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St Louis

Volume 4, Issue 18 Game Time December 27, 2008

Four Dollars Of Positive Mental Attitude The Game Day Guide To St. Louis Blues Hockey Established in 2005

By Brad Lee fans rooted for their team to lose. I understood why, but I couldn’t do it then and I can’t do it now even with two absolute studs The month of December isn’t even over yet and I’ve seen some projected at the top of the draft. Blues fans on the Internets talk about rooting for the Blues to tank the rest of the season in order to have the best odds at Bill Simmons over at ESPN the Website a few years ago talked winning the first overall pick in the NHL draft lottery. That’s just about how teams out of contention have been known down the crazy. stretch to often quit trying in the hopes of improving their draft status. If they can do it, then why can’t fans root for their team to When the Blues have a stretch of schedule like this, it’s not like tank? So that’s what he did with his Celtics. He rooted for you have to root really hard for them to lose. Sunday them to lose every game down the stretch in 2007 so they played , the second best team in the that they could be in a position to draft Kevin NHL. Tuesday they played at Detroit, the third Durant or Greg Oden. They didn’t luck out and best team in the league. Tonight, they welcome got the fifth pick in the draft. So instead of San Jose, the best hockey team in the league drafting one of those two players, they made so far this season. And the Blues could cry some trades and acquired Kevin Garnett and uncle tonight, setup to meekly lose to all won the NBA title. So his tactic of fan tanking three. More on that later. didn’t even work and it took an imaginative Sure the Blues have lost seven of their and daring front office to pull things together last eight games with difficult to win games for the team to win. next on the schedule starting with the NHL- “Less rational fans can’t stomach the leading Sharks tonight. And of course three of thought of fan tanking, even when it’s with the the Blues’ best forwards and two important most noble intentions, because it makes them defensemen are out with injuries. Oh, and Andy feel like traitors,” Simmons wrote. Murray is criticizing almost the entire team through TM the media. Neither is showing he wants the starting I don’t think I’m less rational than most fans job. Beer prices are a bitch. The ushers are inconsistent in even though I write for an underground, fan-run paper about a stopping people from walking in during play. People still yell below average hockey team and devote several hours to writing for shoot too much on the power play. Other than that, the Blues are the paper’s website. It’s not like I’ve got a playoff ticket jar on top fine. of my refrigerator where I put spare change in with the hope of putting the money towards hockey tickets in April and May. If I At the end of the 2005-06 season when the Blues were did that, I would probably have enough money to buy a car since challenging for last place in the NHL and the best odds of the Blues’ last trip to the . winning the first overall pick in the draft lottery, a lot of St. Louis (Continued on page 26) Today’s Records, Injuries & News Today’s Team Records: Today’s Injuries: Today’s News & Notes:

Blues: Sharks: Blues: C Andy McDonald (fractured • Recent rookie points leader Derrick 13-18-3 (29 points) 27-4-3 (57 points) ankle), LW (lower body), F Brassard (CLB) had his first career 5th in Central 1st in Pacific TJ Oshie (ankle, again), D Fragile Jay fight last week. It ended badly as he 15th in Western 1st in Western McKee (broken finger) and D Eric injured his shoulder, needs surgery Brewer (back surgery) are out. and will miss the rest of the season. Last Ten Games: Blues: Sharks: Sharks: C Jeremy Roenick (shoulder • Avalanche leading scorer 3-7-0 7-1-2 surgery) and C (broken breaks his arm and is out indefinitely. leg) are out. LW Milan Michalek (upper • Game Time staff looking for reasons to Season Series: All-Time Series: body injury) is questionable. get out of the house at this . 0-1-1 39-22-3-2

CAUTION: St. Louis Game Time contains extreme sarcasm and less-than-gentle language. But it is a hockey paper, so you should fucking just get over it. Volume 4, Issue 18 From The Editor December 27, 2008

Since I’m not that big on writing the annual didn’t think he’d get any votes at all. But St. Louis Game Time soft-focus Christmas/holiday piece, whether then again, I didn’t drop $250 on an Established: November 6, 2005 it be for the paper or for our website, the Oshie jersey, either, so maybe I can see St Louis, game before and game after Christmas that. Phone: 402-2266 usually leaves me in a bit of a conundrum. The next most-surprising for me was www.StLouisGameTime.com That’s an easy article to write, after all. Jay McKee. Honestly, I expected him to garner a much bigger percentage of the “Dear Santa…” Godfather vote. But rather than look at as a sign of Unfortunately, it’s not my thing. Luckily Jeffio respect from the fans, I think the oppo- enough for me, on our website I can just site has happened. People haven’t come throw a stupid video of someone’s mom accept his unflashy play and the Publisher & Editor-in-Chief rapping about her failed Christmas solid defense that McKee is known Sean Gallagher shopping for a soup tureen (soup for; I think people have just [email protected] soup tureen) on the front page and lowered their expectations and call it a holiday. Also lucky for me, written off what we’re going to one of our regulars over at the Advertising get out of Fragile Jay. We now website did me the favor of writing [email protected] know to only expect him to a pretty solid ‘Santa in St. Louis’ [email protected] play 20-60 games a year, score around piece which was easily moved to the front zero points and endure two really weird page. Based on the responses he got, there is injuries a season. We all already know Distribution a desire out there for Blues fans to see some too that when this contract ends, he’ll John Nicolay sort of festive holiday writing. head back to Buffalo on a sweetheart Amy Benoist, Becky Benoist, So, I’ll do it. Sort of. Again referring to the hometown contract that will make the Billy Cash, Clarence Walker new and improved GT website, I posted a $16 million that the Blues paid him look poll earlier this week harkening back to the more distorted than the buyout a certain Columnists made-up holiday of Seinfeld’s Frank guy with IV after his name took to sell Chris Gift, Duke, Brad Lee, Costanza. In accordance with his self-made out his family, loyal-to-a-fault Answer Man & Brian Weidler Festivus, every year at the dinner table there employees, history and city. is an Airing of Grievances. During this, you Not to be all bitter. (Please return to Contributors let everyone know how much they have enjoying your frosty Inbevweiser.) Jeffio, Jeff Browning, LosBri, disappointed you over the last year. My poll Childhood Trauma, Dan Doke, Jeff read: It’s Festivus, time for the Airing of The Robot’s comparatively low poll Fahrenkrog, Jeremy Pratte & Chris Reed Grievances. Which Blue has disappointed numbers also surprised me. Much like you the most this year? McKee, I guess the expectations that Photographer Andrew D’Angelo people have for Pronger’s most visible As I put in the options, I tried to think of replacement have gone down a bit. I everyone who had let us down, but tried to Mission: mean, excluding the one guy in every keep it to just five choices. Obviously, that section who can’t stop yelling at him. Game Time will provide prospect was a bit tough. After just a few days, here information, up-to-date statistics, articles Brewer has been exactly what his career are the totals, along with the percentages of that spark discussion and humor that has indicated he would be: a very solid people who voted for them: points out the best and worst about our defenseman who will put up modest favorite team and sport. We are all fans of TJ Oshie: $250 on a new jersey, he’s played point totals and will make defensive the Blues and our opinions will reflect those of subjective fans. in 12 games (3%) mistakes from time to time. A The paper is published for every home Jay McKee: 4 million dollars, 4 million top-pairing defenseman he is, Chris game, excluding the pre-season, which we broken bones (4%) Pronger he is not. Maybe people are all know sucks. starting to realize that. : No robot has ever run a more inefficient program (16%) Manny Legace’s high percentage Rights & Permissions: struck me as odd, too. Legace, for as Manny Legace: Time to stop blaming Sarah All material printed herein is copyrighted much as I’ve tried to point out his and protected. Do not reprint in any Palin’s carpet (30%) non-top-guy status lately, has a big format without expressed, written permission from Game Time LLC. Paul Kariya: The mascot has seen more ice following among Blues fans. But I guess than our elf has this year (45%) that we’ve all gotten sick of the losing. Logos & Photos Now, ignoring the fact that the numbers And the bad goals. And the poorly-timed don’t add up to 100% (yes, I know you were goals against. And, no matter what Team logos and pictures used herein are the property of the individual teams Bernie Federko tries to convince us of, already pulling out your phone to text/email and/or the NHL and are used solely for me about that), I was surprised by a lot of the fact that the ones he lets in are not all identification and editorial purposes. these numbers. For one, the Oshie entry was ‘unstoppable.’ pretty much intended to be a joke. I really (Continued on page 27) Today’s Word: Mmm, chummy. G AME TIME Page 3

Tonight’s Trivia Top 11 Signs That You Are By Childhood Trauma Drunk At The Game

11. You made a bet that you’d chug a beer for every First Period (true or false): roster player who has played in Peoria this year. 1. Through the first 30 games of this season San Jose has had 10. You joined the Blue Revolution. Tonight. the best start in NHL history. 9. When the kiss cam came on, you started making out with Towel Boy. 2. amassed more PIM in a single game for the 8. Bob Plager thinks you’ve had a few too many. Sharks last season than has in his career. 7. After the game you’ve vowed to dry hump the First Intermission (T/F): Kung Fu bunny statue by Metrolink. No one doubts this. 3. Shelley Winters is on the St. Louis Walk of Fame. 6. You ran through the concourse wearing a giant Second Period (multiple choice): blue rat head. 4. Nikolav Lemtyugov left the Blues AHL team to play in 5. You keep trying to start the “Ricci’s ugly” chant. Russia. Which current Shark left his AHL assignment to 4. When there is action right in front of your seats return home during 2007: Alexei Semenov, , in the front row, you stand up and bang on the Marcel Goc, or Lukas Kaspar? glass like a caged monkey. 3. Horn guy thinks you’re a little loud. 5. Which Shark did the Blues draft: Mike Grier, Alexei 2. You boo when the Mighty Mite players don’t Semenov, Jody Shelly or ? drop the gloves. Second Intermission: 1. You swear Red Berenson is in the front row of the mezzanine. Wearing a cowboy hat. 6. Which of these did Rosey Grier, Mike Grier’s uncle, not accomplish: authored a needlepoint book, starred in a movie about a man with two heads, won the Super Bowl, or take the From the Empty Beer Cup of Brad Lee gun from Sirhan Sirhan after Robert Kennedy was ? Third Period: 7. Name the three most recent members of the 500- club. 8. Who is the only player left from the Just Here For still playing for the Bruins? 9. What San Jose and 1,000-game NHLer did the The $9 Beer. Blues get when they traded Joe Murphy away? ! www.stlouisgametime.com 10. The have an affiliation with what

non-traditional, Western Hemisphere, city?

