Former Blue Pavol Demitra scored and had two assist and his linemate Marian Gaborik scored twice and had an assist, as the Minnesota Wild beat the Blues 5-1 Thursday.
The Blues opened the scoring in the 1st period when Doug Weight scored on a 2 on 1, wristing a perfect shot over the goalies trapper. It took the Wild nearly 8 minutes to register a shot in the 2nd, but once they did, they tacked on 3 goals. They would add 2 more in the 3rd.
It was the Blues' 5th loss in 6 games. They remain in 10th place in the Western Conference.
For Demitra, it was his 4th goal against his former team this season. It also marked his 8th goal in 7 games against the Note since being traded.
The Blues were defeated by the Ottawa Senators last night 4-2 after scoring two goals that the officials blew calls on.
Ottawa took the lead 3-2 in the 3rd on a shorthanded goal from Antoine Vermette. The goal came moments after the Blues were informed that the goal they had just scored wouldn't count.
Brad Boyes one-timed a puck that appeared to be saved, unbelievably by goalie Martin Gerber. Without reviewing, the officials quickly dropped the puck and resumed play. Video replays clearly showed the puck well over the goal line (I noticed it on my TV screen before action resumed, yet the man being payed, generously I'm sure, did not). While the Blues had possession of the puck in Ottawa's end, the buzzer rang to stop play so that the officials could tell the Blues that they had blown the call (why even stop, if the call is irreversible?). According to Rule 78.6, once a game has restarted following a stoppage of play, a replay can't award or disallow a goal.
Blues' coach Andy Murray was most upset that his team was stripped of possession of the puck in the offensive zone to be told that the officials had made a mistake, and that the officials, who usually take their time with these matters, were so quick to dismiss the idea that it was a goal.
Oh, that's not all. With 2:18 left in a 3-2 game, David Backes slipped a puck under Ottawa's Martin Gerber and into the net. But the refs once again blew it, literally, by blowing the whistle to early. Gerber never had possession.
Barret Jackman and Brad Boyes scored the only goals that counted for the Blues.
Despite the officiating, the Blues' power play continued to struggle, allowing 2 short-handed goals. Yet, 5 on 5 the Blues out-worked, out-hustled, and overall out-played the Senators.
Players of the Game: The Officials, missed 2 goals scored by the Blues, blew power play opportunities as well for the Blues, continued to show how useless referees are. If it was shot by Detroit, they would have just assumed the puck went into the net.
Eric Brewer scored in overtime to defeat his old team, the Edmonton Oilers, 3-2 on Saturday.
Petr Cajanek scored first for the Blues to take the lead, but Edmonton came right back a minute later and tied the game 1-1. The Blues took the lead 2-1 in the second after Jeff Woywitka scored his first NHL goal against the team that traded him away last season. Radek Dvorak, another former Oiler, had two assists as the Blues went into the 3rd period up 2-1. Edmonton would tie it halfway through the 3rd on a power play goal. Eric Brewer backhanded a puck past Dwayne Roloson in overtime to win the game. Player of the Game: Radek Dvorak, 2A, +2, skated hard, involved in play, burnt old team with 2 assists. A pleasant surprise this season for the Blues, wants to return next season.
Photos provided by Yahoo! Sports. Video Provided by NHL video.
The Blues came back from a 2-goal deficit in the 3rd, but lost to the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 in overtime when Daniel Sedin scored on a power play.
Curtis Sanford single handily held the Blues in the game. The Blues were out played for the first two periods, but only trailed 1-0. After Trevor Linden scored halfway through the 3rd, the Blues answered with goals from Jamal Mayers and Petr Cajanek.
With 50 seconds left in the game, Matt Cooke ran into Sanford and Eric Brewer preceded to pound the pest. Cooke received no penalties on the play, and Brewer received 4 minutes.
Daniel Sedin scored from a feed from his brother Henrik 1:09 into overtime.
Curtis Sanford made 34 saves on 37 shots.
The win gives the Blues 70 points on the season. The Blues had 57 points all season last year.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Photos provided by Yahoo! Sports, Video provided by NHL video.
Sizing Him Up: Position: Right Wing Height: 6-2 Weight: 195 Born: February 4, 1983, West Seneca, New York Drafted: St. Louis’ fifth-round selection, 148th overall, on June 22, 2003
Career Stats: 126 Games Played, 37 Goals, 35 Assists, 72 Points.
Mini NHL Bio:
Lee was drafted by the Blues out of Dartmouth after scouts went to see one of his linemates play. They noticed Stempniak's impressive play, and took him in the fifth round of the 2003 draft. Lee joined the Blues amidst the chaos of last season, playing his first game on Oct. 6, 2005 vs. Detroit. The struggles of that season gave Lee a chance to step up immediately and play in situations he might not have got a chance to elsewhere. Stempniak recorded his first NHL point (assist) on Nov. 2, 2005 vs. Chicago. He scored his first NHL goal on Nov. 4, 2005 vs. Edmonton. Stempniak currently leads the Blues this season in power play goals(8), and needs 5 goals to take over the team lead(28) from the departed Bill Guerin. If he scores just 2 more goals and reaches 25, he'll become only the 4th Blues draft pick ever to score 25+ goals with the team.
