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Alex Pietrangelo News & Rumors

Pietrangelo confirms knee injury
May 9
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"In a clean-shaven locker room Tuesday, the Blues' Alex Pietrangelo seemed to be the only player still sporting a playoff beard. "Had some stitches in, so I couldn't shave until I got those out," Pietrangelo said. "Not going to lie, looking forward to it." A cut on Pietrangelo's face was the least of the Blues' worries during the Western Conference semifinals against LA. The defenseman suffered a sprained knee in Game 1 after being pushed head-first into the boards by Dwight King, a hit that caused much controversy in the series and forced Pietrangelo to sit out Game 2. "Yeah, it happened on the hit," Pietrangelo said. "I could feel something wrong. I went off (the ice) and they"
Coach: Losing Pietrangelo was turning point
May 4
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Rarely do coaches single out the importance of one player, but the Blues' Ken Hitchcock readily admitted before Game 3 Thursday that his team's Western Conference semifinal series turned when defenseman Alex Pietrangelo was hurt. Pietrangelo suffered a knee injury in the second period of Game 1 against Los Angeles when Dwight King pushed him head-first into the boards. Pietrangelo stayed in the game for one more face-off, a play that resulted in a shorthanded goal. Including that goal, the Kings went on to score seven times on their next 27 shots with Pietrangelo out of the lineup. "We were thinking about this yesterday ... (Game 1) is 1-1 and we're probably playing better than they are,""
Pietrangelo back for Blues
May 3
NHL.com
 
"The St. Louis Blues will get a direly needed addition back in their lineup when defenseman Alex Pietrangelo returns from a lower-body injury. Coach Ken Hitchcock said after Thursday's morning skate that Pietrangelo is ready for Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Los Angeles Kings. "He's in. He'll play," Hitchcock said. "He's ready to go." Pietrangelo was injured in Game 1 and St. Louis hasn't looked the same because the defenseman plays a vital role on special teams and even strength. Hitchcock didn't understate the effect of Pietrangelo's return."
Defense for Blues in Game 3 unsettled
May 3
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Whether Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo plays tonight in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinal series against the Los Angeles Kings appears to be in his hands. Pietrangelo, who has a lower-body injury, practiced with the club Wednesday at the Toyota Sports Center, and afterward Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said the decision belonged to the defenseman. "He feels OK," Hitchcock said. "If he feels OK tomorrow, and wants to give it a go, we'll let him go. But it's nice to see him out there." Pietrangelo, citing club policy regarding injured players, was not permitted to speak with reporters after practice. Pietrangelo sat out Game 2 Monday after participating in the morning skate. He"
Pietrangelo questionable, Halak out
May 2
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Monday night's 5-2 loss to the Kings, the Blues are not practicing today. They will be traveling to LA tonight and working out Wednesday before their Western Conference semifinal series resumes Thursday at Staples Center. The Kings are leading the series 2-0 after taking advantage of the absence of Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo Monday night. Pietrangelo sat out of the game with a lower-body injury, believed to be a knee. He was originally checked out for a concussion, but that wasn't a concern Monday. He was able to skate with the team in the morning practice, but not healthy enough to play in Game 2. "He's day to day," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. "He tried it (Monday) and he's"
Injury sidelines Pietrangelo for Game 2
May 1
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"There was gloom, there was considerable doom, and then there was jubilation. But at the end of the emotional roller-coaster ride, there was deflated disappointment when Alex Pietrangelo wasn't in the Blues' lineup for Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals. The whirlwind cycle came to completion at around 7:30 Monday night, when the Blues took the ice for the pregame skate at Scottrade Center. Earlier in the morning, Pietrangelo surprised many by practicing with the team, skating alongside regular partner Carlo Colaiacovo. But coach Ken Hitchcock hedged endorsing his quarterback's availability, telling reporters if the 22-year-old defenseman took part in the pregame skate, he would be"
Pietrangelo skates, no determination yet on status
May 1
NHL.com
 
