bleeding blue, and there's no tourniquet in sight. The sinking of a promising season prompts questions about their talent, competitive character, coaching and front-office judgment."

"The Blues' first home game in 22 days came down to a better third period for Detroit, which got a power-play goal from Johan Franzen with 11 minutes 38 seconds left to skate away with a 2-1 victory. "

"Johan Franzen isn't just scoring goals -- lots of them -- these days. He's scoring them at key times, too. Franzen's third-period goal Tuesday gave the Red Wings a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues. "

"Franzen's power-play goal at 8:22 gave the Wings a 2-1 victory over the Blues on Tuesday night at Scottrade Center."

"The Blues played a physical game against Chicago rookies Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews on Sunday, and after the Blackhawks prevailed 4-3 in overtime, Chicago coach Denis Savard claimed the Blues went over the line."

"The Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues are discovering it's never too late in the season to spark a rivalry. Neither team was backing down Monday after Hawks coach Denis Savard said following Sunday's game that the Blues, namely Barret Jackman and David Backes, were taking "cheap shots" at some of his young players during the Hawks' 4-3 overtime victory."

"Goalie Manny Legace practiced Monday after sitting out Sunday against Chicago with a lower-body muscle strain. Center Andy McDonald left after half of Monday's practice, resting a foot injury. "

"The bad blood between the Blackhawks and the St. Louis Blues continued to boil a day after the two teams met in a scrappy thriller Sunday at the United Center. After the game, Hawks coach Denis Savard ripped the Blues -- particularly Barret Jackman and David Backes -- for playing rough with young Hawks stars Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. There still was some steam emanating from Savard's ears a day later."

"Chicago defenseman James Wisniewski scored with 54 seconds left in regulation to tie the score and teammate Patrick Kane delivered the winner with 3:24 left in overtime, as the Blackhawks stunned the Blues 4-3, dropping them to 0-7 in OT."

"Patrick Kane's goal in overtime propelled the Hawks to a gritty 4-3 victory over the St. Louis Blues before a crowd of 19,146 Sunday at the United Center. The win kept the Hawks alive, as they moved within four points of the final Western Conference playoff spot with six games remaining."

"James Wisniewski blasted in the game-tying goal 23 seconds later, then Patrick Kane delivered the winning goal in overtime and the Hawks were at center ice en masse again, saluting a delirious crowd of 19,146 after a 4-3 victory."

"Kane banged home a Niklas Hjalmarsson rebound 1:09 into overtime to give the Hawks perhaps their most dramatic victory of the season, a 4-3 thriller at the United Center that left them just 4 points out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with six games to play."

"As he began his postgame news conference Sunday, Blackhawks coach Denis Savard didn't have the satisfied look of a man whose team had just recorded a dramatic 4-3 overtime victory to get back into playoff contention. "

"As the flood levels began to rise in communities around St. Louis last week, Blues forward Cam Janssen watched from his hotel room in Montreal and then in Ottawa."

"There are several coaches on the hotseat as the regular season winds down; as many as 15 could be looking for work if their teams don't make the playoffs or underachieve in the post-season... There have been no contract talks between the Senators and Wade Redden, but that doesn't mean there won't be before he's set to become an unrestricted free agent July 1."

"The Blues returned to St. Louis on Friday, taking a brief pit stop on their nine-game, 17-day road trip. They were back in the air Saturday and headed for Chicago, where they will complete the trip. "

"Blues goaltending prospect Ben Bishop made his second pro start Friday night for the Peoria Rivermen, and it turned out to be a wild night for the St. Louis native."