Follow @stlgoalie **UPDATE** - Blues fans already know what a treasure the team and town have in Vladimir Tarasenko and he proved it yet again. Tarasenko made 16 year-year old Blues fan Brendan Buehler's year earlier today. Before practice, Tarasenko met him face to face and gave him one of his sticks. Tarasenko's recollection of the meeting shows how much he cares: "It's a really different feeling when you can see that he's crying when he shakes your hand. When I saw he was crying, and he was like, dream come true, it makes me feel more responsible for my job and more responsible for what I'm doing on the ice because there is maybe more kids like this who are just looking forward to meet me, and it makes me work even harder to stay their hero." What a great quote, especially from a guy who didn't speak much English not that long ago. Tarasenko sure appears to be an athlete who gets it and is likely a PR department's model athlete.
**PREVIOUS** The Blues are coming off an intense shootout victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on NBCSN’s Rivalry Night. The game was full of questionable hits, questionable calls, bizarre occurrences, multiple comebacks and great goaltending. If you don’t believe me, watch this Ryan Reaves hit, consider Andrew Ladd’s hit on Carl Gunnarsson from behind and behind the play, David Backes hit on Dennis Rasmussen without the puck, Brent Seabrook’s hit on Jori Lehtera from behind, or this bizarre occurrence involving Jonathan Toews. You can see the goals and some of the save highlights here. The Blues rallied from a 1 goal deficit after 2 periods to take the lead 2 to 1 before giving up a late goal and then eventually winning in the shootout. The win left the Blues 1 point behind both the Blackhawks and the Dallas Stars.
The Blues will take on the Anaheim Ducks tonight at 7pm at the Scottrade Center. The Ducks are coming off a shutout loss to the Colorado Avalance and have dropped their last two games, one in extra time. The back to back losses come after an incredible stretch where they were 20-2-1. Since January 13th, they have taken 90% of their possible points. This had vaulted them into first place in the Pacific division until their recent, short losing streak which caused them to fall 1 point back of the Kings. With both teams some close to their division leads, expect this game to have a playoff type atmosphere.
The Blues and Ducks couldn’t be closer in special teams play if they tried. The Ducks sit 3rd on the power play and league best on the penalty kill while the Blues sit 4th on the power play and 2nd on the penalty kill. The similarities don’t end there as both teams success are driven by stingy defensive play (both are top 6 in goals against) and being strong in the dot (both are top 7 in face off %).
The Ducks are led by Captain Ryan Getzlaf who started the year with 1 assist in 8 games but has 51 points in his last 53 games. Corey Perry is right behind him and also started the year with 1 assist in 8 games but has 48 points in his last 58 games, though he doesn’t have a point in his last 3. Former Blue David Perron has been a strong acquisition with 19 points in 23 games. On the blueline, it sounds like the Ducks will be without team leading defenseman Sami Vatanen. It looks like Andersen's better numbers against the Blues (94.6% vs 91.2% save percentages) won out as he will get the start in net over John Gibson.
Like the Ducks’ goalies, Jake Allen has been good against his opponent, posting a 0.87 GAA and a 96.6% save percentage. Expect Allen to get the start even with the back to back against the Stars tomorrow. I think coach Hitchcock will try and go with Allen in both games though he might have a shorter leash than usual. On the offensive side of the red line, Vladimir Tarasenko hopes to break out against the Ducks. He only has 1 goal in 10 games against them.
My guess for the Blues lines are as follows: Schwartz –Lehtera – Tarasenko Berglund – Backes - Jaskin Fabbri – Stastny -Brouwer Upshall – Brodziak – Reaves Bouwmeester – Pietrangelo Gunnarsson – Shattenkirk Edmundson – Parayko Allen
Notes from around the league: - Moves like Jagr – The ageless wonder had 2 more goals last night and sits 32nd in the scoring race. - The Blues, Hawks and Stars occupy 3 of the top 4 points per game spots. - The Kings and the Ducks give the Western conference 5 of the top 7 points per game teams. - While technically the Bruins have taken first place in the Atlantic, Bruins fans shouldn’t get too excited as this is mostly due to their number of games played. I’d take 1 point back and 2 games in hand over 1st place every time. - The Capitals went 6-3-1 in their last 10 and actually decreased their points per game average. - I wonder who the Blues, Hawks and Stars are rooting for – the Wild or the Avalance. I’m guessing the Avalanche. - The Predators have not lost in regulation in their last 10 games.
It’s a great day for hockey.