GDT #18: 2/28/13 > Blues vs Hawks > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

[dmiles2186]

Yeah, it sucks that Amac and Senko are out, but time to nut up and end this streak. Kudos to the Hawks for their start, but the Blues have the ability to put and end to this thing, even with those two out.

BLACKHAWKS (16-0-3) at BLUES (10-6-2)

TV: CSN-CH, FS-MW

Last 10: Chicago 9-0-1; Blues 4-4-2

Season series: The Chicago Blackhawks won their previous meeting with the St. Louis Blues, a 3-2 victory at United Center on Jan. 22.

Big story: The Blackhawks have already proven their bonafides on the road this season having survived playing 10 of their first 12 games away from United Center without suffering a regulation loss. But after wrapping up a seven-game homestand, it's time for Chicago to put the best start in NHL history on the line again when they travel to face off with the division-rival Blues.

Team scope:

Blackhawks: As the season nears its halfway point, the Blackhawks remain without a regulation loss and sit comfortably atop the NHL standings. The Blackhawks are 16-0-3, they have 35 points in the standings while no other team has 30, their League-best plus-24 goal differential is nine goals better than the next-best (Pittsburgh Penguins), and with an 8-0-1 mark at home and 8-0-2 on the road, Chicago has been remarkably balanced.

That balance might pour water on the idea that the Blackhawks' start has been goosed by their recent homestand, which ended Monday night when Marian Hossa whacked the puck past Edmonton Oilers goalie Nikolai Khabibulin for a 3-2 overtime win, but it will be tested nonetheless Thursday night when Chicago plays its first road game in two-and-a-half weeks. The Blackhawks will be back at the United Center on Friday night, but they will be on the road more often than not over the next month, meaning the travel and sheer probability could put an end to their impressive run sooner rather than later.

Blues: St. Louis did manage to top the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, nipping a two-game losing streak in the bud, but the Blues will have some considerable obstacles Thursday night beyond simply the competition. For one, St. Louis might be a tad rusty: The Blues will be playing for the first time in five days, which is the longest break they've had between games. The more pressing concern, however, is that while most teams might use long periods off to rest and get healthy, this stretch seems to have done the opposite.

The Blues were already without rookie Vladimir Tarasenko, who was placed on injured reserve with a concussion last week, but the injury load got heavier Tuesday when both Andy McDonald and Alex Steen were hurt during a practice drill.

Steen's ailment, an upper-body injury, has him day-to-day, but McDonald injured his left knee and could be out longer. With St. Louis jockeying for position in the predictably tight Western Conference, the sooner all three players are back the better.

Who's hot: Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane has cooled off somewhat, but the phrase "cooled off" is relative. Kane has a goal and two assists in his past four games. ... Blues goalie Jaroslav Halak has been solid in two starts since returning from injury, going 1-0-1 with 38 saves facing 40 shots.

Injury report: Steen is considered questionable. McDonald (left knee) and Tarasenko (concussion) are on IR. … David Bolland (upper body) is out for Chicago.

[Krigloch the Furious]

Excited but not

[gaijin]

No McDonald, Steen, or Tarasenko? Sure, we can beat the Hawks.

Stranger things have happened.

2 points, please.

[glen a richter]

I have an unusually optimistic feeling about this game--defense gets it done, Halak stands on his head when necessary..

Blues 3 (Pie, Stew, Backes (en))
Hawks 1 (20 shots)

[sseagle]

That (Frank) barn better be full of BLUES fans tonight.

(Frank) the hawks!

Blues win through physical domination, reaver kills two hawks, the gets a hatty!

[Kreegz2]

We need to play a physical and fundamentally sound game on defense, and a gritty, grinding game in the offensive corners. Don't try for the pretty play on even strength tonight, just take the simple one every time. Keep possession in their zone long enough to tire them out and draw penalties, capitalize on the PP. If we win this game, It will be because of our Power Play.

I'm not particularly optimistic, but still looking forward to tonight's game. I've still got a bad taste in my mouth from the last time we played them. We outplayed them 2/3rds of the game, but the shitty 1st period bit us in the ass and we just barely weren't able to pull even. Hopefully the barn is filled tonight, The Blues definitely feed off of lively home crowds. If we are able to pull 2 points out the game I will be more than satisfied. If we beat them in regulation I will be ecstatic.

Berglund x2
Hossa, Seabrook

Hawks SO win.

[thedoc]

Steen is still a possibility to play tonight. That being said it is going to take a full blown effort to make it a game. We realistically need 3 out of 4 points on this little two game home stand before going on the road.

[Oaklandblue]

Looking for a Thursday Night Miracle

Blues 1
Hawks 0

Goal by...who cares, just score!

[STLADOGG]

Time to lay the smackdown on all the Blackhawks candy asses.
Blues 4
Hawks 1

[cardsfan04]

I (Frank) hate the Blackhawks.

