The Blues are coming off a difficult shutout loss to the Anaheim Ducks and have a few days off to rebound before taking on the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday.
The Blues were without Paul Stastny and Jori Lehtera last night and it showed in the offense. Stastny was hurt in the game against the Phoenix Coyotes, after being hit by Martin Hanzal and Mikkel Boedker. Jori Lehtera was out with the flu for last night's game. He should be available to play on Thursday.
Stastny was originally said to be day-to-day but is now week-to-week. The Blues are hoping his injury is short term and doesn't progress longer than a week or two.
In last night's game, there was really only one bright spot, and that was the play of rookie defensemen, Petteri Lindbohm.
Lindbohm was recalled on Saturday, and took Jordan Leopold's spot in the line up on Sunday. He was the most defensively sound player in the line up. He made smart, simple plays in the defensive zone and wasn't afraid to throw his body around physically. He showed his impressive skating ability by jumping up into the rush, he made smart pinches, and he was always getting back to help in the defensive zone when he made plays deep into the offensive zone.
However the Blues returned him to Chicago this morning, this to me is a sign that the new Blue, Carl Gunnarsson, is ready to hit the ice.
If Gunnarsson is ready to play in a game, one of Ian Cole or Jordan Leopold will be sitting in the press box. While the first handful of games, Ian Cole should be the one to be banished to the press box. While there have been bright spots in his play, there have been far to many mistakes made by the young defensemen. He's turned the puck over to many times and has taken way to many costly penalties.
Meanwhile, Jordan Leopold has played some very solid hockey early in the year, offensively and defensively. He was another player who missed last night's game due to battling the flu. The pairing of Barret Jackman and Leopold has been a steady defensive pair over the first handful of games.
The Blues are due to play the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday, and it will be the return of Ryan Miller after his abysmal outing with the Blues last season. The Blues will be looking to bounce back after last night's loss and facing the Canucks isn't going to be an easy feat. The Canucks suffered their first lost of the season on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. They've been playing solid hockey and the Blues are going to have to have their offense show up if they want to beat the Canucks.
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