Chip McCleary: 1/21, Blues at Predators: GDT

Any reason why d'Agostini is a scratch ?

This game will be a better measuring stick for me, to see how good the Blues are. I don't expect Nashville to be as dreadful as Detroit was the other night.

Any reason why d'Agostini is a scratch ?
- Alexzanki

Just because there are 9 forwards better than him for one of the scoring lines and he's not the type of player you want on your 4th line. He'd be the first one to go in if one of the top 9 gets hurt or need to sit for performance reasons.

Unless he is dinged up I would think Langenbrunner plays for Reaves. Nashville is not the type of team you really need to employ Reaves against - they hit plenty but don't usually go over the line...

Edit: I mostly avoided hockey sites during the lockout. Didn't know Quirin was replaced but great work from what i have seen Chip!

This game will be a better measuring stick for me, to see how good the Blues are. I don't expect Nashville to be as dreadful as Detroit was the other night.
- bcallaway

With this being on the road I tend to agree with you, but i'm not sure what losing Suter is going to do to Nashville. I believe that Nashville had an interesting dynamic with Weber and Suter, as they had 2 guys that could play 30 minutes a night each, leaving your other 4 d-men to pick up the other 60 minutes in the game.

Losing Suter i think might make them vulnerable, as i know they didn't bring anyone in to replace him, and i'm not sure how deep their prospect pool runs or how good their prospects are. Also, losing Tootoo is going to hurt them as well. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say the Blues win 4-1.

Unless he is dinged up I would think Langenbrunner plays for Reaves. Nashville is not the type of team you really need to employ Reaves against - they hit plenty but don't usually go over the line...

Edit: I mostly avoided hockey sites during the lockout. Didn't know Quirin was replaced but great work from what i have seen Chip!
- BerglundsGrundle

Not sure if we'll see Langenbrunner or Reaves. I'll likely update this once it's clear, but I suspect we may see Reaves in and Clune dressed on the other side - otherwise, you run the risk of not dressing Reaves and then the Preds send out Clune, and then the Blues have to figure out who in the lineup they want to make expendable to counter him.

It's been a while since I followed the Blues on a daily basis, so be patient while I get back up to speed and re-engage ... but thanks for the kind comments. Hopefully, it gets better as the year goes along.

With this being on the road I tend to agree with you, but i'm not sure what losing Suter is going to do to Nashville. I believe that Nashville had an interesting dynamic with Weber and Suter, as they had 2 guys that could play 30 minutes a night each, leaving your other 4 d-men to pick up the other 60 minutes in the game.

Losing Suter i think might make them vulnerable, as i know they didn't bring anyone in to replace him, and i'm not sure how deep their prospect pool runs or how good their prospects are. Also, losing Tootoo is going to hurt them as well. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say the Blues win 4-1.
- jpl0219

The only thing not having Tootoo effects is an energy level. He was riding the pine the last 2 months of the season. I don't think losing Suter is going to hurt all that much. Maybe, but I feel Josi is absolutey capable of stepping into those shoes errr skates. He played some stints on the top line last year and was fantastic.

The defense isn't going to be a worry for the Preds. Weber's temper, lack of hustle, and bad passes are the areas I'm most concerned with right now.

D

The only thing not having Tootoo effects is an energy level. He was riding the pine the last 2 months of the season. I don't think losing Suter is going to hurt all that much. Maybe, but I feel Josi is absolutey capable of stepping into those shoes errr skates. He played some stints on the top line last year and was fantastic.

The defense isn't going to be a worry for the Preds. Weber's temper, lack of hustle, and bad passes are the areas I'm most concerned with right now.

D
- Predaceous

To be fair, having Suter still allowed Josi to play somewhat of a different role, as there wasn't as much pressure on him to perform, as there is now. I could be wrong though. My real Question is if Weber or Josi go down, what do you do then? How does the Depth look for Nashville?

To be fair, having Suter still allowed Josi to play somewhat of a different role, as there wasn't as much pressure on him to perform, as there is now. I could be wrong though. My real Question is if Weber or Josi go down, what do you do then? How does the Depth look for Nashville?
- jpl0219

Just make sure you don't underestimate Josi - he is a heck of a player.

great clinic win by the boys against the Red Terds. with Tootoo gone no reason to have Reaves in the lineup but then again Clune maybe in the lineup. Lagenbrunner would be nice to see brings more to the table. not so high on D'ags like a lot of people are trade bait if you ask me along with a pick(s) down the road if needed. i don't see NSH as the same team with Suter gone at least this year anyways. Weber is not going to be same player without him unless Josi becomes a stud overnight. NSH is a very good team but i think it is going to be a growing year for them... but if they get into the playoffs any team can win it this year i think with the shorten lockout schedule.

Also Chip kudos so far for the coverage of BLUES must be the new guy covering them here. bleed blue since birth but not in STL anymore so keep the info coming so far i like what i'm reading from you.

- glove_was_stuck

- glove_was_stuck

- glove_was_stuck

The best is the syrup at the end.

The best is the syrup at the end.
- gobluenotes

I'm certainly cranky when I don't have enough syrup......

I agree, Dag's isn't a 4th line player. He may be sitting alot. I can see them rotating Lang's and Reaves. LETS GO BLUES!!!

The best is the syrup at the end.
- gobluenotes

So awesome. I still can't believe this guy is backing up Howard what are they thinking in DET?

With this being on the road I tend to agree with you, but i'm not sure what losing Suter is going to do to Nashville. I believe that Nashville had an interesting dynamic with Weber and Suter, as they had 2 guys that could play 30 minutes a night each, leaving your other 4 d-men to pick up the other 60 minutes in the game.

Losing Suter i think might make them vulnerable, as i know they didn't bring anyone in to replace him, and i'm not sure how deep their prospect pool runs or how good their prospects are. Also, losing Tootoo is going to hurt them as well. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say the Blues win 4-1.
- jpl0219

actually we did bring in scott hannan. hes not suter but a better than average stay at home responsible dman. hes basically the only "new" roster player since mase had been here before.

I'd just like to take this chance to female dog about DirecTV not providing me the free Center Ice preview in HD - especially since my regular package has free HD.

I thought they could have called a hold on Legwand pulling down Tarasenko behind the net. That said, Pietrangelo shouldn't be the one trying to step up and throw the hit there - that should be Cole's job. It was especially bad, because all of the forwards were up ice and there really wasn't anything to gain there because the Predators were in better pisition to pick that puck up. One Petro missed, Cole was stuck defending the 2-on-1 and he was covering the left side, which meant when the pass went over to Wilson he was all alone.

Predators 1, Blues 0.

That Tarasenko guy. He looks like he might be halfway decent. On the replay, I wonder if Steen happened to get his stick on it, because it clearly got deflected.

Blues 1, Predators 1.

Yeah... who had the first goal against the Blues being Petro making a mistake?

Tarasenko... still looking awesome.

There's the penalty on Legwand - and it's a good one, because without it Tarasenko scores his 4th of the season.

PP coming up. Got HD working ... this looks f-ing awesome.

Dear hockey gods: please let McDonald, Steen and Tarasenko stay healthy all year long ... just so we can see what happens.

McDonald with his 1st, Tarasenko with his 1st assist. Blues 2, Predators 1.