Shanghai. Shanghai.

10. The Sharks are affiliated with the China Sharks based in in based Sharks China the with affiliated are Sharks The 10. Corrections & Clarifications

9. Todd Gill played 39 of his 1,007 NHL games in the ‘Note. ‘Note. the in games NHL 1,007 his of 39 played Gill Todd 9. • Game Time apologizes for giving the Blues have moved on. on. moved have management just one gift for all of them to share this

8. . (Calgary) and Brad Stuart (Detroit) (Detroit) Stuart Brad and (Calgary) Primeau Wayne Sturm. Marco 8. year. We’re not sure where we got that idea. were Shark Jeremy Roenick and Blue . Tkachuk. Keith Blue and Roenick Jeremy Shark were

ly players to reach it last season season last it reach to players ly

mark late in the 2007 season. The on The season. 2007 the in late mark • Game Time

7. The most recent three are Americans. reached the the reached Modano Mike Americans. are three recent most The 7. printed the wrong with the Giants before the Super Bowl existed. existed. Bowl Super the before Giants the with picture of the

6. Rosey never won the Super Bowl. His one championship team was was team championship one His Bowl. Super the won never Rosey 6. weird Santa first round picks the Blues lost signing RFA . Corson. Shayne RFA signing lost Blues the picks round first

5. Mike Grier. His rights were traded with , to reacquire reacquire to Joseph, Curtis with traded were rights His Grier. Mike 5. that showed up 4. Alexei Semenov leaft for Russia in 2007. 2007. in Russia for leaft Semenov Alexei 4. at the GT

Christmas party in St. Louis, moved to Brooklyn at age three. three. age at Brooklyn to moved Louis, St. in

3. True. Shelley, born born Shelley, True. 3. in the last issue. Johnson has 33 career minutes. minutes. penalty career 33 has Johnson

2. True. Jody owns the Sharks single game record with 41 PIM. Erik Erik PIM. 41 with record game single Sharks the owns Jody True. 2. The correct picture 1. True. They’re 52 points beat the 1930 ’ 50. 50. Bruins’ Boston 1930 the beat points 52 They’re True. 1. is shown here. Volume 4, Issue 18 Page 4 December 27, 2008 Page 5 G AME TIME The Five Hole

With Chris Gift

Merry belated Christmas to everybody. If Kwanzaa and glove side, Mason should have made the save for two reasons: Hanukkah are more your style; happy holidays to you as There was no traffic between Mason and Iginla, and Mason well. had squared himself to Iginla. Looking at the other end of the For some insane reason, the one thing I really paid rink tonight, Evgeni Nabokov stops that, goalies on playoff attention to while I was in my math classes was the bell teams stop that shot. curve. I guess it was taught more in my Statistics class than Alex Ovechkin’s goal on December 18th off of in any of my other conventional math classes. Bishop: Again, a star player is left wide open (although this Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division…counting, time it was on the power play) in the circle to the goaltender’s you’ll probably need to hire somebody else to do that for right, and again the star player roofs it in the blink of an eye. you, or at least give me a calculator and multiple choice for No traffic between the shooter and the goaltender, and the the correct answer, but figuring out where in the curve goalie was square to the shooter. people, places or certain things are became simple for me. Blake Wheeler’s shorthanded goal this past For example, when listing cities in the United States, Sunday off of Legace: For the first half of the first period St. Louis, San Jose, Denver, Kansas City, Orlando, we’re all on Sunday, Wheeler became Bobby Orr. He zigzagged pretty much in the middle. Detroit is on the far, far left, and through the five Blues players and snuck the puck between is on the far, far right. Legace’s right leg pad and the post. Legace looked as confused as the other five Blues on the ice when the right-handed Almost everybody in everything they do fall in the middle shooting Wheeler beat him on his forehand. What was Manny of the curve. Those guys on the ice down there tonight, all of expecting? A cycle behind the net while the Bruins were them, they’re on the very, very far right side of the curve shorthanded? when it comes to abilities as hockey players. Even the officials are the best of the best when it comes to officiating. To go over every goal the Blues’ goalies have let in lately would fill up an entire issue, but those three were three that That being said, player for player, how many players do came at key times. Iginla’s was the first of the game, the Blues have that are better than their counterparts on the Ovechkin’s turned a two-goal early third period deficit into a Sharks? How many players, for what they do, are better three goal deficit, and Wheeler’s shortie negated both a power than what San Jose has? play goal later in that power play, and Jay McClement’s In other words, I’m not saying that Patrik Berglund is a shortie later in the period). better player than Jody Shelley, that’s obvious. What I am I’m a firm believer that in all sports more championships saying is that from players 1-20 on San Jose compared to are won with solid defense than flamboyant offense. For every players 1-20 on St. Louis, you’ll be hard pressed to find an offense based dynasty like the Oilers had, there are inferior Shark to a superior Blue. more goaltending and defensive based dynasties like Patrick Now comparing the Sharks to the Jets, that’s a different West Side story that we’ll not get too involved with tonight. (Continued on page 22) But when you’re a Jet you’re Jet, from your very first day to your last cigarette. Because going 1-20 player by player would take up too The Jeffio Joke of the Day much room, let’s just focus on the goaltending position.

As most of you that didn’t take a round trip to Neptune Joe Thornton and Jeremy Roenick were for Christmas know, the Blues’ goaltending has been a bit suspect lately. In alphabetical order to not show favoritism, driving to the rink. Thornton told Roenick to , Manny Legace and Chris Mason (who bares a look out for cops — especially cops with their striking resemblance to Jason “Wee-Man” Acuna in the lights on. After driving for a while, Thornton Blues’ opening video) have struggled. It isn’t just the goals asked Roenick, “Do you see any cops?” that Bernie Federko says that “the goalie really didn’t have a chance” to stop. Three goals come to mind in recent games “Yes,” answered Roenick. that separate what should be good goaltending, and what “Are their lights on?” hasn’t been good goaltending. Each goaltender was respon- sible for one of them. Roenick stopped to think for a moment and Jarome Iginla’s goal on December 16th off of then said, “Yes. No. Yes. No. Yes. No …” Mason: While Iginla was left alone in the circle to Mason’s right and let go a blistering shot that beat Mason high to the Volume 4, Issue 18 Page 6 December 27, 2008 St. Louis Blues Statistics

Skater Statistics PLAYER GP G A PTS +/- PIM ATOI PPG PPA SHG SHA SOG SPCT Brad Boyes, RW 34 16 15 31 -21 14 19:33 9 7 0 0 91 17.6 Keith Tkachuk, C 34 12 12 24 -9 33 18:13 8 2 0 0 87 13.8 Patrik Berglund, C 29 12 10 22 10 6 15:42 4 4 0 0 55 21.8 David Perron, LW 33 2 18 20 -1 18 15:27 0 6 0 0 68 2.9 Andy McDonald, C 16 6 12 18 -12 12 19:55 2 9 1 0 46 13 , RW 34 10 7 17 -4 89 17:04 2 2 0 0 65 15.4 Paul Kariya, LW 11 2 13 15 1 2 18:06 0 9 0 0 31 6.5 Jay McClement, C 3438 11 -6 19 16:38 0 0 1 0 54 5.6 Barret Jackman, D 3427 9 -8 50 22:09 0 1 0 0 38 5.3 B.J. Crombeen, RW* 1862 8 -1 40 12:46 0 1 0 0 34 17.6 Alexander Steen, LW* 1516 7 2 2 17:45 1 3 0 0 29 3.4 Roman Polak, D 3416 7 -5 29 20:21 0 2 0 0 33 3 Eric Brewer, D 2815 6 -14 24 25:07 1 2 0 0 49 2 , D 2006 6 -1 28 17:18 0 4 0 0 21 0 , D* 1515 6 -3 17 18:14 0 5 0 0 21 4.8 Brad Winchester, LW 1641 5 -5 32 12:05 3 1 0 0 18 22.2 T.J. Oshie, C 1222 4 2 2 15:15 1 0 0 0 16 12.5 Cam Janssen, RW 2603 3 -6 70 5:42 0 0 0 0 10 0 Cam Paddock, C 1621 3 -4 0 10:41 0 0 0 0 17 11.8 Yan Stastny, C 2821 3 -14 20 12:54 0 0 0 0 25 8 Jay McKee, D 3011 2 -5 12 16:32 0 0 0 0 19 5.3 Mike Weaver, D 1602 2 -2012:2000015 0 D.J. King, LW 101 1 E08:2000000 0 , D 401 1 1415:0800001 0 Dan Hinote, RW 1700 0 -6 19 10:56 0 0 0 0 10 0 Goalie Statistics PLAYER GP W L GAA SV SV% SHO TGA TSA PIM ENG Manny Legace 19 9 7 3.34 432 88.7% 0 55 487 0 1 Chris Mason 16 3 10 3.16 395 90.2% 1 43 438 0 5 *Statistics reflect time with St. Louis only. For full season totals, see Pg 14.

