(2-16-12) Islanders-Blues Gameday Lineup

By LOUIE KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- It's been more than three months since Ken Hitchcock took over the reigns of the St. Louis Blues, but winger T.J. Oshie remembers a specific point of emphasis.

"When Hitch came in, step one was getting pucks to the net and funneling pucks to the net," Oshie said. "That's the very first thing he said, we're shooting pucks every chance we get. And we've gotten away from that. I think that's the biggest part, getting back to that ... then after that, guys are going to be getting more scoring opportunities."

Following a disturbing 2-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, owners of the worst record in the NHL, on Tuesday night, the Blues (34-15-7), who entertain the rising New York Islanders (24-24-8) tonight, have gotten back to it the last couple days. And the message is funnel pucks to the net, specifically off the goalie's pads.

"It was nothing that was too technical out there," defenseman Barret Jackman said of practice. "It was a lot of straightforward 3-on-2 rushes, 5-on-5 play, getting the pucks on net, battling in front of the net. That's the way our team should play ... very simple, very direct. Getting that work ethic back mentally is a good sign."

And why did things need to be reiterated?

"I think we were trying to move a lot of pucks sideways (Tuesday) instead of just putting the puck on net and letting those guys drive the net and getting rebounds and getting the dirty goals," Jackman said. "I think we were trying to maybe make plays above the d-men where they can get sticks on it or their trackers could come back and be effective. I think it's tough for a d-man when a shot goes in behind you off the pads, you've got to turn around, find it and box a guy out. That's what you need to do.

"Collectively, I think it's the worst game we've played all year. I don't think we played a strong team game, I don't think we won many battles and won clean draws that turned into scoring chances. Our defensive play was not there."

The loss Tuesday thwarted the the Blues' fifth chance at a five-game winning streak this season. They've amazingly had a handful of four-game winning streaks. They have been good at nipping prolonged losing skids in the bud effectively this season.

The Blues have a neighbor roughly 300 miles north in Chicago that is currently living a nightmarish 0-8-1 losing skid. Things can snowball on you quickly, and the Blues have gone no more than three straight games with a loss (only once when they were 0-2-1).

"I think they realize that good teams can go through bad stretches, and you have to recognize it right away," Hitchcock said. "First, know that there's a problem and you're willing to look at the problem right square in the eye and then deal with it.

"I was impressed with the way guys dealt with it (Wednesday). The response at practice was good. It was competitive, guys had fun competing against each other, it was a lot like game-like situations. A lot of competitive scoring and guys really dug in and did a good job. I'm impressed by that. Now it's all about the response. We want to get back on the bike (tonight) and start to play well again."

Added Oshie: "It's been tough on (Chicago) and we talked about that. That's not where we want to be. This could be a step in that direction but hopefully we save it, hopefully everyone bears down. ... (Tonight) is a huge game for us ... character-wise as a team, if we can bounce back from a tough loss."

- - -

Since returning to the lineup Dec. 27, Blues forward B.J. Crombeen has slipped back into his role as a fourth line, grind-it-out, fight-when-necessary type of player. Although the penalty killing duties have diminished, Crombeen has been a player Hitchcock has been pleased with.

Tonight against the Islanders, Crombeen will take a role on the team's third line, playing with Jason Arnott and Vladimir Sobotka.

It's a little more of an increased role, with the third line expected to contribute offensively when given the chance, but according to Crombeen, things stay the same as far as he's concerned.

"It doesn't really doesn't change anything for me," he said. "I've just got to go up and play my game. I don't read too much into the lines. Obviously they change a lot during games and penalties and different things that get switched all around. I think that's the mindset a lot of the guys have. With the group of guys we have, it doesn't really matter.

"You go into every game hoping to contribute offensively and stuff like that. Playing with a guy like Sobe, who I've played with before, and Arny, they've got some pretty good offensive instincts. I can't change my game. I've got to play my same way. Get in there, create some room for them on the forecheck and get to the front of the net and let them do their stuff."

So can we expect to see some toe-drags ... maybe a dangle of the puck or whip a shot between his legs?

"If you see one of those, I don't think I'll be anywhere near here anymore," Crombeen said laughing.

- - -

As a teammate, Chris Porter knows what Chris Stewart is going through. He's been through the trials and tribulations of cracking a lineup and sticking in a position. There's also that aspect of struggling, which seems to be the case for the inconsistent Stewart, who will start on the fourth line tonight with Porter and Scott Nichol.

In Porter's case, he'll do all he can to help his teammate get off the ground running.

"I don't think I can really change my game for him, but you just keep positive, keep him going," Porter said of Stewart. "He has a ton of skill obviously. Things may not be going his way offensively, but I think maybe playing with Scotty and I, we can play simple and just try to grind out greasy goals.

"Me and Scotty keep it pretty simple, so I think Stewy knows what to expect. We're obviously going to chip pucks and work. Hopefully we can get Stewy on board. It's not that he hasn't been working. I don't know what it is for a player. I've played with players I've felt more comfortable with. Stewy and I have played together before this year. I thought we played well together."

Porter said he expects Stewart, who has 11 goals and 22 points in 53 games, to play with fire in the gut tonight.

"Nobody wants to be called out for their play," Porter said. "I think he has a little bit to prove. I expect nothing but hard work and a good game from him."

- - -

The good news continues to flow in for the Blues.

The team activated Arnott (shoulder) and defenseman Kent Huskins (ankle) from injured reserve today and both will be in the lineup against the Islanders tonight.

As for defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo, who appeared to injure his right wrist at practice Wednesday, he won't play tonight, but Hitchcock said there was no serious damage after X-rays were taken and he's hopeful Colaiacovo can return to practice Friday.

"Carlo feels a little bit better today, but we're going to hold him out and hopefully get him skating in practice tomorrow," Hitchcock said.

As for Huskins, who missed 46 games blocking a shot Oct. 28 at Calgary, he slips in and will play with Alex Pietrangelo, who he played with for a good portion of the nine games he played in earlier this season.

