GDT #16: 2/20/13 > Blues @ Avalanche > 9:00 PM > NBCSN/KMOX

[dmiles2186]

BLUES (9-6-1) at AVALANCHE (6-7-1)

TV: TSN2, NBCSN

Last 10: St. Louis 4-5-1; Colorado 4-5-1.

Season series: This is the first of three meetings.

Big story: It’s a nationally-televised Wednesday Night Rivalry matchup featuring a pair of Western Conference foes battling for spots in the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Team scope:

Blues: After a successful road trip that saw them reel off three straight victories, the Blues returned home and suffered a frustrating 2-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night.

One can understand why it perhaps took a bit for the Blues to find their legs – they arrived in St. Louis just 12-1/2 hours prior to Tuesday’s opening faceoff -- 14 hours after they were supposed to land from Vancouver -- because of mechanical issues with the team's charter flight.

“It's unfortunate what happened yesterday [with the team's travel], but we can't use it as an excuse,” said goaltender Jake Allen, who suffered his first loss since being promoted from Peoria of the American Hockey League. “It happened. We're here tonight to play. We had our moments, but we weren't as consistent as we were on the road. Hopefully, we bounce back and get that back tomorrow."

Avalanche: Colorado found its offensive game Monday afternoon, when it earned a 6-5 win against the Nashville Predators at the Pepsi Center. Matt Duchene and Aaron Palushaj collected a goal and two assists each for the Avs, who entered the game averaging just 2.3 goals per contest.

"It was a crazy game out there, that's for sure," Avalanche coach Joe Sacco said. "It was entertaining for the fans, but maybe not so much for the coaches. The bottom line is we found a way to win. It was not the game that we expected. It was just one of those games."

Who’s hot: Duchene has scored in four straight games for the Avalanche. He also has four assists in the past two contests … Blues center Patrik Berglund scored his team’s lone goal Tuesday night, extending his goal streak to four consecutive contests.

Injury report: Erik Johnson (head), Ryan Wilson (leg) and Gabriel Landeskog (head) are out indefinitely for Colorado. … Blues winger Jamie Langenbrunner (hip) is out for the season

[gaijin]

Is it bad that I get sick satisfaction at the knowledge that EJ is not playing?

2 points, please.

[APOD]

2 points in reg

[sseagle]

Did we make it to colonrodhole ?
I don't care if we were delayed getting home, these are professional athletes. First class luxury getting home isn't that bad even if its late.

On that note, we need to crush colonrodhole tonight, they are craptacular in every game I've watched of theirs.

As to Jake Plissken, if we can ride him to 3-1 out of every four games, you would all stop knee jerk thrashing about the sky falling.

[Shanahan19]

Should have no problems with the Avs.

Note - 5
Avs - 2

[sseagle]

Should have no problems with the Avs.

Note - 5
Avs - 2

I'll go glens prediction.

Dives 7
Blues 1

[Oaklandblue]

The road has been far more kind to us. So...

Blues 2
Avs 1 OT

[glen a richter]

I rode the loss predictions as far as I could, but then they actually went off and lost. That wasn't in the planbook. Change of strategy now:

Blues 4
Avs 3 (OT)

[Shanahan19]

Should have no problems with the Avs.

Note - 5
Avs - 2

I'll go glens prediction.

Dives 7
Blues 1

Am I the only one that often forgets the Avs are even in the league? I have run into fans all over North America of just about every team but the Avs and Panthers.

[sseagle]

Should have no problems with the Avs.

Note - 5
Avs - 2

I'll go glens prediction.

Dives 7
Blues 1

Am I the only one that often forgets the Avs are even in the league? I have run into fans all over North America of just about every team but the Avs and Panthers.

Unfortunately, I know a dives fan, he bailed on the thrashers after they moved to manitoba (mooooron) I guess it could be worse, he was born in shitcago

[Nyghtewynd]

At least we got a point, but a terrible loss to a bad team with most of its weapons not even playing. This team is still a mess. Made an average goalie look like a genius by firing shot after shot into his chest. Two nights, two great goaltending performances against two bad teams, and you get one point. Awful.

[#1ELPBluzFan]

Frigging Unbelievable Loss tonight!

[STLADOGG]

Halak looked great, hopefully the Messiah is alright, and Stewart could care less about his former team.

[Portland Blues]

At least we got a point, but a terrible loss to a bad team with most of its weapons not even playing. This team is still a mess. Made an average goalie look like a genius by firing shot after shot into his chest. Two nights, two great goaltending performances against two bad teams, and you get one point. Awful.

[Oaklandblue]

30+ Shots on goal and couldn't even score to award the defense for their amazing work? Pathetic.

[sseagle]

Third star : Varlamov
Second star : Varlamov
First star : Varlamov

Quit passing the goddamn puck laterally in front of our own net, and back passing towards our own net. Take two nights, have a cbj, and call me Sunday. Maybe a week of bed rest and suicides till you puke.

[dmiles2186]

It just had that feel that 1 goal was going to win it. We were limiting their shots, Halak was stopping the shots he was seeing, and we had an overwhelming margin in puck possession. I thought Colorado was the better team in the 3rd, but overall, we had the edge in the 1st, 2nd, and OT.

And a few have already mentioned it...we were shooting smack into Varlamov's chest. He did make some good saves, so it wasn't all easy for him. But the Blues had their chances and kept stepping on the banana peel. We got a point, which is good, but against the Avs with half of their lineup out, it is a disappointing result.

[cprice12]

[youtube][/youtube]

How many games will Oliver get?
He should definitely get something. I don't think he meant to hit Tarasenko in the head, but his intent is irrelevant. He drove his shoulder into Tarasenko's head (who was defenseless) and it was the initial point of contact. End of story.

If the league is serious about hits to the head, I think he should probably get at least 3 games, but most likely he gets 1 or 2 since Hansen only got 1 game for his hit on Hossa.

Hits like these are a problem. It wasn't viscous or premeditated, but it was careless and dangerous. The league needs to start handing out stiffer penalties for hits to the head like this. The intentional ones are easy calls, but hits like these are the ones that far too often get a tiny slap on the wrist when they can be just as dangerous.

[abc789987]

I doubt there is any suspension at all.

[STLADOGG]

I doubt there is any suspension at all.

No suspension needed. It was an accident.