St LOUIS

Volume 5, Issue 31 GAME TIME Februar y 12, 2010

Four Dollars of Can I Get A What-What The Number One Fan-Based St. Louis Blues Program Established in 2005

By Brad Lee push to the postseason can just be replicated with the flip of a switch when all this team has showed this year is a problem giving You might remember when Edmonton came to town last a consistent effort every night over the full 60 minutes. Something month that only one team was horrible enough to lose to the has to happen for the players to change their ways. There needs to Oilers during their horrendous losing streak. That team is here be a rallying , a clear demarcation where they went from tonight. When the Blues come out flat after not playing for a disappointing to dangerous. Getting the coach fired wasn‘t couple days and blow a game to , it will easily be worse enough. Maybe a trade would make a difference. Maybe a huge than the stands being crowded with Blackhawks fans last brawl. Whatever happens that could bring the Blues together, it Saturday. I can‘t wait. better happen quick. Of course this open pessimism is a little different Tonight is the return of to than our usual take on the Blues. And you‘d St. Louis for the first time after he was traded to think that after a big 4-3 shootout win over the Toronto in December 2008. You might on Tuesday that we‘d be remember that Game Time latched onto happy. Pfft. You know and I know that the Stempniak as the Blues‘ scrappy version of Blues threw away another two- lead late David Eckstein during his rookie year in in the third period. You know and I know 2005-06, otherwise known as ―The Year The that giving the Wings a charity point with Blues Were Worst In The League.‖ He Detroit ahead of them in the standings is a represented the future, a future where the big problem. Blues didn‘t lose so goddamned much. It will In this space, we‘re going to talk a little be good to see him again. about where the Blues stand at this point, trade is no longer a Leaf. He was some questions with a big Leafs fan and a few traded recently to the Flames. We don‘t miss other things that I haven‘t thought of yet. It‘ll be a TM him and his inability to score from in front of the surprise to all of us. net at all. Almost sounds like I‘m writing about . And if With 22 games left on the schedule counting tonight, the Blues Bradley doesn‘t score another goal soon, his shooting percentage are six points out of eighth place in the Western Conference, but could be in the 5 percent range and dropping. And then you‘ll still in 13th place. That means St. Louis has to displace five teams really see me bitch about him. to qualify for the playoffs. The shitty part is that the team is close Playing the Leafs, a star-crossed franchise that hasn‘t seen the enough to peddle the idea that a playoff run is still in them but since before the Blues were brought into the league as far enough out that it‘s obviously a warping of reality. They can an expansion franchise, gives us the chance to ask some questions try and convince the paying customers that last year‘s manic (Continued on page 26) Today’s Records, Injuries & News Today’s Team Records: Today’s Injuries: Today’s News & Notes:

Blues: Maple Leafs: Blues: F (upper body)  Saturday‘s opponents, the Washington 26 -25-9 (61 points) 19-30-11 (49 points) is questionable. Capitals, go from a franchise-high 14 4th in Central 5th in Northeast straight wins to two straight losses 13th in Western 15th in Eastern against Montreal and . Maple Leafs: D Mike Van Ryn (knee)

Last Ten Games: and D Mike Komisarek (shoulder) are Pavol Demitra, who left the Canucks out for the season. C Mikhail Blues: Maple Leafs: for personal reasons, returned Friday. Grabovski (wrist) is out. RW Christian 4-4-2 2-6-2 Game Time staff still seeing the dark Hanson (flu) and RW/LW Fredrik Season Series: All-Time Series: Sjostrom (flu) are questionable. cloud of Tuesday‘s game and not the silver lining. 0-0-0 90-88-25-1

CAUTION: St. Louis Game Time contains extreme sarcasm and less-than-gentle language. But it is a hockey paper, so you should just fucking get over it. Volume 5, Issue 31 From The Editor February 12, 2010

Lee Stempniak is back in the building where would lead the team out of the Dark St. Louis Game Time he became a legitimate NHL player for the Ages. Of course, we all know what Established: November 6, 2005 first time since he was traded away by the happened after that, as Stempniak found St Louis, Missouri Blues. I will always have a weird tie to himself marginalized as other youngsters Phone: 314-402-2266 Stempniak because his first season in the stepped up. He lost the prime power play www.StLouisGameTime.com NHL was the first season that we started this time and the top spots on the top lines. www..com/StLouisGameTime paper. He was becoming less the face of the

rebuild and more of the face of the Back in those days we spent a lot of time Godfather transition. By the time he was traded, I trying to figure out different ways to say wasn‘t even shocked. Jeffio ―They suck‖ without using the words suck and shitty and crappy and suckshittytas- But still Stempniak is a guy that I Publisher & Editor-in-Chief ticrappy. Clearly we ran out of them. watch. I‘m no Maple Leafs fan and Sean Gallagher don‘t waste a lot of my time But we had a following back then, [email protected] watching a last-place team play as did the Blues. A small, probably hockey (I‘ve got plenty of that crazy following, but a following Advertising already, thank you), but I keep anyway. And we were all looking [email protected] tabs on how he‘s doing. Unfor- for something, anything, to point tunately for him, Stempniak has settled to with hope. One night in Columbus, as the Distribution into the role that the Blues obviously had under-manned Blues were slogging through John Nicolay pegged for him when they moved him: a another terrible game against an equally Amy Benoist, Becky Benoist, steady winger who can get you around awful Blue Jackets team I was once again JoAnn Foster, Clarence Walker 20 goals a year, but by no means a game- questioning my own sanity for starting this breaker. paper and for even being a fan of this team. Columnists They had nothing going on at all. The other interesting part of this Leafs Chris Gift, Duke, Brad Lee, Answer Man, team for me is the presence of Phil Jason Travers & Brian Weidler And then Lee Stempniak made a skill Kessel. During that first horrible season move, juked through a couple Jackets and that we struggled through as a paper, the Contributors scored a pretty goal. And not a pretty goal Blues were near the bottom of the Jeffio, Rick Ackerman, Joe Barker, Jeff like, ―That‘s one of the best goals these guys Browning, Tim Oshie, Childhood Trauma, standings the whole time. For the first will score this year,‖ but more like ―That‘s a Jeremy Pratte, St. Brian & Chris Reed time ever, I was paying attention to the pretty goal on any team, not just a crappy Photographer likely lottery players in that summer‘s team.‖ Almost immediately, Stempniak Andrew D‘Angelo . I spent a lot of time watching the became the face of the Blues‘ rebuilding plan. progress of , who many Our team, bad as it was, had a 22-year-old Key Grip thought early on would be the top overall Patrick Shaw kid who could score pretty goals. He was a pick. A flashy scoring winger, just what symbol for us, a sign that things would get Mission: the Blues needed, right? better. Game Time will provide prospect I did Phil Kessel Watch articles in the I was so inspired by that goal and the information, up-to-date statistics, articles paper and on the website. I hoped that that spark discussion and humor that spark it gave the team that I started our first he‘d wind up as a member of the Blues. points out the best and worst about our ever Game Time contest that night. We asked favorite team and sport. We are all fans of What can I say, I was a Brett Hull fan. for solicitations for nicknames for Stempniak the Blues and our opinions will reflect and the winner got a t-shirt. For those of you Kessel is another guy I‘ve kept my eye those of subjective fans. who have been around long enough, you on for much the same reason as The paper is published for every home Stempniak and now I probably always game, excluding the pre-season, because know the origin of the winning submission we all know the pre-season totally sucks. that gave him the GT nickname of Dutchie. will. There‘s something about the That nickname contest tied us to Stempniak suffering we went through and the Rights & Permissions: promise of those two that I hoped would even more. I spent every game hunting for All material printed herein is copyrighted the first fan-worn Stempniak jersey in the be part of our team‘s future that will and protected. Do not reprint in any crowd. It didn‘t take long to find one; I was have them forever linked in my mind. format without expressed, written so excited to find it I called Chris Gift. As permission from Game Time Sleep And so, while I really, really want to Deprivation Industries, LLC. Blues fans latched on to Stempniak, more see the Blues not blow another game at and more No. 12 jerseys appeared in the home, if either Stempniak or Kessel do Logos & Photos crowd. Clearly we were not the only ones something good tonight, I might not boo. Team logos and pictures used herein are who were drawn to Dutchie. the property of the individual teams That year he finished with 14 goals and 27 and/or the NHL and are used solely for identification and editorial purposes. points in 57 games played. The year after that -Sean “ah, 2005, when we drank he tallied 27 goals in his first full season. He all our profits with just one round” Gallagher Today’s Weird Reference: ―I don‘t think was fully entrenched as one of the kids who this is a smoker, Rudolf.‖ GAME TIME Page 3

Tonight’s Trivia Top 11 Things Stempniak By Childhood Trauma Misses About St. Louis

11. Cheap Fucking Cheap, Fun Motherfucking Fun. First Period (true or false): 10. Waking up hungover as shit in some Ladue 1. Mike Kitchen won more playoff games as the Blues head cougar‘s guest house. coach than . 9. Random people calling him ―Dutchie‖ at the Galleria. 2. Davis Payne and Jarmo Kekalainen are both alumni of the 8. Getting local chickadees to set up contract . murders for him and then telling them, ―I ain‘t First Intermission (t/f): Danton, dummy.‖ 3. Elisha Cuthbert plays Donald Sutherland‘s wife on 24. 7. Just chilling at McClement‘s house, just not saying nothing for hours at a time. Second Period (multiple choice): 6. Being able to tell people that the DJ from Yo 4. Who did the Blues get when they traded Mike Van Ryn: Gabba Gabba is from his town. , Steve Kariya, , or Steve Martins? 5. Nachomama‘s fajita tacos and probably illegal drive-through margaritas. 5. Which team still has its 2010 first round draft pick: Maple 4. Now they open 40? Assholes. Leafs, Flames, Flyers, or Ducks? 3. Not one motherfucker in Toronto as cool to hang Second Intermission: with as Bobby Plager. 6. Until this season, what was the only food you could legally 2. Oshie‘s sloppy seconds are miles ahead of Jeff buy from a street vendor in Toronto: hot dogs, Dipping Dots, Finger‘s. poutine, or flapper pie? 1. Only stalkers in St. Louis are those retards from Game Time. Third Period:

7. Which Blues alumnus has the most points this season? From the 12 Fluid Ounces of Gallagher‘s Brain 8. Which current Leaf was a fifth overall pick and has a brother who was also selected fifth overall? 9. Which player involved in the Stempniak trade has scored Win Your the most points for his current team? ! Shift. 10. When was most recent time the Blues‘ defensive scoring

was lead by the same player for two consecutive seasons? www.stlouisgametime.com feat. the duplicate to seasons 15 been Johnson continues his defensive scoring lead this season, it will have have will it season, this lead scoring defensive his continues Johnson

10. Al MacInnis led during the 1995 and the 1996 seasons. If Erik Erik If seasons. 1996 the and 1995 the during led MacInnis Al 10. Corrections & Clarifications

45. has Colaiacovo and

9. Lee Stempniak has 60 points as a leaf. Steen has 51 Blues points, points, Blues 51 has Steen leaf. a as points 60 has Stempniak Lee 9.  Game Time would like to apologize for coming up

would be selected fifth overall in 2009 by the Kings. the by 2009 in overall fifth selected be would with lots of wild trade ideas. But only because our

8. was fifth overall in 2008 while his brother Brayden Brayden brother his while 2008 in overall fifth was Schenn Luke 8. fantasy team sucks.