Blues Leaders Blues All-Time Leaders Goals Brad Boyes 16 Games Played Bernie Federko 927 Assists David Perron 18 Goals 527 Points Brad Boyes 31 Points Bernie Federko 1,073 Plus/Minus Patrik Berglund 10 PIM 1,873 PP Goals Brad Boyes 9 Goalie GP Mike Liut 347 Wins Manny Legace 9 Wins Mike Liut 151 GAA Chris Mason 3.16 GAA Jacques Plante 2.07 Save PCT Chris Mason 90.2% Glenn Hall 16

Unconcerned With Receiving Coal. St. Louis Game Time G AME TIME Page 7 San Jose Sharks Statistics

Skater Statistics PLAYER GP G A PTS +/- PIM ATOI PPG PPA SHG SHA SOG SPCT , C 34 18 22 40 16 8 21:24 3 4 3 0 122 14.8 Joe Thornton, C 34 9 30 39 14 26 19:28 4 9 0 0 60 15 Devin Setoguchi, RW 34 17 19 36 17 4 16:17 3 5 0 0 113 15 Dan Boyle, D 33 11 18 29 6 30 23:18 6 10 0 1 95 11.6 Ryane Clowe, LW 34 14 13 27 3 27 16:47 9 6 0 0 87 16.1 Rob Blake, D 34 6 18 24 7 67 21:37 3 8 0 0 103 5.8 , C 32 11 13 24 2 4 18:50 3 8 2 1 102 10.8 Milan Michalek, LW 29 7 12 19 2 24 18:33 2 5 0 2 74 9.5 Marc-Edouard Vlasic, D 34 3 16 19 13 12 24:22 1 11 0 1 49 6.1 , D 34 2 14 16 3 32 20:43 1 7 0 0 68 2.9 Mike Grier, RW 3248 12 4 17 14:42 0 0 0 2 52 7.7 , RW 2246 10 -1 20 16:09 2 1 1 0 49 8.2 Jeremy Roenick, C 2835 8 -1 22 10:21 1 0 0 0 32 9.4 Tomas Plihal, C 3044 8 -2 12 10:15 0 0 1 0 45 8.9 , D 3106 6 5 6 16:00 0 0 0 0 21 0 Marcel Goc, C 2615 6 -3 14 14:08 0 0 0 0 49 2 Jody Shelley, LW 3312 3 -2 58 6:06 0 0 0 0 27 3.7 Jamie McGinn, LW 1021 3 E 0 7:23 0 0 0 0 3 66.7 Lukas Kaspar, RW 911 2 -2 8 8:39 0 1 0 0 10 10 Alexei Semenov, D 1001 1 2 10 14:00 0 0 0 0 6 0 Tom Cavanagh, RW 901 1 -1 2 6:55 0 0 0 0 5 0 Brad Staubitz, D 901 1 1254:350 0 0 0 6 0 Douglas Murray, D 2900 0 -1 11 15:48 0 0 0 0 18 0 Riley Armstrong, RW 200 0 -1 2 4:42 0 0 0 0 1 0 Goalie Statistics PLAYER GP W L GAA SV SV% SHO TGA TSA PIM ENG Evgeni Nabokov 24 19 3 2.48 586 90.7% 2 60 646 2 0 10 8 1 1.88 245 92.8% 2 19 264 0 1 *Statistics reflect time with current team only.

Sharks Leaders Sharks All-Time Leaders Goals Patrick Marleau 18 Games Played Patrick Marleau 829 Assists Joe Thornton 30 Goals Patrick Marleau 256 Points Patrick Marleau 40 Points Patrick Marleau 579 Plus/Minus Devin Set oguc hi 17 PIM Jeff Odgers 1,001 PP Goals Ryane Clowe 9 Goalie GP Evgeni Nabokov 454 Wins Evgeni Nabokov 19 Wins Evgeni Nabokov 227 GAA Brian Bouc her 1.88 GAA Evgeni Nabokov 2.38 Save PCT Brian Boucher 92.8% Shutouts Evgeni Nabokov 42

Guaranteed Awesome. (Not Guaranteed.) www.StLouisGameTime.com Volume 4, Issue 18 Page 8 December 27, 2008

Like The Photos in GT? The Big Johnson Joke of the Day Howdy, Silicone Valley, you wanna know how big my Now available for purchase Johnson is? My Johnson is so big, it got its own from our photographer iPhone before they hit the market. My Johnson is so big, it won’t go over to Oakland anymore, either. My Johnson is so big, hundreds of people have leapt to their deaths from it.

The Roman Polak Joke of the Day

Great Rates! David Backes walks into the locker room and sees Roman Polak with a very long pole Perfect for autographs! and a yardstick. He’s standing the Great gifts for your favorite fan! pole on its end and trying to reach the top of it with his yardstick. View the shots online. Seeing Polak’s ignorance, Backes wrenches the pole out of his hand, lays it on the floor, Contact: Andrew D’Angelo measures it with the yardstick, [email protected] and says, “There! 10 feet long.” (314) 546-0369 Roman Polak grabs the yardstick and shouts, “You idiot American! I don’t care how long it is! I want to know how high it is!”

The BJ Crombeen Joke of the Day

A man goes to a whorehouse that boasts of a prostitute that can sing and give BJs at the same time. He orders the singing BJ and the Wanna Be Semi-Famous Madam takes him to a room. A young, plain girl enters, and tells him, “if you (Regionally)? want a singing BJ, it has to be in the dark.” The man agrees, so she turns out Do you have a different the light and unzips his fly. perspective? She begins, and this is the best BJ Passion? Knowledge? Desire? he’s ever had. AND she’s singing the Star-Spangled Banner at the same Work well under deadlines? time. The man is incredulous and amazed, but by the time he Ever pay kick-backs to an editor turns the light on, the prostitute has already left. He decides to get better space? that he has to know how she does it. The man goes back to the whorehouse, and requests the singing BJ again. The same routine occurs. But before she’s We’re looking for writers, graphic artists, done, he whips out a flashlight and turns it on. Again, the girl statisticians and comedy writers. is too quick for him, and flees. Still in the dark, he turns the Contact: [email protected] light on, only to find a glass eye on the floor. G AME TIME Page 9 The List The all-encompassing list of every person who has had the honor of wearing the ‘Note