Years from now John Davidson will most likely be known as one of the men who saved the Blues. He has said from day one that his main goal is to win a Stanley Cup and he's not afraid of saying it. If he accomplishes that, he will be known around town as a God. Read the article from NHL.com's Larry Wigge titled Davidson putting the pieces together in St. Louis.
Here are some player profiles of new Blues Davidson was able to acquire at the deadline:
The Blues fought back from a two-goal deficit in the third, but lost to the Calgary flames in a shootout Monday. The final score was 5-4.
The score was 2-2 heading into the 3rd, but Calgary scored just minutes in on a power play to take the lead. A few minutes later Daymond Langkow scored and it looked as if Calgary had taken control. The Blues came right back just 22 seconds later as Petr Cajanek scored on a feed from Brad Boyes, one of his 3 helpers on the night. Lee Stempniak would score his second goal of the night halfway through the period to tie the game 4-4.
The Blues had a power play in the overtime session, but were unable to convert. Alex Tanguay and Jarome Iginla scored in the shootout, as the Blues went scoreless against Miikka Kiprusoff.
The Blues Offensive future looks bright as Lee Stempniak (who is easily the Blues top offensive player this year along with Doug Weight) scored twice. Brad Boyes, who might be the Blues best pick up in a trade in several years, had three assist on the night. Jeff Woywitka has played a stretch of 6 games in which he has 4 assists. Jason Bacashihua made the start last night for the Blues.
Photos provided by Yahoo! Sports. Video Provided by NHL Video.
The Blues lost to the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 Saturday Night. Alexei Kovalev scored with 1:25 left in the game, seconds after Glen Metropolit scored for the Blues to tie the game at three.
The Blues fell behind 3-0, which forced Curtis Sanford to exit the game after facing just 10 shots. Doug Weight scored late in the 2nd to make it 3-1. David Backes opened up the scoring in the 3rd to make it 3-2. Glen Metropolit scored late on a power play to tie the game, but the Blues couldn't hold on as the Canadiens scored just 43 seconds later.
The Blues beat the Dallas Stars 5-3 at the Scottrade Center last night.
Eric Brewer opened the scoring just 1:06 into the game, giving the Blues a lead they would keep the rest of the game. Doug Weight scored twice,as well as Brad Boyes and Lee Stempniak.
Dallas hung around all game, cutting the score to 2-1, 3-2, and scoring in the final 20 seconds to make it 5-3.
Barret Jackman fought Eric Lindros, or should we say, tried to fight Lindros. Lindros gave Jackman a bear-hug and wanted no part of the fight.
During the action, a rambunctious fan tried climbing over the glass onto the ice. Scottrade Security quickly put an end to that, dragging him out by his collar.
Photos provided by Yahoo! Sports.
Players of the Game: Brad Boyes, 1G, 1A, Taking the raines as an offensive leader on the blues, set up weight's 1st goal on the power play, went hard to the net to score his goal. Eric Brewer, 1G, 1A, +2, Solid on defense, anchored the power play, fell down-got up.
Former Blue Craig Conroy scored twice, as the Calgary Flames defeated the Blues 4-2 last night at Scottrade.
The Blues gained a 2-0 lead early with goals from Petr Cajanek and Radek Dvorak. But the Flames would score the next four and win the game. Calgary dominated the play from the drop of the puck, and Curtis Sanford looked as if he was going to steal one for the Blues, but couldn't hold on the hole game.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Picture provided by Yahoo! Sports, video provided by NHL Video.
The Blues lost to the New York Rangers 3-2 in a shootout Saturday. The Rangers came from behind in the 3rd to beat the Blues, a feat the Note accomplished against the Islanders just two days earlier.
The Blues outplayed the Rangers in the first and came out of it with a 2-0 lead. The two teams exchanged chances in the second, but it remained scoreless after two. In the third, the Rangers poured it on and got 2 past Curtis Sanford. New York won the shootout 3-2, as well as the game.
Brad Boyes scored his first goal as a Blue in the first. Glen Metropolit assisted on the second goal, scored by Radek Dvorak.
The Blues defeated the Islanders in New York Thursday when Lee Stempniak scored 25 seconds into overtime. The Blues scored 2 goals with under 3 minutes left in the game to come from behind.
The Islanders were undefeated when leading after the first and second period, two streaks the Blues ended last night. The Note thoroughly out-played the Isles, but couldn't get anything past Rick DiPietro who made 36 saves.
The Blues finally broke through late in the third when Jay McClement slid one under the goalies pads, right in front of about 50 of his family members in the crowd. Petr Cajanek followed that up just over 30 seconds later to tie the game.
The W marks the first time this season the Blues have a winning record.
Players of the Game: Lee Stempniak, 1G, 1A, provided offense and strong on the puck all night, scored game-winning goal in overtime. Petr Cajanek, 1G, fought hard all night long, always in the mix, playing better since being put on waivers.