"He's a real steadying influence," Hitchcock said of Huskins. "The nine games he played with Petro, he played really well. There's not much in a dropoff here. He's look really good now for four days in practice. Games are a different situation, but he's such an experienced competitive guy. He's going to give us big help. He's a guy that manages his game well. He's a real determined, smart player. I think him and Petro have some background. When you get a player like this back in the lineup, it's a big boost depth-wise.

"Adding someone like this, he's been out so long, it's like adding a free player again. Getting him and (Andy) McDonald is like adding free players right now."

Arnott missed six games after injuring his shoulder slamming into the boards following a hit against Los Angeles and winger Dustin Brown on Feb. 3.

"Arnott was playing so well in the game that he got hurt," Hitchcock said. "Him and Sobe have been great together. We'll either use Stewart there or Crombeen or whatever works. Hopefully, we get those guys up and running right away."

- - -

Count Hitchcock as a fan of Islanders sensation John Tavares, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2009 NHL Draft.

Tavares, who has 22 goals and 55 points in 56 games this season, played for Hitchcock last summer for Team Canada at the World Championships in Slovakia. He led Canada with five goals, four assists and nine points in seven games under Hitchcock.

"I think Tavares is an elite player in the league right now. I really liked him as a player in the world championships," Hitchcock said. "He was arguably our best player by the end of the tournament. I think as good a player he is, I think he's still an underrated player.

"Everybody said 'Not sure if he can help you here, blah, blah, blah.' They were worried about his speed on the big surface, which was not relevant at all. They were worried about his quickness ... he pulled away on guys. And he is really strong on the puck. To me, he's Jonathan Toews-strong on the puck. He's a heck of a player and he has puck patience like not very many players do. He's got strength and puck patience where he's able to protect the puck ... I don't think there's maybe five guys in the league that can play like that."

Tavares said he learned a lot under Hitchcock.

"He was very thorough," Tavares said of Hitchcock. "For young players, that can be really helpful understanding parts of the game. He understood managing the game. Coaching the game, you could tell what he expected from you and how we wanted to approach every game and what he expected out of us. He pushed the right buttons at the right times and did the right things in giving us a chance to win. It's good to see him doing well now.

"When I go to a tournament like that representing my country, it's a chance for me to learn from not only my teammates but a guy like him that's got so much knowledge and experience in the game. I definitely tried to learn from him and find some things that can make me a great player."

Tavares' play in Slovakia certainly has carried over to his third season in the NHL.

"I just think it's the overall mindset of the player, a player that wants to be an all-star, that wants to put the team on his back," Islanders coach Jack Capuano said of Tavares. "How do you do that? It starts in the summer, starts with his training, his preparation, how he prepares for the season. He's finding his way through this league now.

"He is an elite player. He's going to continue to get better. He's a lot stronger on the puck now, playing with more confidence and the ability to make some plays."

- - -

When No. 16 of the Islanders steps out onto the ice tonight, there may not be many Blues fans that remember, but Marty Reasoner was the Blues' No. 1 pick (14th overall) way back in the 1996 NHL Draft.

Reasoner, who played parts of three seasons with the Blues totaling 95 games (17 goals, 30 assists), is on his sixth franchise now after signing a one-year deal to play on Long Island this past summer.

"It's a story of survival trying to hang on," Reasoner said. "When I came in coming out of college, I was scoring a lot of points. I was an offensive guy. Even here, I was put in that role a little bit on and off. I had short spurts of success. It was definitely a big learning experience, learning to become a pro and how to play. It's that evolution of a player: you start out one way and you get chewed up and spit out totally different. I look at myself now and that was like I was a different person."

Reasoner credited current Director of Hockey Operations Al MacInnis and team color analyst Kelly Chase as being most influential on his career and mentioned players like current assistant coach Scott Mellanby, Pierre Turgeon and Scott Young as players he enjoyed here.

"Starting as a young guy, it was an exciting time," Reasoner said. "We had some pretty good teams and some pretty good memories. I learned a lot as a player. At times it seems like a long time but other times, it seems like it was yesterday. It was definitely a fun time and it's good to see this organization come full circle and back to its winning ways. It's definitely a great sports town.

"There's a lot of range of emotions as far as it being your first team, good memories. It's definitely a special place. It's always fun to come back and play and relive old times. There's not much of that team left. There's been a lot of turnover. I don't know if that's just me being around too long or there's been that much turnover. It was definitely a great time, played with some great players and learned a lot from some very good players in this league."

- - -

Sticking with the Blues reunion theme, current Islanders Sr. Advisor to the general manager and assistant coach Doug Weight is back in St. Louis as well.

Weight, who spent parts of six seasons and two stints with the Blues, playing in 364 of his 1,238 games (75 goals, 220 assists), retired from the game after the 2010-11 season after19 seasons in the game.

"It's been fun, it's been educational and I've learned a lot in helping (general manager) Garth (Snow) on the managerial side and certainly being on the bench, these coaches have been good to me, and it's been very educational," Weight said. "To be around the game, and what we're trying to build here, it's exhilarating. It's never going to feel like when you're walking out of the tunnel, going on the ice and competing, but certainly the next best thing."

Weight was traded twice by the Blues, once to Carolina near the trade deadline in 2006 before resigning here in the off-season, and again in 2007 to Anaheim that netted the Blues McDonald.

"They seemed to have found their ground and the way they have to play," Weight said of the Blues. "Of course they've had some great goaltending and that's been a key for them. But they're battling and they're committed ... it's going to be great to see the fans and it's going to be a great atmosphere tonight."

- - -

The Islanders, eight points in back of Toronto in the Eastern Conference, know their challenge is great tonight despite a 4-0-1 run in their last five road tilts.

The Blues are tied with Detroit for most home wins (24) and are 16-0-3 in their last 19 games at Scottrade Center. Their last regulation home loss was Dec. 3 against the Chicago Blackhawks.

"We're up against a real good hockey team tonight," Capuano said. "We're going to have to be at our best.