Affleck, Bruce * Anderson, Glenn * Anderson, Perry * Anderson, Ron * Angotti, Lou * Arbour, Al * Arbour, John * Atcheynum, Blair * Attwell, Ron * Awrey, Don * Babin, Mitch * Babych, Wayne * Bacashihua, Jason * Backes, David * Backman, Christian * Bailey, Ace * Baker, Bill * Baron, Murray * Baron, Norm * Barr, Dave * Barrasso, Tom * Bartecko, Lubos * Bassen, Bob * Batters, Jeff * Beaudin, Norm * Beckford-Tseu, Chris * Beers, Ed * Bekar, Derek * Belanger, Yves * Bell, Bruce * Bennett, Curt * Bennett, Harvey * Benning, Brian * Berenson, Red * Bergevin, Marc * Berglund, Patrik * Bishop, Ben * Boguniecki, Eric * Bordeleau, Christian * Borotsik, Jack * Bothwell, Tim * Boudrias, Andre * Boulerice, Jesse * Bourbonnais, Rick * Bourgeois, Charlie * Bowness, Rick * Boyes, Brad * Bozek, Steve * Bozon, Philippe * Brackenbury, Curt * Brathwaite, Fred * Brewer, Carl * Brewer, Eric * Brimanis, Aris * Brind’Amour, Rod * Brooks, Gordon * Broten, Paul * Brown, Jeff * Brownschidle, Jack * Bruce, David * Buchanan, Ron * Bullard, Mike * Bure, Valeri * Butcher, Garth * Butler, Jerry * Buynak, Gordon * Cajanek, Petr * Caley, Don * Cameron, Craig * Campbell, Jim * Campbell, Scott * Carbonneau, Guy * Cardin, Claude * Carey, Jim * Carlson, Jack * Carlson, Kent * Caron, Jacques * Carr, Gene * Casey, Jon * Cavallini, Gino * Cavallini, Paul * Chapman, Blair * Chase, Kelly * Chasse, Denis * Chebaturkin, Vladimir * Chouinard, Guy * Christian, Dave * Clarke, Dale * Colaiacovo, Carlo * Collins, Bill * Collyard, Bob * Connelly, Wayne * Conroy, Craig * Corso, Daniel * Corson, Shayne * Courtnall, Geoff * Cowick, Bruce * Coxe, Craig * Crawford, Bobby * Creighton, Adam * Crisp, Terry * Crombeen, BJ * Crombeen, Mike * Crossman, Doug * Currie, Tony * Curtis, Paul * Cyr, Dennis * Daigneault, JJ * Dallman, Kevin * Danton, Mike * Dark, Michael * Davidson, John * DeMarco, Ab * Delorme, Gilbert * Demitra, Pavol * Dennis, Norm * Dirk, Robert * Disalvatore, Jon * Divis, Reinhard * Donato, Ted * Dore, Andre * Downey, Aaron * Drake, Dallas * Dubinsky, Steve * Duchesne, Steve * Dufour, Luc * Dufresne, Donald * Dunlop, Blake * Dupere, Denis * Dupont, Andre * Dupont, Micki * Durbano, Steve * Dvorak, Radek * Eakins, Dallas * Eastwood, Mike * Ecclestone, Tim * Edestrand, Darryl * Edwards, Gary * Egers, Jack * Elik, Todd * Ellett, Dave * Eloranta, Kari * Emerson, Nelson * Evans, Christopher * Evans, Douglas * Evans, Shawn * Ewen, Todd * Fairbairn, Bill * Featherstone, Glen * Federko, Bernie * Felsner, Denny * Ferraro, Ray * Finley, Jeff * Fitzpatrick, Rory * Flockhart, Ron * Forey, Connie * Fortin, Ray * Frig, Len * Fuhr, Grant * Gamache, Simon * Ganchar, Perry * Gardner, Dave * Gassoff, Bob * Gibbs, Barry * Gilbert, Greg * Gilbertson, Stan * Giles, Curt * Gill, Todd * Gilmour, Doug * Gingras, Gaston * Giroux, Larry * Glumac, Mike * Goyette, Phil * Grant, Doug * Gratton, Gilles * Gray, Terry * Gretzky, Wayne * Guerin, Bill * Gusarov, Alexei * Hall, Glenn * Hamel, Jean * Hamilton, Chuck * Hammarstrom, Hans * Handy, Ron * Handzus, Michal * Hanlon, Glen * Hansen, Richie * Harbaruk, Nick * Harlow, Scott * Harper, Terry * Harris, Ted * Hart, Gerry * Harvey, Doug * Hawerchuk, Dale * Hebert, Guy * Hecht, Jochen * Hedican, Bret * Heerema, Jeff * Heinz, Rick * Helmer, Bryan * Hemingway, Colin * Henry, Camile * Hess, Bob * Hickey, Pat * Hill, Sean * Hinote, Dan * Hoggan, Jeff * Hollinger, Terry * Holt, Gary * Hoover, Ron * Hornung, Larry * Houlder, Bill * Housley, Phil * Hrechkosy, Dave * Hrivnak, Jim * Hrkac, Tony * Huck, Fran * Hucul, Fred * Huddy, Charlie * Hudson, Mike * Hughes, Brent * Hughes, Pat * Hull, Brett * Hunter, Mark * Irons, Robbie * Irvine, Ted * Jablonski, Pat * Jackman, Barret * Janney, Craig * Janssen, Cam * Jirik, Jaroslav * Johnson, Bob * Johnson, Brent * Johnson, Craig * Johnson, Erik * Johnson, Mark * Johnson, Mike * Johnson, Ryan * Johnson, Terry * Johnston, Eddie * Joseph, Curtis * Junland, Jonas * Kannegiesser, Gord * Karamnov, Vitali * Kariya, Paul * Kasatonov, Alexi * Kea, Ed * Keane, Mike * Keenan, Larry * Kenady, Chris * Khavanov, Sasha * Khmylev, Yuri * Kimble, Darin * King, D.J. * King, Derek * Klassen, Ralph * Knipscheer, Fred * Koci, David * Koivisto, Tom * Komadoski, Neil * Korolev, Igor * Kravchuck, Igor * Kuntz, Murray * Labatte, Neil * Lafayette, Nathan * Laflamme, Christian * Lafreniere, Roger * Lalime, Patrick * Lalor, Michael * Lamby, Richard * Lampman, Mike * Laperriere, Dan * Laperriere, Ian * Lapointe, Guy * Lapointe, Richard * Larocque, Michel * Larose, Claude * Laurence, Donald * Lavallee, Kevin * Lavender, Brian * Lavoie, Dominic * Leach, Steve * Leeman, Gary * Lefley, Chuck * Legace, Manny * Lemieux, Jocelyn * Levie, Craig * Lidster, Doug * Liut, Mike * Lorentz, Jim * Low, Reed * Lowry, Dave * Lukowich, Bernie * MacInnis, Al * MacLean, Paul * MacMillan, Robert * MacNeil, Bernie * MacTavish, Craig * MacEachern, Shane * Mackey, David * Madigan, Connie * Maki, Wayne * Markell, John * Marois, Mario * Marotte, Gilles * Marshall, Jason * Martin, Seth * Martins, Steve * Mason, Chris * Masters, James * Matteau, Stephane * Maxwell, Bryan * May, Darrell * Mayers, Jamal * McAlpine, Chris * McAmmond, Dean * McClement, Jay * McCord, Bob * McCreary, Bill * McCrimmon, Jim * McDonald, Ab * McDonald, Andy * McDuffe, Peter * McKee, Jay * McKegney, Tony * McKenney, Don * McLaren, Steve * McLennan, Jamie * McLeod, Jim * McRae, Basil * Mctavish, Gord * Meagher, Rick * Mellanby, Scott * Melnyk, Gerry * Merrick, Wayne * Metropolit, Glen * Micheletti, Joe * Miehm, Kevin * Millen, Greg * Miller, Kevin * Moizis, Tomas * Momesso, Sergio * Monahan, Hartland * Mongeau, Michel * Montgomery, Jim * Moore, Dickie * Morrison, George * Mullen, Joey * Murdoch, Robert * Murphy, Joe * Murphy, Michael * Myre, Louis * Nagy, Ladislav * Nash, Tyson * Nattress, Ric * Nedomansky, Vaclav * Nedved, Petr * Nickulas, Eric * Nieminen, Ville * Nill, Jim * Noonan, Brian * Nordmark, Robert * Noris, Joe * Norton, Jeff * Norwich, Craig * Norwood, Lee * O’Shea, Danny * O’Shea, Kevin * Oates, Adam * Obsut, Jaroslav * Odrowski, Gerry * Ogilvie, Brian * Olsson, Christer * Orszagh, Vladimir * Osbourne, Keith * Osgood, Chris * Oshie, T.J. * Ouimet, Ted * Paddock, Cam * Palazarri, Douglas * Papineau, Justin * Parent, Rich * Paizeau, Michel * Paslawski, Greg * Patey, Larry * Patrick, Craig * Patrick, Glenn * Pavese, Jim * Pearson, Robert * Pellerin, Scott * Peluso, Mike * Perrault, Joe * Perron, David * Persson, Ricard * Petrovicky, Robert * Pettersson, Jorgen * Picard, Michel * Picard, Noel * Picard, Roger * Pichette, Dave * Pietrangelo, Alex * Pilon, Richard * Plager, Barclay * Plager, Bill * Plager, Bob * Plante, Jaques * Plante, Pierre * Plasse, Michel * Plavsic, Adrian * Poapst, Steve * Podein, Shjon * Poeschek, Rudy * Pohl, John * Pola’k, Roman * Polis, Gregory * Pollock, Jame * Porter, Chris * Posavad, Mike * Prokhorov, Vitali * Pronger, Chris * Quinn, Dan * Quintal, Stephane * Racine, Bruce * Raglan, Herb * Ramage, Rob * Reasoner, Marty * Redmond, Dick * Reeds, Mark * Regier, Steve * Reirden, Todd * Rheaume, Pascal * Richardson, Ken * Richardson, Terry * Richer, Stephane * Richter, Dave * Riendeau, Vincent * Rivers, Jamie * Rivers, Wayne * Roach, Andy * Roberto, Phil * Roberts, David * Roberts, Gordie * Roberts, Jimmy * Robinson, Robert * Roloson, Dwayne * Ronning, Cliff * Root, Bill * Rucinsky, Martin * Rudkowsky, Cody * Ruff, Jason * Rycroft, Mark * Sabourin, Gary * Sacharuk, Larry * Salvador, Bryce * Sanderson, Derek * Sanford, Curtis * Sarjeant, Geoff * Sather, Glen * Savage, Brian * Sawyer, Kevin * Schock, Ron * Schofield, Dwight * Schwarz, Marek* Seiling, Rod * Sejna, Peter * Selby, Brit * Shafranov, Konstantin * Shanahan, Brendan * Shaw, Brad * Shinske, Rick * Shires, Jim * Shishkanov, Timofei * Sillinger, Mike * Simpson, Reid * Simpson, Bobby * Skarda, Randy * Skidmore, Paul * Smith, Rick * Smrek, Peter * Smrke, John * Snepsts, Harold * Spring, Frank * St. Marseille, Frank * Staniowski, Ed * Stankiewicz, Myron * Stastny, Peter * Stastny, Yan * Stempniak, Lee * Steen, Alex * Stephenson, Fred * Stevens, Scott * Stewart, Bob * Stewart, Ron * Stewart, Bill * Stillman, Cory * Strachan, Tyson *Stuart, Mike * Stumpf, Bob * Sutherland, Bill * Sutter, Brian * Sutter, Rich * Sutter, Ron * Sutton, Ken * Talbot, Jean-Guy * Tardif, Patrice * Thomlinson, Dave * Thomson, Floyd * Tikkanen, Esa * Tilley, Tom * Tkachuk, Keith * Toivonen, Hannu * Trader, Larry * Trebil, Daniel * Tudor, Robert * Turcotte, Darren * Turek, Roman * Turgeon, Pierre * Turnbull, Perry * Tuttle, Steve * Twist, Tony * Unger, Garry * Van Ryn, Mike * Varlamov, Sergei * Vasilevskii, Alexander * Veneruzzo, Gary * Vesey, Jim * Vigneault, Alain * Vopat, Roman * Wagner, Steve * Wakely, Ernie * Walker, Matt * Wall, Bob * Walton, Mike * Wamsley, Rick * Watson, Bryan * Watt, Jim * Weaver, Mike * Weight, Doug * Weinrich, Eric * Wells, Jay * Wensink, John * Wheldon, Don * Whistle, Rob * Whitfield, Trent * Wickenheiser, Doug * Wideman, Dennis * Williams, Butch * Wilson, Bert * Wilson, Rick* Wilson, Rik * Wilson, Ron * Winchester, Brad * Woywitka, Jeff * Wright, John * Yablonski, Jeremy * Yake, Terry * Yawney, Trent * York, Harry * Young, Scott * Zabransky, Libor * Zanussi, Joe * Zezel, Peter * Zigomanis, Mike * Zombo, Rick * Zuke, Mike Volume 4, Issue 18 Page 10 December 27, 2008 The Ghost of the Blues With Jeff Browning

The Sharks are the best team in the league right now. It Jokinen as well as the best goalie in years Roberto Luongo seems like just yesterday the Blues were the best team in the (interestingly enough, neither drafted by ). But things league. Into the playoffs they went as the number one seed, dropped off at number five with Eric Brewer going to the facing the lowly Sharks who barely Islanders. At least that team had enough sense to get rid of him. made it to the last playoff spot. Ever Then things got even worse with number six, Daniel Tkaczuk since then, both clubs have gone in oppo- (career stats – four goals in nineteen games) who would also go site directions. A very sad time indeed. to the Blues in hopes that two Tkac’s are better than one. And At least we have some hope on our team. Brad since we are right here, in 1997 the Blues drafted seven players Boyes got his start in the NHL as a Shark, and who never made the NHL at all, one who played nine games, only a start. One game he played, and he took a penalty and and Ladislav Nagy who had three consecutive 20 goal was a minus-2. They must have been really upset since he was seasons...after the Blues traded him. part of a package they got in return for , their Mike Grier was drafted by the Blues late in 1993 and was franchise leader and their best sniper in that series against part of the Curtis Joseph trade. Besides that, the Blues (he really was a sniper, seeing how he scored from there’s nothing except might have beens. Steve an abandoned warehouse downtown). They figured he would Bernier played almost all of his career with never amount to anything so they shipped him off to Boston the Sharks, averaging 14 goals a year, where he would score 69 points the next season. before going to Buffalo late last year and Boston also traded away their franchise player, Joe then in the offseason. I only Thornton, shortly into Boyes’ breakout year. Thornton went bring this up because the Blues offered him on to be amazing, winning Hart and Art Ross honors that a one year $2.5 million offer sheet in the offseason. Future hall same year. With Thornton and Patrick Marleau on their of famer Rob Blake refused to go to the Blues once, and he team, they had the number one and number two draft picks would go to the Avalanche only to beat the Blues and win the from 1997 on their team. That draft started out very good Cup that year. And I'm very sure the Blues were after backup with those two, then there was Florida’s franchise player Olli goalie Brian Boucher once, but I also think they have gone after every backup goalie in the league at some point in time.

