Blues and Predators battle for 3rd while Blues battle injuries
April 2, 2017, 11:22 AM ET [2 Comments]
Jason Millen
St Louis Blues Blogger • RSS • Archive • CONTACT
Follow me on twitter
The Blues wrapped up their successful road trip on Friday, losing in a shootout to the Avalanche. The shootout loss secured a spot in the post season for the 6th consecutive year for the Blues. Ryan Reaves had the only Blues goal with a deflection of the Scottie Upshall shot. Jordan Schmaltz got the secondary assist on the goal. Jake Allen played strong and got a little help from his friends (the metal ones that is), stopping 31 of 32 Avalanche shots, only allowing a power play goal from JT Compher.
The Blues playoff clinching game didn’t come without cost though as Robert Bortuzzo was lost to injury early in the 2nd period and it appears that Ivan Barbashev may have been lost to injury on his last shift of the game. Bortuzzo has an upper body injury while Barbashev’s injury looks to be because of a blocked shot. Petteri Lindbohm and Kenny Agostino have both been recalled on an emergency basis and I expect you will see Lindbohm in the lineup this afternoon.
The Western conference playoff placement race is getting quite intriguing. Both teams who were seemingly running away with their division a month or two ago look to have lost the division title and are battling to keep from losing home ice advantage in the first round with the Sharks at risk of getting relegated to a wild card spot.
This afternoon the Blues will face the Predators in a battle which may got a long way to deciding who finishes 3rd to face the Wild and who gets the wild card spot. The teams are tied in total points with their points earned percentages differing by only 0.8% as the Blues have a game in hand. After today, the Predators will host the Islanders before finishing with two road games against the Stars and Jets. The Blues on the other hand will face the Jets and Avalanche at home and the Panthers and Hurricanes on the road. The Blues do hold the tiebreaker.
The Predators are coming off a win against the Wild yesterday but have lost 2 of their last 3 and are only 2-2 in their last four road games. As their 16-18-4 road record would suggest, they have been very ordinary on the road in the key statistical areas with them being in the bottom 3rd in road shooting percentage, almost exactly at the league average in road save percentage, in the bottom 3rd road power play percentage while being in the top 3rd road penalty kill. Overall, the Predators rank 7th in shots per game, 13th in shots against per game, 15th in goals against per game, and 9th in goals for per game.
James Neal missed yesterday’s contest and is questionable for the game this afternoon.
The Predators are led by Ryan Johansen who has 60 points in 78 games. Filip Forsberg (top 10 trade ever?) leads them with 31 goals and 57 points in 78 games. Viktor Arvidsson isn’t far behind with 29 goals and 57 points in 76 games. I realize PK Subban gets a lot of the hype and he’s a great player but Roman Josi leads their defensive corps both in minutes (more than 25 a game) and points (48 in 69 games).
Pekka Rinne started yesterday and got the shutout. I’m not yet sure if they will come back with Rinne today or with Juuse Saros. I would bet Rinne but that could be wrong.
With the call ups of Agostino and Lindbohm, the lineup will be in flux. Expect Jake Allen in net and Linbohm to insert himself in the lineup. Also, expect Dmitrij Jaskin to get back in the lineup.
My best guess at the lineup looks like this:
Schwartz – Steen – Tarasenko
Sanford – Berglund - Perron
Paajarvi – Jaskin – Yakupov
Upshall – Brodziak – Reaves
Bouwmeester – Pietrangelo
Edmundson - Parayko
Lindohm – Schmaltz
Allen
More scary stuff around the league yesterday as Flyers goalie Michael Neuvirth collapsed in the net while there was a faceoff in the neutral zone. Reports are that he had been sick so hopefully this was just the case of a fever and dehydration leading him to temporarily pass out. Reports are that he was released from the hospital this morning.
It’s a great day for hockey.
Fellow Hockeybuzz bloggers Nashville Predator's Paul McCann, Winnipeg Jet's Peter Tessier and Minnesota Wild's Dan Wallace have generously agreed to a friendly charity wager. We were hoping to do the whole division but don't have it fully represented yet. The blogger whose team finishes the highest the standings at the end of the year gets to pick a charity to whom the others donate in their name.
April 2, 2017, 11:22 AM ET [2 Comments]
Jason Millen
St Louis Blues Blogger • RSS • Archive • CONTACT
Follow me on twitter
The Blues wrapped up their successful road trip on Friday, losing in a shootout to the Avalanche. The shootout loss secured a spot in the post season for the 6th consecutive year for the Blues. Ryan Reaves had the only Blues goal with a deflection of the Scottie Upshall shot. Jordan Schmaltz got the secondary assist on the goal. Jake Allen played strong and got a little help from his friends (the metal ones that is), stopping 31 of 32 Avalanche shots, only allowing a power play goal from JT Compher.