"It's a challenge and it's a good challenge. It gives us a chance for our team to see where we're at to play against a big, physical team. A team that's got good size, good goaltending, special teams. They've really done well on home ice. They're a stingy team, there's no question. They play solid defensively. The territorial edge will be key in tonight's game for sure."

- - -

The Blues' probable lineup tonight:

David Perron-David Backes-T.J. Oshie

Andy McDonald-Patrik Berglund-Jamie Langenbrunner

Vladimir Sobotka-Jason Arnott-B.J. Crombeen

Chris Porter-Scott Nichol-Chris Stewart

Barret Jackman-Kevin Shattenkirk

Kent Huskins-Alex Pietrangelo

Kris Russell-Roman Polak

Brian Elliott gets the start in goal; Jaroslav Halak is the backup.

The Blues activated Arnott (shoulder) and Huskins (ankle) off injured reserve Thursday. Huskins missed 46 games after breaking a bone in his left ankle blocking a shot in Calgary on Oct. 28. Arnott was injured on Feb. 3 against the Los Angeles Kings and missed the previous six games. The Blues are without LW Alex Steen (concussion symptoms) and RW Matt D'Agostini (concussion). Steen will miss his 21st straight game tonight and has been out of the lineup since Dec. 27. D'Agostini was injured Feb. 7 in Ottawa and will miss his fifth consecutive game. Colaiacovo appeared to have injured his right wrist at practice Wednesday sliding into the corner boards but Hitchcock said he's feeling better and hopes to have the left-handed defenseman for practice Friday. F Ryan Reaves is the lone healthy scratch.

- - -

The Islanders' probable lineup tonight:

Matt Moulson-John Tavares-Kyle Okposo

Michael Grabner-Frans Nielsen-PA Parenteau

Brian Rolston-Josh Bailey-Matt Martin

Jay Pandolfo-Marty Reasoner-Nino Niederreiter

Mark Streit-Ty Wishart

Mark Eaton-Milan Jurcina

Aaron Ness-Andrew MacDonald

Al Montoya gets the start in goal for Evgeni Nabokov, who was a late scratch with the flu.

Players sidelined for the Islanders include G Rick DiPietro (sports hernia/knee), D Travis Hamonic (nose/face), D Mark Katic (shoulder), D Mike Mottau (concussion) and D Dylan Reese (MCL sprain). The healthy scratch is RW Tim Wallace. D Steve Staios is also out with the stomach flu. 

(2-16-12) BLUES NOTEBOOK

Blues try to get back to working methods; Arnott,
Huskins ready to play, Colaiacovo injures wrist, Steen skating

By LOUIE KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- The Blues were back on the ice Wednesday, taking part in a good hour long practice at the confines of Scottrade Center.

It might not sound out of the ordinary, but for a team that had been playing well, and if it would have come off a road victory Tuesday night, Wednesday would have likely been a day off or an optional skate at the most.

But after a bad 2-1 loss at Columbus, the NHL's worst team statistically in the league, in which some of the players called it "the worst loss of the season," it was back to a good old-fashioned refresher course on what has made this team productive this season and how they were winning hockey games.

"We thought the game would be a little bit easier after the first period," Hitchcock said, referring to Tuesday. "It wasn't, we learned our lesson hopefully and moving forward.

"To me, it's all about the response. When you play every second day, it's yesterday's news. It's all about how you play tomorrow. We had a very good practice today, lots of intensity, lots of hard-working drills. Now it's about getting ready for the (New York) Islanders. It's a league you can't waste much time on. You have to learn your lessons and move forward. Hopefully, that's what we've done. We've learned our lesson and we just wanted the game to be a little easier than what it was. That's what happens. Sometimes when you've got a younger team, you want different things."

At one point early in the practice, Hitchcock was barking at his players to funnel pucks to the pads, or get pucks on goal.

Why?

"When we're putting 40-50 shots up, we're putting pucks to the net, we're driving the net, getting rebounds," defenseman Alex Pietrangelo said. "When we kind of get away from that, we try and make too many plays. That's when we get ourselves into trouble. ... It's just simplifying it. With the size of the forwards and d-men that we have, guys going to the net, putting pucks to the pads, putting pucks laying in the slot are tough to handle. That's where we're scoring a lot of our goals right now.

"At times, we kind of got away from it (Tuesday night). We weren't willing to put pucks in, we weren't willing to shoot pucks towards the net. We were looking for the perfect shot. We're going to score goals with hard work."

Hitchcock said it's all about the chances after the initial wave of action.

"We get in games like that and we want the offensive part of our opportunities to be easier," he said. "We had all kinds of first responses, but we didn't have any second and third like we've had in the past here. For whatever reason, we get in a mode where we want to make plays standing still.

"Today was move-your-feet-offensive-day. There's lots of defending against it, but boy, you really had to move your feet to create scoring chances today. I think it was a real eye-opener for people because we didn't do it again. We didn't do it in Ottawa, we didn't do it in New Jersey and got away with it. Didn't do it last night and didn't get away with it. For whatever reason, we have a tendency at times to want the offensive opportunities to be cuter and easier. They're not. Even a team like Columbus, they're a proud team. They don't want to give up on the season right now. They played us hard and we looked for more easy opportunities and didn't get them."

The Blues (34-15-7), who host the improving Islanders (24-24-8) Thursday night, fell to 10-12-3 away from Scottrade Center. It was an opportunity to get back to .500 away from home and try for the fifth time at extending a winning streak past five games. They were unsuccessful on all fronts, falling to 0-2-3 with a chance to win five games in a row this season and 0-5-1 in their last six games against Central Division teams.

"We need to stop the inconsistent play right now," defenseman Barret Jackman said. "We can't play great Blues hockey at home and be lackluster on the road. We need to address things right now, change the way that we play on the road and get back to the grind it out style that we play and the strong defensive style and hard-nosed, quick feet, quick puck movement and moving the puck forward."

* Colaiacovo injured; Huskins, Arnott ready to go; Steen practices -- One downside to Wednesday's practice was defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo, who slipped coming around a turn by the right corner boards, slipped and injured what appeared to be his right wrist.

