Angry Blues turn attentions to hottest team in NHL

Ducks come calling on Scottrade Center Saturday; 

no scheduled hearing on Muzzin hit to Sobotka

By LOUIE KORAC
HAZELWOOD, Mo. -- The mark of a good team is signified by how one responds after being humbled the previous game.

After being humbled by the Los Angeles Kings Thursday night in a 4-1 defeat, the Blues quickly turned their attentions towards the hottest team in the NHL, the Anaheim Ducks, who had won 18 of 19 games prior to facing the Chicago Blackhawks Friday night, were sitting atop of the NHL standings with 77 points.

The Blues (32-9-5) were outplayed by L.A. in the first period but turned the tides in the second and were at 1-1 heading into the third. But the Kings outscored the Blues 3-0 in the third, getting two quick goals from Trevor Lewis, including a shorthanded goal when Jaroslav Halak misplayed a puck going towards the corner to retrieve a clearing play. And in a flash, the Blues were in chase mode and against a good Kings squad, the mission was a mountain of a climb.

"We move on. We get an even tougher game tomorrow, so that'll be a big challenge," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. "... The game was right there for us. Going into the third period, it's 1-1, you want to push through and we made a couple of errors. 

"These are steep learning curves, is what we use them for. That yesterday was a steep learning curve. We popped them right in the jaw and they popped us in the third period. They won the first period, we won the second period ... we made our own mistakes (in the third). These weren't mistakes they forced us into. These are cracks that we didn't like to see in our game. We made a mistake at the end of the second period (a Ryan Reaves roughing penalty) by allowing them on the power play. They got easy ice to open the third period. That upset all of us. And then we gave up a late goal at the end of the power play which we had perfect coverage on, and then Jaro made a mistake. Made a puck-handling mistake and all of the sudden, now you're chasing against a team that knows how to check. You're chasing 3-1, so we were angry yesterday. We're angry ... not at L.A., not because the game's important. Every game we play is important. It doesn't matter if it's Anaheim, whether it's in New York, in New Jersey, Detroit, they're all important. But you want to play your best hockey, especially against significant opponents, and we didn't play our best hockey in the third period, which is what really angered a lot of us."

The Blues held an optional skate Friday, with half the team on the ice and prepping for another mammoth opponent. 

"With a game like (Thursday), you're not happy with it," said winger Jaden Schwartz, who had a rare night in the plus/minus category at minus-three. "It doesn't sit right inside of you. You want to respond in the right way. I think you're hungry to do more. We won't have any problem getting up for tomorrow's game. We're not happy with how (Thursday) finished. We're definitely motivated for tomorrow, that's for sure."

Center Patrik Berglund agreed.

"Every time you lose, you get really pissed off and you want to regroup and get the focus going the next day and move forward to get the next win," Berglund said. "It sharpens you and also puts you in place that you have to work even harder.

"We know all the teams we're playing are bringing their 'A' game now. We have a really good record and people obviously recognize that and we're a tough team to play against. It's getting harder and harder now. People are desperate for points."

The Blues will have to try once again to overcome the 'Curse of California.' After Thursday's loss, the Blues are a combined 1-6-0 against the Kings, Ducks and San Jose Sharks.

"They're significant opponents," said winger Alexander Steen, who returns to the lineup Saturday after missing 11 games with a concussion. "They've obviously played very well in their division. I think thus far in the season, we haven't played up to par when we've played against those California teams. Obviously last night wasn't what we wanted. We let that go. We've got a big game tomorrow.

"We've got another team that's playing really hot right now (in Anaheim). It's up to us to play the way that we play and to dictate the game and play with that solid team game that we've been so good at this year."

After a string of four straight games in which they scored five or more goals, the Blues have hit a bit of a funk, scoring only four goals in three games but winning one of those, 2-1 Tuesday against Phoenix. 

But Hitchcock is just looking for better all-around play from his team. He's searching for more consistency from the entire group.

"I just want our team to play really well," Hitchcock said. "I don't care what way we use or how we go at it. I just want us to play really well, and I want to see our principles out there. I want to see a semblence of our team game and what I didn't see in the third period (Thursday) was a semblence of our team game. I didn't like that. ... What good teams do is they check really well, so can you maintain your competitive focus when you're being checked well, hard, physical somewhat, positionally strong, great sticks, all that stuff. We wanted to see a better response at fighting through their checking. What we did was we got off the page and paid for it."

* NOTES -- With Steen's return, the Blues returned forward Dmitrij Jaskin to the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League. Jaskin has a goal in six appearances with the Blues this season.

. . . Defenseman Ian Cole will return to the lineup after sitting out Thursday's loss. Cole will replace Jordan Leopold, who was a healthy scratch Tuesday when Cole was in the lineup. For the time being, it appears the Blues will alternate Cole and Leopold in the lineup.

