GDT #35: 12/21/13 > Blues @ Oilers > 9:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

[dmiles2186]

The Perr'uh-Paajarvis showdown we've all been waiting for!

BLUES (23-7-3) at OILERS (11-23-3)

TV: CBC; FS-MW

Last 10: St. Louis 5-4-1; Edmonton 3-6-1

Blue Notes: Magnus Paajarvi returns to Edmonton for the first time since being traded to St. Louis for David Perron. Likewise, this is the first time the Blues have played against Perron. The Oilers won't come to St. Louis until March 13, 2014. The Blues have won back-to-back games at Rexall Place. T.J. Oshie has three goals and 10 assists in his last 14 games against Edmonton. Chris Stewart has five goals and two assists in his last eight games against the Oilers.

Season series: This is the first of three games between the St. Louis Blues and Edmonton Oilers. The Blues won two of three games last season and have taken five of the past six.

Big story: The Oilers return home after an 0-4-0 road trip to face one of the NHL's top teams. The Blues begin a two-game swing through Alberta after dominating the Montreal Canadiens at home in a 5-1 victory Thursday.

Team Scope:

Blues: Hours after St. Louis rewarded Alexander Steen with a three-year contract extension, he returned the favor by scoring twice in the victory against Montreal. With 24 goals in the first 34 games, Steen has matched his single-season high and tripled his output from last season.

Steen scored twice in the Blues' three-goal first period.

"We came out with a lot of jump," he said. "We knew they were a good team that plays physical, has a lot of speed, but it felt like we went out and dictated from the early going."

Oilers: Edmonton's power play is in the middle of the NHL pack at 17.7 percent. But the Oilers are paying a big price for their sloppiness with the puck while they're up a man. Edmonton leads the NHL with eight shorthanded goals allowed, three more than any team. The eighth came in the second period Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche and led to a 4-2 road loss.

"You need your power play to give you momentum and it's sucking the life out of us right now. It has to change," coach Dallas Eakins said after the game. "The answer is for our power-play guys to get the job done and they have to be better. It's as simple as that."

Who's hot: Blues center Derek Roy has five points in his past five games. Forward Jaden Schwartz has two goals and four points in three games. … Oilers center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored has a goal in two of his past three games.

Injury report: Blues forward David Backes has missed the past two games. Forward Vladimir Sobotka (upper body) was placed on injured reserve Friday, joining forward Ryan Reaves (hand) and defenseman Jordan Leopold (hand). … Oilers center Mark Arcobello (ribs) sat out against the Avalanche.

[sseagle]

Magnuts Parjarvus and Doubel Penetration?

GLAD ITS ON LATE


LETS TEAR SOME SHIT UP!!!

[gaijin]

What? A Western Conference team? What's that all aboot?

2 points, please.

[glen a richter]

While the Oilers were busy building an offensive powerhouse in the hope of rekindling the 1980's feel, the rest of the west was building defensive minded squads, thereby neutralizing anything the Oilers had built. And that's why they suck. They have no defense to speak of and poor goaltending at best. With Stewart turning it on of late this has the makings of a blowout. I suppose we'll see... though it's questionable exactly how much we'll actually see given the game is in that dumpy dark dungeon of Rexall Place. They should use the money they saved by not getting any defensemen to buy some light bulbs for their arena.

[dmiles2186]

In the meantime, Roman has been placed on IR w/ a lower body injury. Bawls.

[STLADOGG]

In the meantime, Roman has been placed on IR w/ a lower body injury. Bawls.

Pretty big blow, Polak is a stud on the blue line.
Let's see how we do against a young team without him like Edmonton. For some reason to me it seams these guys always play good against us.

[glen a richter]

So Leopold and Polak both out... the time seems ripe to take a look at Hakanpaa (+9 in Chicago, best +/- on the team).

[dmiles2186]

Sweet, big ol' glorious boobies!

[tweet][/tweet]

[glen a richter]

Hmmm, gotta be honest here... we're talking about Edmonton and Calgary then a 4 day break. Does Backes REALLY need to rush it back tonight?

[Krigloch the Furious]

woot! Backes is back

[sseagle]

Hmmm, gotta be honest here... we're talking about Edmonton and Calgary then a 4 day break. Does Backes REALLY need to rush it back tonight?

Racist

[glen a richter]

Hmmm, gotta be honest here... we're talking about Edmonton and Calgary then a 4 day break. Does Backes REALLY need to rush it back tonight?

Racist

I guess I am racist against crappy Canadian teams. I do have a good friend from Alberta though... just find their hockey teams to be total trash and not worthy of Backes risking anything worse by coming back too soon. Hold out a couple more games and be fresh v. the Hawks.

[KrustyKevo]

So Leopold and Polak both out... the time seems ripe to take a look at Hakanpaa (+9 in Chicago, best +/- on the team).

Hakanpaa at +10 now, but not best in Chicago anymore. Pat Cannone is +11. lol

[KrustyKevo]

So Leopold and Polak both out... the time seems ripe to take a look at Hakanpaa (+9 in Chicago, best +/- on the team).

Hakanpaa at +10 now, but not best in Chicago anymore. Pat Cannone is +11. lol

But I do agree, I've wanted them to give Jani a chance!

[gaijin]

Stewart with the hat trick? WTF is going on with the world?

[abc789987]

Stewart is the best!

[ViPeRx007]

Sign Stewart long-term!

#Bipolar

[STLADOGG]

When everyone was hating on Stewart, I was always thinking, just keep him on the Blues because the guy killed us when he was in Colorado.
Now I am a little more happy he with the team lol.

[dmiles2186]

Oh Stewart. You're the one thing I've complained about on this team and you've doubled your goal scoring in about the last week and a half. Keep this up. This is the potential you have. Don't disappear for another quarter of the season.

Otherwise, just pure domination by the Blues. They withstood the early onslaught of shots by the Oilers and then just put them in their place. It was as if the Oil punched themselves out and once they had, the Blues just went to work. Ells looked great tonight. Schwartz with another gorgeous rocket. Berglund with one of the ugliest goals we'll see this year. And Edmonton still looks like they play in a dimly lit warehouse.

All in all, another 2 points for our Blues. Prior to the Canadiens game, I was talking with a friend and felt that game, the Oilers game, and the Calgary game should be winnable games before we get to Chicago. We've got 2. Time to finish that 3 game stretch off tomorrow night.