Colaiacovo was sent to the hospital for X-rays and if there is any type of injury involved, veteran Kent Huskins will step in and mark his return to the lineup.

Huskins, signed to a one-year free agent contract last summer from San Jose, has been out since Oct. 28 when he broke a bone in his left ankle blocking a shot in a game at Calgary.

"We just sent (Colaiacovo) to X-rays to rule out anything," Hitchcock said. "If his wrist is sprained, then we'll probably play Husky tomorrow.

"Husky's ready to go. He knocked on my door today and said hello, I'm ready to go. He'll go in."

Huskins, who has played in only nine games this season with two goals and four points, said he's ready if called upon.

"I feel good out there," he said. "I don't think anything's going to prepare you for games. Now it's strictly up to the coaches ... just now kind of waiting for when they think I'm ready to go and put me in there. I'll be ready.

"It's at a point now where I'm game ready. I just really look forward to getting back in there. ... There's probably some lineup decisions they need to make. I'll leave it in their hands, but as far as I go, I'm ready."

As for Arnott, he's been out since injuring his left shoulder Feb. 3 against Los Angeles, missing the last six games. But the 37-year-old, who Hitchcock said could have probably played Tuesday, was back on the ice centering a line between Vladimir Sobotka and B.J. Crombeen.

"Arnott's ready to go," Hitchcock said. "To me, he could have played yesterday, but with the extra day and a good practice today, he's ready to go."

Winger Alex Steen was at practice Wednesday as well but not ready for game action. Steen has been missing from the lineup since Dec. 27 and has missed the last 20 games with concussion symptoms.

"It's nice to see Steener out there," Hitchcock said. "He's not ready to go though. ... He's got a big smile on his face. He's having fun and obviously he's getting better, but he's nowhere near playing yet."

Winger Matt D'Agostini (concussion symptoms) was not on the ice and not ready to return himself. He's been out since the game at Ottawa Feb. 7.

With Arnott and possibly Huskins ready to play, the team optioned winger Evgeny Grachev and defenseman Ian Cole back to Peoria.

Stewart demoted to fourth line

Hitchcock trying to send message to power forward that more is needed

By LOUIE KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- In what seems like an ever-lasting time zone in which Blues coach Ken Hitchcock is trying to light a candle under underachieving power forward Chris Stewart was on full display Wednesday at practice.

Stewart, a top six forward by nature, was skating on the Blues' fourth line with Scott Nichol, Chris Porter and Ryan Reaves, in an effort to find that spark plug that has mysteriously been hidden from a player that is coming off back-to-back 28-goal seasons.

"It's a working foundation," Hitchcock said. "You couldn't get a better worker than Scott Nichol. Before you can think about scoring goals, you've got to start to work. So we need a working foundation so we can get to the next end. Whether it's for one period, one shift, one game, 10 games ... who knows. We need the working foundation here.


(Getty Images)

The Blues would like to see a few more of these fist

pumps from Chris Stewart, who has underachieved with

11 goals and 22 points in 53 games this season.

"We need a working foundation. When the work is there, the reward will be there.

Is this something Hitchcock has considered for a while with the enigmatic winger?

"Yes," he quickly replied.

Stewart, who has 11 goals and 22 points in 53 games this season, was one of the Blues' best skaters and performers in a full-scale practice Wednesday following a bad 2-1 loss at NHL-worst Columbus Tuesday night.

"It's obviously a message ... message loud and clear," Stewart said. "I've been in this position before ... just got to get back to work. Obviously not contributing offensively and something had to be done. They feel like that's the right approach and I'll just go from there.

"It is what it is. I can't really do anything about it now. Come out tomorrow and put together a good first period and hopefully get back up there. Just take it one game at a time."

There have been rumblings as to whether Hitchcock would consider sitting Stewart a game or two to get the message across.

"No, but we need to see more," Hitchcock said. "We need to see more work, more second and third effort so his skill can take over.

"He's got elite skill. We just need to see more. Your skill can't come out until the work foundation's in place."

Stewart has two points (a goal and an assist in the game at New Jersey) in his last seven games. When he produces, the skill-set seems to be out in full force. Then there's games like Tuesday night, when Stewart was staring at an open net. He goes to the backhand -- a soft shot that if adds authority to it the puck easily goes in -- but Jackets defenseman James Wisniewski was able to corral it at the goal line and keep it from going in.

"I'm not worried about that. That's not relevant," Hitchcock said. "Those things happen in a game. I'm talking about the impact of it on a game. We need him to have more impact on the game. He's a good player that needs to have more impact on the game.

"It's not a boiling point. It's just a matter-of-fact point. You have to base your team on work ethic ... and we need more. We need more work. The scoring will take care of itself if we get a little more work. More determination, more work. As soon as we see it, then it's like anybody else ... the reward will come."

Stewart said it's not from a lack of trying.


(Getty Images)

When on his game, Chris Stewart is among the best all-around power

forwards in the game.

"Yeah. I mean, I'm obviously out there trying, giving it my all every night," he said. "But at the end of the day, if they don't feel that's good enough, then I've got to show more. It's up to them to give me the job description and up to me to do it. The good thing about this game is we've got another game tomorrow, come out and give it my best."

Hitchcock hopes a "demotion" to the fourth line can be the wake-up Stewart needs. He had 15 goals in 28 games last season when acquired from Colorado.

"We'll see, but we need him to have way more impact on the game," Hitchcock said. "He's too good a player to just go quietly by the night.

"It's a competitive league based on second and third efforts. That's what the league is. Coaches reward effort, so we just need to see more ... and let the skill take over from the third effort.

"I know playing with Scott, and whether it's with Revo or whether it's Porter or whatever, they'll work. We'll see where it goes."

Added Stewart: "That's been my whole career. I feel like I hold my own cards in my own hand. It's up to me to do it."