Blues Record When… With LosBri Playing at HereComesAnotherLossCentre 8-7-2 Jody Shelley's parents must have hated him 13-18-3 Playing on the road 5-11-1 Leading after the 1st 6-2-3 Keeping the Bermuda Cup 13-18-3 Tied after the 1st 4-4-0 They score first 7-2-3 Trailing after the 1st 3-12-0 The other team scores first 6-15-0 PTMFUS! 13-18-3 They score few er than 4 goals 4-17-2 Leading after the 2nd 8-1-1 They score on the PP 10-9-3 Tied after the 2nd 3-2-2 The other team scores on the PP 5-14-2 Trailing after the 2nd 2-15-0 The other team scores shorthanded 1-2-0 Fight! Fight! Fight! 6-10-1 A Blues players has multiple goals 6-2-1 No fights 7-8-2 An opposing player has multiple goals 2-8-1 They are called for 7 or more penalties 5-8-2 They take 30 or more shots 4-7-0 Other team called for 7 or more penalties 4-8-1 They allow 30 or more shots 6-10-2 Emmanual "Wanna buy a house?" Legace starts 9-9-1 They played the day before 4-4-1 Chris "Call me Dooks" Mason starts 3-8-1 The other team played the day before 3-3-1 Ben Bishop Starts 1-1-1 Sunday Game 1-1-1 Game is on FSN 5-13-3 Monday Game 2-0-0 Game is on KPLR 4-4-0 Tuesday Game 1-2-0 Playing the Eastern Conference 3-6-1 Wednesday Game 0-6-0 Playing the Atlantic Division 0-2-0 Thursday Game 1-3-1 Playing the Northeast Division 1-2-1 Friday Game 3-1-1 Playing the Southeast Division 2-2-0 Saturday Game 5-6-0 Playing the Western Conference 10-12-2 Playing in October 5-4-0 Playing the Central Division 5-2-0 Playing in November 5-6-2 Playing the Northw est Division 2-4-1 Playing in December 3-8-1 Playing the Pacific Division 3-6-1 iceBerglund for Caulder 12-10-22 Isn't Rob Blake a murderer? 13-18-3 Page 11

Franchise Foundations

St. Louis Blues San Jose Sharks Year Player Year Player 1999 Barret Jackman ~ Drafted 1st rd (17 overall) by STL 1994 Evgeni Nabokov ~ Drafted in 9th rd (219 overall) by 2001 Jay McClement ~ Drafted 2nd round, 57 overall by STL 1997 Patrick Marleau ~ Drafted in 1st rd (2 overall) by SJ 2002 D.J. King ~ Drafted in 6th rd (190 overall) by STL 1998 Jonathan Cheechoo ~ Drafted in 2nd rd (29 overall) 2003 David Backes ~ Drafted in 2nd rd (62 overall) by STL 1999 Doug Murray ~ Drafted in 8th rd (241 overall) by SJ 2004 Roman Polak ~ Drafted in 6th rd (180 overall) by STL Marcel Goc ~ Drafted in 1st rd (20 overall) by SJ T.J. Oshie ~ Drafted in 1st rd (24 overall) by STL Christian Ehrhoff ~ Drafted in 4th rd (106 overall) by Eric Brewer ~ Acquired from EDM with Jeff Woywitka 2001 Tomas Plihal ~ Drafted in 5th rd (140 overall) by SJ 2005 and Doug Lynch for Jeff Woywitka ~ Acquired from EDM with Eric Brewer Ryane Clowe ~ Drafted in 6th rd (175 overall) by SJ and Doug Lynch for Chris Pronger Tom Cavanagh ~ Drafted in 6th rd (182 overall) by Milan Michalek ~ Drafted in 1st rd (6 overall) by SJ Erik Johnson ~ Drafted in 1st rd (1 overall) by STL 2003 Patrik Berglund ~ Drafted in 1st rd (25 overall) by STL Joe Pavelski ~ Drafted in 7th rd (205 overall) by SJ 2006 Jay McKee ~ Signed as Free Agent (BUF) Lukas Kaspar ~ Drafted in 1st rd (22 overall) by SJ Dan Hinote ~ Signed as Free Agent (COL) 2004 Torrey Mitchell ~ Drafted in 4th rd (126 overall) by Manny Legace ~ Signed as Free Agent (DET) SJ Yan Stastny ~ Acquired from BOS for 5th rd pick in Devin Setoguchi ~ Drafted in 1st rd (8 overall) by SJ 2005 2007 Marc-Edouard Vlasic ~ Drafted in 2nd rd (35 overall) Brad Boyes ~ Acquired from BOS for Dennis Joe Thornton ~ Acquired from BOS for Marco Sturn, Wideman Brad Stuart and Wayne Primeau 2006 Steve Wagner ~ Signed as Free Agent (undrafted) Jaime McGinn ~ Drafted in 2nd rd (36 overall) by SJ David Perron ~ Drafted in 1st rd (26 overall) by STL 2007 Mike Grier ~ Signed as Free Agent (BUF) Keith Tkachuk ~ Signed as Free Agent. Originally Alexei Semenov ~ Signed as Free Agent (FLA) acquired from PHX in 2001 for a 1st rd pick in 2002, 2007 Jeremy Roenick ~ Signed as Free Agent (PHX) Ladislav Nagy, Michal Handzus and Jeff Taffe Jody Shelley ~ Acquired from CLB for a 6th rd pick in Paul Kariya ~ Signed as Free Agent (NAS) 2009 Andy McDonald ~ Acquired from ANA for Doug Brian Boucher ~ Signed as Free Agent (PHI) Weight, Michal Birner and a 7th rd pick in 2008 Rob Blake ~ Signed as Free Agent (LA) Cam Janssen ~ Acquired from NJ for Dan Boyle ~ Acquired with Brad Lukowich from TB for Mike Weaver ~ Signed as Free Agent (VAN) 2008 , , a 2009 2st rd pick and a 2010 Chris Mason ~ Acquired from NAS for a 4th rd pick in 4th rd pick 2008 Brad Lukowich ~ Acquired with Dan Boyle from TB for Brad Winchester ~ Signed as Free Agent (DAL) 2008 Matt Carle, Ty Wishart, a 2009 2st rd pick and a 2010 B.J. Crombeen ~ Claimed off (DAL) 4th rd pick Alexander Steen ~ Acquired with Carlo Colaiacovo from TOR for Lee 'Dutchie' Stempniak Carlo Colaiacovo ~ Acquired with Alexander Steen from TOR for Lee 'Dutchie' Stempniak

What’d McGrath Trade For These Guys? St. Louis Game Time Volume 4, Issue 18 Page 12 December 27, 2008 NHL Leaders NHL Leaders Points Goals Against Average Shootout Goals 1. , PIT 59 1. Steve Mason, CLS 1.98 1. , COL 5 2. Alex Ovechkin, W AS 47 2. , BOS 2.04 2. Nikolai Zherdev, NYR 5 3. Sidney Crosby, PIT 47 3. Manny Fernandez, BOS 2.09 3. Jonathan Toews, CHI 4 4. Jeff Carter, PHI 41 4. Craig Anderson, FLA 2.09 4. Milan Hejduk, COL 4 5. , CHI 41 5. Scott Clemmensen, NJ 2.15 5. Brad Boyes, STL 3 30. Brad Boyes, STL 31 36. Chris Mason, STL 3.16

Goals Save Percentage Rookie Points 1. Jeff Carter, PHI 26 1. Craig Anderson, FLA 94.1% 1. Kris Versteeg, CHI 26 2. Thomas Vanek, BUF 25 2. Tim Thomas, BOS 93.5% 2. Derrick Brassard, CLB 25 3. Alex Ovechkin, WAS 23 3. Jonas Hiller, ANH 93.1% 3. Patrik Berglund, STL 22 4. , BOS 21 4. Steve Mason, CLS 92.9% 4. Mikhail Grabovski, TOR 21 5. , CHI 19 5. Roberto Luongo, VAN 92.8% 5. Blake Wheeler, BOS 20 16. Brad Boyes, STL 16 31. Chris Mason, STL 90.2%

Plus/Minus Wins Defensemen Points 1. Evgeni Malkin, PIT 23 1. , CGY 19 1. Dan Boyle, SJ 29 2. Marc Savard, BOS 21 2. Evgeni Nabokov, SJ 19 2. , NAS 26 3. Alexander Semin, WAS 20 3. , NYR 18 3. Andrei Markov, MTL 26 4. Simon Gagne, PHI 19 4. Niklas Backstrom, MIN 16 4. Mark Streit, NYI 26 5. David Krejci, BOS 19 5. , BUF 14 5. Brian Campbell,CHI 25 38. Patrik Berglund, STL 10 26. Manny Legace, STL 9 85. Barret Jackman, STL 9 Around The

What Do You Get For Donating Baby Juice? — The Leading up to coach Lindy Ruff’s decision to bench the 23 Blackhawks have teamed up with a local Chicago group year old was a 16-game stretch in which MacArthur failed to named LifeSource. Any Hawks fans who donate blood score a goal – after netting six through his first 13 games of between now and Jan. 31 will be eligible to win a pair of the year. tickets to an upcoming Blackhawks game. No word on how “I’m working harder. It’s paying off and helping to maybe crappy the eligible game selection will be, but our guess is create some bounces for me,” MacArthur said. that it’s full of names like ‘Predators’ and ‘Blue Jackets’. Caps to Retire Gartner's Number — The Capitals will Requirements for the blood donors are that they are at honor Mike Gartner tomorrow night when they retire his least 17 years old (oh, the poor minors who are already stuck No. 11. being Hawks fans!), weigh at least 110 pounds (no problem for Hawks fans—though they should thank the hockey gods Former Greg Adams, Bob Carpenter, that there is no max limit), and be in general good health Bob Gould, Alan Hangsleben, Wes Jarvis, Yvon Labre, Rod (damn, so close!). Langway, Craig Laughlin, Dennis Maruk, Paul Mulvey, Larry Murphy, Errol Rausse, Gary Rissling and Scott Stevens will Hmm. Can The Blues Bench Everyone? — Clarke be in attendance for the ceremony. MacArthur, a third-year player for the , found himself as the odd-man out recently, listed as a healthy Gartner, who played 10 seasons in Washington, will be scratch. The benching, which came on Dec. 13, was the first only the fourth player in team history to have his number time this season. From the pressbox, he watched his team retired by the Caps. defeat the Devils 4-2 in New Jersey. Prior to the ceremony the current Capitals will wear MacArthur took it personally. special white retro jerseys on them during pregame warm-ups. Each jersey will have No. 11 on them along with “It was embarrassing,” he said. “You just have to do your the current player’s name. The jerseys will be autographed best to take things into your own hands so that the coach by Gartner and each jersey will be available at silent auction won’t be able to take you out.” during the game with the proceeds going to World Vision, Consider the coach’s message to be received loud and clear. Gartner’s charity of choice. After returning to the lineup Dec. 17, MacArthur tallied at The Caps will wear white jerseys during the game – as least a point in each game for the four games heading into the Gartner’s Capitals teams did at the Cap Centre – while Christmas break (3g/2a). will wear dark jerseys. Volume 4, Issue 18 Page 13 December 27, 2008

Fried Chicken’s www.hockey-fights.com

Tonight’s Matchup: San Jose brings the best record in the league to the Scottrade Center tonight and the Sharks appear to be a bigger, tougher version of the Red Wings. They still rank near the bottom of the league with 17 fights on the season, though. With 34 fights so far, the Blues have been involved in twice as many fights as the Sharks. The Blues have met the Sharks in San Jose twice this season, and there were no fights in those games. These two teams met four times last season and there were two scraps that occurred in those games.

