2010 Stanley Cup Quarterfinal (predictions)

WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. San Jose v. 8. Colorado
This has the potential to be a tough, rugged, grind 'em out series, because the Avs have a young, vibrant group that will not be intimidated by the talent the Sharks can throw out there. I think the Sharks will be had somewhere along the lines in the playoffs because I think they lack the toughness to go all the way. Talent alone will only carry you so far, but I think Colorado will have a tough time on a consistent basis matching the production of Thornton-Heatley-Marleau. I do like Stastny, Hejduk, Stewart and Co. but not as much as the Sharks' talented trio. I would have picked this to go the distance, but Anderson has fallen back to earth in goal for the Avs. But I'm not all that impressed with Nabokov either.
SHARKS in 6

2. Chicago v. 7. Nashville
This is a very intriguing matchup for me, one that keeps pointing to the Predators for me in several categories. The main one being in goal. Rinne is hands down the best goalie in this series. This guy, despite being a playoff newbie, can steal a game on any given night, while I think Niemi has played admirably for the Blackhawks, he will not shine as much as Nashville's Finnish Flash! The Blackhawks have the decisive edge up front with Kane, Toews, Hossa, Sharp and Co., but they are beat up on the blue line (still no Campbell and Johnsson) and Nashville's blue liners headed by Weber and Suter are vastly underrated. I think each team will play well in spurts, but Rinne will steal at least 2 games for the Preds, who have yet to win a playoff series in franchise history, so I'll go out on a limb here. ...
PREDATORS in an upset, in 6

3. Vancouver v. 6. Los Angeles
I have never been a big fan of the Canucks and the way they play, but this team can really go a long way and play for the Stanley Cup as long as some pieces fall into place. For starters, Luongo must play like he did against the Blues last season and not like he did against the Blackhawks. If the Canucks get the Luongo of the Blues, they go a long way. If not, well. ... The Sedins have had a banner season, especially Henrik. They are so balanced with their forward lines, and their D-unit is playing as well as it ever has. The Kings were a darkhorse team for me about a month ago, but Quick has fallen back to earth in goal (maybe Terry Murray has over-used his netminder) and they're getting carved up on their back line. Doughty looks tired at times and Jack Johnson has been very inconsistent. Kopitar must play like a beast for the Kings to have a chance. I don't see it happening.
CANUCKS in 5

4. Phoenix v. 5. Detroit
This is such an intriguing matchup on all fronts. The 'Yotes are back in the playoffs for the first time since Pierre Turgeon beat Nikolai Khabibulin in Game 7 of the west quarters in 1999 and helped the Blues win that series 4-3. Dave Tippett gets my vote as coach of the year. Who would have thought he could take this cast of characters and mold them into one of the Western Conference's most consistent teams? I like Bryzgalov in goal, and I feel like he will outshine Jimmy Howard of Detroit, but Detroit's forwards are so much more skilled and -- more importantly -- they're healthy. Datsyuk, Zetterberg, and then throw in Rafalski and Lidstrom on D, and you have a mini dynasty. The 'Yotes can match Detroit's flash and dash, since they play a similar style, but the experience factor gives the the edge in this one. It will be among the quarterfinals' best but a mild upset is brewing.
RED WINGS in an upset, in 7

EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. Washington v. 8. Montreal

OK, Jaroslav Halak is better in goal than anything Washington has. That's a given. But let me run this list by you: Ovechkin, Backstrom, Semin, Green, Laich, Knuble, Fleischmann. Enough said. I could care less if the Capitals are weak in goal. Won't matter.

CAPITALS in 5

2. New Jersey v. 7. Philadelphia
At the beginning of the season, I thought the Devils would be a team to be reckoned with in the East. They still could be. Any time you have Marty Brodeur locked in/zoned in, you're in good shape. New Jersey has such a well-rounded team from top to bottom that you have to respect their skills along with their toughness and grit that they have the ability to go a long way. Parise, Elias and Co. now have Kovalchuk to go along up top to make this a pretty potent offense. Let's see if the Devils can get one-dimensional Ilya to play a two-way game in the playoffs. But the Flyers, who slipped in on the final day of the regular season, have a unit that has skill and can bully you around on the ice. I love Mike Richards and the addition of Chris Pronger makes that squad dangerous. There's one problem: Brian Boucher. Can he beat Brodeur. Um, in a word: NO.

DEVILS in 5

3. Buffalo v. 6. Boston

This is an interesting matchup. It's one that I see a lot of low-scoring games (Ryan Miller and Tuukka Rask will see to that) and the team that plays the smartest and stays out of the box wins. Neither has that explosive, go-to scorer that can carry a team, although Thomas Vanek has that ability for Buffalo. I think the difference here is if Boston can get enough pucks at Miller to get him out of his comfort zone, which I can't see happening. The Sabres have the edge in depth on all four lines and I believe can have success on the power play despite the Bruins' solid penalty kill unit. This will be Rask's first playoff series and although I see him showing flashes of brilliance, Miller is the guy to go with here. But this will be a drawn-out series and one that can go the distance but ...

SABRES in 6

4. Pittsburgh v. 5. Ottawa
The most interesting matchup of the first round in the East. Both are talented, both have studs but the difference between moving on and falling off in this series is this: the Penguins have some guy named Crosby and Marc-Andre Fleury is so much more battle-tested than Brian Elliott. Fleury has shown he can shine in the rigors of the postseason. Each team will win on the road. This one will have some goals scored, as both teams are loaded with offensive players, but the Senators will miss Kovalev's experience here. If the Penguins get rolling like they have in the previous two postseasons, watch out. Ottawa will give the Penguins a scare but ...