Penguins. the for points

7. has 40 for the Flyers. Bill Guerin is second with 35 35 with second is Guerin Bill Flyers. the for 40 has Pronger Chris 7.  Sorry we upper-deckered your toilet during your

in 2009. in Super Bowl party. Also sorry that we couldn‘t stop

vendors. Toronto began experimenting with a larger variety of items items of variety larger a with experimenting began Toronto vendors. laughing when you told us you

(known as street meats) that were allowed to be sold by street street by sold be to allowed were that meats) street as (known just figured it out yesterday. the lowly hot dog and other precooked, non refrigerated sausages sausages refrigerated non precooked, other and dog hot lowly the

6. Due to extremely high standards for food safety, ironically it was was it ironically safety, food for standards high extremely to Due 6. We mean, really, come on.

by the Yotes and the Flames‘ pick is owned by the Bruins. the by owned is pick Flames‘ the and Yotes the by Thursday? That‘s a long

5. The Ducks have their pick and the Flyers‘. The Leafs pick is owned owned is pick Leafs The Flyers‘. the and pick their have Ducks The 5. fucking, shit-smelling time.

of Valeri Bure who would then flee and return to Florida. to return and flee then would who Bure Valeri of  Game Time printed the wrong game Blues career career Blues game - five the into Ryn Van parlay to able were Blues the

4. After stealing Van Ryn from the Devils via a contract technicality, technicality, contract a via Devils the from Ryn Van stealing After 4. picture of the Blues during

3. False. She plays Keifer Sutherland‘s daughter. Sutherland‘s Keifer plays She False. 3. every game’s last 10

2. False. They both are alumni of the . Boston the of alumni are both They False. 2. minutes in the last issue.

The correct picture is

1. True. Kitchen won one in 2004, Murray won zero in 2009. in zero won Murray 2004, in one won Kitchen True. 1. shown here. Volume 5, Issue 31 Page 4 February 12, 2010 Page 5 G AME TIME The Five Hole

With Chris Gift

We at Game Time take a lot of pride being there for our Okay Steve, 14 months after the fact, what say you about online and print readers every night. We try to be as the guy we know as Dutchie? accurate as possible in what we report, and this won‘t come ―Lee Stempniak's future, I think, is not in Toronto. I like as a shock- we‘re pretty honest in our assessment of the Dutchie (okay, I edited that part), but he's not getting the team as a whole and each individual involved with the team same room or role as he did in St. Louis. He's improved his too. game a lot since last year - taking shots, skating hard, We think that we have the game day publication and up back- - but he simply isn't producing to what people to the minute website thing down pretty good, but there‘s no thought he would. He's another fan punching-bag, but he's Game Time produced video about what we think about definitely not the worst Leaf.‖ what‘s happening on or off the ice. While it doesn‘t take forever to make his two to five minute I‘m sure it is doable, but chances are it might look awful. Leafs Fan Reactions (LFRs), ―shooting the video takes as God knows it won‘t be as good as what Steve Glynn has little as 20 minutes, or as long as 45 when I don't think it's done after every game and following any breaking news that going well,‖ there are days like January 31. The Leafs played surrounds his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs. the night before (losing 5-3 at home to Vancouver), and You may have seen him on Leafspace, or YouTube as stunned the hockey world by making two blockbuster trades Steve Dangle. Like anything on the internet, you don‘t want that morning. to use your real name until you get really good and people (Continued on page 23) start noticing you. The cool thing is that Nike has with Glynn, Dangle, Shirley…whatever. I‘ll keep it simple and call him Steve. But as you read this, the Swoosh has him in The Jeffio Joke of the Day Vancouver covering the Olympics, just like he covered the World Juniors for them over Christmas in . A 47-year-old woman decided to get a facelift for her Not bad for what he started in October 2007 because, as birthday. On her way home she stopped at a news stand to he says, ―‘This‘ll crack some people up,‘ I assumed it would buy a paper. Before leaving, she asked the sales clerk, ―I hope pretty much just be my buddies. Some of them seemed to you don‘t mind my asking, but how old do you think I am?‖ like it, but it hit like 100 views, maybe less, so I made one ―About 32‖, the clerk replied. for the next game, too. Now I‘ve done over 350 videos. I ―I‘m actually 47,‖ the woman said happily. never expected this.‖ A little while later, she went into McDonald‘s, and after While Game Time may come into your home, or at least getting her order, asked the counter girl the same question. into your seats for a few minutes a day, Steve has flipped on The counter girl answered, ―I‘d guess about 29.‖ his webcam in his bedroom, his family room, and because of a computer meltdown this year, his basement in a setting Feeling very good about herself, the woman replied, that can be described as a post-apocalyptic Blair Witch ―Nope, I am 47.‖ Project in color. Waiting to get into the Blues game that night, she saw Come rain or shine, sickness or health, , Bob Plager and asked him how old he thought she was. He Saskatchewan, or for tomorrow‘s game, British Columbia, if replied, ―I‘m 66 and my eyesight is starting to go. Although, the Leafs act, Steve reacts, and it isn‘t easy. ―There are when I was young, there was a sure way to tell how old a times where I don't necessarily want to or I‘m sick. But the woman was, but it requires you to let me put my hands up show must go on. I was sick pretty much my first whole your shirt and feel your boobs. Then I can tell exactly how old week at the World Juniors. Literally the second the plane you are.‖ touched down I got sick. But I was there for a reason. Those Very curious, the woman said, ―What the hell, go ahead.‖ videos had to be made, and the finished product is Plager slipped both hands up her shirt, under her bra, something I‘m very proud of. I have over 4,000 subscribers and felt around. After a couple of minutes, the woman said, on YouTube now. I assume I'm letting down that many ―OK, OK, how old am I?‖ people. Besides, I'm talking about hockey. There are far worse things in this life I could be doing than talking about Plager removed his hands and said, ―You are 47.‖ sports.‖ Stunned, the woman replied, ―That is amazing! How did Game Time first came across Steve giving a playoff you know?‖ preview prior to the 2008 playoffs, and we really noticed Plager answered, ―I was behind you in line at him once he dissected the Lee Stempniak for Carlo McDonald‘s.‖ Colaiacovo and Alex Steen deal. Volume 5, Issue 31 Page 6 February 12, 2010

Advanced Hockey Statistics

Rk Name Pos GP Corsi GFON/60 GAON/60 Diff 1 D 46 16.0 2.17 2.45 -0.28 This table shows the Blues 2 C 52 11.2 1.53 2.18 -0.65 roster‘s Corsi Rating. The 3 D 57 8.1 2.81 2.75 0.06 Corsi Rating was initially 4 C 56 6.4 2.58 2.74 -0.16 developed by Jim Corsi, the 5 T.J. Oshie LW 56 5.6 2.41 2.57 -0.16 goaltending coach for the 6 Brad Boyes RW 59 3.1 2.92 3.00 -0.08 . 7 David Perron RW 59 2.6 1.93 3.14 -1.21 The Corsi Rating measures 8 LW 53 2.5 2.30 2.56 -0.26 a player by tallying the number 9 Andy McDonald LW 56 1.8 2.20 2.94 -0.74 of shots for his team during his 10 Alex Steen C 46 1.6 2.29 2.51 -0.22 shift minus the number of 11 RW 35 -0.1 1.09 2.54 -1.45 shots taken against his team during his shift. Shots that 12 Brad Winchester RW 50 -1.3 1.78 1.64 0.14 miss the net and 13 Barret Jackman D 49 -2.0 2.38 2.38 0.00 are not counted, just like any 14 Keith Tkachuk C 54 -3.0 2.80 3.40 -0.60 shots that are blocked. 15 D 38 -3.5 1.85 1.85 0.00 16 Roman Polak D 59 -5.0 2.24 2.36 -0.12 We have included the 17 Alex Pietrangelo D 8 -7.3 0.58 6.36 -5.78 players‘ rating for Goals For 18 Tyson Strachan D 6 -7.5 3.27 1.63 1.64 and Goals Against if they were 19 Mike Weaver D 54 -8.0 1.40 1.84 -0.44 to play a full 60 minutes per 20 D 37 -10.0 1.91 3.33 -1.42 game and the player‘s GF/GA 21 B.J. Crombeen RW 56 -10.6 1.50 2.20 -0.70 differential for comparison 22 Jay McClement C 59 -13.5 1.88 2.53 -0.65 purposes. 23 D.J. King LW 3 -49.8 0.00 7.07 -7.07

Rk Name Pos GP Drawn Taken Diff These statistics show the total 1 Paul Kariya LW 53 18 6 12 number of Penalties Drawn by each 2 Andy McDonald LW 56 11 5 6 player as well as the total number of 3 David Perron RW 59 21 16 5 Penalties Taken by the player. 4 T.J. Oshie LW 56 13 9 4 Paul Kariya has consistently been 5 Alex Steen C 46 10 7 3 at the top of this list this year and has 6 Tyson Strachan D 6 3 0 3 been trailed by a considerable margin 7 Brad Boyes RW 59 7 5 2 by several other quick, puckhandling 8 Patrik Berglund C 52 6 5 1 forwards.. 9 Darryl Sydor D 38 3 3 0 10 Jay McClement C 59 5 6 -1 On the opposite end for forwards 11 David Backes C 56 12 14 -2 are physical players like Keith 12 Eric Brewer D 37 4 6 -2 Tkachuk and B.J. Crombeen. 13 Alex Pietrangelo D 8 0 2 -2 As you might expect, defensemen 14 Barret Jackman D 49 8 11 -3 fare worse in this analysis than their 15 Roman Polak D 59 6 9 -3 forward counterparts. In general, if 16 Mike Weaver D 54 4 7 -3 defensemen are around even on the 17 Carlo Coaiacovo D 46 3 10 -7 differential then they‘re doing pretty 18 Keith Tkachuk C 54 11 19 -8 well. 19 B.J. Crombeen RW 56 8 16 -8 20 Erik Johnson D 57 6 16 -10 GAME TIME Page 7 The Ghost of the Blues With Jeff Browning

I‘m surprised the Blues haven‘t made any trades yet. Last ever against the club that drafted him (much like Stempniak, year, they made a big trade, tearing the Game Time staff except Lee was drafted ten years later). However, he demanded apart as our beloved Lee Stempniak was sent to Toronto for to be traded from the Leafs. Can‘t really blame him. So they Alex Steen and Carlo Colaiacovo, two guys sent him and three other guys for . I really like who were chased out of that town. It Phaneuf, as does pretty much everyone who isn‘t from Calgary. wasn‘t a good sign for the Blues at the I‘m sure they know better than we do. Kinda like how the time, but man does that trade keep Versus announcers were gushing over Eric Brewer the other getting better and better. night. Well Phaneuf has done well against the Blues, 15 points After coming off one 18 and two 15-goal and 40 PIM, which isn‘t that amazing really since he got four seasons with the Maple Leafs, Steen only had two goals and assists in one of our games last year. two assists through his first 20 games. Meanwhile, The stupid Leafs also traded their best player last year and Colaiacovo was sitting on a single assist after a couple bust one of their forty goalies for another goalie, Jean-Sebastien seasons (did I mention they were both first round draft Giguere. Better known as the Kurt Warner of hockey (actually, picks?). Dutchie wasn‘t too hot last year either, but he had a I‘m the only one who calls him that), Giggy won the playoff few great seasons under his belt, and was still going at a point MVP in a losing effort alongside Paul Kariya and Andy per game, not to mention that beautiful OT goal during his McDonald. He also won the Cup alongside McDonald a few final Blues game. Again, what were the Blues thinking? years later. That was a good team, assembled by current Leafs The Blues made the trade on Nov. 24, 2008. At that time, GM . He stepped down as Ducks GM shortly after they were 8-8-2, at the bottom of the Western Conference. he traded McDonald to the Blues for 60-year-old . After the trade, they went 33-23-8, giving them a long lost Hmmm? playoff berth. I‘m sure the 24 and 29 points Alex and Carlo The Leafs‘ GM before Burke, John tallied helped out. Meanwhile, Toronto had the same record Ferguson Jr. Remember him? No? He as St. Louis at trade time. They finished under .500, a bunch was only the Blues‘ assistant GM, vice of games out of the playoffs. Stempniak did have 31 points, president, minor league GM and president, but not up to his caliber. Good trade Blues. contract keeper, did tons of behind the scene stuff. Now Toronto must not have learned too well as they have been remember him? No? Nothing against Blues fans, but Toronto trade crazy the last week. Loooooong time Blue Jamal fans are a whole new level. JF jr. couldn‘t go a day up north Mayers, a Toronto native, was looking to play his first game without getting slashed tires and death threats. Ferguson‘s remains are somewhere in Lake Ontario.

