Season Series: This is the first of six meetings between the Central Division rivals. St. Louis went 4-2-0 against Columbus in 2010-11.
Big Story: He insists it's just another game, but Blues coach Ken Hitchcock returns to Columbus for the first time Sunday night since being fired by the Blue Jackets on Feb. 3, 2010. Hitchcock replaced Davis Payne behind the Blues' bench on Nov. 7 after St. Louis won only six of its first 13 games. The Blues are 6-1-2 since Hitchcock took over.
"I've been out two years (in Columbus) doing work for them," Hitchcock told NHL.com. "I've developed a friendship with obviously the American (Hockey) League guys and some of the business people there just for fun, getting to know other people in the business.
"If it was (a big deal), I'd tell you. It isn't."
Team Scope:
Blues: Brian Elliott's remarkable start to the 2011-12 season continued Friday night, when he stopped all 24 shots he faced to lead St. Louis to a 2-0 victory against the Calgary Flames at the Scottrade Center. It was the third shutout of the season for Elliott, who improved to 9-1-0 while lowering his League-leading goals-against average to 1.34. Elliott also leads the NHL with a .951 save percentage.
"I just try to stay even-keeled, not really get up on yourself," Elliott said. "Those things can sneak through just the same. I try not to really think about it. You can be playing the same way and not getting the wins or results. You just try to keep it rolling when you can."
Blue Jackets: Elliott won't be the only hot goaltender on the ice Sunday. Curtis Sanford has been solid for Columbus as of late, as the Blue Jackets improved to 3-0-2 in their last five with Friday's 5-1 win against the Buffalo Sabres at Nationwide Arena.
Columbus is 4-1-2 in its last six after a horrid 2-12-1 start to the season.
"We're getting pucks deep, we're not making it hard on ourselves," Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash said of his team's surge. "We're trying not to have any turnovers at the blue lines. It's just a lot simpler game. It seems to work for the people we have in this room."
Who's Hot: Blues center Alexander Steen has 2 goals and 2 assists in the last five games. He leads the club with a plus-13 rating. Alex Pietrangelo has scored in each of the past two contests. … Nash has 3 goals and 2 assists in the last five games for Columbus.
Injury Report: St. Louis is expected to be without David Perron (concussion), B.J. Crombeen (shoulder), Andy McDonald (concussion), Kent Huskins (ankle) and Carlo Colaiacovo (hamstring). … Steve Mason (concussion), Kristian Huselius (torn pectoral muscle), Mark Dekanich (groin) and Radek Martinek (concussion) are out for Columbus.
Stat Pack: The Blues have outscored their opponents by a 23-13 margin since Hitchcock replaced Payne. … The Blue Jackets have earned a point in five straight games. It's their longest stretch since Feb. 25.
Puck Drop: "He's making saves he has no business making. When you've got that behind you, it gives you confidence to make a few more plays in front of him. Kudos to him." -- Blues captain David Backes on goalie Brian Elliott
Blues: Brian Elliott's remarkable start to the 2011-12 season continued Friday night, when he stopped all 24 shots he faced to lead St. Louis to a 2-0 victory against the Calgary Flames at the Scottrade Center. It was the third shutout of the season for Elliott, who improved to 9-1-0 while lowering his League-leading goals-against average to 1.34. Elliott also leads the NHL with a .951 save percentage.
And on that note I expect the Blues to sit him three of the next four. (not really, just still a little bitter scorn there)
Blues > Blue Jackets
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Blues 4 (Steen, Stewart 2, Bergie)
Blue Jackets 1 (who gives a shit?)
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'22-'23: Kim Wexler; '21-'22: Slayyyter; '21: fat chicks and covid-19; '19-'20: Taco Bell's Spicy Tostada (discontinued); '18-'19: Bhad Bhabie; '17-'18 Pitbull.'16-'17: Donald J. Trump, Black Lives Matter, and Karlie Kloss; '15-'16: the Hadids; '14-'15: $17.8+ trillion U.S. national debt; '13-'14: another season of bitter disappointment; '13: communism; '11-'12: Vlad Sobotka and fake, drunken lesbianism; '10-'11: Ryan Reaves, Bo Derek's cans, Willow Palin, and the new Lightning logo; '09-'10: the epic destruction of the Politics Forum; '08-'09: Sandy Miller
glen a richter wrote:I have a bit of a bad feeling about this one.
BJ's 3
Blues 2
I with ya on this one
Blues lose 4-1
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The Jackets are that odd sort of team, the kind that flat out sucks and yet can kill the momentum of much better and bigger teams at the drop of the hat, which doesn't help them insomuch as it hurts the losing team in the long run.
Don't change the tandem cycle. The team has to get confident with Halak in goal or it's a worthless point of having Mr. Throat-Noise-For-A-Last-Name. Elliotts dropped the gauntlet, let's see if Halak's strong enough to lift it.
Either way, I say we win this one, 2-1. I'll take Backes and Stewart with Shats and Pie for the assists.
Edit: If it's Elliott in Goal, I say He makes the BJs Phone Home! :D
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not_a_wings_fan wrote:What's the story on sobotka? I never heard anymore update on his injuries from that puck.
I'm lazy so here's what JR wrote about Sobotka.
After further review, Blues forward Vladimir Sobotka needs more time to recuperate.
Sobotka was hit in the mouth by a puck in the third period of Friday's 2-0 win over Calgary. Originally, it was believed Sobotka would only require a few stitches, but it turned out to be worse.
"He's got a fracture in the bone area of the teeth, so that's probably what's causing the problem," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. "We'll leave him here (Sunday) and he'll join us in Washington."