PENGUINS in 7

Remember, these are for entertainment purposes only and in no way do I call myself an expert. So take them with a grain of salt and know it's just my opinion and in no way am I hating on any teams.

Tkachuk officially announces retirement

Ownership, management pay homage for

great career; Blues expected to retain Payne

By LOUIE KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- Friday was the fans' way of thanking Keith Tkachuk for a Hall of Fame career in the NHL.

On Tuesday, Tkachuk was once again being thanked for 18 terrific years as a hockey player by the Blues and the management team, but 'Big Walt' was on hand not only to officially announce his retirement from the game but to give thanks to those who were his inspiration and to those who followed his career -- the fans.

On hand were Blues owners Dave Checketts, Mike McCarthy and Tom Stillman, team president John Davidson and general manager Larry Pleau, the man responsible for bringing Tkachuk to St. Louis in 2001 and the man who stole the show Tuesday in the atrium area of Scottrade Center.

Pleau, who will retire himself this summer as the team's GM, didn't always see eye-to-eye with the strong voice of Tkachuk during his time here. But the two were able to do whatever it took to make this franchise a success.

In un-Pleau-like fashion, the Blues' GM turned the tribute into a mini roast of Tkachuk, to the applause of those in attendance which included a number of fans.

"Four o’clock in the morning Walt ... that’s when we finalized it," Pleau said, describing that day on March 13, 2001, the day he acquired Tkachuk from the Phoenix Coyotes. "... Everybody asked me what did we need. We needed personality. I think we all know that that's what we got. We got personality from Walt.

"But it can't be all nice today. That's impossible. Can't let you off the hook."

Tkachuk would later would quip, "4 a.m. How much were you drinking when you traded for me?"

The crowd voiced its approval in laughter.

Pleau continued, "Chaser (referring to Blues color commentator Kelly Chase), when is training camp for the alumni? Walt's worried about it already. But I’m going to tell him there's no weigh-in. He doesn't have to worry about it."

That pot shot was a reference to the first season out of the lockout when Tkachuk was suspended by the Blues for reporting out of shape. He did not play any organized hockey in 2004-05, the lockout season.

But say what you want about 'Big Walt,' but it's a rare commodity to get a player of size and skill. This is who the Blues got. This is who the Winnipeg Jets got when they made Tkachuk their top pick (19th overall) in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft.

Tkachuk is the first US-born player to score 50 or more goals and is one of two players (former Blue Brendan Shanahan is the other) to score 1,000 points, accumulate 2,200 penalty minutes and score 200 power play goals.

But the time had come to pass the torch, as many of his Blues teammates were on hand to support their veteran leader.

"It was a process," the 38-year-old Tkachuk said of retirement. "I knew it was coming. I didn't want to do anything because I was hoping to be in the playoffs, but once we got eliminated, I met with JD and Larry together and told them what my plans were and they were supportive ... I called Mr. Checketts. I knew something like this was going to happen and this was probably going to be my last year.

"My body's taken a beating. I'm just not the same player I used to be and it's time to let somebody else play."

Tkachuk was the first player Checketts met when he purchased the team in 2006 and was impressed immediately with the players he acquired and the direction it would go with Tkachuk at the head of the pack.

"I suspected we might be doing this at the end of June, but here we are in mid-April," Checketts said. "Other than raising the Stanley Cup in your final game, I could not have pictured or thought of a better ending, Walt, to your career than what transpired Friday night here at Scottrade Center. I do have to ask this question, though: 'With how you played in the third period there on Friday night, are you sure you want to hang it up?' I think you could lace up the skates every now and then ...

"We’re building an organization with young players, drafting and developing. Well, you better have somebody in that locker room that they can look to as an example. And I can’t think of anyone better than the way you have been."

Checketts continued, "I have been fortunate in my life and in particularly in my career in sports to be around great power forwards. Most notably, we drafted a power forward in the NBA named Karl Malone while I was with the (Utah) Jazz. His game was actually similar to yours, Walt. He scored a lot. He sacrificed his body. He carried his team on his shoulders, just as you have. And you might note that this past week, he was voted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, just as I hope very much that you will be voted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

"Later in my sports career, I was around a great power forward named Adam Graves with the Rangers, a guy that spent a lot of time in front of the net and scored a lot. More importantly, Adam Graves was a wonderful guy in the community, and Walt, none of our players have done more than you have done in the St. Louis community."

What will stick with Checketts was when Tkachuk proclaimed Friday that the Blues would win the Stanley Cup and to trust the process, which touched off a big roar from the sellout crowd following a 6-3 win over Anaheim.

"To hear Walt say it at center ice meant a lot to me," Checketts said. "... Walt, truer words could not have been said more eloquently. You will always be a St. Louis Blue. And when we do hoist that Cup, I can't wait to see your teammates pass it to you, for you to raise it high because you'll deserve it just as much as they will.

"I'll never forget the night when you lost a few teeth standing in front of the net. One more example of your sacrifice for our club and our organization. You even gave up the 'A' because you knew it was time. Most importantly, you always claimed that you loved to be in St. Louis. And I am proud to announce, ladies and gentleman, next year, once we have a clear-cut schedule, we will have a night at Scottrade Center to pay tribute and to honor Keith Tkachuk."