. . . As of Friday night, there was no scheduled hearing by the NHL Department of Player Safety on Kings defenseman Jake Muzzin, whose forearm to the head on the Blues' Vladimir Sobotka only drew a two-minute roughing penalty

The related video (http://www.nbcsports.com/hockey/nhl/muzzin-delivers-blow-head-sobotka) clearly shows Muzzin launched himself at Sobotka's head, with the principle contact being to the head. Vladimir Tarasenko came to Sobotka's defense and cancelled out the minor on Muzzin, but referees Brad Watson and Francis Charron did not issue any more penalties on the play and the NHL -- as of Friday night -- did not plan on a review of the play.

Sobotka went after Muzzin towards the end of the game and Chris Stewart also received a slashing and 10-minute misconduct penalty with six seconds left. As he was leaving the ice, there was question whether Muzzin spit into the crowd at Scottrade Center (see retated video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5SGMV2vO5I).

Stay tuned if these teams happen to meet in the playoffs for a third straight season, but it wouldn't likely happen unless it was the Western Conference final.

Steen activated, set to return Saturday

Blues' leading goal scorer missed 11 games with a concussion

By LOUIE KORAC
HAZELWOOD, Mo. -- The record may not indicate it, but the Blues will get a big and welcome addition back into their lineup Saturday night.

Alexander Steen, who's missed the past 11 games with a concussion, skated on Friday -- the fourth time in five days on the ice with his teammates -- and deemed himself fit and ready to return against the Anaheim Ducks.

Steen, who leads the Blues in goals (24) and is second in points with 38 (behind T.J. Oshie's 40), is fifth in the NHL in goals. He went through another hard workout on the ice during the team's optional skate at the Ice Zone.

(St. Louis Blues/Mark Buckner)

The Blues will get a boost Saturday night with the return of Alexander

Steen (20) to the lineup after missing 11 games with a concussion.

Steen's made good progress throughout the week and will slot back in on the left wide with David Backes and T.J. Oshie against the hottest team in the NHL in the Ducks, who played Friday in Chicago.

"I took it at my own pace," said Steen, who has 38 points in 35 games. "I feel like we're ready to go tomorrow.

"I think everybody who (returns) has to be 100 percent confident. It's not just the way I play. Once you're in, you've got to go back in and play."

The Blues were 8-2-1 with Steen out of the lineup. His initial injury occurred when taking a high hit to the head from Ottawa's Zack Smith on Dec. 16, then taking a late hit from Montreal's Douglas Murray on Dec. 19 and finally, a collision with former teammate David Perron at Edmonton on Dec. 21. Steen has not played since.

"We're all really excited to get him back," teammate Jaden Schwartz said of Steen. "He's a huge part of our team. It's nice to see his health back for sure. To get him back in the lineup, he's going to be a big boost. He plays in every situation and a big leader on this team. Having him back's going to make us more confident a better feeling."

Steen was recently selected to represent Sweden, along with teammate Patrik Berglund, in the 2014 Sochi Olympics, comes back into the lineup on the heels of the Blues getting downed down to reality a bit after a 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings Thursday.

When Steen left the lineup, he was battling with Washington's Alex Ovechkin for the NHL goal scoring lead. Ovechkin currently leads the league with 34 goals.

"He's had a great year. He's been our best player," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said of Steen. "He's in great shape right now. I think we're going to play him as much as he can handle and hopefully he can get up to speed right away and play the minutes that he did before and contribute the way he did before. He was a huge impact player for us. 

"He's felt good for a week. It's time to get going."

With Steen being activated, the Blues sent forward Dmitrij Jaskin back to the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League.

Kings push past Blues 4-1, snap home winning streak

Los Angeles got two third-period goals from Lewis, use 

familiar formula to topple St. Louis for 16th time in 20 meetings

By LOUIE KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- Elite opponent. Big crowd. A chance for the Blues to cement a spot among the top, more consistent teams in the NHL.

But after another dud against a Los Angeles Kings team that has owned them in past couple seasons, questions will remain for this Blues team that many feel are ready to make the leap to the top.

There wasn't even enough motivation to catch the Chicago Blackhawks atop the Central Division.

The Kings' 4-1 win against the Blues Thursday night before 19,374 at Scottrade Center that once again left scratching their heads.

(St. Louis Blues/Mark Buckner)

L.A. goalie Jonathan Quick (32) makes a save on the Blues' Patrik

Berglund Thursday night. The Kings defeated the Blues 4-1.

The Blues (32-9-5) were 10-1-1 in their previous 12 games, outscoring their opponents 48-19 over that stretch. But this was the Kings (29-14-5), who won for the 16th time in the previous 20 meetings between the two teams, including the past two postseasons.