Blues Record When… With St. Brian Playing at ItsStillOverCentre 10-16-5 Dion Phaneufs favourite tv show is 24 26-25-9 Playing on the road 16-9-4 Leading after the 1st 10-4-2 Phil Kessel has ball 26-25-9 Tied after the 1st 11-8-6 They score first 17-11-6 Trailing after the 1st 5-13-1 The other team scores first 9-14-3 PTMFUS! 26-25-9 They score 4 or more goals 15-0-0 Leading after the 2nd 19-2-6 They score on the PP 14-9-5 Tied after the 2nd 5-5-0 The other team scores on the PP 8-14-6 Trailing after the 2nd 2-18-3 They score shorthanded 2-2-0 Wearing the Thirds 3-7-3 A Blues players has multiple goals 12-3-0 Fight! Fight! Fight! 14-10-6 Different Coach, same crappy players 9-8-3 Angelllla reeks of shame 26-25-9 They played the day before 4-6-2 They are called for 7 or more penalties 6-8-4 The other team played the day before 3-2-4 Other team called for 7 or more penalties 5-8-3 Playing on Sunday 1-1-1 They take 30 or more shots 12-12-4 Playing on Monday 2-5-0 They allow 30 or more shots 13-13-6 Playing on Tuesday 4-2-0 Chris Mason starts 17-16-8 Playing on Wednesday 6-2-1 Ty Conklin starts 8-8-1 Playing on Thursday 4-6-3 Playing the Eastern Conference 4-7-2 Playing on Friday 3-2-0 Playing the Atlantic Division 2-1-1 Playing on Saturday 6-7-4 Playing the Northeast Division 1-3-0 Playing in October 5-6-1 Playing the Southeast Division 1-3-1 Playing in November 5-4-4 Playing the Western Conference 22-18-7 Playing in December 7-7-1 Playing the Central Division 7-7-2 Playing in January 7-5-3 Playing the Northwest Division 9-5-2 Its February already 2-3-0 Playing the Pacific Division 6-6-3 Still happy about the General Lee trade 26-25-9 Missing Dan Kelly 26-25-9 Volume 5, Issue 31 Page 8 February 12, 2010 At The Movies With The Blues by billy pilgrim

Tonight’s Movie: Let’s All Hate Toronto The lack of offense can be traced to two tragic flaws: How could anybody really hate Toronto? Neither the veteran forwards who failed to live up to deserved expectations nor the supposed puck-moving, passing defense- Not only a beautiful, cultured city, Toronto is home to the men can produce. The loss of offensive production is Maple Leafs, one of the most glorious and storied teams in staggering: Brad (Beach) Boyes: 33 goals last year; 10 so far NHL history. Sporting one of the most gorgeous jerseys in this year. David (Jim) Backes: 31 last year; 13 this campaign. the league, the Leafs have won eleven Stanley Cups (the last Keith (Gesundheit!) Tkachuk: 25 (none with his teeth) in 1967, though) and have an illustrious roster of all-stars compared to 12 (one with teeth). Patrik (I heart Rihanna) including George Armstrong, Bill Barilko, King Clancy, Tim Berglund: eight goals while notching 21 a year ago. Only Horton, Red Kelly, , , Frank David (White Skates) Perron, Alex (Franken) Steen, and Andy Mahovlich, Borje Salming, Eddie (Clear (Lanny) McDonald have matched last year‘s the Track) Shack, and . output, including defensive specialist Jay (I Nevertheless, with the Blues fighting heart Dave Matthews) McClement. And for their playoff lives and with the season don‘t forget that McDonald‘s (29 down to on the brink of disaster, fellow Blues fans, 18) and Perron‘s (35 down to 18) assists are Let’s all Hate Toronto. notably fewer, even taking into This should prove to be a pretty evenly consideration Andy Mac only played 46 matched contest. The sad-sack Leafs are games last year. last in the Eastern Conference and have No defenseman, except Erik (Bigger) played some pretty dismal hockey in front Johnson, who did not play last year, has of their long-suffering fans (when last in been able to either skate or pass the puck Toronto I saw a fan with a jersey out of the defensive zone with any regular- numbered 67 with ―Losers Since‖ on the ity. Carlo (Hot Coco) Colaiacovo managed nameplate). They have just completed a 27 assists last year compared to thirteen series of trades in which they acquired now. No other defenseman this season rough, tough defenseman Dion Phaneuf (except EJ) has 15 assists, the number of (pictured above) and goaltender J. S. assists departed Jeff Woywitka had last Giguere in order to shore up a sorry year. Barret (Flat Tire?) Jackman and defense that‘s last in the entire league, Roman (I‘m NOT Polish) Polak will giving up 3.37 goals/game. Earlier in the probably surpass that number, yet both are year, they acquired sniper Phil Kessel (21 goals, more than known more for bruising checks and hits than their passing anybody on the Blues) from Boston, yet at a high cost: first ability. Where are Jonas (Peoria) and Alex (Barrie) when we round draft choices in 2010 (hence no at phenom need ‗em? Taylor Hall, which must have Leafs fans steaming) and So, what‘s a fan to do? There are only 21 games left (nine at 2011, as well as a second-rounder this year. Yikes. home) after tonight and it‘s not looking good for the Note, Toronto‘s pop-gun offense is ranked 16th (2.68 goals/ who have only won four of the last 10 contests and only once game) in the NHL and is led by Tomas Kaberle, a slick in five home games, blowing a lead against Detroit before passing defenseman (40 assists, more than anybody on the winning the shootout in that one. I suggest not crying over Blues), hulking winger , Kessel, and spilt milk and looking forward to next year, when all the ex-Blue Lee Stempniak. Unfortunately for Note-lovers, pieces of the puzzle will REALLY be in place after the Blues that‘s better than our boys, who are ranked 26th in the have an active summer signing expensive free-agents like Ilya league with 2.50 goals/game (not counting shootout goals). (Show me the money) Kovalchuk or Patrick (Philip) Marleau Ouch. and trading (or giving) away some of the under-performers. Of course, that‘s been the problem all year (most notably Well, I can dream, can‘t I? in the getting-not-so-friendly confines of the Trade Stocks And we can help by despising, deriding, and detesting with Scott Center) and the reason the Blues will likely not visiting teams, booing and whistling at them (like they do in contend for Lord Stanley‘s Cup this spring. Ever the Europe) and making them fearful in our house, starting optimist, even I have to face the fact that the offensive tonight with the Maple Leafs. production just cannot make up for all the other shortcom- ings this team has faced this season, including the Let’s All Hate Toronto! incredibly shoddy officiating seen around NHL rinks all Urging you to vent and unleash your frustration on the season long. I‘m still fuming over the disallowed goals Blues opponents along with me, I am: against Chicago and Colorado. -billy pilgrim, time and space traveler Volume 5, Issue 31 February 12, 2010 Page 9

Like The Photos in GT? The Big Johnson Joke of the Day Hey, Toronto, wanna know how big Now available for purchase my Johnson is? My Johnson is so big, it‘s actually from our photographer the center of the hockey universe. My Johnson is so big, a huge percentage of the population live in GJA: the Greater Johnson Area. My Johnson is so big, the Johnson Hall of Fame is there.

The Roman Polak Joke of the Day

Great Rates! Roman Polak and Barret Jackman were watching an old Western on TV when Jackman said, Perfect for autographs! I‘ll bet you 50 bucks the guy on the Great gifts for your favorite fan! horse rides right off that cliff.‖ ―You‘re on,‖ said Polak. View the shots online. Seconds later the character on the horse rode right off the cliff. Contact: Andrew D’Angelo As Polak handed over the money, Jackman said, ―You know, I don‘t [email protected] feel good about this. I‘d already seen this movie.‖ (314) 546-0369 ―So did I,‖ said Polak, ―I just didn‘t think he‘d be stupid enough to make the same mistake twice!‖ Game Time Gear The BJ Crombeen Joke of the Day

Tomas Kaberle‘s wife went to a psychiatrist to try to sort out her marital problems. As he was asking her questions, everything seemed to come back to sex. In particular, she seemed to have a fascination with BJs. Finally he asked, ―Do you ever look at your husband‘s face when you‘re giving a BJ?‖ Time to get your gear. ―I did once,‖ she replied. ―And how did he look?‖ Any color. Any size. ―Very angry.‖ ―That‘s interesting,‖ he said, ―You say you have seen Represent. your husband‘s face only once during a BJ. That is unusual. What were the circumstances that led you to StLouisGameTime.com see his face on the occasion he appeared so angry?‖ ―He was looking at me through the window.‖ Volume 5, Issue 31 Page 10 February 12, 2010 NHL Leaders

NHL Leaders Points Goals Against Average Shootout Goals 1. Alex Ovechkin, WAS 89 1. Antti Niemi, CHI 1.98 1. Brad Boyes, STL 6 2. , VAN 79 2. , BOS 2.09 2. Sidney Crosby, PIT 6 3. Nicklas Backstrom, WAS 75 3. Ryan Miller, BUF 2.19 3. , CHI 6 4. Joe Thornton, SJ 75 4. , CGY 2.20 4. Pavel Datsyuk, DET 6 5. Sidney Crosby, PIT 74 5. , SJ 2.24 5. Anze Kopitar, LA 6 98. Andy McDonald, STL 36 20. Chris Mason, STL 2.59

Goals Save Percentage Rookie Points 1. Alex Ovechkin, WAS 42 1. Tomas Vokoun, FLA 93.0% 1. Matt Duchene, COL 40 2. Sidney Crosby, PIT 39 2. Ryan Miller, BUF 93.0% 2. , NYI 33 3. Patrick Marleau, SJ 38 3. Evgeni Nabokov, SJ 92.8% 3. J. vanRiemsdyk, PHI 32 4. Marian Gaborik, NYR 35 4. Tuukka Rask, BOS 92.8% 4. , BUF 32 5. , TB 33 5. Jaroslav Halak, MON 92.7% 5. Niclas Bergfors, ATL 30 49. Andy McDonald, STL 18 22. Chris Mason, STL* 91.0%

Plus/Minus Wins Defensemen Points 1. Alex Ovechkin, WAS 43 1. Jonathan Quick, LA 34 1. Mike Green, WAS 58 2. Jeff Schultz, WAS 38 2. Evgeni Nabokov, SJ 34 2. Duncan Keith, CHI 51 3. Nicklas Backstrom, WAS 33 3. , NJ 33 3. Tomas Kaberle, TOR 46 4. Mike Green, WAS 28 4. , PHX 32 4. Dan Boyle, SJ 45 5. Alex Burrows, VAN 28 5. , VAN 31 5. , LA 44 187. Polak/Winchester, STL 3 20. Chris Mason, STL 18 28. Erik Johnson, STL 27 *Ty Conklin does not have enough appearances to qualify for NHL ranking Around The

From the “No Shit?” Files… owner Angeles Kings. The have also shown Daryl Katz made public comments this week that as one of interest but it‘s unlikely they will meet the Hurricanes‘ asking the franchise‘s worst seasons comes to a close, there will be price of a first-round draft pick and a prospect. Canes‘ center changes ahead for the team. In other news, Titanic engineers Matt Cullen has at least four teams interested in him and go back to the drawing board. Carolina would also like to move Erik Cole, Andrew Alberts The Oilers are currently tied for last in the NHL in wins and , if possible. (19) and are dead-last in points (44). Katz stated that general As for the teams in the building tonight, the Blues are manager Steve Tambellini has full authority to make any rumored to be shopping Carlo Colaiacovo around, as well as changes to the team that he feels are necessary. Katz is also in Paul Kariya and Keith Tkachuk. The Maple Leafs are themidst of trying to build a new arena for the team, rumored to be moving Alexei Ponikarovsky and would love to contributing $100 million personally, alongside an trade Tomas Kaberle for a huge return, but the defenseman is investment by the city. apparently not about to waive his no trade clause and will The Oilers will miss the playoffs for a fourth straight likely remain in Toronto. season, and rumors are swirling about nearly every decent Cuban Eyes The Stars… Mavericks owner Mark player on the team as the trade deadline approaches. Cuban is considering buying a piece of the Stars, but does not Trade Deadline Looms, Rumors Swirl… With the want to purchase the club outright. Olympic roster freeze looming, trade discussions are heating The Mavericks‘ owner has made headlines in the past by up, with players rumored to be on the move. Dallas‘ Marty speaking his mind, regardless of potential consequences. He Turco seems to be available, as the Stars acquired Kari has been fined on numerous occasions by the NBA for critical Lehtonen from Atlanta this week, but Stars general manager statements about the league, its rules and officials. says that there has been little interest in Sounds like he‘d have a field day in the NHL. We say bring Turco to this point. him on. Carolina‘s Ray Whitney remains a prime target for the Los

“When you steal from one source, it’s called plagiarism. When you steal from multiple sources, it’s called research.” Volume 5, Issue 31 February 12, 2010 Page 11

Team Comparisons

Blues Leaders Maple Leafs Leaders Goals Andy McDonald 18 Goals Phil Kessel 21 Assists Brad Boyes 25 Assists Tomas Kaberle 40 Points Boyes/McDonald 36 Points Tomas Kaberle 46 Plus/Minus Winchester/Jackman 3 Plus/Minus Alexei Ponikarovsky 5 PP Goals Andy McDonald 6 PP Goals Phil Kessel 6 Wins Chris Mason 18 Wins 9 GAA Chris Mason 2.59 GAA J-S Giguere 2.84 Save PCT Ty Conklin 92.1% Save PCT J-S Giguere 90.8%

Blues All-Time Leaders Maple Leafs All-Time Leaders Games Played Bernie Federko 927 Games Played George Armstrong 1,187 Goals Brett Hull 527 Goals 420 Points Bernie Federko 1,073 Points Mats Sundin 987 PIM Brian Sutter 1,873 PIM Tie Domi 2,265 Goalie GP Mike Liut 347 Goalie GP Turk Broda 629 Wins Mike Liut 151 Wins Turk Broda 302 GAA Jacques Plante 2.07 GAA 2.06 Glenn Hall 16 Shutouts Turk Broda 62

Blues Lookalike Maple Leafs Lookalike

Don‘t ask us how we know Unless he just lost a bet or this, but Brad Boyes is something, we cannot starting to look a little bit explain why Tomas Kaberle like one of who intentionally try to those make his dudes who official get roster ―featured‖ picture look exactly like a on that To Catch A real-life Howdy Doody. Predator show.