Davidson, who traded Tkachuk to Atlanta in 2007 at the trade deadline, only to resign him in the summer of 2007, stepped to the podium to may homage. He first met Tkachuk at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, France.

"When you look over at Keith’s family, you look there and say, 'You know what, that's a hockey family.' Isn't that a great thing," Davidson said.

"Big heart, yes. He doesn’t want you to know that most of the time. A rough kid from Boston. But actually when you get to know him, he has a heart the size of Boston. For what he has done in this community and for our franchise has really been quite remarkable. He doesn’t like to have people know about it. But he’s done more than his part, more than his share. And it’s showing. It's showing by the way you see the family being raised, it shows by the support that we saw from the fans here during the last game against Anaheim and the way they responded."

Davidson went on to present Tkachuk with an alumni jersey.

"There's a tradition in hockey every year, it's called the rookie dinner," Davidson said. "I can hardly wait til Walt takes all these alumni guys out to the rookie dinner and have to pay for that one. That will be beautiful, won't it?"

And then there was Pleau, who continued his "roast" of the guy he gave up three players (Michal Handzus, Ladislav Nagy, prospect Jeff Taffe) and a first-round draft pick to acquire.

He shared a story when the team was looking to give Tkachuk a contract extension, which included Pleau, former Blues President Mark Sauer and Tkachuk's agent Bob Murray.

"We get up to Bob's office and the secretary brings us in, makes us sit there for about 10 minutes," Pleau recalled. "That’s the strategy, we all know. Make 'em wait out there, sweat a little bit. It worked well. So the secretary (finally) says, ‘Come on this way,’ and we follow her. We’re walking in and we look to the right and there’s the board room. We look into the board room, Mark Sauer is behind me, and we look into the board room, and Mark says to me: ‘She’s there, Chantal (Tkachuk's wife), he brought his wife ... you’re doing all the talking!’”

Pleau continued, "What am I going to remember about Walt? ... It can't all be good, you know Walt. I had to get you a little bit. I can tell a couple of more, but I’m not gonna. What I’m going to remember is ... a big heart. He’d do anything for the players, anything for the trainers, anybody around him. I’m going to remember his last shift, because it was his longest shift ever in 19 years. If you ever watch Walt, if you're his teammate, it's 30 seconds! ... The coach threw him back on the ice, made him stay out for the last minute, which was great. Longest shift, Walt, for sure? But you got through it. You could have stayed longer on some of those shifts (in your career). If you did, imagine the points! A few more goals! But you know you’ve had enough when you start with Thomas Steen (in Winnipeg) and he ends up with his son Alex (Steen)."

Tkachuk was the last to step to the podium and was gracious in his last speech as a player.

"It’s time to count my blessings and make it official that I’m retiring as a member of the St. Louis Blues and a National Hockey League player," he said. "I have lifelong memories and friends that I will forever hold close to my heart. I would not have met my wife and been blessed with three amazing kids (Matthew, Braeden and Taryn). No man can ask for more from this wonderful game.

"I have everything today because of hockey. I have lifelong memories, friends that I will forever hold close to my heart. I would not have met my wife and blessed with three amazing kids. No man can ask for anything from this wonderful game."

Tkachuk, who said it's possible that he could get back into the game one day as a coach or front office person, will enjoy retirement one day at a time.

"It's starting to sink in," he said. "I think it will really hit me next year -- not at training camp -- but after training camp. It's been a great ride. It's a wonderful place to play. I'm just proud that I've stuck around this long.

"I think I can play another year, but I'm not. It's gotten to the point where it's (been) a lot of games, mentally and physically drained. I'm missing a lot at home, and it's getting tougher. My role's changed and I understand that. It's time for somebody else to step in."

There was a video tribute Monday at the Cardinals' home opener, where Tkachuk has season tickets to.

"It was incredible. I was caught off-guard by that. I couldn't believe it," Tkachuk said. "I can't even express how it made me feel. It was amazing. That just tells you about St. Louis fans. Whether it's hockey, baseball, football, they love their sports. We've been around here 9-10 years, it's been everything we've hoped for."

The Melrose, Massachusetts native will not uproot his family. They plan on living in St. Louis.

"We enjoy living here," he said. "We're comfortable here, we love the people here. ... It's a good place to raise a family and my kids would be really unhappy with me if I packed them up and gone somewhere else, which I'll never do."

With his teammates looking on in honor, he turned to them and said, "We may no longer be teammates, but we will always be friends."

* NOTES -- The Blues have scheduled a press conference for noon today and it is being reported that they will announce that head coach Davis Payne will be named the 23rd coach in team history, removing the interim label off his title.

Payne, 39, who guided the Blues to a 23-15-4 record after taking over for Andy Murray, helped the Blues go 12-5-2 at home, including six in a row and nine of 11 at Scottrade Center.

The Blues also learned Tuesday that they will pick 14th in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft this summer in Los Angeles.

Blues send out 'Big Walt' in style

6-3 victory over Ducks caps home season, Tkachuk's career

By LOUIE KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- With the way he was buzzing around the ice Friday night, Keith Tkachuk may want to reconsider that retirement proclamation.

But as the Blues concluded their 6-3 beating of the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night in the home finale of 2009-10, there was a definite buzz in the sellout crowd at Scottrade Center -- and most of them were chanting K-E-I-T-H T-K-A-C-H-U-K! from the middle of the third period to game's end.