This was the big boy's game (the two teams combined for 62 hits, with the Blues having a season-high 33). It was a big boy's score -- a very similar score -- when these teams play (1-1 heading into a crucial third period). A low-scoring, tight-checking, hard-hitting affair that had plenty of extracurricular activity after whistles.

But the Kings, who won two of three regular season meetings with the Blues, got two goals from Trevor Lewis and an empty-netter from Jeff Carter.

Old nemesis Jonathan Quick did the rest with 28 saves, a number of them in typical spectacular fashion, especially in the third period.

Game. Set. Match.

"They set the tone early. They were much better than us," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said of the Kings. "... I'm kind of getting sick of watching it. They come up big. 

"If we're going to figure this out, we're going to have to get more people coming up a lot bigger. Otherwise, we're going to be in the same boat against the same type of team, probably be in that type of boat Saturday night (against the red-hot Anaheim Ducks) unless we get a change in attitude tomorrow."

Hitchcock continued: "Their best players came to play big. Their best players were the best players on the ice. Their top players had to play today, from the goalie out. Their top defensemen had to play, their forwards had to play and they did. They came up big. It was a big game, it was a game that meant quite a bit. Both teams were full, their goalie was back. Their best players were their best players and that's what was the difference in the hockey game. They rose to the occasion. We didn't."

L.A. used a similar formula they've used to to beat the Blues in the past, with heavy bodies, pinning the Blues deep and forcing them to play East-West instead of North-South.

"We started trying to make too many plays, which we've been doing a little too much of lately," said Blues right winger T.J. Oshie, whose penalty-shot goal tied the game in the second period. "They took advantage of it.

"It got a little out of hand with our penalties (the Blues took nine minors in all). "A couple of those, we're going to protect each other first and foremost. We don't want to give away two points but we're not going to let guys come in and take cheap shots on us."

Lewis broke a 1-1 tie when he fired a shot at Halak, who kicked out the puck, which caromed off Jaden Schwartz's skate and in with Dwight King on the play 2:04 into the third period. The goal was initially given to King, but the play was never reviewed to see whose skate it hit. Officials determined no matter who it was, it was not distinctly directed.

"It went off me," Schwartz said. "I just tried taking the guy to the net. Off [Jaroslav Halak's] pads and off my skate. It's a pretty (bad) bounce. ... I just tried tying [King] up. I didn't even see the puck until it hit me.

"It was bad timing. It's a 1-1 game. Tough bounce. Stuff like that happens and you've got to try and respond in the right way. We didn't do a good job of that and we couldn't get another goal." 

With the Blues on a power play, Halak went into the left corner to play a puck and it hopped over his stick into the restricted area. He let the puck go, and Lewis pounced and wrapped a shot into the empty side at 4:21.

"Unfortunately for me the puck stayed on the boards and I just couldn't pick it off the board," Halak said. "You know, the trapezoid, I didn't want to play the puck. I think I should have, I guess. I made a mistake at the worst possible time, when the game was on the line for us. 

"I'll take the blame for this one. It's unacceptable to make a mistake like that, especially in the third period."

Jake Muzzin's third goal of the season at 2:31 of the first period put L.A. on top 1-0. The Kings were able to hunt a puck off the right boards, and Colin Fraser fed Muzzin, whose shot from the top of the slot beat Halak, who appeared to be screened by a pair of players skating through the slot. 

Oshie blocked Muzzin's wrist shot from the left point in the second period and was off to the races. Muzzin pulled down Oshie as he was going in alone on Quick, creating a penalty shot. Oshie beat Quick five-hole at 5:55 to tie it 1-1. It was Oshie's ninth point (five goals) in the past six home games, and the Blues' fourth straight penalty-shot goal dating to the 2011-12 season. 

The Blues have a penalty-shot goal from Alexander Steen in the second game of the season, Oct. 5 against the Florida Panthers.

Carter's empty-netter with 55.5 seconds remaining sealed the win for the Kings, who lost 5-0 in this building on Jan. 2. But the Kings did so without Quick.

The Kings are 10-3-4 when tied after two periods; the Blues are 7-3-0.

The Blues were upset near game's end when Muzzin hit Sobotka in the face along the right boards. It was the first of several plays the Blues didn't appreciate. Robyn Regehr's check from behind on Vladimir Tarasenko got Barret Jackman to respond in the first period, then Tarasenko came to Sobotka's defense.

(St. Louis Blues/Mark Buckner)

Jaden Schwartz (9) goes to get off a shot as Kings defenseman Robyn 

Regehr (44) goes down to block it Thursday night.

"It got a little out of hand with our penalties," Oshie said. "A couple of those, we're going to protect each other first and foremost. We don't want to give away two points but we're not going to let guys come in and take cheap shots on us.

