GDT #19: 3/1/13 > Blues vs Oilers > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

[dmiles2186]

OILERS (8-7-4) at BLUES (10-7-2)

TV: RDS2, SNET-West, FS-Midwest

Last 10: Edmonton 4-4-2; St. Louis 4-4-2

Season series: This is the first of three meetings to be contested over the next 26 days. The Blues won the final three of four meetings last season, winning two by one goal, and are 9-2-1 against the Oilers over the past three seasons.

Big story: Each team played Thursday. The Blues lost for the third time in four games -- 3-0 to the Chicago Blackhawks; they have scored 1, 0, and 0 in the defeats, 2 in the win. After earning a point against the Blackhawks in a 3-2 overtime loss Monday, the Oilers won the second game of their nine-game road trip, 5-1 in Dallas. Edmonton can tie St. Louis in points with a regulation win; the teams were 45 points apart in the Western Conference at the end of last season.

Team Scope:

Oilers: Edmonton has five of a possible six points in its past three games after getting seven points in the 10 games prior.

"Especially now on this long road trip, we need to get as many points as we can, and obviously these kind of wins are huge for our team," forward Lennart Petrell said Thursday.

Five different players scored against Dallas.

"We had a good energy out of the Chicago game and we were able to regenerate here for a couple of days," coach Ralph Krueger said.

The Oilers will remain on the road until a week from Tuesday, March 12.

"I think we're playing solid," Sam Gagner said. "The biggest thing for us is to continue with those same habits. You're not going to get the results every single night but if you worry about the process, and worry about having the right habits, over time, I think with our skill, things are going to go our way. ...

"I feel like throughout this trip so far, we've done that, and we've got a lot left here, and we've just got to make sure every night we come with that same effort, same consistency and hopefully get on a roll here."

Blues: After going 6-1-0 in a short January schedule, St. Louis managed just four wins in 12 February games, with a 1-5-1 record at home.

"Our fans deserve better, and I think everyone here knows that we've got more, and it needs to come out right away," captain David Backes said.

Chicago's Jonathan Toews scored 12 seconds into Thursday's game, and the Blues never recovered.

"Lessons are going to be learned and we're going to have to be better tomorrow night," said Backes, whose line was on ice for that opening shift.

St. Louis had nine giveaways to Chicago's one.

"I thought we had some good players today, but we also had some guys who struggled a little bit to keep up," coach Ken Hitchcock said.

The Blues played Thursday without their entire forward line of Andy McDonald, Alex Steen and Vladimir Tarasenko, all sidelined by injury. Those key power-play participants were missed as the Blues finished a fifth straight game without a PP goal after getting at least one in eight straight.

"We're not going to use injuries as an excuse; eveyone's got them this time of year," Backes said. "We've just got to push through and make sure that we're finding ways to have success rather than finding things to use as excuses and rest on.

"We've got another one tomorrow that we've got to turn around quick, and play a high-tempo offensive team in Edmonton."

Goalie Brian Elliot could get back into net here or Sunday at Dallas.

Who's hot: Oilers defenseman Justin Schultz has five points in his past five games, and his 12 points are tied for third among NHL rookies. Gagner has seven points in his past six games; forward Ales Hemsky had three points Thursday. … Blues goalie Jaroslav Halak has stopped 58 of 63 shots (.920) in three games since returning from injury.

Injury report: Oilers defenseman Cory Potter (head) was injured in Thursday's game and his status will be determined Friday. Goalie Nikolai Khabibulin (groin) was placed on injured reserve this week. Forward Teemu Hartikainen (shoulder) is day-to-day. Forward Shawn Horcoff (hand) is week-to-week, forward Anton Lander (foot) is three weeks into a four-week recovery, and defenseman Andy Sutton (knee) is out indefinitely. … Steen (upper body) practiced briefly Thursday and could return Friday or Saturday. McDonald (left leg) is out on a week-to-week basis. Tarasenko's return from a concussion is unknown.

[Nyghtewynd]

Oil 3, Blues 1

And then the Walrus will tell us some strong words about his team's effort. Again.

[cardsfan04]

Blues 4
Oilers 2

[Kreegz2]

Blues 2
Oilers 3

SO loss.

[STLADOGG]

This losing at home shit is getting old....with that said.
Hall and company: 4
Ex Brewer team: -4

[WaukeeBlues]

We're on the slippity slide again... Not liking where this is going.

If Jackman's "All-Time Blues D-man" ceremony can't get us a win, what will? WHAT WILL!?!?!1!!

Blues 2
Oil 4

[glen a richter]

I'm so sour on this team right now I honestly don't know if I even want to watch tonight. If you can't win at home then you can't win. Any time they do good, it's a fluke.

Oil 3
Blues 1

Trades forthcoming.

[gaijin]

Friday night game, kid's baseball practice will be finished, nothing to be at early tomorrow morning. Sounds like a winner to me.

2 points, please.

[philco_3]

I haven't been to a game yet when they haven't gotten at least a point. So Oilers 3-2 OT.

[Krigloch the Furious]

Wow this team. Wish they didn't suck

[STLADOGG]

Nice comeback. A solid 2 points. If Hall was in the whole game, it probably would have been a different story, the guy kills us.

[WaukeeBlues]

Big win. Definitely needed it. Great to see Sobotka rewarded again for all the hard work with a 2 point game.

[dmiles2186]

Good comeback. I thought that aside from the 2 minute lapse at the end of the 1st period, they were the better team. Schwartz was great on the top line, Sobie was all over the place. That assist from Oshie was a beaut. I still thought they gave up too many odd man rushes and that 2 minute lapse could have killed them against a better team. But the boys showed some heart to fight back and score 4 unanswered for the W. I'll take it.

[cardsfan04]

It wasn't quite a full 60, but it was like a 58 1/2, which I guess I'll take.

I think Schwartz had his best NHL game tonight. He was (Franking) everywhere all night long. When he got boarded, I thought it was 5 as well as the guy sitting behind me (who seems to know what he's talking about). But, I'd like to see a replay I guess. At least he's OK.

[Kreegz2]

Schwartz and Cracknell both really stood out to me tonight. They were both given new opportunities, and both of them really took advantage of it and played their (Franking) hearts out. Good game all around except for like 2 minutes in the 1st.

[ViPeRx007]

WE'RE WINNING TEH CUPZ AGIN!!!1111

[glen a richter]

The only part of this game I actually watched was the last goal. Because I wasn't watching, they didn't suck. When I do watch, they do suck. In fact, ever since I got center ice they've been playing miserably. So you can thank me for not watching now or later or both. You're welcome.

[STLADOGG]

The only part of this game I actually watched was the last goal. Because I wasn't watching, they didn't suck. When I do watch, they do suck. In fact, ever since I got center ice they've been playing miserably. So you can thank me for not watching now or later or both. You're welcome.

Don't worry they suck every time I watch them.(I watch every second of every game)

[theohall]

Still think Schwartz best game was against Calgary. He produced in that game without being on the top line. IMO, he deserved the promotion after that Calgary game.