Maybe Tkachuk, who will not play in the season finale tonight in Nashville, will not hoist a Stanley Cup in his storied career, but that lap around the ice surrounded by 19,150 screaming fans and more importantly, his three kids will be more memorable than anything else.

The Blues (40-32-9), who trailed 3-2 entering the third period, blitzed the Ducks (38-32-11) with four third-period goals, outshooting them 18-5, and Tkachuk played a key role in his last game of an 18-year career.

Tkachuk, who collected two crucial third-period assists to wrap up a career that spanned 1,201 games, 538 goals (209 of those came as a Blue), 527 assists, 1,065 points and 2,219 penalty minutes.

"It was a special moment," Tkachuk said, who also had a would-be goal disallowed in the third period. "As soon as I got on the ice in warm-ups, it carried on all game, the signs ... I knew that we had unbelievable hockey fans, but what they did for me, I should be thanking them instead of the other way around. It's humbling. It's an incredible feeling. It's sad in a way, but that's why I love St. Louis and that's why we're going to be here."

The Blues made sure on this night that they would not disappoint their true leader, who first donned the Bluenote in 2001 when he was acquired from Phoenix.

"You've got to be careful. If he keeps making plays like that, it might entice him to play another year," forward David Backes said. "Obviously, he's put in the time, put in the effort, awesome career.

"What a better way to end your home season than to make two pretty good plays on two pretty important goals for us."

On the night when the Blues ushered in two of their future pieces with Lars Eller and Jonas Junland, it was some of the old guns -- led by Tkachuk -- that paved the way.

Tkachuk had two assists, Carlo Colaiacovo and Andy McDonald each had a goal and two assists, Junland picked up his first two NHL points, David Perron added a pair of helpers and Chris Mason picked up his 30th win of the season as the Blues blitzed the Ducks with a season-high 48 shots on goal.

The Blues, who remarkably finished their home slate 18-18-5, finish the season winning their last six at home and nine of 11.

"We obviously had some chances in the second, but we didn't bury them," said forward Jay McClement, who scored the game-winner with 3:50 remaining. "We did that in the third. I think the guys had a feeling we really wanted to bear down and to dig deep. I think it made the sendoff and made everything nice for the Tkachuk family.

"We all had a lot of fun being a part of it. To see him perform like that, make a couple great plays, a couple assists. It was pretty special and the fans gave him a real nice sendoff."

Eller scored his second NHL goal in similar fashion to the way he scored his first, on a deflection in the slot, and Eric Brewer and Backes each collected a goal in the victory.

"Just the way it ended, you couldn't have scripted it better unless the ultimate goal of being in the playoffs and winning the Stanley Cup," said Tkachuk, who was flanked by his parents, wife Chantal and sons Matthew and Brady and daughter Taryn. "It was incredible, an incredible feeling. My teammates are incredible, what they've done for me over this last stretch, the organization ... everybody from top to bottom. What they've done for my family, it's something I'll never forget."

Ducks goalie Curtis McElhinney was the sacrificial lamb that saw the Blues blitz him with a plethora of shots. In the last two games, including a 3-2 shootout loss at Dallas Thursday, Anaheim saw 99 shots fired their way.

"I don't know what the final tally was, but 45 shots or so, we were peppering the net a lot and a few of them started to fall," said Backes, who got his first goal in 14 games. "We got a few power play goals that were big.

"(Tkachuk's) night tonight, there was a little incentive. It's not like we were doing it for him, he was the one creating goals and making the plays. He was doing it for himself."

Tkachuk won't have a problem watching his teammates playing tonight in Music City, but he might when the new season rolls around.

"It's the right decision. Trust me, it's not easy to walk away," he said after the game. "I think it will really hit home ... maybe not necessarily training camp but when they start playing games next year. I think that's going to be hard."

* NOTES -- The Blues have shut down defensemen Barret Jackman and Roman Polak and center Patrik Berglund (upper-body injuries) for the rest of the season. Forward T.J. Oshie (upper-body) missed Friday's game and is questionable for tonight's season finale in Nashville. ... The Ducks played without regulars Teemu Selanne, Scott Niedermayer, Todd Marchant, Saku Koivu, Ryan Getzlaf (ankle) and Lubomir Viscously (broken hand).

(4-9-10) Ducks-Blues Gameday Lineup

By LOUIE KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- It's no secret that emotions were flying around the locker room in Chicago on Wednesday night when Keith Tkachuk broke the news to his teammates of his pending retirement.

But one player that may have taken it more to heart than anyone -- even though they have only been teammates for one season here -- is defenseman Darryl Sydor.

The two have so much in common and it puts a great perspective for not only Tkachuk but also on Sydor, who also has to contemplate whether this is the end of the line for his career or not.

Tkachuk just turned 38 in March, Sydor will do so in May and both were drafted in 1990 -- Sydor by the Los Angeles Kings in the first round (7th overall) and Tkachuk by the Winnipeg Jets in the first round (19th overall).

So when 'Big Walt' came in and told his teammates he was hanging 'em up, Sydor took it to heart more than anyone.

"We got drafted together the same year, we've battled many years with me in Dallas and him here," Sydor said Friday morning. "It was a touching moment, but obviously, he's got a lot to be proud of. We wish him well, but it's good to be a teammate of his.

"It's obviously a difficult decision to be retiring at the age of 38. It's mind-boggling that your second career is longer than your first career. It's a decision that obviously everybody's going to have to make at some point in their life."