"When Alex Pietrangelo surprisingly skated onto the ice for Monday's morning practice prior to Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals, it was an early reminder that players will attempt to fight through any type of injury in the playoffs. But as the St. Louis Blues prepare to face the Los Angeles Kings tonight in Game 2 down 1-0 in the series, everyone will have to wait a few more hours before it's determined if Pietrangelo (undisclosed injury) will be available. "Right now, he's an injured player," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. "If he's in the warm-up before the game, he's a player. Right now … we're deciding. He feels good so far. We'll see if he makes it through the rest of the"
Pietrangelo injury tough blow for Blues
April 29
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"The Blues lost the opening game of their Western Conference semifinal series to the Los Angles Kings at Scottrade Center on Saturday. That in and of itself is troubling for a team that was 30-6-5 at home during the regular schedule. Then again, the Blues lost at home in Game 1 of their opening round playoff with the San Jose Sharks, a series they went on to win in five games. So there is light in the tunnel, a grain of salt to go with the bitter of a 3-1 defeat. The loss of defenseman Alex Pietrangelo would be much more disconcerting. Pietrangelo was sent face first into the boards behind the Blues' net from a push by Kings forward Dwight King late in the second period. In the immediate"
'Petro' for the Norris Trophy?
March 28
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 columnist Bernie Miklasz
"Is Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo a serious candidate for the Norris Trophy? I don't know the answer to that, because I don't know what the voters are thinking. But I do know this: Pietrangelo certainly is doing enough to be a strong candidate for the award, given to the NHL's best defenseman at the end of each season. The list of other candidates figures to include Ottawa's Erik Karlsson, Boston's Zdeno Chara, Nashville's Shea Weber, Vancouver's Alexander Edler. And maybe Nashville's Ryan Suter. Let's look at a few reasons why "Petro," at minimum, should rate for a spot among the three finalists for the Norris: 1. The Blues are on the verge of allowing the fewest goals per game in an"
Pietrangelo playing relaxed
March 16
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"At age 22, Alex Pietrangelo is the youngest defenseman in Blues history to cobble together back-to-back seasons of 40 points or more. Pietrangelo has 11 goals and 32 assists, good for 43 points. While Ottawa's Erik Karlsson led all NHL backliners with 70 points going into Thursday, Pietrangelo had climbed to a tie for third and was one point shy of second in scoring among league defenders. It is entirely possible he would wind up the team leader in points. Pietrangelo trails forwards David Backes and T. J. Oshie (both with 48 points) by five with 10 games remaining. "I think he has just relaxed on the ice, offensively," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. "The game has slowed down for him a"
Blues' Pietrangelo has his share of admirers
January 23
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"The first of the gushing compliments about Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo was dropped in December 2010 before a Blues-Detroit game. "It looks like he's been touched by a wand by God," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock told the Post-Dispatch. Five months later, Pietrangelo suited up for Team Canada at the 2011 world championships, where Ken Hitchcock was his coach. "He has the same puck patience characteristics as Nick Lidstrom," the future Blues coach told reporters that May. "He's calm when he should panic … he has that quality about him that's very, very unique where he does not panic when he's under challenging situations.""
Pietrangelo, Halak boost Blues over Oil, 1-0
January 20
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"A well-known travel and leisure magazine recently polled readers who ranked New York as "America's Rudest City." St. Louis was nowhere to be found on the list, which suggests professional hockey wasn't among the categories given consideration. Because when it comes to mistreating visitors, no one is more ungracious than the St. Louis Blues. The team reinforced its rude reputation with a precarious 1-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday at Scottrade Center."
Pietrangelo picks up pace on offense
January 17
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Alex Pietrangelo is widely regarded as a potential No. 1 defenseman, a player who can quarterback a team at both ends of the ice. But Pietrangelo was not satisfied with his offensive contributions this season as the Blues approached the second half of the schedule. That's changed lately. By starting the play that wound up in T.J. Oshie's goal and a 1-0 victory over Dallas on Monday, Pietrangelo got an assist and continued a streak that now includes points in seven consecutive games. He has two goals and eight assists in that stretch."