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GDT #60: 3/2/14 > Blues @ Coyotes > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 8:13 am
by dmiles2186
Image
BLUES (39-14-6) at COYOTES (27-22-11)

TV: FS-MW, FS-A PLUS

Last 10: St. Louis 6-3-1; Phoenix 4-4-2

Blue Notes: Ryan Miller will make his debut in goal, while Steve Ott will debut on a line with Derek Roy and T.J. Oshie.

Season series: This is the third and final game this season and the first at Jobing.com Arena. The St. Louis Blues and Phoenix Coyotes split the first two, with T.J. Oshie scoring twice to lead St. Louis past Phoenix, 2-1, in the most-recent encounter on Jan. 14. St. Louis has won three straight in the desert.

Big story: Goaltender Ryan Miller will make his Blues debut on Sunday.

On Friday, the Buffalo Sabres dealt their longtime franchise player, along with Sabres captain Steve Ott, to St. Louis in exchange for goalie Jaroslav Halak, forward Chris Stewart, a prospect and draft picks.

"I'm very excited for the opportunity to have a new adventure, a new opportunity," Miller told reporters Friday. "I have a strong sense that they have a special team, that they work hard. I know some of the guys on the team with the USA [Olympic] program, and they have a very strong competitive spirit."

St. Louis captain David Backes, who played with Miller in the past two Winter Olympics, talked raved about the organization's winning mentality.

"The management and ownership is really committed to winning, and winning now, and that's partly shown in the move we've made," Backes said. "Ryan Miller is an all-world goalie that has shown it time and time again."

Team Scope:

Blues: Miller should bolster the NHL's third-best defensive unit (2.27 goals-allowed per game) and Blues management no doubt hopes he can help St. Louis over the postseason hump. On Sunday, though, the Blues will be focused on avoiding their first three-game losing streak of the season. The Blues have not scored since NHL play resumed, dropping back-to-back 1-0 contests to Western rivals Vancouver Canucks and Anaheim Ducks.

"We've just got to put a couple in the net and we'll get going," defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk said.

The Blues' recent inefficiency lies in contrast to their Olympic lead-up, in which St. Louis went 6-1-1 and scored three or more goals six times over that stretch.

Coyotes: Phoenix has lost three straight games, all away from Jobing.com Arena, to drop into a crowded group vying for the final Western playoff spots. The eighth through 11th-placed teams – the Dallas Stars, Canucks, Coyotes and Winnipeg Jets – are separated by two points, and Phoenix is a point behind Vancouver for fourth place in the competitive Pacific Division.

In their most-recent outing Friday, Phoenix fell 4-2 to the Colorado Avalanche. The Coyotes outshot the Avalanche 42-33, including 19 shots in the third period, but were unable to close the gap.

"We're in the winning business and when you don't win you have to find ways to win," coach Dave Tippett told reporters after the game. "That's where we're at right now."

Who's hot: Miller is 6-0-0 with a 1.15 goals-against average in his career against the Coyotes. … Shane Doan scored twice Friday in Colorado and has 48 points (21 goals, 27 assists) in 69 career games versus St. Louis.

Injury report: For the Blues, defenseman Jordan Leopold (ankle) and Vladimir Sobotka (knee) are day-to-day. … Phoenix is boasting a healthy lineup.

Re: GDT #60: 3/2/14 > Blues @ Coyotes > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 9:09 am
by gaijin
Things like this: "Phoenix has lost three straight games, all away from Jobing.com Arena" always scare me. No one breaks other teams' losing streaks like the Blues.

This: "Miller is 6-0-0 with a 1.15 goals-against average in his career against the Coyotes" makes me happy.

2 points, please. :letsgoblues:

Re: GDT #60: 3/2/14 > Blues @ Coyotes > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 10:45 am
by not_a_wings_fan
Word on the street is that Ott will be playing on a line with Roy and Oshie...and I think that's just silly.

I would rather see Berglund move up to that line and put Ott in the middle.

I am not sure what's up with these lines the last couple games, but several things are head scratchers to me.

We could really use the two points, tho. Let's go get a win, fellas.

Re: GDT #60: 3/2/14 > Blues @ Coyotes > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 11:20 am
by JCShutout
not_a_wings_fan wrote:Word on the street is that Ott will be playing on a line with Roy and Oshie...and I think that's just silly.

I would rather see Berglund move up to that line and put Ott in the middle.

I am not sure what's up with these lines the last couple games, but several things are head scratchers to me.

We could really use the two points, tho. Let's go get a win, fellas.
Agreed, I thought getting faceoff man Ott in there at center and moving Bergy to wing were a big part of this move.

Re: GDT #60: 3/2/14 > Blues @ Coyotes > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 12:56 pm
by ComradeT
JCShutout wrote:
not_a_wings_fan wrote:Word on the street is that Ott will be playing on a line with Roy and Oshie...and I think that's just silly.

I would rather see Berglund move up to that line and put Ott in the middle.

I am not sure what's up with these lines the last couple games, but several things are head scratchers to me.