PK unit gets back to basics in win over San Jose

Unit was successful on all four Sharks power plays

in 3-0 win, will look to improve tonight in Columbus

By LOUIE KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- Before facing a red-hot San Jose power play that had gone 8-for-17 in five games and 10-for-22 in eight games, the Blues' penalty kill was stagnant, and coach Ken Hitchcock was worried.

"I'm concerned about our penalty killing," Hitchcock said recently after the Blues allowed a power play goal in the seventh of eight games. "I know if we don't get that fixed, it's going to come back and really bite us.

"We've got to be better at killing penalties. We're getting out-battled. We're getting out-battled on the penalty killing. ... If we can get an oh-for, I think that would really help us."

That "oh-for" came on Sunday night in the Blues' 3-0 win over the power play savvy Sharks.

(Getty Images)

Kris Russell (4) and the rest of his Blues teammates kept players like San

Jose's Logan Couture (39) in check Sunday night.

The Blues (34-14-7), who play in Columbus tonight searching for a season-high fifth straight win, slammed the door shut on all four Sharks man advantages with a few simple strategic maneuvers that worked in the past.

"We were putting sticks where guys are trying to put pucks through," said defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, who played a game-high 26:05 and tallied his first two-goal game of his career and added an assist. "We have a lot of good guys on our team in terms of skill and PK and guys that are smart and where sticks need to be.

"I kind of thought we got away from that (recently) -- myself included. Once we started doing that, it's tough to score when a power play is facing that type of pressure."

The Blue Jackets, who labor in last place in the NHL at 16-34-6, are 7-for-23 in their last five game with the man advantage, so the Blues will need more of what Hitchcock liked out of Sunday's game.

"Skating ... finally," Hitchcock said. "We skated into coverage -- we skated hard into coverage. We had that little short-pass support that we had before when we were really good. We made short plays to make long plays. We've been guilty of trying to make long plays before short plays.

"All-in-all, both ends of the special teams were great. Five-on-five, we played really well and the goalie was the best player."

* NOTES -- Following his fifth shutout in 10 games and sixth of the season, Jaroslav Halak will start in goal tonight against the Blue Jackets. ... Defenseman Barret Jackman's goalless drought reached 148 games, the second longest active streak in the NHL behind Anaheim's Sheldon Brookbank's 164. ... The Blues have allowed an NHL-low 61 goals in 5-on-5 situations this season. ... Winger David Perron has six goals in four games after having only four goals in 26 games. He was named the NHL's Third Star of the Week behind goalie Mike Smith of Phoenix (No. 1) and winger Evgeni Malkin of Pittsburgh (No. 2). ... Jason Arnott (shoulder) made the trip to Columbus but it is unknown if he will be taken off injured reserve. Alex Steen (concussion) and Matt D'Agostini, who was placed on injured reserve Sunday, are out. Defenseman Kent Huskins (ankle) is close to being activated. ... The Blues are 4-for-11 on the power play in the last two games after going 2-for-35 in the previous 12. ... The Blues are No. 1 in the NHL, allowing a league-low 1.91 goals-per game. Their 11 shutouts between Halak and Elliott are also tops in the league and two off the tying the franchise mark set in 1968-69. ... Blues defenseman Kris Russell will go up against his twin brother Ryan Russell of the Blue Jackets for the first time tonight.

Blues sparked by return of McDonald, blank Sharks 3-0

Pietrangelo scores twice, Perron nets sixth goal in last four games

By LOUIE KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- As well as the St. Louis Blues have played without Andy McDonald, adding his dynamic play-making ability and speed in both ends of the ice makes this hockey team scary-good.

The Blues got McDonald back Sunday night, and as well as he played, he offered up the following: "Tonight, my decision making was a little slower than it should be."

If McDonald has another gear or two in his arsenal, 29 teams in the NHL need to be fully aware.

McDonald returned to the lineup after missing 51 games with the concussion. He added an assist in the Blues' 3-0 win over the San Jose Sharks Sunday night at Scottrade Center.

(Getty Images)

The Blues Andy McDonald (10) returned to the lineup Sunday night after

missing 51 games with a concussion. He had an assist in a 3-0 win over

the San Jose Sharks.

McDonald makes the Blues (34-14-7) deadly moving forward offensively, he makes them instantly more dangerous on the power play and gives a team already knee-deep in talent that much deeper.

If the Blues can get back some of their other injured players (Alex Steen, Jason Arnott, Matt D'Agostini and Kent Huskins), there can be endless possibilities.

"I don't even know where to start," Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo said. "Mac is such an influence on the ice, drawing that penalty into the game, 5-on-3 ... you can tell what he can do on that side. We can stand here all day and talk about how great Mac is. Certainly important to have him back.

"He's just another threat (on the power play). You guys know how dangerous he is. He's been like that his whole career. Tonight's a prime example. He hasn't played in four months. I don't think he missed a beat."

Added winger David Perron, who knows all-too-well what it feels like to come back from a concussion.

"Probably our best player on the team in terms of skill and speed and we're certainly used to it," Perron said. "I think it was great to see the ovation the crowd gave him, and he certainly deserved everything he got. For a first game it was a very good game."

Blues coach Ken Hitchcock, who said before the game he didn't know much about McDonald, knows him well now.

"He makes you real nervous," Hitchcock said. "If you're a defending player, he's on you so fast. He creates one-man turnovers. Touch wood that he can stay healthy and keep going. That's a huge boost for us to have that type of speed. When you have a player that plays with that puck patience and that type of skill level, I think over time, it wears off on other people. I think more than anything, his patience with the puck and his determination with the puck will have a real positive impact on his linemates and the rest of the team."

A power play that was much-maligned throughout the season, the Blues have caught the fire again after a weekend set of home games.

On Sunday night, the Blues took advantage of some two-man advantages.

Alex Pietrangelo scored twice and added an assist. He and and Perron scored power play goals and Jaroslav Halak stopped 25 shots for his sixth shutout of the season, fifth in 10 starts and 22nd of his career.

"We had a lot of engaged players," Hitchcock said. "We had no passengers. Everybody skated really well, competed at a very high level. I was really impressed right from the opening face-off.