St. Louis Blues Probable Fighters San Jose Sharks Probable Fighter

•Cam Janssen – Cam has done quite well filling in for the •Jody Shelley – Shelley is the Sharks main , and injured DJ King so far, hanging in there with much bigger he’s a good one. He has good size at 6’3 and 225 pounds, and opponents. He has been a healthy scratch a lot lately, though. he’s a feared pugilist who likes to go toe to toe. He has been He has 10 fights so far this season. His last two fights came on involved in eight fights this year. His last fight was a doozie, as 12/16 against the . he traded haymakers with Los Angeles’ Raitis Ivanans on 12/15. •BJ Crombeen – Crombeen is a high energy, physical player who is willing to drop the gloves when need be. He is 6’2, 212 •Brad Staubitz – Staubitz is an experienced and willing pounds, and he’s a decent fighter who will win some and lose pugilist and agitator. He is 6’1 and weighs 215 pounds, and he some. BJ has had 10 fights thus far, and he got tagged by has had three fights so far in only nine games played this Boston’s Milan Lucic in his last fight on 12/21. season. His last fight came in the last game he was dressed, which was on 11/17 against Nashville’s Jordin Tootoo. •Brad Winchester – Winchester is a big guy with the size of a heavyweight at 6’5, 230 pounds. He’s a good fighter, and he •Ryane Clowe – Clowe is a throwback winger who loves to beat Calgary’s Cory Sarich in his last fight on 12/16. throw his weight around and do the dirty work. He has good Winchester has had four fights so far. size at 6’2 and 225 pounds, and he’s on pace for a career high in scoring with 27 points in 34 games played. Clowe has racked up three fighting majors this season.

Best bet of the night: Cam Janssen vs Jody Shelley — Jason Travers, hockey-fights.com

Date Combatants Description Decision

This happened while Crombeen was playing for the Dallas BJ Crombeen vs Stars. They threw a lot of punches, but not many of them 11/8/2008 Edge: Crombeen Ryane Clowe connected. Crombeen landed a solid punch at the end of the fight, though.

Mayers got in tight and threw a couple short punches that didn't connect. Rivet then countered with a couple short Jamal Mayers vs Craig 3/14/2008 punches. Mayers then looked to land two, with the last being Edge: Mayers Rivet a punch/shove that caused Rivet to fall back with Mayers on top.

This was a real good fight between these two heavyweights. They grabbed each other with the lefts and started chucking away with their rights. King landed some jersey jabs with his 3/1/2008 DJ King vs Jody Shelley left while he was grabbing on, and eventually both guys Draw switched to their lefts and continued throwing bombs. This was a very close fight in which King appeared to land slightly better than Shelley. St. Louis Blues Rosters General Manager: Larry Pleau Head Coach: Andy Murray and Statistics Asst Coaches: Ray Bennett Brad Shaw Volume 4, Issue 18 Issue 18 4, Volume December 27, 2008 2008 27, December Asst / Goalie Coach: Rick Wamsley

# 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 28 1 5 6 -14 24 25:07 $4,500,000 5 Barret Jackman DMar 05 '81Trail BCCAN72203L34279-85022:10$2,500,000 7Keith Tkachuk C Mar 28 '72 Melrose MA USA 74 232 L 34 12 12 24 -9 33 18:12 $4,500,000 9Paul Kariya L Oct 16 '74 Vancouver BC CAN 70 180 L 11 2 13 15 1 2 18:06 $6,000,000 10 Andy McDonald C Aug 25 '77 Strathroy ON CAN 71 183 L 16 6 12 18 -12 12 19:55 $3,333,333 13 Dan Hinote RJan 30 '77LeesburgFLUSA72187R17000-61910:55$1,000,000 15 Brad Winchester LMar 01 '81MadisonWIUSA77228L16415-53212:05$600,000 18 Jay McClement C Mar 02 '83 Kingston ON CAN 73 201 L 34 3 8 11 -6 19 16:38 $950,000 19 D.J. King L Jun 27 '84 Meadow Lake SK CAN 74 228 L 1 0 1 1 0 0 8:20 $550,000 20 Alexander Steen C Mar 01 '84 Winnipeg MB CAN 73 205 L 35 3 8 11 -2 8 16:32 $1,700,000 21 Patrik Berglund C Jun 02 '88 Vesteras SWE 76 187 L Y 29 12 10 22 10 6 15:42 $850,000 22 Brad Boyes R Apr 17 '82 ON CAN 72 195 R 34 16 15 31 -21 14 19:33 $2,500,000 25 Yan Stastny C Sep 30 '82 Quebec City QC CAN 70 191 L 28 2 1 3 -14 20 12:54 $500,000 26 B.J. Crombeen R Jul 10 '85 Denver CO USA 74 212 R Y 33 7 6 13 -2 66 11:04 $550,000 28 Carlo Colaiacovo DJan 27 '83TorontoONCAN73200L25167-52317:41$1,400,000 29 Jeff Woywitka DSep 01 '83VermilionABCAN74217L20066-12817:18$725,000 42 David Backes C May 01 '84 Minneapolis MN USA 75 216 R 34 10 7 17 -4 89 17:03 $2,500,000 43 Mike Weaver DMay 02 '78BramaleaONCAN69182R16022-2012:16$700,000 46 Roman Polak DApr 28 '86Ostrava CZE73227R34167-52920:22$475,000 55 Cam Janssen RApr 15 '84St. LouisMOUSA72210R26033-6705:42$550,000 57 David Perron L May 28 '88 Sherbrooke QC CAN 72 180 R 33 2 18 20 -1 18 15:27 $875,000 62 Tyson Strachan D Oct 30 '84 Melfort SK CAN 75 205 R Y 4 0 1 1 1 4 15:07 $575,000 74 T.J. Oshie C Dec 23 '86 Mt. Vernon WA USA 71 170 R Y 12 2 2 4 2 2 15:15 $850,000 77 Jay McKee DSep 08 '77KingstonONCAN76203L30112-51216:30$4,000,000 TOTALS 87 151 238 -114 580 $42,683,333 # Player DOB City S/P Ctry Ht Wt C Rk GP W L OT SO GAA Sv% Salary 34 Manny Legace Feb 04 '73 Toronto ON CAN 70 200 L 19 9 7 1 0 3.34 88.7% $2,500,000 50 Chris Mason Apr 20 '76 Red Deer AB CAN 72 195 L 16 3 10 1 1 3.16 90.2% $3,000,000 TOTALS 12 17 2 1 $5,500,000 $48,183,333 Page 14 Page Page 15 Page San Jose Sharks Rosters General Manager: Head Coach: Todd McLellan and Statistics Assistant Coaches: Todd Richards / Jay Woodcroft / Trent Yawney Goaltending Coach: Corey Schwab

# Player Pos DOB City S/P Ctry Ht Wt S Rk GP G A Pts +/- PIM TOI/G Salary 3Douglas Murray DMar 12 '80Bromma SWE75240L29000-11115:47$600,000 4Rob Blake D Dec 10 '69 Simcoe ON CAN 76 225 R 34 6 18 24 7 67 21:37 $5,000,000 8Joe Pavelski C Jul 11 '84 Stevens Point WI USA 71 195 R 32 11 13 24 2 4 18:50 $1,550,000 9 Milan Michalek LDec 07 '84Jindrichuv Hradec CZE 74 225 L 29 7 12 19 2 24 18:32 $3,000,000 10 Christian Ehrhoff D Jul 06 '82 Moers DEU 74 205 L 34 2 14 16 3 32 20:42 $2,750,000 11 Marcel Goc CAug 24 '83Calw DEU73200L26156-31414:07$775,000 12 Patrick Marleau CSep 15 '79Aneroid SKCAN74220L 3418224016821:23$6,300,000 14 Jonathan Cheechoo R Jul 15 '80 Moose Factory ON CAN 73 200 R 22 4 6 10 -1 20 16:09 $3,000,000 16 Devin Setoguchi RJan 01 '87Taber ABCAN72200R 3417193617416:17$850,000 17 Torrey Mitchell C Jan 30 '85 Greenfield Park QC CAN 71 190 L On Injured Reserve $715,000 19 Joe Thornton C Jul 02 '79 London ON CAN 76 235 L 34 9 30 39 14 26 19:28 $7,200,000 21 Alexei Semenov DApr 10 '81Murmansk RUS78245L1001121013:59$650,000 22 Dan Boyle D Jul 12 '76 Ottawa ON CAN 71 190 R 33 11 18 29 6 30 23:17 $6,666,667 25 Mike Grier R Jan 05 '75 Detroit MI USA 73 225 R 32 4 8 12 4 17 14:41 $1,775,000 27 Jeremy Roenick CJan 17 '70Boston MAUSA73205R28358-12210:21$1,100,000 29 Ryane Clowe L Sep 30 '82 Fermeuse NL CAN 74 225 L 34 14 13 27 3 27 16:47 $1,600,000 37 Brad Lukowich DAug 12 '76CranbrookBCCAN73200L310665616:00$1,650,000 39 Tomas Plihal CMar 28 '83Frydlant CZE73210LY30448-21210:14$500,000 44 Marc-Edouard Vlasic D Mar 30 '87 Montreal QC CAN 73 200 L 34 3 16 19 13 12 24:22 $735,000 45 Jody Shelley LFeb 07 '76ThompsonMBCAN75225L33123-2586:05$725,000 47 Tom Cavanagh RMar 24 '82Warwick RIUSA72200L 9011-126:55$500,000 64 Jamie McGinn LAug 05 '88Fergus ONCAN72185LY10213007:23$685,000 TOTALS 117 214 331 83 406 $48,326,667 # Player DOB City S/P Ctry Ht Wt C Rk GP W L OT SO GAA Sv% Salary 20 Evgeni Nabokov Jul 25 '75Kamenogorsk KAZ 72200L24193222.4890.7%$5,500,000 33 Brian Boucher Jan 02 '77WoonsocketRIUSA 74200L1081121.8892.8%$650,000 TOTALS 27 4 3 4 $6,150,000 $54,476,667