Because You’re Kinda Twisted, Too. St. Louis Game Time Volume 5, Issue 31 Page 12 February 12, 2010

Fried Chicken’s www.hockey-fights.com

Tonight’s Matchup: The Maple Leafs are currently being rebuilt by Brian Burke. If you know anything about the way Burkie likes to build his hockey teams, then you know he‘s gonna put some toughguys in the lineup. As such, the Leafs have piled up 44 fights this year, good for ninth overall in the NHL. The Blues continue to beat ‗em in the alleys when they can‘t beat ‗em on the ice, amassing 51 fights this year, good for fifth overall in the league. With Janssen and/or King in the lineup and on the other side, there‘s a good chance there‘s gonna be some violence goin‘ down tonight.

St. Louis Blues Probable Fighters Toronto Maple Leafs Probable Fighters

D.J. King — King fought the monster known as David Koci Colton Orr — Orr has a shocking 15 fights this year, making last week, and his surgically-repaired paw stayed intact. That‘s up overa third of the Leafs‘ total fights. Along the way he has good news for him, because it seems like a foregone conclusion gone with all of the heavyweights, including Jody Shelley, that he‘ll be fighting Orr tonight. Chris McGrattan, , Matt Walker, Donald Cam Janssen – ―Janssen!‖ Brashear and David Koci. He clearly fears no man and could be up for a big bout tonight. Since the Blues have so few fights ―Yes Coach?‖ with Toronto, tonight we simply highlighted Orr‘s last three ―You time in the pressbox… Continues.‖ fights below. B.J. Crombeen – Crombeen probably won‘t have to fight Everyone else — When you have Orr on your team, you tonight, but you know he‘s game if any of the Leafs start really don‘t have to do much fighting. If any other Leafs get getting uppity. into it tonight, it‘ll be because they didn‘t have any other options left.

Best bet of the night: Battle Royale with King vs Orr ~ hockey-fights.com

Date Combatants Battle Decision

Off the faceoff they squared up. Shelley got the advantage, threw some jersey jabs that landed and then came over the Colton Orr vs 2/8/2010 top with a shot that would give most people nightmares, Win: Shelley Jody Shelley landing it right on the button and flickering the lights at Colton Orr‘s house. Orr was dazed, but got right back up.

They squared off, tied up and Orr went to work. He got the Colton Orr vs advantage and slammed Carkner right in the face three or 2/6/2010 KO: Orr Matt Carkner four times. The last one knocked Carkner onto his back with his arms straight up in the air. He looked to be out of it.

Yikes. These guys lined up and traded blows to the head and Colton Orr vs face for a long time. Orr seemed to slip and almost fall, which 1/30/2010 Draw Darcy Hordichuk pulled Hordichuk off balance and down to the ice. Lots of big shots given and received by both guys. Page 13 Franchise Foundations

St. Louis Blues Toronto Maple Leafs Year Player Year Player 1999 Barret Jackman ~ Drafted 1st rd (17 overall) by STL Tomas Kaberle ~ Drafted in 8th rd (204 overall) by 1996 2001 Jay McClement ~ Drafted 2nd round, 57 overall by STL TOR 2002 D.J. King ~ Drafted in 6th rd (190 overall) by STL Alexei Ponikarovsky ~ Drafted in 4th rd (87 overall) by 1998 2003 David Backes ~ Drafted in 2nd rd (62 overall) by STL TOR 2004 Roman Polak ~ Drafted in 6th rd (180 overall) by STL 2003 John Mitchell ~ Drafted in 5th rd (158 overall) by TOR T.J. Oshie ~ Drafted in 1st rd (24 overall) by STL Nikolai Kulemin ~ Drafted in 2nd rd (44 overall) by TOR 2006 Ben Bishop ~ Drafted in 3rd rd (85 overall) by STL Viktor Stalberg ~ Drafted in 6th rd (161 overall) by TOR 2005 Eric Brewer ~ Acquired from EDM with Jeff Woywitka 2007 ~ Drafted in 7th rd (194) by TOR and for Chris Pronger Mikhail Grabovski ~ Acquired from MTL for Greg Erik Johnson ~ Drafted in 1st rd (1 overall) by STL Pateryn and a 2010 2nd rd pick 2006 Patrik Berglund ~ Drafted in 1st rd (25 overall) by STL Luke Schenn ~ Drafted in 1st rd (5 overall) by TOR Yan Stastny ~ Acquired from BOS for 5th rd pick in 2008 Jeff Finger ~ Signed as Free Agent (COL) 2007 Andre Deveaux ~ Signed as Free Agent (ATL) Brad Boyes ~ Acquired from BOS for Dennis Lee Stempniak ~ Acquired from STL for Carlo Wideman Colaiacovo and Alex Steen David Perron ~ Drafted in 1st rd (26 overall) by STL Christian Hanson ~ Signed as Free Agent (undrafted) 2007 Keith Tkachuk ~ Signed as Free Agent. Originally Tyler Bozak ~ Signed as Free Agent (undrafted) acquired from PHX in 2001 for a 1st rd pick in 2002, ~ Drafted in 1st rd (7 overall) by TOR Ladislav Nagy, Michal Handzus and Jeff Taffe ~ Acquired with Colin Stuart from ATL Paul Kariya ~ Signed as Free Agent (NAS) for and Andy McDonald ~ Acquired from ANA for Doug Mike Komisarek ~ Signed as Free Agent (MTL) Weight, Michal Birner and a 7th rd pick in 2008 Colton Orr ~ Signed as Free Agent (NYR) Cam Janssen ~ Acquired from NJ for 2009 Francois Beauchemin ~ Signed as Free Agent (ANA) Mike Weaver ~ Signed as Free Agent (VAN) Jonas Gustavsson ~ Signed as Free Agent (undrafted) Chris Mason ~ Acquired from NAS for a 4th rd pick in Rickard Wallin ~ Signed as Free Agent (MIN) 2008 Wayne Primeau ~ Acquired with a 2011 2nd rd pick Brad Winchester ~ Signed as Free Agent (DAL) from CGY for Colin Stuart, Anton Stralman and a 2012 2008 B.J. Crombeen ~ Claimed off (DAL) 7th rd pick ~ Acquired with Carlo Colaiacovo Phil Kessel ~ Acquired from BOS for 2010 and 2011 from TOR for Lee 'Dutchie' Stempniak 1st rd picks and a 2010 2nd rd pick Carlo Colaiacovo ~ Acquired with Alexander Steen Jean-Sebastien Giguere ~ Acquired from ANA for from TOR for Lee 'Dutchie' Stempniak and Vesa Toskala Ty Conklin ~ Signed as Free Agent (DET) Fredrik Sjostrom ~ Acquired with and Dion 2009 Derek Armstrong ~ Signed as Free Agent (LA) Phaneuf from CGY for , , Nicklas 2010 Darryl Sydor ~ Signed as Free Agent (DAL) Hagman and Jamal Mayers Management / Coaching Dion Phaneuf ~ Acquired with Keith Aulie and Fredrik 1997 Larry Pleau - General Manager Sjostrom from CGY for Ian White, Matt Stajan, - Assistant Coach Nicklas Hagman and Jamal Mayers 2006 Ray Bennett - Assistant Coach Coaching / Management 2009 Ed Belfour - Goaltending Consultant 2000 Keith Acton - Assistant Coach 2010 Davis Payne - Interim Head Coach Ron Wilson - Head Coach Tim Hunter - Assistant Coach 2008 Rob Zettler - Assistant Coach Brian Burke - General Manager St. Louis Blues Rosters General Manager: Larry Pleau Head Coach: Davis Payne (interim) and Statistics Asst Coaches: Ray Bennett / Brad Shaw

February 12, 2010 Goaltending Coach: N/A Volume 5, Issue 31

# Player Pos DOB City S/P Ctry Ht Wt S Rk GP G A Pts +/- PIM TOI/G Salary 4 Eric Brewer D Apr 17 '79 Vernon BC CAN 75 222 L 37 6 5 11 -14 28 21:25 $4,500,000 5 Barret Jackman D Mar 05 '81 Trail BC CAN 72 210 L 49 2 12 14 3 59 22:57 $4,500,000 6 Erik Johnson D Mar 21 '88 Bloomington MN USA 76 236 R 58 5 22 27 0 55 21:19 $850,000 7 Keith Tkachuk C Mar 28 '72 Melrose MA USA 74 235 L 55 12 16 28 -4 46 14:07 $2,150,000 9 Paul Kariya L Oct 16 '74 Vancouver BC CAN 70 185 L 54 12 16 28 -6 20 17:14 $6,000,000 10 Andy McDonald C Aug 25 '77 Strathroy ON CAN 71 190 L 57 18 18 36 -10 12 18:09 $5,200,000 15 Brad Winchester L Mar 01 '81 Madison WI USA 77 231 L 51 2 4 6 2 86 9:14 $800,000 18 Jay McClement C Mar 02 '83 Kingston ON CAN 73 200 L 60 8 13 21 -6 14 16:45 $1,400,000 19 D.J. King L Jun 27 '84 Meadow Lake SK CAN 75 230 L 3 0 0 0 -1 10 2:49 $550,000 20 Alex Steen C Mar 01 '84 Winnipeg MB CAN 73 206 L 46 14 13 27 -4 22 15:34 $1,700,000 21 Patrik Berglund C Jun 02 '88 Vesteras SWE 76 215 L 53 8 8 16 -8 14 13:01 $850,000 22 Brad Boyes R Apr 17 '82 ON CAN 72 200 R 60 10 25 35 -3 18 17:06 $5,000,000 26 Brandon Crombeen R Jul 10 '85 Denver CO USA 74 210 R 57 4 7 11 -3 126 13:29 $860,000 28 Carlo Colaiacovo D Jan 27 '83 Toronto ON CAN 73 200 L 46 4 13 17 -3 47 17:39 $1,400,000 42 David Backes C May 01 '84 Minneapolis MN USA 75 225 R 57 13 21 34 -3 77 18:01 $2,500,000 43 Mike Weaver D May 02 '78 Bramalea ON CAN 69 186 R 55 0 4 4 -1 22 17:00 $800,000 44 Darryl Sydor D May 13 '72 Edmonton AB CAN 73 211 L 39 0 8 8 -2 15 17:20 $1,000,000 46 Roman Polak D Apr 28 '86 Ostrava CZE 73 225 R 60 3 11 14 3 40 20:08 $1,000,000 55 Cam Janssen R Apr 15 '84 St. Louis MO USA 72 215 R 36 0 0 0 -4 121 4:42 $550,000 57 David Perron L May 28 '88 Sherbrooke QC CAN 72 200 R 60 15 18 33 -10 44 15:59 $875,000 74 T.J. Oshie C Dec 23 '86 Mt. Vernon WA USA 71 194 R 56 11 22 33 -4 30 18:11 $850,000 TOTALS 147 256 403 -78 906 $43,335,000 # Player DOB City S/P Ctry Ht Wt C Rk GP W L OT SO GAA Sv% Salary 29 Ty Conklin Mar 30 '76 Anchorage AK USA 73 190 L 19 8 8 1 3 2.61 92.1% $1,200,000 50 Chris Mason Apr 20 '76 Red Deer AB CAN 72 200 L 43 18 17 8 1 2.59 91.0% $3,000,000 TOTALS 26 25 9 4 $4,200,000 $47,535,000

14 Legend: S:Shoots; C: Catches; Rk: Rookie (any player who has played fewer than 25 games in the previous season or fewer than 26 in the previous two years and has not reached age 26); GP: Games Played; G: Goals; A: Assists; Pts: Points; PIM: Penalties in Minutes; TOI/Game: average Time On Ice per Game. Page

