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GDT #25: 3/12/13 > Blues vs Sharks > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 5:49 am
by dmiles2186
SHARKS (11-7-6) at BLUES (13-10-2)

TV: CSN-CA, FS-MW

Last 10: San Jose 4-3-3; St. Louis 4-5-1

Season series: Third and final meeting of the regular season. The road team has won each of the first two matchups. Tim Kennedy's goal with 6:58 remaining gave the Sharks a 2-1 win in St. Louis on Feb. 19, while Vladimir Sobotka recorded a hat trick and Patrik Berglund netted the shootout winner as the Blues prevailed 4-3 in San Jose on March 9.

Big story: Chicago and Anaheim have created separation from the rest of the pack in the Western Conference playoff race, leaving San Jose and St. Louis among the teams teetering perilously on the edge of the cutoff line. They've played two tight games already this season -- Tuesday doesn't figure to be any different.

Team Scope:

Sharks: After blowing a two-goal lead in the third period against St. Louis on Saturday afternoon, San Jose found itself on the comeback trail Sunday in Colorado. Down 2-0 in the last minute of the second period, the Sharks cut the deficit in half on Patrick Marleau's 400th career goal with 39.1 seconds remaining and drew even when Logan Couture tallied with 3:25 left in regulation. Antti Niemi stopped 39 of the first 41 shots he faced, but Matt Duchene beat the overtime buzzer with two-tenths of a second still on the clock and the Sharks suffered a tough 3-2 defeat.

"We have to start finding ways to win these games," Couture told the San Jose Mercury News. "[Saturday] we gave up a lead, [Sunday] we come back. One point is good, but you need to get two in this League."

Blues: It appeared St. Louis could be set up for its second big finish of the weekend when Berglund snapped a 1-1 tie with a power-play goal 1:41 into the third period Sunday in Anaheim. However, the Ducks -- who haven't lost a game at Honda Center since their home opener -- had other ideas. They blitzed the Blues for two goals over the next four minutes to capture the lead, and an empty-netter sealed the visitors' 4-2 loss. It was another tough night for a St. Louis goalie, as Jaroslav Halak finished with 18 saves on 21 shots.

Captain David Backes told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch the rest of the team deserved the blame, though, for taking their foot off the gas: "And you can't do that, especially against a team with their potency up front. We did that and the result is hanging Jaro out to dry, who played a heck of a game for us."

Who's hot: Couture has goals in consecutive games for the Sharks. Niemi is second in the NHL in save percentage (.932) and fifth in goals-against average (1.96). … Berglund has four goals in the Blues' past three games.

Injury report: San Jose goalie Thomas Greiss is day-to-day with a sore neck. Defenseman Brent Burns and forward Martin Havlat are on injured reserve with lower-body injuries. … St. Louis forwards Jamie Langenbrunner (hip), Vladimir Tarasenko (concussion), Andy McDonald (knee) and Alexander Steen (upper body) are on injured reserve.

Re: GDT #25: 3/12/13 > Blues vs Sharks > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 6:02 am
by Oaklandblue
I don't get how they come up with their 'Hot Or Not' stats; Bergy has 4 goals in the past 3 games, but Sobotka has 3 goals in the past 2 games. Isn't Vlad riding hot too?

Please tell me we're starting Jake Allen. I've about had it with the Halak Era.

Blues 3
Sharks 0

Goals by: Bergy, Sobotka, Polak.

Re: GDT #25: 3/12/13 > Blues vs Sharks > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 8:14 am
by sseagle
What in the blue (Franking) hell is an "era"

Blues take this one, and thorntons decapitated body is dragged through the streets.

Re: GDT #25: 3/12/13 > Blues vs Sharks > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 8:20 am
by Oaklandblue
sseagle wrote:What in the blue (Frank) hell is an "era"
It's an affordable detergent used to get those tough stains off of your delicates.
sseagle wrote:Blues take this one, and thorntons decapitated body is dragged through the streets.
JUST his decapitated body? What, we going soft these days? :twisted:

Re: GDT #25: 3/12/13 > Blues vs Sharks > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 9:37 am
by dmiles2186
Strick is saying Steener is skating with Backes and Stewart, with all indications pointing to him playing tonight. It's Strick, so as always, believe what you will.

Edit/Update: Feel a little better now. JR has also posted that it looks like Steen will be in tonight.

Sweet Sassy Molassy!

Re: GDT #25: 3/12/13 > Blues vs Sharks > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 9:39 am
by DaDitka
If that's true does that mean the 'kid' line is back?

57-21-74?

I've thought they should try that for some time....however that #2 line has been hot as hell and I hate to see them break Bergy and Stewart up right now.

I guess they are trying to get 42 & 74 going.

Re: GDT #25: 3/12/13 > Blues vs Sharks > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 9:44 am
by dmiles2186
DaDitka wrote:If that's true does that mean the 'kid' line is back?

57-21-74?