The Blues playoff clinching game didn’t come without cost though as Robert Bortuzzo was lost to injury early in the 2nd period and it appears that Ivan Barbashev may have been lost to injury on his last shift of the game. Bortuzzo has an upper body injury while Barbashev’s injury looks to be because of a blocked shot. Petteri Lindbohm and Kenny Agostino have both been recalled on an emergency basis and I expect you will see Lindbohm in the lineup this afternoon.
The Western conference playoff placement race is getting quite intriguing. Both teams who were seemingly running away with their division a month or two ago look to have lost the division title and are battling to keep from losing home ice advantage in the first round with the Sharks at risk of getting relegated to a wild card spot.
This afternoon the Blues will face the Predators in a battle which may got a long way to deciding who finishes 3rd to face the Wild and who gets the wild card spot. The teams are tied in total points with their points earned percentages differing by only 0.8% as the Blues have a game in hand. After today, the Predators will host the Islanders before finishing with two road games against the Stars and Jets. The Blues on the other hand will face the Jets and Avalanche at home and the Panthers and Hurricanes on the road. The Blues do hold the tiebreaker.
The Predators are coming off a win against the Wild yesterday but have lost 2 of their last 3 and are only 2-2 in their last four road games. As their 16-18-4 road record would suggest, they have been very ordinary on the road in the key statistical areas with them being in the bottom 3rd in road shooting percentage, almost exactly at the league average in road save percentage, in the bottom 3rd road power play percentage while being in the top 3rd road penalty kill. Overall, the Predators rank 7th in shots per game, 13th in shots against per game, 15th in goals against per game, and 9th in goals for per game.
James Neal missed yesterday’s contest and is questionable for the game this afternoon.
The Predators are led by Ryan Johansen who has 60 points in 78 games. Filip Forsberg (top 10 trade ever?) leads them with 31 goals and 57 points in 78 games. Viktor Arvidsson isn’t far behind with 29 goals and 57 points in 76 games. I realize PK Subban gets a lot of the hype and he’s a great player but Roman Josi leads their defensive corps both in minutes (more than 25 a game) and points (48 in 69 games).
Pekka Rinne started yesterday and got the shutout. I’m not yet sure if they will come back with Rinne today or with Juuse Saros. I would bet Rinne but that could be wrong.
With the call ups of Agostino and Lindbohm, the lineup will be in flux. Expect Jake Allen in net and Linbohm to insert himself in the lineup. Also, expect Dmitrij Jaskin to get back in the lineup.
My best guess at the lineup looks like this:
Schwartz – Steen – Tarasenko
Sanford – Berglund - Perron
Paajarvi – Jaskin – Yakupov
Upshall – Brodziak – Reaves
Bouwmeester – Pietrangelo
Edmundson - Parayko
Lindohm – Schmaltz
Allen
More scary stuff around the league yesterday as Flyers goalie Michael Neuvirth collapsed in the net while there was a faceoff in the neutral zone. Reports are that he had been sick so hopefully this was just the case of a fever and dehydration leading him to temporarily pass out. Reports are that he was released from the hospital this morning.
It’s a great day for hockey.
Fellow Hockeybuzz bloggers Nashville Predator's Paul McCann, Winnipeg Jet's Peter Tessier and Minnesota Wild's Dan Wallace have generously agreed to a friendly charity wager. We were hoping to do the whole division but don't have it fully represented yet. The blogger whose team finishes the highest the standings at the end of the year gets to pick a charity to whom the others donate in their name.
Today at 5:26 am by Rocky
» The Shiites are moving to remove him.. The parliamentary presidency is held by Al-Halbousi’s bullyin
Today at 5:25 am by Rocky
» With the Sunni consensus... Al-Maliki's coalition comments on the crisis of the presidency of Parlia
Today at 5:24 am by Rocky
» Observer: Parliament management needs broader powers
Today at 5:23 am by Rocky
» A politician calls for confronting Biden's decision on Iraq
Today at 5:22 am by Rocky
» Fair competition, where are we?
Today at 5:20 am by Rocky
» The service effort ends its work in one of the neighborhoods of the capital, Baghdad
Today at 5:18 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance identifies the most prominent budget problems: Reducing the deficit requires a
Today at 5:17 am by Rocky
» Al-Handal stresses Iraq's commitment to combating money laundering.. What about inflation?