15

Page Toronto Maple Leafs Rosters General Managers: Brian Burke Head Coach: Ken Wilson and Statistics Assistant Coaches: Keith Acton / Tim Hunter Rob Zettler Goaltending: Corey Hirsch / Francois Allaire

# Player Pos DOB City S/P Ctry Ht Wt S Rk GP G A Pts +/- PIM TOI/G Salary 2 Luke Schenn D Nov 02 '89 SK CAN 74 215 R 57 4 8 12 3 41 15:49 $875,000 3 Dion Phaneuf D Apr 10 '85 Edmonton AB CAN 75 214 L 4 0 2 2 1 5 25:29 $6,500,000 4 Jeff Finger D Dec 18 '79 Houghton MI USA 73 209 R 30 2 7 9 -12 16 14:45 $3,500,000 7 Garnet Exelby D Aug 16 '81 Craik SK CAN 73 215 L 38 0 3 3 -5 45 10:47 $1,725,000 7 Nazem Kadri C Oct 06 '90 London ON CAN 72 167 L Y 1 0 0 0 -1 0 17:26 $900,000 8 Mike Komisarek D Jan 19 '82 West Islip NY USA 76 243 R 34 0 4 4 -9 40 19:56 $4,500,000 11 Fredrik Sjostrom L May 06 '83 Färgelanda SWE 73 218 L 3 0 2 2 1 0 16:23 $750,000 12 Lee Stempniak R Feb 04 '83 West Seneca NY USA 72 195 R 60 14 15 29 -8 18 17:56 $3,500,000 15 Tomas Kaberle D Mar 02 '78 Rakovnik CZE 73 214 L 60 6 40 46 -9 18 22:42 $4,250,000 18 Wayne Primeau C Jun 04 '76 Scarborough ON CAN 76 225 L 44 2 4 6 -2 26 12:13 $1,400,000 20 Christian Hanson C Mar 10 '86 Venetia PA USA 75 202 R Y 9 0 1 1 -1 8 12:58 $875,000 22 Francois Beauchemin D Jun 04 '80 Sorel QC CAN 72 213 L 60 5 18 23 -12 27 25:24 $4,200,000 23 Alexei Ponikarovsky L Apr 09 '80 Kiev UKR 76 229 L 60 19 22 41 5 44 16:50 $2,500,000 28 Colton Orr R Mar 03 '82 Winnipeg MB CAN 75 222 R 60 2 2 4 -3 129 6:41 $1,000,000 36 Carl Gunnarsson D Nov 09 '86 Orebro SWE 74 196 L Y 21 1 6 7 4 4 21:16 $630,000 39 John Mitchell C Jan 22 '85 Oakville ON CAN 73 204 L 38 3 9 12 -9 31 15:58 $500,000 41 Nikolai Kulemin L Jul 14 '86 Magnitogorsk RUS 73 225 L 56 11 10 21 -3 8 15:15 $850,000 42 Tyler Bozak C Mar 19 '86 Regina SK CAN 73 195 R Y 15 3 8 11 2 2 17:18 $875,000 45 Viktor Stalberg L Jan 17 '86 Gothenburg SWE 75 210 L Y 18 2 1 3 -5 6 13:33 $715,000 51 Rickard Wallin C Apr 09 '80 Stockholm SWE 74 195 L 39 1 5 6 -7 18 12:32 $800,000 81 Phil Kessel R Oct 02 '87 Madison WI USA 71 180 R 48 21 20 41 -2 11 19:35 $4,500,000 84 Mikhail Grabovski C Jan 31 '84 Potsdam DEU 71 183 L 42 7 18 25 -1 4 16:32 $2,750,000 TOTALS 103 205 308 -73 501 $48,095,000 # Player DOB City S/P Ctry Ht Wt C Rk GP W L OT SO GAA Sv% Salary 35 J-S Giguere May 16 '77 Montreal QC CAN 73 202 L 3 2 1 0 2 1.01 96.5% $6,000,000 50 Jonas Gustavsson Oct 24 '84 Danderyd SWE 75 192 L Y 32 9 13 8 1 3.07 89.8% $900,000 TOTALS 11 14 8 3 $6,900,000 $54,995,000

Legend: S:Shoots; C: Catches; Rk: Rookie (any player who has played fewer than 25 games in the previous season or fewer than 26 in the previous two years and has not reached age 26); GP: Games Played; G: Goals; A: Assists; Pts: Points; PIM: Penalties in Minutes; TOI/Game: average Time On Ice per Game. Volume 5, Issue 31 Page 16 February 12, 2010 NHL Referee Statistics

2009-2010 Since 2007 1st O O No. Official Born Blues Blues Blues Blues Blues Blues Game W L T W L T Games PP PK Games PP PK L L 2 Fraser, Kerry Sarnia, ON 1980 5 13 17 3 2 0 12 39 48 6 6 0 3 Leggo, Mike North Bay, ON 1997 3 7 10 2 1 0 18 76 68 9 7 2 4 McCauley, Wes Georgetown, ON 2003 1 3 2 1 0 0 7 19 23 3 3 1 5 Rooney, Chris Boston, MA 2000 3 14 12 2 0 1 17 73 82 6 7 4 6 Marouelli, Dan Edmonton, AB 1984 5 20 19 2 2 1 11 46 42 3 7 1 7 McCreary, Bill Guelph, ON 1984 6 24 28 3 2 1 13 60 61 5 7 1 8 Jackson, Dave Montreal, PQ 1990 2 10 9 1 1 0 12 47 51 7 5 0 9 O'Rourke, Dan Calgary, AB 1999 3 19 18 1 1 2 9 44 37 3 3 3 10 Devorski, Paul Guelph, ON 1989 3 12 14 0 2 1 10 45 45 3 5 2 11 Sutherland, Kelly Richmond, BC 2000 2 7 8 1 1 0 11 37 40 3 7 1 12 Koharski, Don Dartmouth, NS 1981 10 46 34 3 4 3 13 O'Halloran, Dan Essex, ON 1995 3 14 12 1 2 0 15 70 85 8 6 1 14 LaRue, Dennis Savannah, GA 1991 3 9 13 1 1 1 14 54 54 5 5 4 15 Auger, Stephane Montreal, PQ 2000 3 11 11 1 2 0 15 76 89 8 6 1 16 Shick, Rob Port Alberni, BC 1986 12 42 51 5 6 0 18 Kimmerly, Greg Toronto, ON 1996 5 19 22 2 1 2 18 66 76 8 7 3 19 Dwyer, Gord Halifax, NS 2003 6 21 21 3 3 0 15 63 56 7 7 1 20 Peel, Tim Toronto, ON 1999 5 16 15 2 2 1 18 70 67 7 8 3 21 VanMassenhoven, Don Parkhill, ON 1993 3 13 18 2 0 1 13 57 65 8 3 2 23 Watson, Brad Regina, Sas 1996 4 15 18 1 3 0 16 69 81 6 7 3 24 Walkom, Stephen North Bay, ON 1990 1 5 4 1 0 0 1 5 4 1 0 0 25 Joannette, Marc Verdun, PQ 1999 3 9 12 2 1 0 12 49 54 4 6 2 26 Martell, Rob Winnipeg, MB 1996 1 3 5 1 0 0 15 64 74 10 4 1 27 Furlatt, Eric Trois-Rivieres, PQ 2001 5 16 24 2 3 0 13 52 62 5 6 2 28 Lee, Chris St John, NB 2001 5 19 26 0 5 0 15 66 75 4 9 2 29 Walsh, Ian Philadelphia, PA 2000 3 6 9 1 2 0 11 37 45 3 8 0 30 Hasenfratz, Mike Regina, SK 2000 6 19 20 3 2 1 32 Kowal, Tom Vernon, BC 2000 4 16 20 2 1 1 13 53 61 5 5 3 33 Pollock, Kevin Kincardine, ON 2000 2 5 9 1 1 0 13 50 54 6 6 1 34 Meier, Brad Dayton, OH 1999 4 15 15 3 0 1 15 64 55 7 5 3 36 Morton, Dean Peterborough, ON 2000 4 14 22 1 3 0 11 49 50 6 4 1 37 Rehman, Kyle Stettler, AB 2008 2 4 3 1 0 1 4 15 14 3 0 1 38 St Laurent, Francois Greenfield Park, PQ 2006 3 16 14 1 1 1 8 35 36 3 3 2 40 Kozari, Steve Penticton, BC 2006 5 17 17 4 1 0 14 66 57 9 5 0 41 Ciamaga, Chris Buffalo, NY 2008 1 3 4 0 1 0 2 8 10 1 1 0 43 Pochmara, Brian Detroit, MI 2006 6 24 35 4 0 2 14 55 75 7 4 3 44 Banfield, Steve Halifax, NS 2008 1 7 4 0 1 0 2 10 7 1 1 0 45 St. Pierre, Justin Dolbeau, PQ 2003 2 10 10 2 0 1 9 40 40 6 1 2 48 L'Ecuyer, Frederick Tois Riveres, PQ 2007 2 4 7 0 2 0 3 11 9 1 2 0 TOTALS 60 220 254 19 19 9 924 979 99 94 30 NHL Linesmen

# Name # Name # Name # Name # Name 47 Schachte, Dan 61 Seitz, Lyle 73 Rody, Vaughan 80 Nelson, Thor 91 Henderson, Don 50 Cherrey, Scott 65 Racicot, Pierre 74 Cameron, Lonnie 82 Galloway, Ryan 92 Shewchyk, Mark 54 Devorski, Greg 66 Gibbs, Darren 75 Amell, Derek 84 Sericolo, Tony 93 Murphy, Brian 55 Heyer, Shane 67 Champoux, Pierre 76 Cormier, Michel 86 Lazarowich, Brad 94 Pancich, Bryan 56 Wheler, Mark 68 Driscoll, Scott 77 Nowak, Tim 88 Cvik, Mike 95 Murray, Jonny 57 Sharrers, Jay 70 Nansen, Derek 78 Mach, Brian 89 Miller, Steve 96 Brisebois, David 59 Barton, Steve 71 Kovachik, Brad 79 Pare, Mark 90 McElman, Andy 97 Morin, Jean GAME TIME Page 17 St. Louis Game Time Scorecard

St. Louis Blues vs. Toronto Maple Leafs; Friday, February 12, 2010

Referee: ______Referee: ______

Linesman: ______Linesman: ______

Shots Score Team 1st 2d 3rd OT SO F Team 1st 2d 3rd OT SO F

Leafs Leafs

Blues Blues

Blues Starting Lineup Goal Scoring

C: Per. Time Team Goalscorer 1st Assist 2nd Assist LW: RW: D: D: G:

Maple Leafs Starting Lineup C: LW: RW: Penalties Called D: Per. Time Team Penalized Player D: G:

Three Stars of the Game 1st Star: 2nd Star: 3rd Star:

Other Stars of the Game GWG: GW Goalie: Hard Hat:

Game Notes: Volume 5, Issue 31 Page 18 February 12, 2010

Ask Game Time’s Answer Man

Dear Answer Man, Catfish and I went to the Blues vs. Ducks game a few weeks Don’t you think it is time JD gets fired? ago and the guy behind was one of the worst. -Chuck (Ellisville-MO) Yeah, he was rocking your standard flat brimmed Hurley hat with Affliction/TapOut shirt. You know, your standard Douchebag uniform. The first thing I heard come out of his OK, before I get into this I want Answer Nation to mouth was when he told his fat date, ―Wow, it‘s been like 20 understand our exchange prior to my answer. I received this minutes and I haven‘t even looked at my phone. I can‘t question from you immediately following the Colorado game believe it. That must be a record for me.‖ Right after I threw the other night. I immediately replied, ―Dude, you serious?‖ up in my mouth, Catfish and I gave each other ―the nod‖ and This dude‘s answer was, ―Hell yeah I‘m serious, you idiot. we turned around to get his attention. He thought we were This team sucks.‖ just letting him know he was cool with us. He most certainly So without further adieu, Chuck, you are a dipshit. Now I was not. say this with no due respect Here is just one example of the terribleness that sat whatsoever. Yes, JD is one if not the behind us. His skank date asked him, ―Um, how high can chief architect of what is happening they lift their sticks or is that a penalty or something? Hee with the Blues. I know it has been hee hee…I‘m so stupid.‖ Dude, his answer was, ―Well in high what, three years now? The story line school, I love high school hockey, you have to keep them this year it seems that the Blues lack below the waste. If you hit a guy in the face, that‘s a penalty.‖ the effort or the drive to finish off an Not only is that completely wrong but he is in his 30‘s. If you opponent. Hell, it basically cost love high school hockey that much you should trade in your Andy Murray his job right? windowless van you use for rape and be put on the ―kiddie I want to address something that toucher‖ list you scum bag. is a deeper rooted problem. Blues fans constantly bitch that You see Vinny, it‘s not necessarily the lack of hockey this team needs to learn what hard work is. Hard work is knowledge it is the simple fact that the common man (not required to get the job done and doesn‘t it usually take time from North Co of course) is a giant fucking idiot. for hard work to pay off? This team is ―rebuilding‖ and that I think the answer to our issue is not a correct behavior TAKES TIME. Firing people left and right isn‘t the answer. guide at games but a dose of common sense for everyone as Especially someone as respected and connected as JD. they enter. When you find that elixir, call me. I can spend my Chuck, do you think you could do a better job? The only job lunch money on it. It‘s cool with my mom, I swear. AM out. you‘d be better at is giving out blow jobs at the Metrolink station. Do I think the Blues are buyers or sellers at the deadline? Send your questions: [email protected]. I think they will be sellers but part of me truly believes they still make the playoffs. Yep, blind allegiance from me as usual and Chuck, I hope you choke. Well, unless you no longer have a gag reflex from you ―job‖ at Metrolink. Enjoy the lip crispies you‘ll get.