"To play this hard (on back-to-back nights), I'm really proud of the team today."

The Blues continue to stay red-hot on home ice, improving to an NHL-best 24 wins (24-3-4) while going 16-0-3 in their last 19 at the friendly confines of Scottrade Center. They have now blanked the Sharks on home ice in three of the last four meetings and have a shutout streak of 124:56 and are 20 games over .500 for the first time since March 27, 2003 when they were 41-21-9-6.

"I think there's a respect factor there that you have for them," Hitchcock said of the Sharks. "They were a final four team (last season), I think we have a real healthy respect for them. I think we're a little bit afraid if we don't check what's going to happen. We've seen them dominate teams and really steamroll teams. ... If we check hard, we give ourselves a fighting chance."

San Jose was blanked for the fifth time this season and second time in this building. Antti Niemi stopped 26 shots in the loss. The Sharks (30-17-6) were the hot power play coming in, going 8-for-17 in the last five games and 10-for-22 in the last eight. But San Jose was 0-for-4 in the game.

The Blues that took advantage of some sloppy Sharks penalties. Pietrangelo and Perron benefited.

The Blues had a trio of 5-on-3 power plays in the game, a rarity to get two, and were able to cash in accordingly. They were 4-for-11 in the two games, after going 2-for-35 heading in 12 games into the game against the Avalanche.

"We had eight minutes of power play and did nothing with it," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said when asked about the Blues' 5-on-3 opportunities. "I’m not going to question anything."

(Getty Images)

Blues goalie Jaroslav Halak (left) makes a stop in front of San Jose's Joe

Pavelski (8) and Barret Jackman. Halak earned his sixth shutout of the

season and fifth in 10 games in a 3-0 win over San Jose.

The Blues were the winners in the special teams battle, and that plays a big role in a game between two top-tiered teams.

"Our (penalty kill) did a great job," Sharks winger Ryane Clowe said. "Two 5-on-3's, you can't ask them to kill that much. Our power play was horrible so they won that battle.

"We didn't capitalize. We didn't even get one. That's pretty disappointing after the way our power play has been going."

The Blues earlier in the first had a nine-second two-man advantage but then got another one for 52 seconds when Andrew Desjardins was whistled for delay of game. Brent Burns was already in the box for interference that gave the Blues their initial 5-on-3 edge, but the Blues cashed in when Pietrangelo used a David Backes screen to beat Niemi with a slap shot from the high slot with 4:57 left in the period.

The Blues worked more magic with a two-man advantage in the second period, this time with Perron potting his sixth goal in four games.

San Jose's Ryane Clowe and Brad Winchester were whistled for consecutive two-minute penalties, Clowe for tripping Kris Russell and former Blue Winchester for elbowing Roman Polak. It was a full two-minute 5-on-3 and after keeping control in the Sharks' zone but not getting many quality chances, Perron was able to fire one from the left side of the goal, then bank in a rebound from just behind the Sharks' goal off Niemi for a 2-0 lead with 2:44 left in the period.

Once the Blues carried a lead into the third period, it was shutdown time. They are now 23-1-1 with a 40-minute lead. The Blues are also now 35-12-6 in games when Perron scores during his career.

Halak held down the fort. This, after being pulled from his last start in New Jersey.

"He was just solid," Hitchcock said of Halak. "I don't worry about the goals that go in on goalies. I look at the body language of the team, and I didn't like the body language of the team in that game (at New Jersey) at all. I felt like it was my obligation, my duty to make a change to stop the bad body language and do something. Whether it was Jaro or Ells, it wouldn't have really mattered there. I've got a lot of confidence in Jaro going right back to him. ... I'm really happy for him."

Pietrangelo's empty-netter with 5.9 seconds remaining sealed another Blues win.

"It's finding ways to win. That's a quick turnaround for us," Pietrangelo said. "They rested up last night. Certainly a tough game last night, a long one there, going into overtime, an emotional win, but to bounce back like we did tonight, getting Andy back really gave us a boost and the crowd was as good as usual."

(2-12-12) Sharks-Blues Gameday Lineup

By LOUIE KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- The long-awaited return to the lineup for Andy McDonald is over. The veteran forward will mark his return to the Blues' lineup when they host the San Jose Sharks tonight.

McDonald, 34, has not played since the third game of the season on Oct. 13, when he suffered a concussion at the end of the second period of a 3-2 loss to the Dallas Stars on a bit of a fluky play.

McDonald, who has two assists in three games, has missed the last 51 games but has been skating on a regular basis since Dec. 23 and has been deemed fit and ready to go.

"I'm excited. It's been kind of a tough recovery," McDonald said. "Obviously a long time, but I'm excited that this day is finally here. I'm looking forward to tonight.

"There were some levels I needed to pass. You do the neuro-psych, then you do the bike test and then you get on the ice and you skate on your own. Then you get into a practice with the team in a red jersey and get the red jersey off ... kind of all those steps along the way. Get bumped around a little bit in practice is probably the final stage. Getting hit for real tonight will probably be the last step."

McDonald will provide a huge boost to an offense that is averaging 2.5 goals per game, and according to Blues coach Ken Hitchcock, he's excited to see him in game action.

"I don't know him that well," Hitchcock said of McDonald. "I know him at practice, he looks like a helluva player. I don't know him that well from coaching against him. I knew how dynamic he was on the power play before.

"I'm curious because he looks so good at practice. Can you carry that over when you're playing against different sweaters right off the bat? He's been out a long time. I'm sure he's going to be excited to play. I know the players are real excited to have him back in. ... We're not having any reservations about how much he's playing or whatever. We'll just play him on a regular shift, play him on the power play and see how he looks.

The trade deadline isn't until Feb. 27, but the Blues feel like they got a jump on the rest of the league.

"It's like getting a free player," Hitchcock said. "This is like adding a free agent at the trading deadline. We're just hopeful that he has a good time and gets his feet wet pretty quickly here."

McDonald hopes so, too., He suffered a concussion last season and returned to tally 33 points (12 goals, 21 assists) in 33 games.