Today at 5:16 am by Rocky
» A huge government campaign to reconstruct the affected areas is about to be launched
Today at 5:15 am by Rocky
» Minister of Communications: The fiber optic project will be an alternative to WiFi towers
Today at 5:14 am by Rocky
» Maysan Oil implements 40 projects for the social benefits program
Today at 5:12 am by Rocky
» The Intelligence and Air Defense laws are on the parliamentary security table
Today at 5:11 am by Rocky
» Planning: The population will keep pace with global technological technologies
Today at 5:10 am by Rocky
» Work: Oil companies cheat with the number of foreign workers
Today at 5:09 am by Rocky
» Investment projects in Samarra
Today at 5:07 am by Rocky
» Combating terrorism is a five-year strategy to confront challenges
Today at 5:05 am by Rocky
» Iraq and the international economic map
Today at 5:04 am by Rocky
» Measures to prevent stock manipulation
Today at 5:02 am by Rocky
» Mazhar Muhammad Saleh: Increased bank lending activity increases growth and prosperity
Today at 5:00 am by Rocky
» Car specification
Today at 4:59 am by Rocky
» Experts: Iraq is outside the global inflation cycle
Today at 4:58 am by Rocky
» Iraq is discussing with the International Civil Aviation Organization the import of foreign experts
Today at 4:57 am by Rocky
» After its acceptance by the Financial Action Task Force, the Anti-Money Laundering Council reviews t
Today at 4:55 am by Rocky
» Within the 2024 budget.. Sudanese announces a package of projects for the upper threshold
Today at 4:53 am by Rocky
» Regional elections: warnings that the democratic process is at risk and demands for Washington’s int
Today at 4:52 am by Rocky
» High exchange rates in Baghdad...more than 145 thousand for every 100 dollars
Today at 4:51 am by Rocky
» More than 64 trillion... An economist indicates the risks of the 2024 budget deficit - urgent
Today at 4:50 am by Rocky
» Kurdish industrialists and professionals receive privileges from their counterparts in Baghdad
Today at 4:47 am by Rocky
» Planning: 78 patent certificates have been granted since the beginning of this year
Today at 4:47 am by Rocky
» The Ministry of Education and the European Union, together with UNESCO and UNICEF, launched the Equi
Today at 4:45 am by Rocky
» Deleting the 3 most important days in the history of Iraq.. The “religious holidays” law is an ackno
Today at 4:44 am by Rocky
» The blacklist for the “theft of the century” rises to nine names... secret investigations and waitin
Today at 4:43 am by Rocky
» International organization: 62% of displaced people and returnees in Nineveh have no source of incom
Today at 4:42 am by Rocky
» Neither military nor security...Biden's decision to extend the emergency in Iraq protects Baghdad's
Today at 4:40 am by Rocky
» In Al-Sumaria bulletin.. Parliament enacts the “Ghadir Holiday” and moves towards the 2024 budget
Today at 4:38 am by Rocky
» The Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Council discusses the state’s efforts to combat cr
Today at 4:36 am by Rocky
» A government committee issues guidance regarding those who are hesitant about the issue of the Iraqi
Today at 4:34 am by Rocky
» From UNESCO.. The head of the Information Commission confirms Iraq’s commitment to media conventions
Today at 4:33 am by Rocky
» Is Iraq conducting negotiations with Germany to return its refugees?
Today at 4:30 am by Rocky
» The sources of power and authority in Iraq are a deep, not deep, country
Today at 4:29 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Health sounds the alarm: influential figures protect unlicensed beauty centers
Today at 4:28 am by Rocky
» From Najaf.. Al-Sudani reiterates: Infrastructure projects must be implemented
Today at 4:26 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani launches work on the plate glass production project in Najaf Industrial City
Today at 4:26 am by Rocky
» Iraq extends the memorandum to supply oil to Jordan
Today at 4:24 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary finances regarding the region’s share of the budget: amounted to 20 trillion dinars
Today at 4:23 am by Rocky
» utube 5/22/24 Iraqi Dinar $3.90 STARTS ON FOREX News Guru Intel Update Value IQD Exchange R
Yesterday at 8:15 am by Rocky
» utube 5/21/24 MM&C Oil - Revenues - Exchange Rate Recovery - IQD Inevitable
Yesterday at 7:00 am by Rocky
» Political bloc: Progress has lost all its cards in the House of Representatives
Yesterday at 6:56 am by Rocky
» The Finance Committee holds its first meeting to study the budget schedules
Yesterday at 6:54 am by Rocky
» Agricultural associations demand penalties against those who market spoiled wheat
Yesterday at 6:52 am by Rocky
» Central Bank sales increased at today's auction
Yesterday at 6:50 am by Rocky
» Iraq is close to completing a final plan to develop Baghdad International Airport
Yesterday at 6:48 am by Rocky
» The government takes a number of new decisions
Yesterday at 6:46 am by Rocky
» The first parliamentary meeting to discuss the general budget schedules... agreeing to host two mini
Yesterday at 6:43 am by Rocky
» Learn about dollar sales outlets for pilgrims
Yesterday at 6:40 am by Rocky