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 4, Issue 18 Page 16 December 27, 2008 NHL Referee Statistics 2008-2009 Since 2007 1st O O No. Official Born Blues Blues Blues Blues Blues Blues Game WLT WLT Games PP PK Games PP PK L L 2 Fraser, Kerry Sarnia, ON 1980 2 5 12 1 1 0 7 26 31 3 4 0 3Leggo, Mike North Bay, ON 1997 3 14 10 1 2 0 10 48 41 4 6 0 4 McCauley, Wes Georgetown, ON 2003 2 4 7 0 2 0 5 14 18 1 3 1 5 Rooney, Chris Boston, MA 2000 3 11 12 1 2 0 10 46 53 3 5 2 6 Marouelli, Dan Edmonton, AB 1984 1 3 5 0 1 0 3 9 13 0 3 0 7 McCreary, Bill Guelph, ON 1984 3 16 11 1 2 0 5 26 20 2 3 0 8 Jackson, Dave Montreal, PQ 1990 1 3 4 0 1 0 6 21 27 4 2 0 10 Devorski, Paul Guelph, ON 1989 3 13 15 1 1 1 5 24 24 2 2 1 11 Sutherland, Kelly Richmond, BC 2000 4 19 16 1 3 0 8 30 28 1 6 1 12 Koharski, Don Dartmouth, NS 1981 2 9 9 0 2 0 4 21 15 1 3 0 13 O'Halloran, Dan Essex, ON 1995 3 21 23 1 1 1 9 42 56 5 3 1 14 LaRue, Dennis Savannah, GA 1991 2 9 8 1 1 0 8 33 34 2 3 3 15 Auger, Stephane Montreal, PQ 2000 1 7 5 0 1 0 7 41 48 4 2 1 16 Shick, Rob Port Alberni, BC 1986 3 10 14 2 1 0 9 28 39 2 6 0 18 Kimmerly, Greg Toronto, ON 1996 2 8 10 0 1 1 9 32 37 3 5 1 20 Peel, Tim Toronto, ON 1999 5 20 21 2 3 0 11 47 40 4 5 2 21 VanMassenhoven, Don Parkhill, ON 1993 3 17 15 1 2 0 10 44 47 6 3 1 23 Watson, Brad Regina, Sas 1996 3 16 16 1 1 1 8 35 40 3 2 3 25 Joannette, Marc Verdun, PQ 1999 4 18 22 1 2 1 6 25 30 1 4 1 26 Martell, Rob Winnipeg, MB 1996 3 11 15 1 2 0 12 51 62 8 4 0 27 Furlatt, Eric Trois-Rivieres, PQ 2001 3 15 12 1 2 0 6 29 28 3 2 1 28 Lee, Chris St John, NB 2001 2 13 13 0 1 1 6 28 31 2 2 2 29 Walsh, Ian , PA 2000 2 8 8 0 2 0 5 17 21 1 4 0 30 Hasenfratz, Mike Regina, SK 2000 3 9 10 1 1 1 32 Kowal, Tom Vernon, BC 2000 6 30 29 1 3 2 33 Pollock, Kevin Kincardine, ON 2000 1 4 3 1 0 0 6 26 27 3 3 0 34 Meier, Brad Dayton, OH 1999 1 4 2 1 0 0 8 34 30 4 3 1 35 Warren, Dean Toronto, ON 1999 6 34 25 1 3 2 36 Morton, Dean Peterborough, ON 2000 2 9 7 2 0 0 3 16 13 3 0 0 37 Rehman, Kyle Stettler, AB 2008 1 5 5 1 0 0 1 5 5 1 0 0 38 St Laurent, Francois Greenfield Park, PQ 2006 1 6 6 1 0 0 4 16 18 1 2 1 39 Dwyer, Gord Halifax, NS 2003 5 22 20 2 3 0 40 Kozari, Steve Penticton, BC 2006 6 30 26 3 3 0 42 O'Rourke, Dan Calgary, AB 1999 2 11 7 0 1 1 43 Pochmara, Brian Detroit, MI 2006 2 10 10 1 1 0 5 24 30 1 4 0 45 St. Pierre, Justin Dolbeau, PQ 2003 5 23 22 3 1 1 TOTALS 34 154 158 12 19 3 499 523 45 55 15 NHL Linesmen

#Name #Name #Name #Name #Name 17 Heyer, Shane 61 Seitz, Lyle 73 Rody, Vaughan 80 Nelson, Thor 91 Henderson, Don 47 Schachte, Dan 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 56 Wheler, Mark 67 Champoux, Pierre 76 Cormier, Michel 86 Lazarowich, Brad 95 Murray, Jonny 57 Sharrers, Jay 68 Driscoll, Scott 77 Nowak, Tim 88 Cvik, Mike 96 Brisebois, David 59 Barton, Steve 70 Nansen, Derek 78 Mach, Brian 89 Miller, Steve 97 Morin, Jean 60 Dapuzzo, Pat 71 Kovachik, Brad 79 Pare, Mark 90 McElman, Andy G AME TIME Page 17 St. Louis Game Time Scorecard

St. Louis Blues vs. San Jose Sharks; Saturday, December 27, 2008

Referee: ______Referee: ______

Linesman: ______Linesman: ______

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

Sharks Sharks

Blues Blues

Blues Starting Lineup Goal Scoring

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

Sharks Starting Lineup C: LW: RW: Penalties Called D: Per. Time Team Penalized Player Penalty 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 4, Issue 18 Page 18 December 27, 2008

Ask Game Time’s Answer Man

Dear Anwer Man, and leaders on their team. Sitting out doesn’t scream What is the deal with players sitting out part of the season “leadership” so forgive me if I find it easy to lose respect for and then deciding to sign? Should there be a rule against them. Should there be a rule to block any of this? I don’t this or does it harm anything? think so but there should be an unwritten rule that if you pull a move like this, the team will move on without you. -Bob (Maryland Heights, MO)

Dear Answer Man, Bopper, we are seeing more and more of this the past couple of seasons. Yours truly has written about Brendan Shanahan I am noticing that after every big hit, a fight ensues. Back in in the recent past but that is totally different scenario. He my day, if a guy got caught with his head down, his team- isn’t doing this voluntarily. He needs to just lower his price. mates would yell at him to keep his head up. Now, it is just Who does he think he is, some hooker who lets you pay an invitation to a fight. Are players losing respect for each double to go bareback? Sheesh! other? This season it is Mats Sundin -Joe (St. Louis-MO) dragging his Euro Phruit feet. One week we he’s headed to Montreal, Joe, save your “back in my day” crap. If you don’t like today’s the next it’s he’s a Ranger but oh wait, game and what hockey has evolved into, then go watch Vancouver offered his ass $10 million baseball. Yes, you do see more fights after a big hit. The so he’s headed West after the long reason you lay someone out like that is to send a message road trips are over. Ugh, I have that you rule and they drool. Dig it? heard enough. Do you not like to watch fights? If that’s the case then, Is the guy good? Sure he is. why not? Is it scary and does it make you cry? Are you from Would I want him on the Blues? Nah, I’ll pass. We already South County? have one bald-o on the team and he’s a goalie. Too many bald dudes and it looks like a pride parade. Not that there is What I really like about today’s game is that you see anything wrong with a pride parade. I enjoy them. There is anyone fight. Yeah, you have your heavyweights, but you always good food and everyone is really friendly to me. You have guys like Jay McClement fight. They are sticking up for can’t argue against a good back rub can you? their teammates, their city and their fans. That right there is hockey. If you still believe, then stand and fight. Last year we saw Scott Neidermeyer and Teemu Selanne sit out because “they just couldn’t decide if they wanted to Some may argue that it takes away from the flow of the play.” Bullshit. Yeah, I can see how it would be hard. You game. For me, it adds another great aspect to it. It sends a know, making all that money to play a game. A game. Oh, message to the other team that they need to be very careful and live like a rock star and just have the Pelts jump in line about how they act. It is great to see the Blues play this way outside of the locker room for a chance to take you for a ride. because other teams should hate playing here. Just like how Boy, that would get tiring after a while. Big Rhonda hates making change for an $18 Bridgeton Special. Is it me or does Selanne’s helmet look like someone sat on the front of it with their bare ass? Just makes him look like a This is a cardinal rule in hockey. You run one of my guys jerkoff even more. to try to take advantage of him? Then get ready to back it up like a man. If you don’t stand up and take your medicine, no The real issue I have with these guys is what sort of one will back you up and you suck. message does it send to their teammates? To me it says, “Yeah guys um, I’m not real sure right now. You go ahead and get started and when I think I’m ready I’ll jump in Send your questions on hockey (NHL or rec league), midway through. Good luck for now and take care. Okie Busch beer or any other thing that keeps you awake at night dokie?” You know what else it tells me if I’m their teammate, to: [email protected] and have them “You guys go first. My vagina hurts right now and my breasts answered here. are sensitive so I’m going to take a breather.” The three main guys who have sat out are all top players

Driving The Google Search on ‘Bridgeton Special’. www.stlouisgametime.com G AME TIME Page 19 The Fantasy Files By Duke