Dear Answer Man, Is there any way Game Time and create a “How to Act When at a Blues Game” handbook? I love going to the games. Hell, I have season tickets too. I just can’t stand how stupid some people are. Please help me out. Shit, I’ll even pay to print some off and handout at games. -Vincent (St. Louis-MO)

Oh God yes. Yes, yes, yes! Whoa, hold on here. What am I giving Answer Mom a back rub here or am I answering a question from Answer Nation? Yeow! Awkward… Yes, your run of the mill fan that attends a game is ignorant. Not the fun ignorant that you can trick into putting out on the first date either. It is the really annoying type of ignorant that makes you want to find faces to put your fist in. G AME TIME Page 19 Fantasy Files Fill-In By Dooks Tonight the Blues host the Toronto Maple Leafs, one of the on a fantasy team, but this year, it's not happening. Another few Eastern conference teams they'll see all season. The former Duck Francois Beauchemin has 18 assists and 23 Leafs made a couple big moves recently that have an impact points. Phaneuf's 10 goals and 24 points, along with 54 PIM on your fantasy leagues. Gone are Jason Blake and Vesa make him a pretty well-rounded asset for fantasy owners. Toskala to Anaheim and Matt Stajan, , Ian Phaneuf currently has a two-game assist streak too. White and former Blues grinder Jamal Mayers to Calgary. The real story on defense is offensive-minded Tomas Stajan‘s 41 points has him sitting a Kaberle. He is surprisingly leading the team distant second to on the with 46 points. Those points have him tied Flames, but watch his numbers soar as for 46th in the league (which, for a blueliner, Iginla‘s centerman. Hagman may be worthy is pretty damn good). His 40 assists is tied for of acquiring if you have a deep league. twelfth best in the NHL and second among White was second among Leaf defensemen, defensemen. Kaberle is enjoying a three- and now first among Flame blueliners in game point streak, and a two-game assist points. Mayers has turned up the juice streak. His minus-9 rating is a little rough, since the trade logging 31 penalty minutes however he has no minuses in the month of in his first five games as a Flame. I‘d say go February. ahead and grab him if you need a boost in The designated goon for Toronto is Colton the PIM category as he leads the Flames Orr. His 129 PIM is seventh in the league and with 109 minutes served (his 78 as a Leaf he has amassed 17 minutes in a game twice was second on the team). Plus, Mayers still Dutchie isn’t really a this season. Orr has fought in both of their spends his offseason in St. Louis, so it‘s like last two games, but with three days off before great fantasy player, we adding a local guy to your fantasy team. tonight, there's no reason to believe his Jason Blake is not too impressive league- just like the dude. knuckles are still bruised to throw down in wide, but keep an eye on him since he has a the Scottrade. Rookie pugilist Jay Rosehill more productive core of players to mingle with now. To put has only played 14 games, but get this: he has 57 PIM in that it bluntly, Toskala has been terrible. He is dead last in the time! That's double Orr's PIM-per-game average! Watch out NHL in save percentage and goals against average. Do not for this guy. add him to your lineup. Lee Stempniak gets his own paragraph due to being a Now let's look at the current Leafs. Game Time favorite during his tenure with the Blues. In 60 If the season started February 1st, J-S Giguere would games Dutchie has 14 goals and 15 assists (29 points), a probably lead all goalie categories. His 2-1-0 record, his minus-8 rating, and 18 penalty minutes. After "the trade" Lee 97.0% save percentage, 1.01 GAA, and two shutouts since is fourth on the team and has had a three and four point game the trade have drastically improved his mediocre numbers earlier in the season. Let's see how he fares without Blake on he earned as a backup in Anaheim. Just to put it in the other wing. perspective, he allowed at least four goals in each of his last Phil Kessel has 41 points, and has a five-game point streak, six appearances as a Duck. as well as a three-game assist streak. He's had a six and seven I can't say for certain how Toronto is going to distribute -game point streak earlier in the season. You all are most starts between their goalies now, but Jonas Gustavsson is likely aware of Kessel and his potential. However, you may likely penciled in as the official backup to Giguere. not be too familiar with Alexei Ponikarovsky. He is tied with On paper, Toronto's defense looks really good. It's bizarre Kessel for second on the team with 41 points. He's had a four- that the goaltending is so bad. Luke Schenn is sputtering game seven-point streak about two weeks ago. He might still along with four goals (two came last Saturday against be available in your league and could help give you some Ottawa) and eight assists. Maybe one day he'll find a home points for the stretch run.

Wish You Had Game Time When You Watch The Blues At Home? Subscribe! [email protected] Volume 5, Issue 31 Page 20 February 12, 2010

Tomorrow’s Blues By Brian Weidler

Blues Men On Campus, Part II and his position as a power-play quarterback is evidenced by Last time in this space, we focused on the players considered his 6-23-29 scoring line on the power play in his WCHA the Blues' top prospects at the NCAA level. Tonight we take a career. closer look at the rest of the nine total prospects that the After a very solid sophomore season in which he put up Blues have playing in the college ranks. nine goals and 33 points in 35 games (plusw-5, 56 PM, 5-11- Travis Erstad, C, 6’4, 200 pounds. 16 on the power play), Fairchild is struggling a bit offensively The Blues‘ fourth-round selection in and defensively as a junior. In 28 games the deep 2007 draft at 100th overall, this season, Fairchild has a 2-13-15 Erstad is a big, right-shooting center scoring line (1-6-7 with the man with all the physical tools to be an im- advantage), and is a minus-3 with 24 pact player at higher levels. minutes in penalties. In his last five games, however, Fairchild has a goal The McKeens Hockey Prospects and two assists, and has been a plus-4 in website notes that the Stevens Point, WI that stretch. native is a "graceful skater in all direc- tions for a player of his size," and one Fairchild has played forward that "fluidly accelerates to full speed occasionally in his career, and that may within just a few strides." McKeens goes be where his future lies in the pro ranks on to praise Erstad's quick hands, good unless he can significantly increase his release, and "impressive skill set," but strength and conditioning levels, and also notes that he sometimes does not tighten up his play in his own end. get involved physically despite his Matt McCollem, LW, 6’1, 205 excellent size, and that he is essentially a Big Travis Erstad has all the pounds. perimeter player who relies on the tools to make an impact with A late-round selection by the Blues in power play for most of his points. the Blues, but does he have the 2006 (sixth round, 154th overall), His numbers in two college seasons toolbox? McCollem is a strong two-way forward seem to bear out the last point; in 44 with a little scoring upside and solid games with Wisconsin-Stevens Point Game Time photo by Brian leadership ability. Weidler (NCHA, Div. III) to date, Erstad has 14 A native of Somerville, MA, McCollem total goals and has scored five of those donned the red and white of after three on the power play. In his only full season in the USHL, with years with Belmont Hill Academy where he put up a 33-37- the Lincoln Stars in 2007-08, Erstad racked up nine goals 70 scoring line in 75 games. As a senior at Belmont Hill, and 19 points in 52 games, and had a 3-5-8 scoring line on McCollem served as team and led his team to the the power play in those games. Independent School league title, winning first team All New Erstad had originally committed to attend the University England honors for himself along the way. of Wisconsin in Madison but changed his mind at the A smooth skater with good speed in all directions, eleventh hour, opting to return to his home town and skate McCollem uses his skating ability, hockey sense, and size to for the Pointers at the Division III level. He has developed play a strong defensive game. McKeens calls his defensive more of a physical component to his game, racking up 113 game "polished," and notes that he is "active in anticipating minutes in penalty time over 44 games with UWSP, but where the play is heading while away from the puck." questions linger about the 2002 Wisconsin State High School Player of the Year's heart and desire to push himself His willingness to be physically involved has led to some to succeed at a higher level. injury issues in his Harvard career, and McCollem missed the first twelve games of the current season while recovering Cade Fairchild, D, 5’10, 190pounds. from off-season surgery to address some of those issues. His Selected four spots before Erstad in 2007, at 96th overall, impact on the Crimson is evidenced by their .500 record (3-3 Fairchild is a "diminutive but highly skilled offensive -0) and net goals for/against differential of zero (14/14) defenseman that excels with the puck but struggles without when he has been in the lineup this season, and a 3-11-3 it," in the words of the McKeens Hockey Prospects website. record without him. In the games McCollem has missed, Like many others in the Blues' system, the Duluth, MN Harvard has been outscored by a 46-68 count. native is a veteran of the US National Team Development Now a junior, McCollem has put together a 12-18-30 Program, and competed for Team USA in the U20 World scoring line in 66 college games to date, with a total of a Juniors in both 2008 and 2009. As a member of the Golden minus-2 for a school that has been outscored 226-257 in his Gophers of the University of Minnesota, Fairchild has put three years there. His totals this year are 1-1-2 with a plus-2 together a respectable 13-50-63 scoring line in 103 games, (Continued on page 21) GAME TIME Page 21 Tomorrow’s Blues (continued)

(Continued from page 20) tonight when the Mavericks will travel to Madison for the start of and no penalties in six games. a weekend series with the Wisconsin Badgers. Trevor Nill, C, 6’, 195 pounds. McKeens notes that Sackrison has "above-average size and strength," which he uses effectively to shield the puck and work Another product of the 2007 Entry Draft (seventh round, along the boards in the offensive zone. He's also very strong in 190th overall), Nill joins B.J. Crombeen, Philip McRae and Yan the faceoff circle, and will tie up his man effectively if he does not Stastny as sons of former Blues who are now themselves win the draw. On the downside, Sackrison is "an okay skater that members of the Blues organization. is sturdy on his feet with long strides, but he's deficient of A Detroit native, Nill is the son of former Blue and current quickness," and lacks a separation gear with the puck. Red Wings assistant GM Jim Nill. As might be expected, the big right-shooting center lists his father as his biggest influence in hockey, but notes that his favorite player is Wings' defenseman Next time in "Tomorrow's Blues," a conversation with Peoria Nicklas Lidstrom. head coach Rick Wamsley about a subject near and dear to his heart -- goaltending. Until then, remember... "If we do not pre- The difference between Nill's freshman season at Michigan pare for ourselves the role of the hammer, there will be nothing State in 2008-09, and his sophomore season this year, is like left but that of the anvil." night and day. And another son of a former NHLer is part of the reason why. Earlier this season, Nill was teamed up with fellow sophomore Brett Perlini, another player who struggled Auf wiedersehen. offensively last season, and Dean Chelios, son of the ageless Chris Chelios. The Spartans' new "Maroon Line," as they call themselves, has provided energy and intensity since coming together, and has combined for a respectable 12 goals and 26 points. Not bad for a trio of underclassmen on a fourth line. As a freshman, Nill put up a 1-2-3 scoring line with six minutes in the sin bin and a minus-11 mark in 34 games. This year, as a member of the "Maroon Line," the versatile forward has two goals and eight points through 21 games, with a plus-7 St.St. LouisLouis GameGame TimeTime mark and 10 penalty minutes. An honor student all four years in high school, and in college as well, Nill projects as an "energy line" player as a pro, with excellent size, skating ability, and defensive awareness. Andrew Sackrison, C, 6’, 200 pounds. Like McCollem, Sackrison was a high-school standout chosen late in the 2006 draft (sixth round, 124th overall) by the Blues. And also like McCollem, Sackrison is a big, strong forward with defensive awareness and offensive upside. A native of St. Louis Park, MN, Sackrison was a Minnesota "Mr. Hockey" finalist in his senior year of high school after scoring 42 goals and adding 27 assists in 25 games. Following a respectable 2006-07 season (59 GP, 12-15-27, minius-2, 19 PM, 5-11-16 on the power play) with Tri-City of the USHL, Sackrison committed to attend Minnesota State (Mankato). As a freshman with the Mavericks in 2007-08, Sackrison put together a respectable 6-14-20 scoring line in 36 games, and expectations were high for him the following year. His sophomore season, however, became a textbook case of the "sophomore slump" as his production slid to three goals and YouYou missedmissed me.me. eight points in 31 games. After 11 games this season, the junior had rebounded somewhat with two goals and four points, but a broken leg YesYes youyou did.did. suffered on Nov. 20 at Alaska-Anchorage has kept him out of the lineup for almost three months. His target date for returning is Volume 5, Issue 31 Page 22 February 12, 2010