Sydor said there is no chance Tkachuk, who will be honored tonight after the Blues face the Anaheim Ducks, will pull a Brett Favre this off-season.

"When Walt makes his mind up, he makes his mind up," Sydor said. "He's at peace with it. Maybe next year when things start kicking around again with guys coming in to skate, the preseason and stuff like that, he might have different feelings, but as of right now -- talking with him -- he's at peace with his decision."

Sydor, who has only played in 45 games this season, his only season with the Blues, said that while Tkachuk's decision makes one think about their own situation, he's not ready quite yet to give up the game.

"I still have the fire, so I don't think I'm to the point where Walt is," he said. "Who knows what the future brings, but by all means in my mind, I'd still like to play."

* * *

The Blues, who recalled AHL prospects Lars Eller and Jonas Junland Thursday, will throw the two right into the fire tonight when the Blues (39-32-9) play host to the Ducks (38-31-11) at 7 p.m. in the final home game of 2009-10.

Eller, the Blues' first-round pick in 2007 (13th overall) who was recalled earlier this season and played five games, completed his first season with Peoria. He played 70 games and recorded 18 goals and 57 points.

"I learned a lot of things. ... It's been fun," said Eller, who was an AHL all-star. "I've gotten better as a player, I'm better now than when started the year, I'm more experienced. That's the important thing.

"You have ups and downs as you do always throughout the season, but I think overall, it's been a really good season."

Junland, the Blues' third-round puck in 2006 (64th overall), was also an AHL all-star this season.

He's played in two games with the Blues -- one this season and one a season ago -- but registered 14 goals and 44 points in 74 games with the Rivermen. It's his second season in Peoria.

"I've always had the offensive game, but I'm just trying to be more consistent with my defensive game and being able to play the amount of games we played (80)," Junland said. "I think that's the biggest difference.

"It's just faster, a more fun game, more physical (in the AHL). It's hockey ... it's still hockey. I want to be in the NHL someday, and for me, the American Hockey League was the way to get there and I still think so. That's why I came over. I had a great two years in Peoria, but hopefully, that's enough."

Both players are excited to showcase themselves in the final two regular season games and hope they serve as a barometer for the future.

"I'm psyched to be here and I just want to show them I'm able to play against good NHL teams and that I can do the exact same things I've done in Peoria for two years," Junland said. "... It is pretty much an audition. My contract's up, so it's a good thing to be here."

"I was preparing to finish the season down there, and it was a great surprise and great way to round out the season," Eller said. "

* * *

The Blues, out of the Western Conference playoff picture as of Tuesday night, will be without the services of defensemen Barret Jackman and Roman Polak and forwards T.J. Oshie and Patrik Berglund, all out with upper-body injuries.

Jackman, Polak and Berglund will be shut down the final two games of the season, while Blues coach Davis Payne said Oshie is questionable for the season finale tomorrow night in Nashville.

Tonight could be the final time Blues fans see several players, including Paul Kariya, Chris Mason, Mike Weaver, Carlo Colaiacovo and Sydor among others. All four will be unrestricted free agents this summer.

So the Blues will use the following lines tonight, as Cam Janssen and Matt D'Agostini are healthy scratches:

Paul Kariya-David Backes-Brad Boyes

Andy McDonald-Lars Eller-David Perron

Alex Steen-Jay McClement-B.J. Crombeen

D.J. King-Keith Tkachuk-Brad Winchester

The defensive pairings will see:

Eric Brewer-Mike Weaver

Darryl Sydor-Erik Johnson

Carlo Colaiacovo-Jonas Junland

Chris Mason, looking for his 30th win of the season, will get the start in goal.

- - -

The Ducks, who dropped a 3-2 shootout in Dallas Thursday, are in the same boat as the Blues and come into town with a much different lineup than one is accustomed to.

Some veteran players will not be in the lineup tonight, as they were held back from the final road trip of the season, two because of injury. They include forward Teemu Selanne, defenseman Scott Niedermayer, center Saku Koivu, center Ryan Getzlaf (injured ankle), defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky (broken hand) and center Todd Marchant.

So Ducks coach Randy Carlyle, a teammate of Tkachuk's in Winnipeg for three seasons, will use the following lines:

Matt Beleksey-Nick Bonino-Corey Perry

Jason Blake-Dan Sexton-Bobby Ryan

Brendan Mikkelson-Ryan Carter-Troy Bodie

Mike Brown-Kyle Chipchura-George Parros

D-pairings will include:

James Wisniewski-Aaron Ward

Brett Festerling-Sheldon Brookbank

Nathan Oystrick-Steve Eminger

Curtis McElhinney is expected to get the start tonight after Jonas Hiller played in Dallas Thursday.

End of the road for 'Big Walt'

Tkachuk to play final home game tonight,

will be honored in post-game ceremony

By LOUIE KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- David Perron has one wish for Keith Tkachuk, who will play his final home game with the Blues tonight:

"I hope he gets a hat trick," Perron said.

Sounds simple enough, but what a way it would be for 'Big Walt' to go out.

Tkachuk, 38, announced his retirement from the NHL on Wednesday night before the Blues faced the Chicago Blackhawks, and he will do so with 18 terrific years on his resume.

Tkachuk, who will leave the game with over 500 goals, 1,000 points, 1,000 games and 2,000 penalty minutes, made his disclosure to his teammates before an emotional locker room, then made his intentions known in the public eye.