We could really use the two points, tho. Let's go get a win, fellas.
Agreed, I thought getting faceoff man Ott in there at center and moving Bergy to wing were a big part of this move.
I guess I can see putting a bigg(er) mean guy on a line with two small guys. But why break up Oshie/Backes line? I'll join the head scratching squadron.

Re: GDT #60: 3/2/14 > Blues @ Coyotes > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 1:54 pm
by ViPeRx007
ComradeT wrote:
JCShutout wrote:
not_a_wings_fan wrote:Word on the street is that Ott will be playing on a line with Roy and Oshie...and I think that's just silly.

I would rather see Berglund move up to that line and put Ott in the middle.

I am not sure what's up with these lines the last couple games, but several things are head scratchers to me.

We could really use the two points, tho. Let's go get a win, fellas.
Agreed, I thought getting faceoff man Ott in there at center and moving Bergy to wing were a big part of this move.
I guess I can see putting a bigg(er) mean guy on a line with two small guys. But why break up Oshie/Backes line? I'll join the head scratching squadron.
Have you guys seen us score any goals lately? Why not mix some lines up? Besides, I think you'll see Bergy slide over to wing once Sobotka comes back. I have no problems with Hitch trying some things out.

Re: GDT #60: 3/2/14 > Blues @ Coyotes > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 3:16 pm
by drwoland
Blues 5
Yotes 0

Re: GDT #60: 3/2/14 > Blues @ Coyotes > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 3:49 pm
by ComradeT
ViPeRx007 wrote:
ComradeT wrote:
JCShutout wrote:
not_a_wings_fan wrote:Word on the street is that Ott will be playing on a line with Roy and Oshie...and I think that's just silly.

I would rather see Berglund move up to that line and put Ott in the middle.

I am not sure what's up with these lines the last couple games, but several things are head scratchers to me.

We could really use the two points, tho. Let's go get a win, fellas.
Agreed, I thought getting faceoff man Ott in there at center and moving Bergy to wing were a big part of this move.
I guess I can see putting a bigg(er) mean guy on a line with two small guys. But why break up Oshie/Backes line? I'll join the head scratching squadron.
Have you guys seen us score any goals lately? Why not mix some lines up? Besides, I think you'll see Bergy slide over to wing once Sobotka comes back. I have no problems with Hitch trying some things out.
I may be wrong here but didn't the Blues scoring slide come after Hitch started playing with lines?

Re: GDT #60: 3/2/14 > Blues @ Coyotes > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 3:58 pm
by glen a richter
What happens if Miller gives up a couple goals early? Will Flyingnote38 lose his mind? Will Oakland jump off the Golden Gate Bridge? Will Nyghtwynd go on a 3 page rant?

Re: GDT #60: 3/2/14 > Blues @ Coyotes > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 5:10 pm
by crazyhorse
How about we get off of the doughnuts and net at least a couple! I'll take a 0 in the Coyotes column though.

Re: GDT #60: 3/2/14 > Blues @ Coyotes > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 6:27 pm
by dmiles2186

Re: GDT #60: 3/2/14 > Blues @ Coyotes > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 7:20 pm
by not_a_wings_fan
Well, he got that first goal against out of the way less than three minutes in. Hopefully the team can settle down and play well in front of him now.

Re: GDT #60: 3/2/14 > Blues @ Coyotes > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 7:39 pm
by cardsfan04
Wow, we can't buy a goal. Missed a wide open net there.

Re: GDT #60: 3/2/14 > Blues @ Coyotes > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 7:42 pm
by crazyhorse
Love the hustle out of Ott so far.

Re: GDT #60: 3/2/14 > Blues @ Coyotes > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 8:38 pm
by cardsfan04
Scoreless streak at 184:26 after 2 periods. I'm more frustrated than concerned but come on. Just put one in.

Re: GDT #60: 3/2/14 > Blues @ Coyotes > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 9:35 pm
by cardsfan04
That's a helluva way to break that drought.

Re: GDT #60: 3/2/14 > Blues @ Coyotes > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 9:39 pm
by APOD
Think we found out what lines to roll with lol

Ott looked great I like him.

Halak looked like Halak eerrrrr I mean Miller looked like Miller :mrgreen:

Re: GDT #60: 3/2/14 > Blues @ Coyotes > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 9:39 pm
by crazyhorse
That's more like it!
Since I was late this year and didn't get a sponsor...I am now staking the 2013-2014 official sponsor of Ryan Miller!!!

Re: GDT #60: 3/2/14 > Blues @ Coyotes > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 9:56 pm
by APOD
Guess mine is now Ott lol

Re: GDT #60: 3/2/14 > Blues @ Coyotes > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 10:00 pm
by ViPeRx007
crazyhorse wrote:That's more like it!
Since I was late this year and didn't get a sponsor...I am now staking the 2013-2014 official sponsor of Ryan Miller!!!
I think he technically goes to whoever had Halak, but who gives a crap about that. I'd say he's yours.

Kind of a discouraging first couple of periods but that third was great. Hopefully they'll keep carrying that momentum and go on a run.