Morning Skate: D'Agostini promoted to scoring line

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Morning Skate: D'Agostini promoted to scoring line

Post by SIU LAW »

Morning Skate: D'Agostini promoted to scoring line
BY JEREMY RUTHERFORD

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Blues forward Matt D'Agostini walked into the team's locker room before practice this morning, looked on the board and saw that he was playing on a line with Andy McDonald and Patrik Berglund.

"I must have done something to show that I can play with those guys," D'Agostini said.

D'Agostini leads the Blues with three goals, but he has been playing, with the exception of a few shifts, on the team's fourth line. He played four games at center, but moved to right wing against Chicago Monday when center Vladimir Sobotka joined the lineup.

But in Monday's practice, Blues coach Davis Payne moved D'Agostini up with McDonald and Berglund, and he put Brad Boyes at right wing on a line with Alexander Steen and Jay McClement.

Boyes is sitting on one goal this season, and that came in the season opener. He is scoreless in the last four games, in which he's had a combined 18 shots on goal.

The Blues don't play until Friday against Chicago, so the combinations could be switched back by the end of the week. But for now, D'Agostini has a spot on one of the team's top lines.

"Hopefully get a couple of goals early, so I can show that I can play with them and stick with them," D'Agostini said. "Hopefully, it's the start of something good."

Asked about leading the Blues in goals so far, D'Agostini laughed and said, "Yeah, I don't know how long that's going to last."

Forwards

David Perron-David Backes-T.J. Oshie

Andy McDonald-Patrik Berglund-Matt D'Agostini

Alex Steen-Jay McClement-Brad Boyes

Brad Winchester-Vladimir Sobotka-B.J. Crombeen

********

WHO STARTS IN NET?

The Blues have back-to-back home games this weekend against Chicago and Pittsburgh. The Blackhawks and Blackhawks are both tied sixth place in goals per game (3.29). The 'Hawks are third on the power play (28 percent) and the Pens are ninth (20 percent).

With three days off before facing Chicago Friday, and another four days off after playing Pittsburgh Saturday, it's not out of the question that Jaroslav Halak could start each of the back-to-back games.

But just to play the role of head coach Davis Payne for a day, should the Blues start Halak both nights? Should Halak play against the Blackhawks and Ty Conlin face the Penguins? Or vice-versa?

I have a poll at the top of the blog asking this question, so please vote. But before you do, keep one line of statistics in mind ...

Halak vs. Pittsburgh in the 2009-10 playoffs with Montreal:

Games: 7

Won-loss: 4-3

Goals-against average: 2.38

Save-percentage: .927

********

HALAK NOT HAPPY WITH PENALTY

Speaking of Halak, I spoke with him briefly today about the holding-the-stick penalty he received in Monday's 3-2 overtime win over the Blues.

The officials rules that Halak held the stick of Patrick Sharp, which gave the Blackhawks a power play and they got a goal from Marian Hossa scored for a 2-1 deficit.

Halak said that it shouldn't have been a penalty, and that if you watch the video, he did not grab for the stick. According to Halak, Sharp's stick got caught in his glove and he could not get it out.

********

SOBOTKA LOOKING FOR HITS

Vladimir Sobotka was credited with two hits in his Blues' debut Monday, but other than that, there wasn't the amount of contact he's used to. Sobotka is returning from shoulder surgery and he admits that he has to ease back into it.

"It's going to take a few games to play the way I used to play, hits and play with some energy," Sobotka said.

Well, teammate Barret Jackman did his part in Wednesday's practice to get Sobotka ready. Jackman laid a pretty hefty hit on Sobotka and appeared to apologize after the hit. Sobotka thanked him.

"That's what I wanted," Sobotka said. "I told him, that's good. It's a good battle, and that's what I need."

********

DAVID PERRON CHAT

Blues forward David Perron, who scored two goals in Monday's game, will be my guest host for Thursday's Blues chat.

Perron is a big fan of social media and interacting with fans. He has a Twitter account (his name is @DP_57), where he answers a variety of questions from Blues' fans.

But tomorrow, he'll join us exclusively on STLtoday.com for approximately 1 hour. The chat will begin around 1 p.m. and end around 2 p.m.

Here is the link to ask questions:

http://interact.stltoday.com/forums/vie ... c8523c110b
Please give your questions some thought. He won't be able to answer every question, and we will select the best ones in the amount of time we have.

********

PIETRANGELO APPEARANCE

Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo will join me next Monday at Top Shooters in Columbia, Ill. We will be live on 590 THE FAN KFNS from 6-7 p.m.

It will be the first night for my new show "The Blues Beat," which will air every Monday from 6-7 on KFNS.

JR

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Re: Morning Skate: D'Agostini promoted to scoring line

Post by SIU LAW »

WAIT A MINUTE! Playing with Andy McDonald and Patrik Berglund?!? Doesn’t Payne realize that D'Agostini is just a scrub the Blues got for the awesome-sauce laced Palushaj? I mean that trade was like forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes, human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together. Mass hysteria!

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Re: Morning Skate: D'Agostini promoted to scoring line

Post by goon attack »

:cup:
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Re: Morning Skate: D'Agostini promoted to scoring line

Post by deadphish »

goon attack wrote::cup:
Wrong.

:cup: :cup:

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Re: Morning Skate: D'Agostini promoted to scoring line

Post by thedoc »

SIU LAW wrote:I mean that trade was like forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes, human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together. Mass hysteria!
Nice retro quote I like it. Next time do Stripes. :plusplus:
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Re: Morning Skate: D'Agostini promoted to scoring line

Post by cprice12 »

I like this...as long as Dapostrophe gets more than a few shifts on the top line.

Give him a few games...he's got skills. See what he can do in a game with skilled players on his line.
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Re: Morning Skate: D'Agostini promoted to scoring line

Post by DaDitka »

Yeah, I really like the way these lines look on paper.

I also thought Bergie's hot hand looked a little handcuffed the other night with the way McD and Boyes were fighting the puck.

Now you've got two of your hotter sticks on a line with last years top 'play-maker'.

And Jay centering two shooters on your third line is nice as well.
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