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Blues host the Coyotes after a successful California trip

March 12, 2019, 2:33 PM ET [19 Comments]
Jason Millen
St Louis Blues Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT


The Blues completed their California trip on Saturday with a 3-2 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks, capping a very successful trip where they earned five of six points.

The Blues struggled without Vladimir Tarasenko, only generating 19 shots and getting outplayed much of the game. Lucky for Blues fans, Jake Allen was on top of his game and effectively stole a point, making a number of outstanding saves to get the game to overtime. Allen stopped all 15 3rd period shots he faced while Martin Jones could have almost taken a nap as he only faced four shots.

The Blues opened the scoring with a power play goal midway through the 1st period. Colton Parayko’s shot is deflected over the net, bouncing off the end boards to the left post where Pat Maroon’s hand eye coordination allows him to bat the puck into the net.

Timo Meier would even the score with a power play goal of his own about six minutes later on a play in which I am still trying to figure out what Jay Bouwmeester was doing. It’s like his skates were stuck to the ice as he doesn’t move out to Meier at all which would have been the right play in regards to Meier and in regards to cutting off a pass to the right point.

Meier would add his second goal of the period with only 27 seconds left on yet another play in which Bouwmeester gets lost. This time he decides to vacate the front of the net to chase into the corner before Ryan O’Reilly gets back to cover. He also doesn’t go to the corner with conviction and speed so he puts zero pressure on Logan Couture and allowing the easy pass to Meier. Sure, O’Reilly makes a very slow read on the play but Bouwmeester can’t vacate until he knows O’Reilly will be able to cover.

The Blues would get equalizer with 3 seconds left in the 2nd period when Brayden Schenn scores another power play goal as he drives to the net and retrieves his own blocked pass.

Allen would make a number of point blank saves in the 3rd period, sending the game to overtime. About two thirds of the way into overtime, Alex Pietrangelo makes one of the dumbest challenges I have seen in a while, doing a drive by in the neutral zone and giving the Sharks the odd man rush that ends the game.

Allen almost gets Kevin Labanc’s one time but it goes into the net for the game winner.


All in all, five of six points on the trip is great but some key mistakes by your most experienced defensemen doomed the Blues in the game. Unfortunately, Jaden Schwartz struggled yet again with only 1 shot on a goal, a -2 and no points in almost 21 minutes.

Tonight the Blues host the Arizona Coyotes before heading out on another three game road trip. The Coyotes are fresh off a 7-1 loss last night in Chicago where Darcy Kuemper started the game but gave way to Calvin Pickard not even seven minutes into the 2nd period. Blues fans are hoping to see both netminders play again tonight.

The Coyotes are fighting for their playoff lives, one point out of the wild card game with a game in hand. This game has trap written all over it as the Coyotes will be angry and desperate with the Blues at risk to thinking this will be easier because it is the Coyotes second game of their back to backs.

The Coyotes are 8-2 in their last 10 games and are 17-15-2 on the road this season and will be looking to avenge their 4-0 Valentine’s Day home loss to the Blues.

None of the Coyotes players are averaging even 0.75 points per game (minimum 20 games). Darcy Kuemper will get the start tonight. Kuemper is 1-2 with a 90.4% save percentage against the Blues.

The Blues have won 19 of their last 24 games against the Coyotes. Ryan O’Reilly has been on fire against the Coyotes with 14 points in his last 12 games. His linemate, Brayden Schenn has 8 points in his last 8 games against them.

With Vladimir Tarasenko out and coach Craig Berube finally recognizing that he can’t put the anchor that has become Jaden Schwartz with O’Reilly and Schenn, Robert Thomas will get a shot on the top line. Here are the expected lines tonight:
Schenn-O'Reilly-Thomas
Schwartz-Bozak-Maroon
Sanford-Sundqvist-Steen
MacEachern-Barbashev-Blais
Edmundson-Pietrangelo
Bouwmeester-Parayko
Dunn-Bortuzzo
Binnington

Pat Maroon being helped off the ice yesterday was much ado about nothing. It turns out Colton Parayko's skate blade grazed Maroon's leg and he feared he was cut but the cut resistant skate socks did their job well.

NHL Champions for Charity
We’ve gotten some traction on the charity wager among the Central Division bloggers. One charity I’ll highlight is Best Buddies Tennessee https://www.bestbuddies.org/tennessee/from your Predators’s Blogger Paul McCann. Best Buddies Tennessee is dedicated to establishing a volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development and inclusive living opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As a side note, I recently got to experience a Best Buddies even in the St. Louis area that was led by the Eureka high school football team. It was a lot of fun and brought a lot of joy to those involved.

It’s a great day for hockey.
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