"Sitting on the bench is probably the worst thing," McDonald said. "Get in the game, play the game and not think. That'll be the key. Try and get out there and just use my instincts as usual. Sitting around thinking about it is probably the worst thing for me."

The difference this time around for McDonald is he's returning to a team that's 33-14-7 and right in the thick of the playoff race.

"It's really exciting," said McDonald, who will play on the power play with Patrik Berglund and Chris Stewart. "Everybody from the players to the management to the city ... everybody's excited about this team.

"That was the hard thing watching the team's having so much success and you want to be out there and be a part of it. Unfortunately, I missed a large chunk of the season, but hopefully we have a large part left to play. I look forward to being a part of it tonight."

- - -

The Blues, who have allowed a power play goal in seven of the last eight games, are rightfully concerned with the Sharks (30-16-6), who come in with one of the better power plays in the game and a team currently on fire.

The Sharks, who the Blues have beaten in their two meetings this season, are 8-for-17 over the last five games and 10-for-22 in the last eight.

"We're not doing the three or four little things that you need to do to be effective killing penalties," said Hitchcock, whose team allowed a power play goal to Colorado Saturday night. "We're doing the wrong stuff under pressure. We're trying to hit the home run clearing the puck and it's getting cleared back to the point. We're not winning enough face-offs, we're losing the battle on the boards, we're allowing teams to make plays off the boards.

"We talked about that today. If we can clean up some of that, we're going to get a real test today. To be an oh-for today would be a major accomplishment. They're great on the power play right now."

Hitchcock continued: "When you play San Jose, they're huge, they're big on the back-end, they're big on the front end. They play a real strong team game and they wear teams down. You look at a lot of their games, they're close halfway through and then they wear you down.

"I think the biggest fear for us is when you've got a power play that's 47 percent (8 for 17) in the last five games, you want to keep them off the power play. The game that we won here, we were on a slippery slope because we gave them six or seven minors. We killed them off, but I don't think we'll kill that many minors again. We've got to keep the game 5-on-5 and hopefully we've got still quite a bit of energy to play from last night."

- - -

With the Sharks already in town Saturday night, a large contingency of them took in the Blues game with the Colorado Avalanche, including coach Todd McLellan. He offered the following perspective from the press box view:

"Now I know how easy it is from up there," McLellan joked. "If we could fit all of you guys under the salary cap, you guys would be great players from up there.

"It's so damn slow. I caught myself going, 'Why is he doing that? Why is he doing this?' It's different when you're up there. You get another dimension to the game. When you're at ice level, of course it's much faster, but everything is at eye level, too. You've got to look through the trees and look through the forest. When you're up there, you're looking down on the forest, so it's way easier to play from up there than it is down here.

"We have confirmation of how (the Blues) play. I don't think a lot of teams change a whole lot. It just confirms and gives you a chance to see it much slower ... you see more away from the puck. You can see plays develop more. On TV, you get close to that flat dimension."

- - -

The Blues own two wins over San Jose (4-2 on Oct. 15 in San Jose and 1-0 here in St. Louis on Dec. 10). The Sharks are fully aware of the Blues' 23-3-4 home record but San Jose's 12-7-4 mark away from HP Pavilion gives them confidence to play away from home.

"They're a strong team. They play hard," winger Joe Pavelski said of the Blues. "That's what we come to expect when we play them now. You see their game last night, they're a strong fore-checking team, they do a lot of good things well and they're playing really well right now.

"You have to check as well. You have to be patient, you have to know chances are going to be limited. You have to make sure you play them physical as well and try to wear them down."

McLellan said the Blues are a tough matchup because of, "Their team commitment to defense. They give up very very little. We talk about our number being three; their number can be two and they can still win. I heard Hitch talk about checking for chances. That's where most of their opportunities come from. The power play last night looked dangerous ... they've got it going. They're a team right now that believes they can win. When you have that in your locker room, it's a powerful thing.

"They play a style night after night that allows them to win. We saw it again last night."

- - -

The Blues' lineup will be a gametime decision based on the flu bug going around the team:

David Perron-David Backes-T.J. Oshie

Andy McDonald-Patrik Berglund-Jamie Langenbrunner

Chris Porter-Vladimir Sobotka-Chris Stewart

B.J. Crombeen-Scott Nichol-Ryan Reaves

Carlo Colaiacovo-Alex Pietrangelo

Barret Jackman-Kevin Shattenkirk

Kris Russell-Roman Polak

Jaroslav Halak will start. He owns seven in a row at home and is 12-2-3 in his last 18 starts with a 1.69 goals-against average and .935 save percentage. Brian Elliott, who stopped 17 shots in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Avalanche, will be the backup.

Winger Evgeni Grachev and defenseman Ian Cole are healthy scratches. Russell missed Saturday's game against Colorado with the flu. Wingers Alex Steen and Matt D'Agostini (concussion symptoms) are out, as are defenseman Kent Huskins (ankle) and center Jason Arnott (shoulder). All are on injured reserve. The Blues put D'Agostini on IR Sunday morning.

- - -

The Sharks' probable lineup:

Ryane Clowe-Logan Couture-Benn Ferriero

Patrick Marleau-Joe Thornton-Joe Pavelski

Jamie McGinn-Michal Handzus-Torrey Mitchell

Brad Winchester-Andrew Desjardins-Jim Vandermeer

Marc-Edouard Vlasic-Dan Boyle

Douglas Murray-Brent Burns

Colin White-Justin Braun

Antti Niemi gets the start in goal; Thomas Greiss is the backup.

Winger John McCarthy is expected to be the healthy scratch. Winger Martin Havlat (lower-body) winger Tommy Wingels (upper-body) and defenseman Jason Demers (lower-body) are on injured reserve.

Colaiacovo OT goal nets win over Avalanche

Blues finally solve Varlamov with wrister, deflection on 44th

shot of game, climb within three points of Western Conference lead

By LOUIE KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- It took a Patrik Berglund changeup to pinball in off multiple bodies, but in the end, the Blues got what they were looking for ... and for all intents and purposes, deserved.