"It seems like every time we play these guys it's a playoff game. They play a heavy style of game and we've been struggling with it in the past. If we want to get to where we want to get to I guess at the end of the year, we've got to be able to beat these guys."

Schwartz said: "It was a 1-1 game going into the third. Not a bad spot to be in, but we couldn't generate enough in the third. They had a couple goals and we just couldn't get to the dirty areas and get enough second chances."

Sound familiar?

(1-16-14) Kings-Blues Gameday Lineup

By LOUIE KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- When the Blues (32-8-5) face the Los Angeles Kings (28-14-5) for the second time in two weeks, they'll do so with a hint of familiarity.

Normally, it's understandable to speak of a divisional opponent as one the Blues are quite familiar with. But when it comes to the Kings, the Blues have seen their fair share of them the past two seasons.

So when it comes to strategy, coaches Ken Hitchcock and Darryl Sutter can throw them out the window.

"We've played them two years in a row in the playoffs so there's not a lot of change in personnel," said Hitchcock, whose team has won five straight home games. "There's very little change in each others' game. 

"From our standpoint, we need a much better start. We've been outplayed badly the first half of the first period in both of these (regular season) games, so we need a better start and I'm sure from their standpoint, they need to capitalize on the changes they do get early in the games. But not a lot of secrets."

- - -

Dmitrij Jaskin, who will play in his sixth game of the season, is slated to play on the left wing with Vladimir Sobotka in the middle and Vladimir Tarasenko on right wing. And it's no secret that if the Blues are to get a true evaluation out of their 2011 second round pick, Jaskin will need to play with skill players.

But ... 

"I'd definitely bring our lineup with a pencil and eraser today," Hitchcock said. "It looked good at practice (Wednesday), but we are not going to hesitate going with (Patrik Berglund at left wing with Sobotka).

"We know Jaskin can play center ice, so there's a position for him to play there (between Magnus Paajarvi and Chris Stewart). We won't have a long hook on this one. If we feel that we're not going as well as we can, we know that the Berglund, Sobotka, Tarasenko line has been great. ... I don't know if it's going to work or be successful long-term. We're hopeful based on a couple of practices and a few shifts together. They seem to have great chemistry. They're three really strong guys, but we're not going to wait very long."

Jaskin has one goal in five games, and Hitchcock likes his progression.

"This guy's a heck of a player," Hitchcock said. "He's strong, really determined. Last game, we had 12 scoring chances (and) he was in on five of them and never spent a second on the power play. He's a hard guy to play against. He's a really determined offensive player. His game is more mature now, he's dominant in the American Hockey League level. He comes in, he gives us energy, he helps us. What level he plays at, how much he fits? We don't know.

"But the experience, every game he gets to play makes him a better player. I think his tempo is better now, he's able to keep up to the pace. He's used to things now. He's a little more comfortable. But man this guy can compete for pucks like nobody. He's an awful determined guy on the puck."

- - -

The Blues' probable lineup:

Jaden Schwartz-David Backes-T.J. Oshie

Dmitrij Jaskin-Vladimir Sobotka-Vladimir Tarasenko

Magnus Paajarvi-Patrik Berglund-Chris Stewart

Brenden Morrow-Derek Roy-Ryan Reaves

Jay Bouwmeester-Alex Pietrangelo

Barret Jackman-Kevin Shattenkirk

Jordan Leopold-Roman Polak

Jaroslav Halak will start in goal. Brian Elliott is the backup.

Healthy scratches include Carlo Colaiacovo, Ian Cole and Adam Cracknell. Alexander Steen (concussion) and Maxim Lapierre (lower body) are on injured reserve.

- - -

The Kings' probable lineup:

Dustin Brown-Anze Kopitar-Jeff Carter 

Matt Frattin-Mike Richards-Justin Williams 

Dwight King-Jarret Stoll-Trevor Lewis 

Kyle Clifford-Colin Fraser-Jordan Nolan 

Jake Muzzin-Drew Doughty 

Willie Mitchell-Alec Martinez 

Robyn Regehr-Slava Voynov

Jonathan Quick will satrt in goal. Martin Jones is the backup.

Tanner Pearson and Linden Vey are healthy scratches. Matt Greene (concussion symptoms) did not accompany the team on its current trip.

(1-16-14) BLUES NOTEBOOK

Hitchcock moving to get Blues back to four-line group; Halak to 

start Thursday; Leopold back in lineup, Cole to sit; Jaskin moves up

By LOUIE KORAC
HAZELWOOD, Mo. -- Sometimes, the mark of a good team is their ability to still come away with two points even when they're not at their best.

Case in point, the Blues' 2-1 victory against the Phoenix Coyotes won't go down in the category of ways the Blues prefer to win.

