GDT: Blues at Minnesota 5pm 3/14/10 (FSMW, KMOX)

[stlbluz]

BLUES PREVIEW: The Blues are 2-1 against the Wild this season, with all three games won by the home team. On their first trip to Minnesota, Dec. 26, the Blues lost 4-3.

WILD PREVIEW: Minnesota was idle Saturday, sitting one point back of the Blues in the Western Conference with 70 points. The Wild is coming off a 3-2 victory over Buffalo, the team's only win in its last five games.

WHAT TO WATCH: The Blues may see Minnesota backup goalie Josh Harding tonight. Starter Niklas Backstrom has missed the last two games with a groin injury. Harding had 43 saves in Friday's win over Buffalo.

INJURIES: BLUES — C Keith Tkachuk (finger), questionable; WILD — G Niklas Backstrom (groin), D Brent Burns (hip) and D Shane Hnidy (lower body) questionable; D Clayton Stoner (hernia) and C Pierre-Marc Bouchard (concussion), out.

[sseagle]

Blues win..

[bluesfan115]

Blues are now 3 points ahead of the Wild...but still 5 out of detoilet, with one game in hand...This is giong to be another one of those "must win" games for our boys...

No prediction on the score ( bad karma), just hopefull a win for the blues...

[STLADOGG]

INJURIES:WILD — G Niklas Backstrom (groin)

Ohhh I like this.

[WaukeeBlues]

This is one of those critical 4 point swing games that are crucial to win if you want to discourage teams still scrambling for the playoffs, to say nothing of the fact that you put yourself in a better position as well. Another "really really need to win" game.

Blues 3
Wild 1

Steen scores

[philco_3]

Wild 4-3 OT

[glen a richter]

are there really any non-must wins at this point?

[WaukeeBlues]

are there really any non-must wins at this point?

True but it's less painful losing to, say, the Capitals or Sharks as opposed to the Wild, Stars, Flames, etc, if you want to talk in terms of not only point received but points denied other teams.

[gaijin]

are there really any non-must wins at this point?

Exactly.

Is there a ranking system for must-win games? Something like "must-win or be eliminated" at the top, followed by "standard must-win," then "pretty sure this is a must-win," and finally "probably a must win but if we don't it's still theoretically possible that we can make up the points in the remaining games although it's going to make things more difficult" at the bottom.

[glen a richter]

are there really any non-must wins at this point?

Exactly.

Is there a ranking system for must-win games? Something like "must-win or be eliminated" at the top, followed by "standard must-win," then "pretty sure this is a must-win," and finally "probably a must win but if we don't it's still theoretically possible that we can make up the points in the remaining games although it's going to make things more difficult" at the bottom.

I believe we should just shorten that last group to pamwbiwdistptwcmutpitrgaigtmtmd, just for the sake of simplicity.

[ComradeT]

Is there not a penalty for hitting after the whistle?

[#1ELPBluzFan]

Nice scrap with DJ King and Boogard (sp)...but I don't understand the penalty on Walt; I'm not sure what game the Refs are watching today!

[#1ELPBluzFan]

Freaking horrible clearing attempt...right up the middle!?!??!?!?

C'mon Jack, you're smarter than that.

[Krigloch the Furious]

I heard on the radio, Boyes with 3 shots... None on goal. Good job buddy.

[dmiles2186]

Le sigh.

[#1ELPBluzFan]

So, have we seen the last of Chris Mason tonight??

I suspect The Conk will start the 2nd....

[Nyghtewynd]

Good to see that the Blues decided to end their season before the NCAA selection show was over. Way to go, guys.

[cprice12]

Freaking horrible clearing attempt...right up the middle!?!??!?!?

C'mon Jack, you're smarter than that.

No, he isn't. He's been doing it all season. He did it twice tonight and it cost us a goal.
The biggest complaint I have about Jackman is his inability to clear the puck out of the zone. He's horrible at it.

[DaDitka]

No, he isn't. He's been doing it all season. He did it twice tonight and it cost us a goal.
The biggest complaint I have about Jackman is his inability to clear the puck out of the zone. He's horrible at it.

He was horrible at everything tonight. I would say that was his worst game of the year, but he may take that as a challenge and actually play worse in one of the games we have left.


Now the worst home team in the league has to try and make up serious ground with the majority of our remaining games at home.

[philco_3]

honestly why didn't Conklin get the start? I can understand you want to go with the hot goaltender with Mason, but come on he's not superman.