He did not play Wednesday after suffering a lower-body injury Monday but will play tonight and likely Saturday in Nashville to wrap up a career that spanned 1,202 games.

"I was crying, Walt got a little teary-eyed," forward Paul Kariya said. "It’s sad, but it’s also a celebration of an incredible career, a great guy and a great teammate. It's been my great pleasure to play with him. It’s a sad day for the Blues."

Tkachuk, the leader of this team in the truest sense of the word, will pass the baton onto a group of young and vibrant Blues he hopes will one day carry the one goal he was never able to achieve: Lord Stanley's Cup.

"It kind of puts it in perspective that it's going to end for everyone when a guy like that, who almost seems immortal and timeless ... there comes a time when everyone's career is going to end," said forward David Backes, who fits the bill as Tkachuk's replacement on and off the ice. "He's obviously a guy that doesn't show a whole lot of soft emotion and when he brought that out, it was tough to hold back."

The Blues will go through more emotions than usual tonight, when the team will face the Anaheim Ducks at 7 p.m. (FS Midwest, KMOX 1120-AM), then honor Tkachuk with a post-game ceremony that will include both his parents, wife and three kids all by his side.

"It's kind of mixed feelings," said forward Jay McClement, a teammate of Tkachuk's since 2005. "On one end, it's an honor to have played with him, become friends with him and be a part of the last couple of years of his career. It's a pretty special career for sure. The other side is that I'm not going to be able to play with him again. It's going to be neat the last couple games to be involved with that. But I'm happy he's going out on his terms. It's his decision. He's had a great career, a long career.

"There's definitely emotion. This has been his life for 19-20 years. Obviously, it's going to be a life-changing decision. It's obviously going to be more emotional the next couple days here and when it finally comes to an end. We'll all cherish it and take it all in with him."

Tkachuk, who spend four-plus seasons in Winnipeg, another four-plus seasons in Phoenix after the Jets moved to the desert, came to the Blues on the trade deadline of 2001, when general manager Larry Pleau made the blockbuster deal that brought Tkachuk from Phoenix.

Pleau dealt away forwards Michal Handzus, Ladislav Nagy, Jeff Taffe and a 2002 first-round draft pick (which turned out to be Ben Eager).

"Actually, we were in Philadelphia, because we played in Philadelphia that night," Pleau recalled. "I think we played in Minnesota after that and he caught up with the team in Minnesota. ... Time goes by quick.

"Those things take time. I think when you're working on (a trade) like that ... it could come together just like that, but I think in that one there, there was talk for a month, month-and-a-half, couple months."

Tkachuk came in and made an immediate impact for the Blues, tallying eight points over the final 12 regular season games before leading the Blues to the conference finals. They lost to eventual Stanley Cup champ Colorado in five games.

'Big Walt' would go on to score 38 goals and 75 points the following year, his best season point-wise with the Blues and a second-round playoff date.

There would be five playoff appearances with the Blues and one with Atlanta, when Tkachuk agreed to be dealt to the Thrashers in the spring of 2007 before returning as a free agent.

He would spend nine seasons with the Blues and did not want to take away the focus of making a playoff run this season. When the Blues were finally eliminated on Tuesday, he felt like the timing was right.

"It's always tough after you've played that long, but I know it's the right decision," Tkachuk said. "I'm honored that I was able to play that long, and the thing I'm most proud of, I get to retire as a St. Louis Blue. That means the world to me."

And he certainly means the world to them and his teammates, who were still abuzz a day after making his intentions known.

"For a guy that I have the utmost respect for, he's definitely been the most influential teammate that I've ever had," goalie Chris Mason said. "I have so much respect for him. When he announced it, I know it was tough for him. I felt like crying. To see a guy up there you respect so much ... the passion and love for hockey he had, you could tell every time he's at the rink that he's the first guy here. I just really respect how he treated everybody, the guys, the people outside of hockey. I just have nothing but great things to say about him. These last two games, I hope they're special. I'm honored to be a part of these last couple games."

Once Tkachuk hangs up the skates for good Saturday, the questions will become reality: is he a Hall of Fame candidate?

"I think he's a shoe-in for the Hall of Fame, but I don't get to vote," Backes said. "He played in the days where it was pretty much no holds barred. He had to work for every inch he got. He went to the front of the net and scored a ton of goals from there. He's paid the price and put in his time and effort.

"There's not too many guys like Big Walt. He's got his antics, but he's also got his way of leading and showing. It's awesome that I was able to be a teammate and in the locker room and living in the house of such a phenomenal hockey player. He's US-born, so there's a little tie there, too. It's very special and I'm proud and honored to converse with him and watch him on a regular basis."

Pleau agrees.

"His record speaks for itself," he said. "How many players have got 500 goals, (1,000 points), 1,000 games, and 2,000 penalty (minutes). He hasn't done it the easy way, right? Those are Hall of Fame numbers for sure."

Tkachuk was a first-round pick of Winnipeg in 1990. He scored 50 goals for the Jets in 1995-96 and then became the first American-born player to lead the NHL in goals with 52 for the Coyotes in '96-97.

"You knew that when it all came together, he was going to be a force," said former Jets teammate and current Blackhawks color commentator Ed Olczyk. "When you talk about prototypical power forwards, back in the early 1990s, I don't think there was any doubt 'Walt' was a guy that could score, run you through a ditch and then drop the gloves and get his nose dirty."