Had it not been for Jaroslav Halak's stellar goaltending, particularly in the third period, the Blues would have been staring at rare second straight regulation defeat.

Consider that coach Ken Hitchcock was more pleased with his team's effort and execution in that 2-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks Friday than he was after the win Tuesday speaks volumes.

"We all know as coaches that catches up to you, why worry about how you play," Hitchcock said. "It's also about getting better. The biggest thing for coaches is they want to see improvement. We didn't win against Vancouver, but as a coaching staff, we got on that plane really happy with our team. We won yesterday and we were really disappointed. We were really disappointed we didn't respect the opponent enough and we tried to play the score instead of the game and almost got caught. So we understand the process that it is about the way you play and both equal out, but it's also about getting better. If you don't get better every month, you stand still. If you don't get better, teams go right by you, and that's what happens in the playoffs. ... When you have games like last night, those are steps backwards that we try to put the brakes on. Sometimes, the trade-off for the players is, 'Hey, we won. Don't sweat it.' But there's a bigger issue that's on the horizon we're trying to avoid."

Hitchcock talked about after the game that the Blues were looking for space on the ice. They were outshot 8-2 in the third against a Coyotes team struggling to win but one that had a tremendous push.

"Looking for an easier game," Hitchcock said when asked about looking for space. "Hockey's a game you have to pay a high price to win in. This was a game that you're looking at a team that's on a back-to-back and you're thinking that they're going to be tired and you're waiting for them to be tired, but they weren't. They went the other way. They were tired early, and then they got energized late. That's when we really had a tough time. When they got energized, we were already hoping they were going to be tired. Then they started to put the boots to us there at the end. We hung on."

And the players got back at it Wednesday at the Ice Zone with the mentality of getting back on the horse.

"It's a consolation prize getting two points," defenseman Barret Jackman said. "It obviously wasn't our best game. We were working on a lot of things today, battles, getting the puck in deep, just way too many turnovers last night and that's when we get into trouble. We're not a team that tried a lot of side to side, fancy plays. We're a team that gets it deep and rolls with four lines and allows our grit and our speed to wear other teams out.

"Sometimes it's just a poor decision, maybe over-thinking. We hold onto the puck little bit longer than you want to. It happens sometimes. Last night, I think it just spilled over from line to line. It was the whole team making mistake after mistake. It's not the way we play."

* New-look lines -- Hitchcock spoke of correcting some things after the game Tuesday, and that included getting a look at some new players in new settings.

Having to rely on David Backes' line with T.J. Oshie and Jaden Schwartz too much, having to play them 20-22 minutes, Hitchcock moved some parts around at Wednesday's practice.

The most noticeable change was moving Dmitrij Jaskin, recalled Tuesday from the Chicago Wolves, to the second line with Vladimir Sobotka (who was back after missing Tuesday with the flu) and Vladimir Tarasenko. Patrik Berglund centered a line with Magnus Paajarvi and Chris Stewart and Derek Roy centered the fourth line with Brenden Morrow and Ryan Reaves.

"I think that's probably somewhere what we'll go with tomorrow," Hitchcock said. "Not 100 percent. Sobe's back in. Until Lappy (Maxim Lapierre) gets here, we'll play with the three centers that way and go that direction right now.

"We're better when we have four lines that can build minutes. We're not a three-line team. We showed that last night. We're not good. We get tired the way we need to play, we get tired when we play three lines. We don't play our game, we played way too cautious, too tentative, back on our heels. When we play four, we seem to get after it more. This gives us more balance, gives an ability to put anybody out against anybody other than Backes' line. It gives us good stability that we have when Lappy's in there."

* Leopold back in -- Defenseman Jordan Leopold, a healthy scratch against the Coyotes Tuesday, will go back into the lineup against the Los Angeles Kings Thursday. That means Ian Cole, who's played in 13 straight games and 18 of 19, will sit this one out.

Leopold has three assists in four games since returning from the ligament surgery he had in his right hand that forced the 33-year-old to miss 26 games.

"It's a work in progress," Leopold said. "I don't feel my skating really is as good as it's probably been in the past. That needs to get better here. Sometimes I can say that's the difference between playing and not playing. One, two strides here and there ... sometimes you've got to realize that and take it as a professional, move on and you've got to get better.

"You don't want to look too far in the future. We may alternate or whatever may be. When called upon, you have to be ready to play and be able to contribute. Yesterday was yesterday, today was today and we move forward from here."

Hitchcock has indicated that the eight healthy defensemen will see a rotation until the team finally settles on the top six, barring injury. That means Leopold, Cole and Carlo Colaiacovo will all be in the mix.