[dmiles2186]

Hitch says no Steen tonight. Maybe tomorrow or Sunday.

[sseagle]

Lebrun took the notes, in regulation.
I'm changing my guess to a loss


NOT!
(Frank) espn
Lets to blues!!!

[WaukeeBlues]

So question:

Tarasenko, Steen and McDonald out.

Porter, Cracknell and Murray called up.

Were all three called up to suit up or is someone of the group a healthy scratch? Wasn't D'Agostini a healthy scratch more often than not? I'd rather have him out there than any of these three. So what's the lines look like for tonight? Keeping Reaves-Nichol-Schwartz together? This is frustrating

I'm feeling good about tonight. Not sure why.

Blues 3
Hawks 2

Goes down to the last second. Schwartz and Pietrangelo both score tonight.

[drwoland]

Beating the Hawks today would be a huge step towards being a confident, cup-contending team. Not saying that not winning would be a clear indication the other way, but winning against these sorts of odds is what durable, gritty, persistent winning teams are made of.

F U C K the hawks, let's ruin their little parade.

[Nyghtewynd]

Dear fans of the St. Louis Blues:

You care a lot more about the result of this game than we do.

Sincerely,
The St. Louis Blues

[sseagle]

Dear fans of the St. Louis Blues:

You care a lot more about the result of this game than we do.

Sincerely,
The St. Louis Blues

you mean the 5k blues fans in attendance?

[Nyghtewynd]

So zero effort, zero chances, and the Hawks fans take over the building again.

Yeah, totally give Hitch a ten-year extension. IT'S A NEW ERA!

This team isn't doing squat this year, and it's time to be sellers at the trade deadline. TJ Oshie, you're next on the Erik Johnson Memorial Your-Reputation-Is-Worth-Way-More-Than-Your-Play Trading Block!

[tjk002]

So zero effort, zero chances, and the Hawks fans take over the building again.

Yeah, totally give Hitch a ten-year extension. IT'S A NEW ERA!

This team isn't doing squat this year, and it's time to be sellers at the trade deadline. TJ Oshie, you're next on the Erik Johnson Memorial Your-Reputation-Is-Worth-Way-More-Than-Your-Play Trading Block!

I agree to an extent. Just got home from that miserable experience. Had some hoosiers from Troy Mo (no offense) wanting to fight me because I was said the team had no heart and was playing with little or no effort. In hindisght, probably should've dropped the gloves, but thought better of it at the time. Don't know what the answer is, I'm kinda perplexed. Even with the three stars (?) out, I still think this team has plenty of offensive power. I truely believe the weakness is on the blue line. Pie looks lost out there (way too many turnovers/brain farts in the d zone), Cole looks like a guy in juniors (wants to play big, but yet not big enough to play phsyical and tough in the NHL) , Polak isn't playing phsyicalat all compared to last year, and Jackman just looks old (great play at the blueline) . Thats without saying Russell doesn't have a clue (how do you center the puck to the other team on more than one occasion?). If the Blues have a good season, Hitchcock is a miracle worker.

I remember back in the day, when this team had crap for skill, but had more heart and effort than any team. (Bassen, Sutter, Lowry) none of those guys had crap for talent, but they gave it everything.

Yeah, I might be drunk, and am extremely pissed, just wanted more this year.

[Oaklandblue]

This team has NO offensive power whatsoever. We're living and dying by D and whoever is in goal. That 3-0 could easily have been 5 or 10 if not for the D and the Halak.

Healthy, those three weren't helping much to begin with (Tank tapered off big time), so losing them is a step down, but wouldn't have offered a better chance of getting a biscuit in the basket. Bottom line: We need to sign help. We need to pay money and acquire firepower. End of story. With 20m in capspace we can pick up an ACTUAL scorer and make something happen. The Kings picked up Brad Richards and for the insane amount of money they paid him, that was quite possibly the best investment they made. We need to do the same. Stillman needs to decide if he's running a team as a way to promote and sell hockey jerseys with names on it and various swag or if he's actually trying to win.

There is no solution in the minors to this, trading players for picks or any of that nonsense, we need help and we need it now. I agree with just about everyone, we have the team that can take it all the way BUT they need a few more solid, stable and reliable SCORING people to make it happen. This D plus that, we'll have a Cup.

[dmiles2186]

Even with all of the injuries, I had a good feeling going into last night's game. I was confident the Blues would be fired up after their long layoff, especially with the Hawks in town.

That was not the case at all. Just a frustrating lack of fire in this team. It showed through during the 5 game losing streak, and it showed through last night. This team has the talent. They are pretty much returning everyone from last year and adding 'Senko and Schwartz full time. Why things haven't clicked at the level they did last year, I'm not sure. Obviously, injuries don't help, but all teams deal with injuries. The frustrating thing is that they all happened within a 5 day stretch for the Blues.

I hope to see a different team on the ice tonight against the Oilers. It seems like this team is just so much more up and down than they were last year.