Remember Me? By Chris Gift Mark Reeds Reeds was called up from the CHL‘s in both the ‘81-‘82 season, and the ‘82- DOB: January 24, 1960 in Burlington, Ont. ‘83 season before finally staying in St. Louis for the Position: Right Wing ‘83-‘84 season. In Reeds‘ first full season in St. Louis Played for the Blues: 320 games from he played 65 games, scored 11 goals and ended up 1981-1987 with 25 points. Those 11 goals the most he would score in any season in the league. Want a sign that we‘re all getting old? Mark Reeds is 50. After three more full seasons in St. Louis, Reeds was dealt to Hartford on the eve of It seems like it was just a few years ago the 1987 season in exchange for Hartford‘s that Reeds was a steady, if not spectacular third round pick in the 1989 draft. right wing for the Blues. He was drafted 86th overall by the Blues in the fifth round of the Hartford was where Reeds would play his 1979 NHL Entry Draft, the draft where the final two seasons before returning to the Blues only selected four players. Don‘t Blues organization, as head coach of Peoria. confuse that draft with the 1978 draft when He coached Peoria for three seasons, the the Blues chose 31 players, selecting 12 times between for four, the pick 200 and 221, or the 1983 draft when the Blues for four more, and is currently behind the bench for didn‘t draft at all. the ‘s .

The Numbers Game

By Chris Gift First worn by: Gilles Gratton. While 33 isn‘t a ―look at me‖ number like 57 and 74 are, it is higher than the ―old time‖ hockey structure of Currently worn by: Tyson Strachan. goalies wearing 1 and 30, with 2-29 being Other Blues who have worn 33: filled in by skaters. More players have Mark Reeds, Jim Vesey, Stephane worn 33 (Tyson Strachan is the 20th to Quintal, Bill Houlder, Fred wear it), than have worn 7 (Keith Knipscheer, Scott Pellerin, Eric Tkachuk is the 11th). The number 33 Boguniecki, Steve Poapst has been worn as many times as 17, Notable 33s: Adrian Aucoin, Zdeno and only five times less than 21. Chara, Henrik Sedin, Brian Boucher, Pascal If a player was given 33 they were Leclaire. either not very good, like Fred Famous 33s: Don Beaupre, Dirk Knipscheer and Steve Poapst, or it Graham, Al Iafrate, Marty McSorley, was just a number that they wore for Patrick Roy. part of their time as a Blue, Mark Reeds wore 15 most of his time here, NHL rules stipulate that teams are and Eric Boguniecki took 33 after 14 allowed to dress 18 skaters and two was unofficially retired in honor of for each game. Ideally a Doug Wickenheiser. team would have a 20 man roster and never have to deviate from it, but because of personal Patrick Roy is the only Hall of Famer to preference, retired numbers and roster expansion wear 33 and it has been retired in his honor in both pretty much anything goes on numbers now. Colorado and Montreal. GAME TIME -2010 Page 23 Your 2009 Top 11 Things Leafs fans Lucky Skate Will Say Tonight Shuffle Tracker

11. Would I go gay for Schenn? Do you even need to ask the question? 10. That girl has a Curtis Joseph jersey on. Hand me a roofie. 9. I want to be like Brian Burke. Pass me those double cheeseburgers. 8. I used to wish the Leafs hadn‘t traded Brad Boyes. I have since changed my opinion. 7. What do you mean they don‘t have poutine at the concession stand? 6. How did you guess I was from , eh? 5. Yes my wife is fat and ugly and I love the Leafs. What can I say, I have really low standards. 4. Wow Eric Brewer sucks. 3. Our team may be last in the East, but at least they aren‘t the . 2. It‘s 30 degrees out? I knew I should have packed my shorts. 1. If Canada doesn't win the gold medal in hockey, I will help burn Vancouver to the fucking ground.

From the Empty Beer Cup of Brad Lee

The Five Hole (continued)

(Continued from page 5) started to realize the scale of what was happening when they first started seeing me on TV. Then at two different Leafs games I A typical Saturday night/Sunday morning LFR turned into went to last year with my parents, people came up to me to say four videos: a video saying that something is about to happen, they liked the videos. They think it‘s pretty cool. Sometimes I separate videos with commentary for each trade, and finally need their cooperation to make the videos. There‘s nothing my ―oh, by the way, the Leafs played last night.‖ dad loves more on a Sunday morning than blaring his music. ―That day I made four videos for my YouTube and Well my webcam picks it up, and I have to get him to turn it LeafSpace channel. I don‘t think I‘ve ever done that. It was down. A few decades ago it was his parents telling him to turn it pure chaos. As the Dion Phaneuf press conference was on I down, and now it‘s his kids.‖ was planning on how to make that video as fast as possible. So sometime after the game tonight, and after he‘s attended Then Brian Burke goes and announces another trade is 30 the Opening Ceremonies, then watched the Leafs/Blues game, minutes away. One of the videos I uploaded that day, I think 21-year-old Steve Dangle will don something besides his the JS Giguere one, is now the most watched video ever on customary Leafs sweater (he forgot it at home in Toronto), maybe LeafSpace.com, and my YouTube channel got over 10,000 slip into a hat-wearing character or two and tell us what he hits in one day. It was a fun Sunday.‖ thinks, and do a damn good job of it. I know it is true for me, and for Sean and Brad as well, but The simplest way is to find him is at youtube.com/SteveDangle, behind any person who dedicates a bunch of time to covering or on twitter at twitter.com/Steve_Dangle hockey as a hobby, there has to be a few understanding if not completely comprehending family members behind them. Steve‘s no different. Contact me: [email protected] ―My family, they didn‘t really understand it at first. They Follow me on twitter: twitter.com/chrisgift Volume 5, Issue 31 Page 24 February 12, 2010 NHL Standings

Rk Eastern Conference GP W L O PTS GF GA Rk Western Conference GP W L O PTS GF 1 61 41 13 7 89 244 173 1 61 40 12 9 89 203 2 59 36 20 3 75 155 137 2 59 39 15 5 83 189 3 Ottawa Senators 61 35 22 4 74 173 172 3 59 36 21 2 74 188 4 Pittsburgh Penguins 60 36 22 2 74 190 172 4 59 34 19 6 74 176 5 Buffalo Sabres 59 32 18 9 73 163 151 5 Phoenix Coyotes 61 37 19 5 79 166 6 61 29 26 6 64 160 167 6 60 36 20 4 76 182 7 59 26 22 11 63 154 172 7 59 32 22 5 69 164 8 Boston Bruins 59 26 22 11 63 146 152 8 61 29 23 9 67 153 9 58 30 25 3 63 170 156 9 60 27 21 12 66 172 10 58 25 24 9 59 175 187 10 Detroit Red Wings 60 27 21 12 66 155 11 60 26 27 7 59 153 165 11 60 29 24 7 65 169 12 60 24 27 9 57 153 174 12 59 29 26 4 62 163 13 60 24 28 8 56 151 186 13 St. Louis Blues 60 26 25 9 61 155 14 60 23 30 7 53 163 192 14 61 25 27 9 59 159 15 Toronto Maple Leafs 60 19 30 11 49 162 204 15 Edmonton Oilers 60 19 35 6 44 150

NHL Team Statistics

Rk Team GP PTS PTS% GF GA TG/G PPG PPO PP% PPGA PPA PK% SHG 1 Washington Capitals 61 89 73.0% 244 173 6.84 61 240 25.42 51 243 79.01 3 2 San Jose Sharks 61 89 73.0% 203 150 5.79 52 231 22.51 34 244 86.07 7 3 Chicago Blackhawks 59 83 70.3% 189 138 5.54 40 207 19.32 30 200 85.00 9 4 Phoenix Coyotes 61 79 64.8% 166 153 5.23 37 235 15.74 40 239 83.26 2 5 Los Angeles Kings 60 76 63.3% 182 166 5.8 43 231 18.61 45 222 79.73 4 6 New Jersey Devils 59 75 63.6% 155 137 4.95 37 202 18.32 33 180 81.67 6 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 60 74 61.7% 190 172 6.03 39 243 16.05 40 235 82.98 6 8 Vancouver Canucks 59 74 62.7% 188 143 5.61 52 243 21.40 42 230 81.74 6 9 Colorado Avalanche 59 74 62.7% 176 154 5.59 41 235 17.45 39 229 82.97 7 10 Ottawa Senators 61 74 60.7% 173 172 5.66 33 207 15.94 38 231 83.55 5 11 Buffalo Sabres 59 73 61.9% 163 151 5.32 42 236 17.80 28 203 86.21 3 12 Nashville Predators 59 69 58.5% 164 165 5.58 36 216 16.67 48 199 75.88 5 13 Calgary Flames 61 67 54.9% 153 155 5.05 35 206 16.99 41 242 83.06 5 14 Detroit Red Wings 60 66 55.0% 155 163 5.3 41 233 17.60 37 206 82.04 4 15 Dallas Stars 60 66 55.0% 172 186 5.97 45 244 18.44 45 195 76.92 5 16 Anaheim Ducks 60 65 54.2% 169 183 5.87 41 212 19.34 48 245 80.41 5 17 Montreal Canadiens 61 64 52.5% 160 167 5.36 46 186 24.73 40 246 83.74 2 18 Tampa Bay Lightning 59 63 53.4% 154 172 5.53 46 240 19.17 48 238 79.83 2 19 Boston Bruins 59 63 53.4% 146 152 5.05 36 198 18.18 29 211 86.26 3 20 Philadelphia Flyers 58 63 54.3% 170 156 5.62 51 234 21.79 47 246 80.89 3 21 Minnesota Wild 59 62 52.5% 163 173 5.69 40 229 17.47 38 208 81.73 3 22 St. Louis Blues 60 61 50.8% 155 169 5.4 37 219 16.89 36 245 85.31 4 23 Columbus Blue Jackets 61 59 48.4% 159 194 5.79 45 225 20.00 42 240 82.50 5 24 New York Rangers 60 59 49.2% 153 165 5.3 42 226 18.58 37 248 85.08 5 25 Atlanta Thrashers 58 59 50.9% 175 187 6.24 38 223 17.04 41 224 81.70 8 26 Florida Panthers 60 57 47.5% 153 174 5.45 35 230 15.22 44 216 79.63 6 27 New York Islanders 60 56 46.7% 151 186 5.62 35 228 15.35 52 214 75.70 5 28 Carolina Hurricanes 60 53 44.2% 163 192 5.92 44 245 17.96 47 250 81.20 6 29 Toronto Maple Leafs 60 49 40.8% 162 204 6.1 39 224 17.41 61 212 71.23 3 30 Edmonton Oilers 60 44 36.7% 150 204 5.9 41 222 18.47 49 209 76.56 3 League Average 60 67 55.9% 169 169 5.64 42 225 18.52 42 225 81.48 5

Legend: GP: Games Played; W: Wins; L: Losses; O: Overtime/Shootout Losses; PTS: Points; PTS%: Points Percentage (points divided by maximum points); GF: Goals For; GA: Goals Against; G/G: total goals scored per game (GF and GA); PPG: Power Play Goals; PPO: Power Play Opportunities; PP%: Power Play Percentage; PPGA: Power Play Goals Against; PPA: Power Play Opportunities Against; PK%: Penalty Kill Percentage; SHG: Short handed Goals; SHA: Short Handed Goals Against. G AME TIME Page 25 St. Louis Blues Schedule and Results