"I've been on teams in situations like this. It's no different," Leopold said. "Everybody wants to play. Everybody's given an opportunity to play and to show what they can do. It's up to the players to decide who'll end up being in the lineup, who's out. Of course the coaching staff has a tough job to do with that, but that is their job. I just focus on what I can do and hopefully be in the lineup."

* Goalie tandem thriving -- After Halak's 20-save effort Tuesday, the Blues will go back with him Thursday against the Kings. Brian Elliott will get the start Saturday against the Anaheim Ducks.

"Both guys deserve to keep playing, so we're going to keep playing both guys," Hitchcock said. "They're both going to have some tough opponents. 

"We looked at this week and then we looked at next week. There's so many hockey games. This is six in 10 nights (seven in 12 counting the game at the New York Islanders on Jan. 25) and we know we're going to have to play them ... each guy's probably going to have to play three games. Jaro played very well (Tuesday), so let's keep that one going. We want to see how Brian looks against Anaheim. It's going to be a significant game for both teams."

* Rubber matchup against Kings -- The Blues and Kings will play for the third and final time in the regular season Thursday, exactly two weeks after the Blues thumped the Kings 5-0 when L.A. visited Scottrade Center on Jan. 2. The Kings won 3-2 Dec. 2 in Los Angeles.

But the Blues were finally able to beat L.A., doing it without Jonathan Quick in goal. But Quick, who had a groin injury, is back in goal and healthy for the Kings and Hitchcock said at the time not to judge the Kings based off the last score and without their No. 1 goalie.

"The last game we played was the weirdest five-zero game I've ever been involved in," Hitchcock said. "We were on our heels the whole first period, came out of it 1-0, I think. And then we were on our heels for the start of the second until it went 2-0 and then it seemed to calm down after that. It felt like we were under siege the whole game, but (Quick's) a big part of their team. I don't think you can judge either team right now. Both teams were missing significant parts. It's another game in the schedule, it's another important game against another playoff team, but Jonathan Quick is a big part of their team. We're going to have to find a way to beat L.A. and him if we expect to beat them again."

* Lapierre skating -- Lapierre, who was injured Friday at Vancouver following a late-game hip check from Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis, was on the ice skating with the team pre-practice Wednesday. He skated hard and took shots at the net but left when practice began. 

Lapierre is on injured-reserve retroactive to this past Saturday. The earliest he can play is Saturday against the Ducks.

* Langenbrunner retires -- Former Blues winger Jamie Langenbrunner, a veteran of 16 NHL seasons and winner of two Stanley Cups, formally announced his retirement Wednesday.

Langenbrunner, 38, a native of Cloquet, Minnesota, won the Cup in 1999 and 2003. He was also a two-time Olympian with the United States (1998, 2010). He appeared in 1,109 games in his NHL career with three teams: the Dallas Stars, New Jersey Devils and Blues.

Langenbrunner scored 243 goals and added 420 assists (663 points). He added 34 goals and 87 playoff points in 146 postseason games.

"It was a dream come true to have the opportunity to play in the NHL for 16 seasons," Langenbrunner said in a statement. "The friendships I developed with my teammates, and also the people in the communities where I played, will always be cherished by my family and I. I would like to thank Bob Gainey, Lou Lamoriello and Doug Armstrong for giving me the opportunity to play against the top players in hockey, in the best league in the world.  I'd also like to thank my coaches and teammates for helping a kid from Minnesota enjoy a long, fulfilling hockey career. Finally I'd like to thank my truly amazing family for all their sacrifices they made so I could live my dream."

Langenbrunner was drafted 35^th overall by the Stars in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. 

Halak helps Blues hold off Coyotes 2-1

Netminder "saved" team from home loss; Oshie scores twice in victory

By LOUIE KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- Jaroslav Halak was bogged down and he knew from a goalie's standpoint, he needed to get healthy.

Since coming back from the bout with the flu that forced him to miss five straight games, Halak has found a near-clean slate.

Halak, whose last outing prior to getting sick saw him get pulled after the first period in a start against the Chicago Blackhawks on Dec. 28, returned to earn a shutout against the Calgary Flames this past Thursday. On Tuesday night, the Phoenix Coyotes were able to penetrate the Blues' netminder once, but Halak was a barrier the rest of the way and helped his team earn two points.

(St. Louis Blues/Mark Buckner)

Jaroslav Halak (41) makes one of 20 saves on the Coyotes' Tim Kennedy

in Tuesday's 2-1 victory.

Halak didn't get much work, stopping 20 shots, but he stood tall in the third period and thwarted the slumping Coyotes on every turn in a 2-1 Blues victory Tuesday night at Scottrade Center.

The Coyotes (21-16-9) outshot the Blues 8-2 in the third period, but Halak stood tall on each occasion, including two saves in the first two minutes, including a sprawling stop on David Moss just 1:42 into the period that preserved the victory for the Blues (32-8-5).