» It includes 6 paragraphs... The House of Representatives holds a new session
Yesterday at 6:33 am by Rocky
» The House of Representatives votes on the proposed Second Amendment Law to the Election Commission L
Yesterday at 6:31 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance: Voting on the budget tables will not exceed next June 9
Yesterday at 5:22 am by Rocky
» Al-Rafidain Bank: Launching the process of selling the dollar to pilgrims exclusively at 3 thousand
Yesterday at 5:21 am by Rocky
» The rise of Bitcoin, the second largest cryptocurrency, jumps by more than 22%
Yesterday at 5:20 am by Rocky
» A representative from the front: Al-Halbousi directed the representatives to create chaos in Parliam
Yesterday at 5:17 am by Rocky
» Dhi Qar Energy announces the imminent establishment of a private company for the governorate’s elect
Yesterday at 5:14 am by Rocky
» The Sunnis are calling on the Shiites for help to resolve their differences, and Big Brother is resp
Yesterday at 5:12 am by Rocky
» A former MP reveals: Türkiye ignored solving the problem of oil exports... for this reason
Yesterday at 5:11 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Legal: Political differences hinder the passage of important laws
Yesterday at 5:09 am by Rocky
» MP: Parliament does not have the right to propose amending the salary scale...for this reason
Yesterday at 5:08 am by Rocky
» Deputy: Parliament continues to perform its oversight and legislative duties
Yesterday at 5:07 am by Rocky
» Khamenei to Al-Sudani: Mokhbar has a great responsibility and will continue to cooperate with the Ir
Yesterday at 5:05 am by Rocky
» "Al-Eqtisad News" publishes the full decisions of the Council of Ministers session
Yesterday at 5:04 am by Rocky
» The Central Bank determines the branches for selling dollars to pilgrims
Yesterday at 5:02 am by Rocky
» Iraq intends to deliver the capacity of the northern refineries to 600 thousand barrels per day
Yesterday at 5:00 am by Rocky
» Referring the 2024 budget tables to Parliamentary Finance
Yesterday at 4:59 am by Rocky
» Former MP: Türkiye ignored solving the oil exports problem for this reason
Yesterday at 4:58 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Electricity expects: power supply will reach 16 hours this summer
Yesterday at 4:57 am by Rocky
» In the document... Al-Mandalawi refers the draft Federal Budget Law 2024 to the Parliamentary Financ
Yesterday at 4:55 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance Committee to / NINA /: Today the committee meetings will begin to discuss the
Yesterday at 4:54 am by Rocky
» Opening of the optical access network project today in Basra
Yesterday at 4:47 am by Rocky
» The blacklist for the “theft of the century” increases to nine names... secret investigations and wa
Yesterday at 4:46 am by Rocky
» Revealing the effects of Raisi’s death on Iranian-Iraqi relations
Yesterday at 4:45 am by Rocky
» Details of the telephone call between the Sudanese and the Ukrainian President
Yesterday at 4:43 am by Rocky
» The Council of Ministers approves the appointment of 17 general directors in various ministries and
Yesterday at 4:42 am by Rocky
» After the events of the presidential election session... parliamentary calls to activate the Conduct
Yesterday at 4:41 am by Rocky
» A slight increase in the dollar exchange rates in Baghdad
Yesterday at 4:39 am by Rocky
» In the document.. referring the 2024 budget schedules to Parliamentary Finance
Yesterday at 4:38 am by Rocky
» Parliament will vote next Wednesday on the draft law on public holidays
Yesterday at 4:36 am by Rocky
» The Minister of Justice discusses Iraq's report on the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discr
Yesterday at 4:35 am by Rocky
» Al-Fateh: The current parliamentary session did not adhere to the laws
Yesterday at 4:34 am by Rocky
» What are the reasons for the World Bank’s demand to reform the retirement system in Iraq?.. Economic
Yesterday at 4:33 am by Rocky
» The Iraqi Trade Bank announces facilities for the health sector with external transfer operations
Yesterday at 4:31 am by Rocky
» Transport announces the reduction of the airspace designated for military aviation for the internati
Yesterday at 4:30 am by Rocky
» Components of the Kurdistan Region issue a statement regarding the decisions of the Federal Court
Yesterday at 4:29 am by Rocky
» Christian writer: The Federal Court’s decision to reduce component seats is worse than canceling the
Yesterday at 4:27 am by Rocky
» Oil signs a contract to develop the Mansuriya gas field
Yesterday at 4:26 am by Rocky
» The Minister of Resources announces a 6-pronged plan to organize water management
Yesterday at 4:25 am by Rocky
» Baghdad blames international oil companies for obstructing Ceyhan pipeline exports
Yesterday at 4:24 am by Rocky
» The real estate market in Kurdistan...a new recovery after bitter years of stagnation
Yesterday at 4:23 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Health: The latest AIDS infections came from beauty centers
Yesterday at 4:22 am by Rocky
» Deputy: There will be no session soon to elect the Speaker of Parliament
Yesterday at 4:20 am by Rocky