For those that wonder where 'Walt' was coined, it was Olczyk who came up with the idea, referencing Tkachuk to that of New York Rangers' Walt Tkaczuk.

"He became 'Big Walt' later, but that was by his own doing," Olczyk quipped.

Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville was Tkachuk's first coach here and said his arrival made an immediate impact with the Blues.

"He was the way you want your guys to be," Quenneville said. "Everybody wants those power forwards that give your team and give your lines some room out there. I thought we had a real nice line with him and (Pavol Demitra and Scott Mellanby). I thought Walt provided a lot of space for those guys."

Now, Tkachuk will create space for somebody new to take on a role that was his here for nine seasons. He's going out on his terms and is at peace with his decision.

"He's done a lot as a US-born hockey player and the success he's had, the contributions to young players and organizations starting in Winnipeg, moving through Phoenix and moving here; brief stay in Atlanta, but these guys that are able to play and span a couple generations have learned a lot of things and passed a lot of things on," said Blues coach Davis Payne. "(Tkachuk's voice) will be missed. Not just in the locker room, it's in the change room, it's in the training room, it's in the coach's office ... he's never a guy who's short for words or short for something to say. A guy who's said a lot of the right things, we'll have to have somebody step up and carry that torch forward."

* NOTES -- The Blues recalled forward Lars Eller and defenseman Jonas Junland from Peoria Thursday. Both are expected to be in the lineup tonight because defensemen Barret Jackman (upper-body) and Roman Polak (shoulder) along with forward Patrik Berglund (upper-body) will likely sit out the final two games of the season.

Curtain finally falls on Blues' playoff hopes

Colorado's shootout win Tuesday eliminates

St. Louis, which plays at Chicago tonight

By LOUIE KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- Now, it's over -- officially.

When the Blues step onto the ice tonight at United Center to face the Central Division champ Chicago Blackhawks, the game will have no meaning.

At least from the Blues' standpoint.

The Blues finally had their life support plug pulled, courtesy of the Colorado Avalanche, which wrapped up the last of the eight playoff berths in the Western Conference when the Avs won in Vancouver late Tuesday night, 4-3 in a shootout.

But when the Blues (39-31-9) boarded their plane for Chicago Wednesday afternoon, there were still hopes that somehow, this could be extended one more day.

That's how the Blues were living -- it seems like -- for the past couple weeks.

But when they take the ice today for the morning skate, it will be business as usual for a team, though, that will congregate afterwards knowing nothing is at stake anymore.

They couldn't decide their own fate this time, like they did a season ago.

"It's frustrating to do," defenseman Erik Johnson said of scoreboard watching. "You want to kind of have your fate in your own hands, but we're in this position and we'll have to see what other teams do."

Now they know.

The Calgary Flames, the team directly in front of the Blues, lost 2-1 at home to San Jose, so one half of Tuesday's equation went the way the Blues wanted. But then the Avalanche went and knocked three teams out of the playoffs (the Blues, Flames and Anaheim) all with one blow.

"We obviously know that a lot of the stuff is out of our hands based on what Colorado and Calgary do," Blues coach Davis Payne said Tuesday morning. "All we can do is continue to apply our pressure from behind and make sure if they stumble, we're right there."

No need coach, Colorado didn't stumble. And it was at the expense of the Canucks, who in a sense helped end the Blues' season two years running after sweeping them in the first round of the playoffs last season.

"We talk about the fact we don't like where we are, but all we can do is paint the landscape the way we want it to look," Payne said. "That's by getting two points every time we play. If the other team stumbles, we're going to be there. If they take care of business, it's a little bit tougher road."

And so when the Blues take the ice one final time Saturday in Nashville, it will be the end of the road, having regressed after last season's miracle run to the playoffs.

Many factors will play a role in this season's run that fell short. For one, a home record that was the worst in the league until a recent stretch of winning eight of 10 on Scottrade Center ice, including the last five. Also, blowing big leads. Three games, the Blues lost when leading by three and another recently at Nashville, they led 2-0 and lost.

"We’ve constantly been on the wrong side of the pile all the time and it's really difficult to make up ground as we've all known, and we're just running out of games now," defenseman Eric Brewer said recently. "You have to be good for the whole season. You really can't have that month off or that big stretch of games where it doesn't go very well for you. You have to continually get points, you can't give away the points. The slow accumulation or non-accumulation of those single points throughout the year, they make a difference at the end."

They certainly made a difference for the Blues when this season comes to an end.

* NOTES -- Forwards Patrik Berglund (upper-body) and Keith Tkachuk (lower-body) were injured in Monday's 2-1 overtime win over Columbus. Tkachuk is questionable tonight against the Blackhawks (7:30 p.m., FS Midwest, KMOX 1120-AM) but Payne said he was "hopeful" of getting Tkachuk into the lineup. Berglund did not accompany the team to Chicago and will not play. Neither will defenseman Barret Jackman (upper-body), who will miss his third straight game. ... The Blackhawks (50-22-7) will have plenty to play for tonight, as they trail San Jose by two points for the top spot in the Western Conference. The Blues are 2-3-0 against Chicago this season, splitting the two previous games in Chicago.

It's not over yet as Blues top Jackets in overtime

Johnson power play goal keeps Blues alive;

St. Louis four points behind Colorado for eighth place

By LOUIE KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- They're not dead -- not yet, anyway.

The Blues, down to their last breath in this ever-lasting quest for a playoff berth, lived to see another day.

After trudging through the first period, the Blues found life and found a way in overtime to gain two valuable points.