"I knew the guy was backdoor," Halak said. "I tried to get there. I didn't know what I was doing. I just tried to put a stick on it and it hit me and stayed out. I think for the most part, we did a good job except the last period. We didn't play our game.

"I had a fever that wouldn't go away and I kept getting tired real fast. Now that the virus is gone, I'm feeling pretty good."

Blues coach Ken Hitchcock credited the win to his goalie.

"This is a game where our goalie saved us," Hitchcock said. "We wanted to play a different game than was out there, and our goalie saved us. He was terrific from the start to the finish. He made three big saves in the third period early and this was a game probably if you look at it, we didn't deserve to win. We probably deserved a better fate in Vancouver (Friday), a much better fate and we probably deserved a worse fate tonight. Hopefully it equals out, but this is a game that we were looking for an easier game and we didn't get it."

Halak's teammates were equally thankful for his efforts.

"He had an unreal game. He made some big saves for us," said Blues forward T.J. Oshie, who scored both goals. "... He made some huge saves. That game could have been easily turned the other way into a 5-2 victory for them. Big saves and that's what we expect out of him every night."

"He's a huge reason," Blues captain David Backes, who had two assists in the game, said of Halak. "We need to play better in front of him and get better as the game goes instead of tail off."

Since being named New Year's Day to the U.S. team for the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Oshie has stepped up his game. 

Oshie second two-goal game since Jan. 2 provided the Blues the necessary offense they needed in winning their fifth in a row on home ice.

The Blues won for the seventh time in nine tries (7-1-1) against the Coyotes, who lost their fourth in a row and sixth in seven games. 

Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored the lone goal for the Coyotes. He also scored Monday in a 5-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. A night after seeing 38 shots, Mike Smith stopped 16 shots, but fell to 0-5-2 in his past nine appearances.

Oshie gave the Blues a 1-0 lead when he took an Alex Pietrangelo feed at the top of the right circle and ripped a one-timer past Smith 9:54 into the first period. It was Pietrangelo's ninth point (seven assists) during a six-game point streak.

"I was yelling from about the red line when I got on the ice," Oshie said. "... (Pietrangelo) kind of put it on a tee. I didn't even see it go in. I just heard everyone started cheering." 

Halak saw little action in the first, stopping four shots, but he made a nice blocker save on Ekman-Larsson with 4:42 left to preserve the Blues' slim lead. 

Oshie struck again to give the Blues a 2-0 lead when his shot from the blue line found its way through traffic and past Smith, who was screened on the play by Jaden Schwartz. The power-play goal came at 12:54 of the second period and had a Team USA connection, with Backes and Kevin Shattenkirk getting assists.

(St. Louis Blues/Mark Buckner)

T.J. Oshie (left) and Alex Pietrangelo celebrate the Blues' first goal on

Tuesday in a 2-1 victory against the Phoenix Coyotes.

But the Coyotes would strike late in the period on the power play to get to within 2-1, when Ekman-Larsson's wrister from the right circle got past Halak with 47.9 seconds left. Defenseman Keith Yandle kept the play alive with a terrific stop of an attempted clear on the blue line in front of the Coyotes bench. 

Ekman-Larsson's goal snapped the Blues' streak of successful penalty kills at 21. 

Halak regrouped and had to be sharp right off the bat in the third period, making a point-blank stop on Lauri Korpikoski 14 seconds in. Halak outdid himself with 18:18 remaining in the game, taking a sure goal away from Moss with a stick stop sliding from left to right.

"I tried to settle it down and get it up," Moss said. "Probably should have shot it quicker, but he got across and got a block on it. Made a good save."

Radim Vrbata had another great chance for the Coyotes with 4:16 remaining in the game, but his wrister rang off the cross bar from the left slot.

"You have to earn it against him," Vrbata said of Halak. "We didn’t play well enough to earn it I guess so this is the result. We have to keep working and hopefully it will change." 

The Blues are 8-1-0 in their past nine games and 10-1-1 in the past 12, outscoring opponents 48-19 in that stretch. 

The Blues' record held true to form when leading after the first period. They are now 19-0-2 when taking a lead into the first intermission. The Blues and Chicago Blackhawks (17-0-2) are the only teams in the NHL without a regulation loss when leading after one period. The Blues also improved to 27-1-3 when scoring first.

"We just needed more help down the lineup, and we didn't get it," Hitchcock said. "We'll address that tomorrow."

The Blues pulled within two points of the Blackhawks for the Central Division lead with four games in hand after the Hawks dropped a 3-2 overtime decision to the Colorado Avalanche.

(1-14-14) Coyotes-Blues Gameday Lineup

By LOUIE KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- The Blues' revolving injured reserve door took a couple more turns on Tuesday.

