Back on Blogging / Gameday vs Colorado Avalanche

Well I'm back to blogging after a long break.

I was just getting way too burnt out on it.

Anyway....

Today is the Blues versus the Avalanche.

The game is on at 8:30pm Central on Fox Sports Mid West.

The last time the Blues faced off against the Avalanche was on November 15th where the Avalanche routed the Blues in a 6-3 victory.

The is the second of four meetings between the two clubs and the Blues are coming off of two embarrassing losses against the Detroit Red Wings (4-3 OT) and Columbus Blue Jackets (5-2 regulation loss). The Blues are 2-6-2 in their last 10 meetings against Colorado and the Avs are 4-5-1 in their last 10 against us. The Blues are currently struggling to find some much needed offense from a club that has been battling injuries all season long. The Avalanche are will be playing game 3/5 on their homestand where they have only picked up 2 out of a possible 6 points. Sitting in 9th place (54pts), they are looking to steal 2 points from an injured and inconsistent Blues club. The Blues are hoping to do just the same to Colorado as they sit in 11th place (51 pts).

Barret Jackman is questionable for the game tonight after injuring his knee against the Detroit Red Wings. Jackman missed the Columbus game with knee soreness and Tyson Strachan was dressed to play in his absence. We're hoping that he'll be ready to play tonight as we'll need his grit for a western conference matchup. Nikita Nikitin was called up yesterday as insurance in case of Jackman not playing. Ian Cole was sent down as well yesterday.

Carlo Colaiacovo is still out with an eye injury which he acquired 3 games ago against the LA Kings. Colaiacovo took a puck high to the face and didn't return to the game. That marks the second time he has taken a puck to the face this season. I have no doubt that Strachan or Nikitin will step in to fill his spot.

The Blues also sent Ryan Reaves back to Peoria yesterday after recording 2 goals in his latest stint with the Blues. I think they feel that they just weren't getting enough grit and toughness out of a guy that makes his living that way. The 2 goals were a definite bonus but the Blues could really use that extra grit from their forwards currently and he has been almost a ghost in that area as of late. Stefan Della Rovere was called up to replace him.

TJ Oshie will be playing in his 3rd game back since returning to the lineup after 2 months (ankle injury). The Blues are hoping that he can continue to catalyze the play of Patrik Berglund who has recorded 3 goals and 3 assists in the last 5 games.

The Blues are still without David Perron and Andy McDonald, however Andy McDonald was reported to be traveling with the team on the road trip this week. He's slated to try and practice with the team to get back into game shape. McDonald has been out of the lineup since Dec. 4th with a concussion. He has been skating for the past week and feels ready to begin practicing with the team. When TJ Oshie started this, he was just 2 weeks away from playing in his first game back from his injury. Hopefully McDonald can follow suit.

David Perron is still dealing with some symptoms of post-concussion syndrome but is starting to hit the bike a little to see where he is at. I'm guessing it will be at least a month before we will see him back in a Blues uniform.


If the Blues can find their game early and outwork the Avs then I think we will win this game. The Blues are finding it hard to play a full 60 minutes anymore and they just really need to get into the mindset of closing out games once they have the lead. The club is struggling to play a mixed game of being physical and scoring while playing responsible defense. This young club could really use some help from outside the organization seeing as our call-ups have not been producing well.

Once the All-Star break is over, hopefully owner Dave Checketts will have the Investor Situation all finalized and Doug Armstrong (GM) will get the green light on funding. Armstrong has struggled with improving the club's offense this season by having to adhere to a tight budget. He's tried to scrounge to find whatever he can in his attempts to sign RW Marek Svatos (claimed on waivers by Nashville) and Center Kyle Wellwood (claimed on waivers by San Jose). I have no doubt that he was in the bidding for NJ Devils Captain Jamie Langenbrunner (traded to Dallas) but could not get the approval (financially) for the trade.

The Blues have been rumored to be interested in Sabres forward Drew Stafford and possibly Thrashers forward Niclas Bergfors. Both players would be great young additions to this already great core of talented youth. One thing we can be sure of is a busy deadline day for the Blues (assuming we get some money to play with).

Go Blues!