Erik Johnson's slap shot from the point on a 4 on 3 power play with 1:01 remaining in the extra session enabled the Blues to slip past the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1 Monday night before 17,601 at Scottrade Center.

The goal inched the Blues (39-31-9) closer to eighth-place Colorado, which was idle Monday night, by winning their fifth in a row at home and eight out of 10.

The Blues trail the Avalanche by four points with three games remaining. But they don't play again until Wednesday in Chicago, and their season could be meaningless when the puck drops at United Center because the Avalanche play tonight in Vancouver. One Colorado victory eliminates the Blues.

But until that happens, the Blues will keep motoring along.

"That's a huge game. It's do-or-die for us every game," said Johnson, who collected his 10th goal and became the first Blue since Chris Pronger (2003-04) to reach double-digit goals by a defenseman. "We're not out of it yet. Our goal's still the playoffs. We're going to keep fighting every game, win every game we can. We're just going to keep putting the next foot forward and go for the next game."

The Blues were able to put that next foot forward thanks to Johnson's booming shot that rifled past Jackets goalie Mathieu Garon, with David Perron setting a screen in front.

The Blues, who had been 0-for-5 on the power play to that point, got the man advantage when Marc Methot was whistled for holding T.J. Oshie.

"Coaches do a great job preparing us for those situations and we have a bunch of plays that we have drawn up and could have done. Me and Steener (Alex Steen) switching at the point and me dragging across," Johnson said. "What we practice is I get the puck on the right and drag it to the left and I can either give Steener the one-timer or like I did on my goal and shoot.

"It's just reading and reacting. Fortunately for me, it went in. I had a great screen in front from David Perron. That's how that goal happens with good net traffic, too."

Garon said he never saw the shot.

"I had two guys in front of me, and then I heard the horn sound," Garon said.

Andy McDonald had a goal and assisted on Johnson's goal. He said it was an area the Blues desperately needed to convert on.

"It's kind of an area we struggled ... 5 on 3, 4 on 3 all year long," McDonald said. "It's nice to get that one.

"Both (Johnson) and Alex have really good shots. We've worked on the 4 on 3 in practice and obviously the keys are to get those two guys shooting pucks. Perry did a great job in front providing the screen. That was the difference, (Garon) not being able to see the puck."

Chris Mason stopped 27 shots, including a pair of shorthanded breakaways -- one on Sammy Pahlsson in the second period and another on R.J. Umberger in the third.

"I'm just doing my job," Mason said, who had to make some key stops when the Blues were outshot 11-4 in the first period. "We gutted it out and got a huge goal in overtime for the two points. We'll watch (tonight), see what happens and keep taking care of our business.

"I don't know if we've been too happy with our first periods lately, but we keep finding ways to come back and get the points. That's the thing that matters."

Blues coach Davis Payne puts another perspective on Mason's breakaway stops.

"He's unfortunately getting good at stopping breakaways," Payne said. "We don't want to be playing with that one two nights from now."

The Jackets opened the scoring 3:10 into the game when Derick Brassard redirected a Jakub Voracek shot past Mason to make it 1-0.

It was a period the Blues were lucky by the end to only be down one.

"We weren't as sharp as we normally are, but we found a way," McDonald said. "Mase made some big saves for us and kind of gave us a boost and found a way.

"There's no easy games in this league. They came and battled hard and we stuck with it. There's no room for error here. ... Obviously we're pretty pumped to get the two points."

The Blues had much more jump to their game in the second period and really took away Columbus' offensive zone pressure as the game wore on, particularly in the third period.

McDonald tied the game, his 23rd of the season, off an odd-man rush that came after a Mike Weaver blocked shot.

The Blues' defenseman, as is the case many times, sacrificed his body and blocked Kristian Huselius' shot and the Blues went off and running with a 4 on 2 break the other way.

Perron had the option of shooting from the left circle but slid a pass to McDonald, who hammered a one-timer past Garon from the slot 10:39 into the second.

"I'm not sure what happened coming out of the zone, but it's kind of a broken play and Mike made a big block there, turned the puck over and we were able to get a jump up ice," McDonald said. "Perry made the perfect pass for me, so it was a great, great play overall."

The Blues pressured the Columbus goal for much of the third period but could not get the go-ahead goal on Garon despite playing two forwards short after Patrik Berglund (upper-body) and Keith Tkachuk, playing in his 1,200th career game, left in the third because of a lower-body injury.

They nearly won in early in overtime, but Garon made a terrific pad stop on Oshie's redirection of a David Backes pass.

The Blues got their opportunity when Oshie was pulled down in the offensive zone, drawing the penalty on Methot. Johnson made no mistake.

"I don't want to hit the screen guy so you want to pick a corner," Johnson said. "It's tough to go all the way across in that angle. I wanted to hit the right side of the net, and since he's an off-catching goalie, I figured he'd be leaning more towards his glove side watching the puck.

"Pretty much find a hole and shoot and fortunately, it went in the net."

* NOTES -- Tkachuk was seen leaving Scottrade Center with a noticeable limp on his left leg and said, "I'm not feeling too good." A source said Berglund was seen leaving and was favoring his left arm/shoulder area and no arm in his jacket sleeve. Payne said afterwards both players are "day-to-day and will be evaluated (today)." ... Defenseman Barret Jackman (upper-body) missed his second straight game. ... With each victory, Mason increases his career-best for wins in a season, which now stands at 29.