I've thought they should try that for some time....however that #2 line has been hot as hell and I hate to see them break Bergy and Stewart up right now.

I guess they are trying to get 42 & 74 going.
Looks like the Kid Line is back. JR just tweeted the lines:

Lines: 20-42-25, 57-21-74, 9-17-36, 32-12-75.....10 and 91 are also skating

I really like that Schwartz, Sobie and D'ags are paired together. Could be a fun line to watch.

Re: GDT #25: 3/12/13 > Blues vs Sharks > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 10:20 am
by sseagle
My tits are hard

Re: GDT #25: 3/12/13 > Blues vs Sharks > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 10:23 am
by dmiles2186
Also, JR just tweeted that Allen was the first goalie off and appears to be the starter.

Update: Hitch has confirmed Allen is the starter and they will re-evaluate Steen closer to game time to determine his availability.

Re: GDT #25: 3/12/13 > Blues vs Sharks > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 11:52 am
by theohall
dmiles2186 wrote:
DaDitka wrote:If that's true does that mean the 'kid' line is back?

57-21-74?

I've thought they should try that for some time....however that #2 line has been hot as hell and I hate to see them break Bergy and Stewart up right now.

I guess they are trying to get 42 & 74 going.
Looks like the Kid Line is back. JR just tweeted the lines:

Lines: 20-42-25, 57-21-74, 9-17-36, 32-12-75.....10 and 91 are also skating

I really like that Schwartz, Sobie and D'ags are paired together. Could be a fun line to watch.
At least there is only one weak defensive forward in each of the top 2 lines. The flaw with having Stewart and Perron on the ice at the same time is both of them are horribly inconsistent defesively and often get caught standing at the top of each circle waiting for the Blues other 3 players to get the puck from the other guys - even when a 4th opponent comes into help. Yes, that line was awesome offensively for a few games, but one of the Blues goals vs Anaheim, both of them were standing around at the top of the circles doing nothing to mark the opposing d-men. It lead to the 3rd goal against. Breaking them up and having at least two defensively responsible forwards on every line should help reduce those types of goals against.

Re: GDT #25: 3/12/13 > Blues vs Sharks > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 5:52 pm
by glen a richter
Let's go with.... Blues 4 Sharks 3 (Shitout)

Re: GDT #25: 3/12/13 > Blues vs Sharks > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 8:06 pm
by dmiles2186
Who wants to argue that Backes isn't Captain material after that hit? Could have hit 'em even harder.

Re: GDT #25: 3/12/13 > Blues vs Sharks > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 8:45 pm
by sseagle
SKARKS CAN CRY ALL NIGHT! MUHAHAHAHA!

Re: GDT #25: 3/12/13 > Blues vs Sharks > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 8:51 pm
by Kreegz2
If this was a decade ago Backes could have put that guy in the hospital. Good effort tonight and a great game by Allen. If he puts up a few more performances like this I think that we have to start considering him our #1.

Re: GDT #25: 3/12/13 > Blues vs Sharks > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 10:40 pm
by cprice12
Allen's numbers haven't been outstanding (they'll get better after tonight's game though)...coming into tonight's game, he has a 2.71 GAA and a .891 save%. That's not very good. But the team is winning with him in net, so they should stick with what is getting W's.
With that said, if Halak ramps up his play, like we all know he can, make no mistake about it...he will get the vast majority of the starts.
Allen will only be the starter until Halak's play improves and he starts winning games.

edit: Allen's updated numbers after tonight's game: 6-1-0 with a 2.63 GAA and .903 Save %.
Not quite the numbers you'd expect a 6-1-0 goalie to have, but it's good enough I guess.

Re: GDT #25: 3/12/13 > Blues vs Sharks > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 10:49 pm
by cprice12
Per J.R.:
Oshie didn't look good walking through the locker room. Can't imagine this is minor. FYI, injured players aren't available for comment.
Greeeeeaaaaat. Just what we need. :roll:

Re: GDT #25: 3/12/13 > Blues vs Sharks > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 11:12 pm
by drwoland
No video of Backes hit in the highlights :( I heard it was epic

Re: GDT #25: 3/12/13 > Blues vs Sharks > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 4:31 am
by Kreegz2
drwoland wrote:No video of Backes hit in the highlights :( I heard it was epic
It was alright, a nice open ice hit. Backes definitely held up though, He honestly could have sent the sharks player into next season if he wanted to. It kinda reminded me of that hit that Jay McKee had on Parrish against the stars a few years back.

Re: GDT #25: 3/12/13 > Blues vs Sharks > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 7:01 am
by gaijin
Good to get this win- there's not a whole lot of room for error. With the shortened season, we're already "in the stretch," and only 2 points separates 3rd from 10th.

Re: GDT #25: 3/12/13 > Blues vs Sharks > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 11:23 am
by sseagle
Oshie day to day, upper body injury, they need to either overhaul the injury notification or just (Franking) dump them as they are pretty (Franking) useless these days.