Defenseman Roman Polak, who's missed 10 games with a fractured left ankle suffered Dec. 19 against the Montreal Canadiens, will return to the lineup when the Blues host the Phoenix Coyotes (7 p.m. on FSN, KMOX 1120-AM).

With Polak coming off IR, center Maxim Lapierre was placed on IR retroactive to Friday with a lower-body injury suffered late in a 2-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks.

The Blues recalled forward Dmitrij Jaskin from the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League.

Vladimir Sobotka also missed the morning skate Tuesday with the flu and will miss the game Tuesday.

"He's off IR, ready to go," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said of Polak after the morning skate. "He'll play tonight. 'Lappy' goes on IR. He's going to miss the next couple games. 'Sobe' missed, he's got the flu. We left him at home and hopefully he's ready to go. 

"We tested (Lapierre) today, not ready to go. We're looking to bring a player up."

With Polak's return to the lineup, the Blues are back to eight healthy defensemen. The odd-player out tonight is veteran Jordan Leopold, who has three assists in four games since his return from ligament damage in his right hand. Ian Cole, who started the season as the seventh defenseman, stays in the lineup.

"(Leopold's) been OK, but Cole's quite frankly been better," Hitchcock said. "Ian's played really well. It's hard to take a guy out when he's playing as well as he's played."

Hitchcock didn't mention anything specific regarding where Cole has excelled. It's been the whole package.

"Everything," Hitchcock said. "Physicality, composure with the puck, the game's slowed down in his head so he's able to read things defensively. 

"He really took advantage of the opportunity here. He's earned the right to keep playing. We understand that we're going to get everybody in at times, but Cole quite frankly, if you're looking at eight healthy guys, he's earned the right to play. We expect the guys that aren't in to have great attitudes towards getting themselves ready when it's their turn. Internal competition makes your team better, makes the players in that competition uncomfortable at times, but man, does it ever make your team better. They know that, so I'm sure you're going to see guys like Carlo (Colaiacovo) and 'Leo' working their tail off so when it's their turn, they're not going to miss a beat either."

Cole, who has eight points in 30 games, feels he's done what's been asked of him.

"I think I’ve played well and I think I’ve helped the team continue to win games," Cole said. "Do I want to be in the top six and play every single night? Absolutely. No question. But that's up to the coaches and that's their decision. I'll just kind of roll with whatever they decide because there's a lot of great players. It'll be interesting to see how it works out (moving forward)."

- - - 

Forward Patrik Berglund was all smiles in the locker room following the morning skate. He had every reason to be.

There are Swedish reporters in town interviewing him, likely regarding his selection to the Swedish Olympic team, but Berglund also will play in his 400th career game tonight.

Berglund, holding his new Christmas present given to him by his girlfriend (a new Chelsea FC soccer ball), was the 25th pick in the first round of the 2006 NHL Draft. He's spent his entire career with the Blues.

"Is it tonight? I knew I was really close," Berglund said of the milestone. "It's a milestone for me. It's exciting.

"It's been a really good run. The team's getting better and better every year. That's obviously nice to be a part of actually, developing every year. We're getting better here every year and it's nice to be a part of this kind of from the beginning to now. A few of the guys have been part of it the whole way here. Everyone appreciates it even more. We really want to win and that's what we're striving for every day."

- - -

The Blues' projected lineup:

Jaden Schwartz-David Backes-T.J. Oshie

Magnus Paajarvi-Patrik Berglund-Vladimir Tarasenko

Brenden Morrow-Derek Roy-Chris Stewart

Dmitrij Jaskin-Adam Cracknell-Ryan Reaves

Jay Bouwmeester-Alex Pietrangelo

Barret Jackman-Kevin Shattenkirk

Ian Cole-Roman Polak

Jaroslav Halak will get the start in goal. Brian Elliott is the backup.

Healthy scratches include Jordan Leopold and Carlo Colaiacovo. Alexander Steen (concussion) and Maxim Lapierre (lower body) are out. Vladimir Sobotka (flu) will miss the game.

- - -

The Coyotes' projected lineup:

Shane Doan-Mike Ribeiro-Mikkel Boedker

Lauri Korpikoski-Martin Hanzal-Radim Vrbata

Rob Klinkhammer-Antoine Vermette-David Moss

Tim Kennedy-Kyle Chipchura-Jordan Szwarz

Keith Yandle-Derek Morris

Oliver Ekman-Larsson-David Schlemko

Rostislav Klesla-Michael Stone

Thomas Greiss was the lone goalie on the ice Tuesday and could start. Mike Smith played Monday and could get the day off. The Coyotes' goalie status is a gametime situation.

Healthy scratches include David Rundblad, Jeff halpern and Paul Bissonnette. Zbynek Michalek (hip) is on injured reserve.