October January (continued) WINNING/LOSING WINNING/LOSING DATE OPPONENT SCORE RECORD DATE OPPONENT SCORE RECORD GOALIE GOALIE Oct 2 Fri @Red Wings 4-3 1-0-0 Mason/Osgood Jan 16 Sat Rangers 4-1 21-19-7 Mason/Johnson Oct 3 Sat Red Wings 5-3 2-0-0 Conklin/How ard Jan 18 Mon @Blue Jackets 2-4 21-20-7 Garon/Mason Oct 8 Thu Thrashers 2-4 2-1-0 Pavelec/Mason Jan 20 Wed @Canadiens 4-3 OT 22-20-7 Conklin/Price Oct 10 Sat Kings 1-2 2-2-0 Quick/Mason Jan 21 Thu @Senators 2-3 22-21-7 Elliott/Mason Oct 15 Thu @Coyotes 2-3 OT 2-2-1 Bryzgalov/Mason Jan 23 Sat Ducks 3-4 SO 22-21-8 Hiller/Mason Oct 17 Sat @Ducks 5-0 3-2-1 Conklin/Hiller Jan 25 Mon @Flames 2-0 23-21-8 Conklin/Kiprusoff Oct 20 Tue @Penguins 1-5 3-3-1 Fleury/Mason Jan 27 Wed @Canucks 2-3 23-22-8 Luongo/Conklin Oct 23 Fri Wild 3-1 4-3-1 Mason/Backstrom Jan 28 Thu @Oilers 2-1 24-22-8 Mason/Deslauriers Oct 24 Sat Stars 1-4 4-4-1 Turco/Conklin Jan 30 Sat Blue Jackets 2-3 OT 24-22-9 Garon/Mason Oct 28 Wed @Hurricanes 5-2 5-4-1 Mason/Ward Oct 29 Thu Coyotes 0-2 5-5-1 Bryzgalov/Conklin Oct 31 Sat Panthers 0-4 5-6-1 Vokoun/Mason

November February WINNING/LOSING WINNING/LOSING DATE OPPONENT SCORE RECORD DATE OPPONENT SCORE RECORD GOALIE GOALIE Nov 5 Thu Flames 1-2 OT 5-6-2 Kiprusoff/Mason Feb 3 Wed @Blackhaw ks 3-2 25-22-9 Mason/Huet Nov 7 Sat @Flyers 1-2 SO 5-6-3 Emery/Mason Feb 4 Thu Sharks 2-4 25-23-9 Greiss/Conklin Nov 8 Sun @Thrashers 2-3 SO 5-6-4 Hedberg/Conklin Feb 6 Sat Blackhaw ks 1-2 25-24-9 Niemi/Mason Nov 10 Tue Canucks 6-1 6-6-4 Mason/Raycroft Feb 8 Mon @Avalanche 2-5 25-25-9 Anderson/Mason Nov 12 Thu Predators 1-3 6-7-4 Rinne/Mason Feb 9 Tue Red Wings 4-3 SO 26-25-9 Mason/How ard Nov 14 Sat Sharks 1-3 6-8-4 Nabokov/Mason Feb 12 Fri Maple Leafs Nov 19 Thu Coyotes 3-2 OT 7-8-4 Mason/Bryzgalov Feb 13 Sat Capitals Nov 21 Sat Islanders 4-1 8-8-4 Mason/Roloson Feb 14 - M ar 1: Olympic Break Nov 23 Mon Bruins 2-4 8-9-4 Rask/Mason Nov 25 Wed @Stars 4-3 SO 9-9-4 Conklin/Turco Nov 27 Fri @Predators 3-1 10-9-4 Mason/Rinne Nov 28 Sat Red Wings 3-4 SO 10-9-5 How ard/Mason Nov 30 Mon @Blue Jackets 2-5 10-10-5 Mason/Mason

December March WINNING/LOSING WINNING/LOSING DATE OPPONENT SCORE RECORD DATE OPPONENT SCORE RECORD GOALIE GOALIE Dec 3 Thu @Sharks 3-2 SO 11-10-5 Conklin/Nabokov Mar 2 Tue @Coyotes Dec 5 Sat @Kings 5-4 SO 12-10-5 Mason/Quick Mar 4 Thu @Stars Dec 7 Mon Avalanche 0-4 12-11-5 Budaj/Mason Mar 6 Sat @Avalanche Dec 9 Wed @Red Wings 1-0 13-11-5 Conklin/How ard Mar 11 Thu @Islanders Dec 11 Fri Oilers 3-5 13-12-5 Deslauriers/Conklin Mar 13 Sat @Blue Jackets Dec 15 Tue Flames 4-3 14-12-5 Mason/Kiprusoff Mar 14 Sun @Wild Dec 16 Wed @Blackhaw ks 0-3 14-13-5 Huet/Conklin Mar 16 Tue Avalanche Dec 18 Fri Lightning 3-6 14-14-5 Niittymaki/Mason Mar 18 Thu @Rangers Dec 20 Sun @Canucks 3-1 15-14-5 Conklin/Luongo Mar 20 Sat @Devils Dec 21 Mon @Oilers 7-2 16-14-5 Mason/Dubnyk Mar 21 Sun Predators Dec 23 Wed @Flames 2-1 SO 17-14-5 Mason/Kiprusoff Mar 24 Wed @Red Wings Dec 26 Sat @Wild 3-4 17-15-5 Backstrom/Mason Mar 25 Thu Kings Dec 27 Sun Sabres 3-5 17-16-5 Lalime/Conklin Mar 28 Sun Oilers Dec 29 Tue Predators 3-4 17-17-5 Rinne/Mason Mar 30 Tue Blackhaw ks Dec 31 Thu Canucks 3-4 OT 17-17-6 Luongo/Mason

January April WINNING/LOSING WINNING/LOSING DATE OPPONENT SCORE RECORD DATE OPPONENT SCORE RECORD GOALIE GOALIE Jan 2 Sat Blackhaw ks 3-6 17-18-6 Huet/Conklin Apr 1 Thu @Predators Jan 6 Wed @Sharks 1-2 OT 17-18-7 Nabokov/Mason Apr 3 Sat Stars Jan 7 Thu @Ducks 2-4 17-19-7 Hiller/Mason Apr 5 Mon Blue Jackets Jan 9 Sat @Kings 4-3 18-19-7 Mason/Quick Apr 7 Wed @Blackhaw ks Jan 12 Tue Blue Jackets 4-1 19-19-7 Mason/Garon Apr 9 Fri Ducks Jan 14 Thu Wild 1-0 20-19-7 Mason/Harding Apr 10 Sat @Predators Volume 5, Issue 31 Page 26 February 12, 2010

Make Be-Leafs (continued)

(Continued from page 1) standings right before the before I get on the Fire Burkie Olympic break? How close is bandwagon (seriously, there was one of one of our Internet friends, the fellas Toronto to contending for the before Christmas). One issue is that that run the Leafs blog Pension Plan playoffs next season? Burke talks...A LOT...and sometimes it Puppets. And if I have to explain that A. As soon as the Leafs were takes him a while to back it up. That the majority ownership of the Leafs and counting on Vesa ―Raycroft II‖ Toskala makes Leafs fans antsy. If he could Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment is for their playoff hopes they were sunk. either pipe down or act quicker I would the Ontario Teachers‘ Pension Plan, The most disappointing thing was how appreciate it. then I don‘t know if we can be friends. the team went long stretches without Q. Who could be playing one of What follows are my questions and showing any kind of truculence. Since their last games wearing the Leaf PPP‘s answers. Let‘s go. the Dion Phaneuf and J-S Giguere tonight? Better yet, who do you Q. Let's get right to a vital trades the team has been revitalised hope is playing one of their last question. How do you feel about (Editor’s note: they Canadianize – games for the Leafs? Lee Stempniak? You better say sorry, Canadianise -- “revitalized?” A. There are apparently 10 teams you're awful fond of him. We took Really?) just with the knowledge that chasing Alexei Ponikarovsky who I a liking to him his rookie year. He they have a goalie at least as good as a think has to be one of the best wingers was the first player we gave a Shooter Tutor behind them. I think on the market (if not the best). There is really odd nickname to. He was next year if they aren‘t in the mix at the interest in Stempniak as well. On the adored in St. Louis like all small, very least I might burn down the ACC. wish list are the useless Garnet Exelby overachieving scrappy players Q. Giguere has played well right and the boat anchor Jeff Finger, but A. If Stempniak fought more he‘d be off the bat. We know there’s the Burke can only work so many miracles. God in Toronto. As it stood, he was big kid the Leafs are counting on Q. Finally, let’s try to find some traded for two kids that were always to grow into the starting job. How common ground. How do you feel about to turn a corner. His dogged do you think the goaltending about the team that calls Detroit determination, willingness to get in the situation plays itself out into the home? corners, and his Dutch heritage was not next few years? A. Fuck Detroit (can I write that? enough to overcome his lack of scoring. A. I think that being reunited with Or the two times he fanned on Whatever, fuck ‗em). (Editor’s note: Francois Allaire and being anointed the Silly .) breakaways and shot the puck into the No. 1 goalie could revitalise (Editor’s corner. Note: There it is again) Giguere‘s Q. One follow-up question. Q. The Blues got Alex Steen and flagging career. His hot start will Wendel Clark. Overrated? Carlo Colaiacovo in the hopefully let the Leafs re-sign Jonas A. You‘re about to get Bruce Bell‘d. Stempniak trade. Both high Leafs Gustavsson for a couple of years at a draft picks, one was disappointing good cap figure. That‘ll give him a with a huge nose and the other couple of years with a great mentor and Well that was interesting. If the was injured all the time. Miss the best goalie coach in the world to Blues want to continue talking about them? Blues fans are pretty develop his skills. the playoffs, they have to win tonight. Fortunately the charity point in unanimous in their appreciation Q. Brian Burke is kind of a dick. for that transaction. Feel like the overtime or the shootout doesn‘t matter That bother you? I mean, he’s with a team in the East. But you have to Leafs got the crap end of that your dick. But that’s how we tried trade? remember: The Leafs have the second kidding ourselves when Mike lowest point total in the NHL. Winning A. Nope. If Carlo had stayed he‘d Keenan ran the Blues. How do tomorrow against Washington could be likely still be in traction. Alex Steen you feel about the guy calling the one of the toughest games of the year. regressed every year since his rookie shots? Is it odd he’s American? You never know what could happen year. At his pace he‘d likely have joined A. He‘s a huge dick. So is Ron then if the Blues win tonight. Stop Phil Justin Pogge in the ECHL if he had Wilson. Both are American but that‘s Kessel, don‘t let Giguere get on a roll stuck around. really secondary for most Leafs fans. and be prepared for a physical game Q. The Blues have a pipe dream We just want a winner. As long as they and the Blues have a good chance to of making the playoffs. You’d have deliver no one will care. I have been on win. Maybe. to be on the pipe to think the board with almost all of his moves so Leafs have a chance. Disappointed far. He has a proven track record and with where the Leafs are in the I‘ll give him at least a couple of years Let‘s Go Blues. GAME TIME Page 27 Game Time Bingo!

Can‘t believe it‘s true, Brad Boyes misses A goal is scored in the Cotton-Eyed Joe but you‘re completely the net trying to pick first minute of any guy on the verge of addicted to Game Frenchie! a corner. Again. period. a heart attack. Time Bingo.

They play ―Jump Roulette game winner Still cheering for Goal scored by Teej, is whatever section is Around‖ in honor Horn. Guy. Sucks. Dutchie. Beej or Eeej. listed to the left of 309 of the coach. on the ribbon strip.

Yep, still don‘t Towel Boy gets an Another $200 stick The Blues spot the know what to attention boner tonight, which makes you happy breaks at the worst visitor a lead. make of that Cows Go Moo. and upset at the same possible time. Again. Power Play Dance. time.

Spot the guy wearing Hear someone ask Tom You wish the Red Um, what the fuck the jersey for the You tipped your GT Calhoun, ―How much Berenson Cowboy an is a ―Hug Cam?‖ team that isn‘t here vendor today. time is left?‖ early happy birthday. today.

Who‘s a girl gotta Alex Steen nose Cam Janssen You see GT on the Carlo blow around here to how to play the shows us his tits. jumbotron. ColaiacoHellYeah! get an ‗A‘ on her point on the power skirt? play.

Get five in a row in any direction and you win!

Tales From The Crease

By Jeremy Pratte Now with two locations! 1909 Locust St. Just 3 blocks north of the Scottrade Center 314-241-9330 Open until 3 on Weekends; Take Our Shuttle to the Game!

3157 Morgan Ford Rd. 2 blocks south of Tower Grove Park 314-865-3003

www.tincantavern.com