Saturday's 3-2 overtime victory over the Colorado Avalanche was what the Blues were looking for. Anything less would have been disappointing.

After outshooting the Avs 44-19 and having a decisive edge in territorial play, the Blues were finally able to solve Semyon Varlamov.

Carlo Colaiacovo's deflection of a Berglund wrister from the high slot in overtime gave them the victory over the Avalanche at the Scottrade Center on Saturday night.


(Getty Images)

The Blues' David Perron (57) joins in the celebration with teammates

Patrik Berglund (second from left), Carlo Colaiacovo (middle), T.J. Oshie

(74) and Jamie Langenbrunner (right) after Colaiacovo's overtime goal in

a 3-2 win over Colorado Saturday night.

Colaiacovo's second goal of the season with 1:42 remaining beat Varlamov, who appeared to be screened on the play by his own teammates (former Blue Erik Johnson and Gabriel Landeskog) as well as Colaiacovo, who somehow was able to get an elbow on a shot that appeared to first glance off Johnson, then Landeskog before hitting Colaiacovo and finding the back of the net on the Blues' 44th shot of the night.

"We had plus-40 shots. I think we took over the longer the game went," said Berglund, who had 10 points in his 10 games against the Avs. "I think it's real strong that we can win in OT and like we did in New Jersey (Thursday) winning in a shootout. They're really important points. We're happy."

So was Colaiacovo, who was stationed between the circles along the left faceoff circle as Berglund's wrister came through.

"I thought I had it at first because I felt it glance off my elbow," Colaiacovo said of his first goal in 38 games. "I was just in the middle celebrating then. I didn't really care who scored. I was just happy that it went in.

"I came in off the ice and was told that it did hit off me. Not a lot of chances tonight. I've been getting a lot of chances lately. I'm just happy one finally went in. It didn't take my stick to put it in and we'll see if it's a sign of things to come."

David Perron scored twice and added an assist for the Blues, who have an NHL-best 23 wins at home (23-3-4) and matched their home win total from a season ago. They are 15-0-3 in their last 18 home games. The Blues are also 25-0-0 when scoring three or more goals.

The Blues improved to 33-14-7, good for 73 points and only three behind Western Conference-leading Detroit with two games in hand.

"I'm proud that we stayed with it, especially in the third period," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. "(The Avalanche) were in a defensive posture and we had to pump all the pucks in. We weren't going to get any odd-man rushes. I'm not even sure we got a 3-on-2 to be honest with you. They had people back all night. They were playing for points. We did what we had to do in the third period to keep the game going. I was real happy with what we did in the third period."

The Avalanche (28-25-4) picked up a point in the game and have 60, two points behind eighth place in the conference. They got goals from Shane O'Brien and Johnson.

"We gave it a good effort for three periods," said Johnson, who scored his first goal in 23 games to tie the game 2-2 late in the first period. "That's a good team over there that really wears you out."

It was a wide open first period, with all the goals coming in the first 20 minutes before Colaiacovo's winner in overtime.

The Avalanche struck first on O'Brien's second goal of the season and first in 29 games 10 minutes into the game. David Van Der Gulik won a faceoff in the Blues' zone with Berglund, got the puck back behind the left faceoff circle and O'Brien wired a shot through a lane over Brian Elliott's glove hand for a 1-0 Colorado lead.

That's when Perron struck twice for the Blues, his fourth and fifth goals in the last three games to give the Blues a 2-1 lead, both power-play goals.

Perron's eighth of the season tied the score 1-1 when he was able to power a shot by Varlamov at the left side of the net 12:12 into the game after getting a short feed from T.J. Oshie. Perron struck again with his team on a two-man advantage when he was able to snap a shot from between the circles past Varlamov with 3:43 left in the opening period.

(Getty Images)

Blues defenseman Roman Polak (right) and Colorado's David Jones battle

for a loose puck in front of goalie Brian Elliott Saturday night.

"It's just working hard and getting to the areas," Perron said of his streak of goals. "Guys are finding me. Sometimes they go in, sometimes they don't. Hopefully they keep going in because it's fun to score goals and help the team win."

The Blues came into the game 2-for-35 in their last 12 games on the power play.

"We talked about it (the power play)," Perron said. "Sometimes if you talk about it too much, it doesn't work. You've just got to let it be and play our game. Tonight we got two big goals on it."

But Johnson tied the game with a power play goal for the Avalanche after Scott Nichol was whistled for interference late in the first. Johnson's one-timer from the top of the left circle -- his first in 23 games -- beat Elliott high to the glove side with 51 seconds left in the period to tie the game 2-2.

"It's not the first and hopefully it's not the last," Johnson said of scoring against a team he played with for three-plus seasons. "It feels good."

The two teams combined for four goals in 9:09 over the last half of the first period.

The Blues had dominated much of the third period but a fortuitous bounce had Landeskog in alone in the slot, but Elliott flashed the mitt with 3:45 remaining that could have broken the 2-2 deadlock.

"There was kind of mis-communication there off the boards," said Elliott, who is now 18-5-2 on the season after a 17-save effort. "I have to make up for those mistakes and I'm glad I did tonight.

"It's tough to stay focused, but that happened the last time they played here, too. They waited for their opportunities and then they had a couple odd-man rushes. We did a great job breaking them up. Obviously scoring that one there at the end was big."

The Blues outshot Colorado by a combined 83-34 in the two games here at Scottrade Center.

"We'll take the win any way we can get it," said Blues forward T.J. Oshie, who had two assists in the game. "Sometimes it just comes from shooting the puck anywhere. ... I don't know how many shots we had tonight, but I think we had quite a bit. We got the traffic and the shot there."

Varlamov, playing only his fourth game in the last 15 outings, stopped 41 pucks in a losing effort.

"They're a really strong home team and their record shows it," Avalanche captain Milan Hejduk said of the Blues. "They're a hot team. This is not an easy building to play in."