If you’ve got a fantasy team at the bottom of the standings for each team to keep. For hockey, a good number is between and you’re a Blues fan, the line separating fantasy from five and eight. For the purpose of the article, we’ll stick with reality is getting thinner shift by shitty shift. eight. Prior to the next season’s draft, each team will select their At this point in the season, it’s time to be introspective. If best eight players to be retained on their roster. Every season, you’re winning, it’s probably because you drafted guys like year after year, each fantasy manager keeps their top-8, a core San Jose blueliners Dan Boyle and Rob Blake in the latest around which they can either continue their dynasty, or deal hours of your draft, and picked up guys like right winger from upside talent in order to rebuild for the future. This Devin Setoguchi off of the waiver format puts a great deal of emphasis on accumulating top wire. If you’re losing, it’s time for talent, period. you to bitch and complain about In a “value” format, the league will similarly decide on a set how the league rules should be number of players to retain for each team. This gets a little changed. confusing, so anyone from Jefferson County might just want to If you’ve got a good core of skip over the rest of the article and get onto Brian Weidler’s guys (and gals) who play year in dick jokes. That guy – nothin’ but dick jokes, I tell you. and year out, it might be time to OK, back to value. Let’s say you drafted Dan Boyle in the 18th think about making your league round of your draft this season. If you chose to retain him as into a “keeper” league. In a stan- one of your keepers, he would be held on your roster prior to dard league, you get together the next season’s draft at the cost of your 18th round selection… If Dan Boyle is on with your competition to draft and if you want to keep a guy drafted in the 10th round, he’s your fantasy team, prior to the start of the season, yours at the cost of next season’s 10th round pick, and so on, you’re lucky or a trade, add, and drop players in a and so on. If you’re not reading Weidler’s dick jokes yet, I’m genius. And now you series of ill-advised, alcohol- sure you get the picture. probably want to influenced moves, and then the The rules for free agent pickups might vary, and it’s up to start a keeper league. best teams in your league enter your league to figure it out. One way to do it is that anyone who into a playoff near the end of the was undrafted in the previous season and kept in the next will NHL’s regular season, leaving everyone else out in the cold. If take the place of the owner’s final selection in the draft. The you’re not in the playoffs by season’s end, it’s all over. You’re alternative to that is to put a “cap” or a limit on how late a finished. Just like the Blues and all of us will be. player may be kept. A value-based keeper league gets to be Not so if you’re in a keeper league. Now, if you’re going to extremely detailed and can be confusing, but is often the most suggest that your league be transitioned into a “keeper” satisfying way to go for the serious players. If you’re in the league, deciding now that next season will be year one playoff hunt, you can trade either future draft picks or this would be the best approach. Mid-season rules changes are year’s breakout stars for the early-round fantasy heavy hitters never a good thing. Everyone should have agreed on every who won’t aren’t going to be worth keeping in the first or last rule prior to the start of the season, and those rules second round. The winners get to load up for the playoffs at the should stay in place, without question, until the end of that expense of next season’s strength, and the losers get to stock up season. Once everyone is aware that they will be drafting with on picks and players for the future at the expense of top talent “keeps” in mind, everyone will be on a level playing field. that they weren’t going to be able to hang onto anyway. There’s two ways to do this: you’re either keeping in a Either way you do it, the most important thing is to keep “standard” format, or you’re going by “value.” In a “standard” everyone interested, engaged, and having fun – let’s go Blues! format, your league must decide on a set number of players

You Wanna Know How I Know… ...We Should Be In Charge of In-Game Entertainment?

• Winners get a free beer. Losers get the cattle prod. • Instead of the Vision Test, we introduce, “Go • Cotton-Eyed Joe dance is done twice a period. In Punch-For-Punch With Red Berenson Cowboy.” the section where Brad Lee sits. • Instead of yelling out, “Let’s go Blues!” after a • 100% less Towel Boy, 100% more Shaking Guy. contest, people are encouraged to yell, “Fuck De-troit!” • Kiss Cam always ends with two guys from the opposing team. • Angelllla will be given a pair of pants just like the big blue rat’s. Volume 4, Issue 18 Page 20 December 27, 2008

Tomorrow’s Blues By Brian Weidler

The (Calendar) Year In Review, Part I appeared in a game for HC Davos since October 5, a 7-6 win As 2008 draws to a close, and the 2009 portion of the Blues’ over EHC Biel, and has been loaned to EHV Zug until the schedule looms, your Game Time Prospect Department will end of January while Davos hosts the Spengler Cup tourna- be taking a quick look around the system at all 42 prospects ment. His contract with Davos expires at the end of this not currently on the NHL roster, from Jake Allen to David season, and consequently we should know by 2009 Develop- Warsofsky and all points in between. ment Camp if Berra ever intends to take any kind of a run at The players who won’t be reviewed in this section are, a North American pro career. alphabetically, Patrik Berglund, T.J. Oshie, Roman Polak, Ben Bishop: The big Chaminade alumnus is clearly being Yan Stastny, Tyson Strachan (who seems to be adjusting to groomed as the Blues’ goaltender of the (immediate) future; the NHL quite nicely with 0-1-1 totals, 4 PIM, a plus-1 and he has already gotten a cup of coffee in the NHL this season just over 15 minutes of ice time in four games), Brad (3.18, 89.0%, 1-1-1), and has been installed as Peoria’s starter Winchester and Jeff Woywitka. Nikolay Lemtyugov will not and number one goalie (2.80, 89.6%, 10-7-0) despite Chris be reviewed, even though the Blues Holt’s best attempts to knock him out still hold his playing rights for of that spot. Bishop will get the bulk of anywhere outside Russia, nor will the starts for Peoria in calendar year Ryan Turek, the 94th-overall selection 2009, and as he goes, so will go the by the Blues in 2006 who was Rivermen. dismissed from the Michigan State Ian Cole: The Notre Dame Fighting program earlier this month for “failure Irish sit atop the US College Hockey to meet expectations.” Online.com poll rankings, and the solid Launching into the mid-season play of the 6’1, 216-pound Cole is a big system review, then, let’s start at the part of the reason why. At 18th overall beginning with... in 2007, Cole was taken highest of any Jake Allen: The Fredericton, New Notre Dame player ever in the NHL Brunswick native who led Canada’s Draft, and his experience with the US Lars Eller, T.J Fast, and David Perron U-18 squad to gold in last year’s World National Team Development Program, Junior Championships was one of the watch their coach diagram a play in the along with his 3-8-11 numbers, plus-12 last cuts from this year’s U-20 squad. Blues’ 2008 Development Camp. and 30 PIM in 19 games, has helped him win a spot with Team USA at the Denied the opportunity to represent (Game Time photo by Brian Weidler) his country in Ottawa, Allen is World Juniors in Ottawa Dec. 26 contenting himself with being one of the QMJHL’s leaders in through Jan. 5. every significant statistical category... 8th in wins (15), 11th Mark Cundari: A solid performance as a free-agent invitee in goals-against average (2.81), 4th in save percentage to the Blues 2008 Development Camp led to Cundari signing (92.0%), and 9th in minutes played (1556:14). a contract with the Blues after the Traverse City Prospect Jay Barriball: Small (5’9, 170) but mighty, Barriball has Tournament, where he was 0-2-2 with a plus-2 and 20 PIM returned to form as a point-per-game player for Minnesota in four games for the fifth-place Blues. Cundari is a stocky this season. Barriball has appeared in 13 of the Gophers’ 16 (5’11, 200) and feisty (358 PIM in 154 career OHL games) games played this year, and is 5-8-13 with a plus-6 mark left-shooting defenseman who also has some scoring upside (fourth on the club behind three teammates all at plus-11) (18-42-60 in his OHL career). and ten PIM. He notched the game-winner against in-state Nick Drazenovic: The second-year pro has shaken off the rival St. Cloud State back on Oct. 18, and has played on the effects of a bout with mononucleosis that delayed the start of second power-play unit all season (1-5-6 with the man his rookie season last year, and has become a solid second- advantage). line center for Davis Payne’s Peoria Rivermen. Defensively Kristoffer Berglund: A surprising omission from responsible, and possessed of excellent faceoff skills, Draze- Sweden’s U-20 WJC roster, Berglund has been making his novic was Peoria’s leading rookie scorer last year (17th in the mark on the Elitserien at the tender age of 18 years and four AHL) with 16-26-42 totals and a plus-13 in 69 games, and is months. Berglund’s 3-16-19 scoring totals in 32 games for 6-10-16 (two SHG) with a plus-3 in 31 games this year. Luleå HF have him tied for fifth in scoring among Elitserien Lars Eller: The Blues’ top pick (13th overall) in 2007, Eller defensemen; his 16 assists place him 16th among all players has rapidly climbed the Blues’ top prospect list, and is in the league; and his plus-11 mark has him tied for ninth considered at this point an even bet to make the NHL roster place among all Elitserien players. out of training camp next season. Currently, Eller is toiling Reto Berra: The 2008-09 season has been more or less a for the Frölunda HC Elitserien club, where he is 5-3-8 with a wasted one in terms of Berra’s development. Berra hasn’t (Continued on page 21) G AME TIME Page 21

Selected in the fifth round (140th overall) of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft by San Jose, Plihal has appeared in 30 of the Sharks' 34 games this season, and has established By Brian Weidler himself as a solid third-line forward with four goals (one SHG, one GWG), eight points, and 12 PIM. Plihal has been playing in North America Tomas Plihal since his draft year, spending two years in major Shoots: Left junior with Kootenay (WHL) and three years in Height: 6’ 1 the Sharks’ system before splitting time between Worcester and San Jose in 2006-07 and 2007- Weight: 190 08. Birthdate: March 28, 1983 Plihal has good puck skills, both shooting and Birthplace: Frydlant, Czech Republic stickhandling, and plays a solid all-around game. At 6’1, 190, he has the size to make it in A versatile forward who can play either center North America, but he needs to develop or left wing, Plihal is making the most of his additional strength in order to handle the rigors chance this season to become a full-time NHL of a third-line checking assignment. player.

We Dare You To Find Better Prospect Info. St. Louis Game Time Tomorrow’s Blues (continued)

(Continued from page 20) The rangy defenseman is now back in Peoria and contributing (0-3-3, plus 3, 2 PIM in 13 games), and hopes to rediscover the plus-1 and eight PIM in 27 games, and helped Denmark to a scoring touch (20-56-76, plus-33 in 97 games) he had in second-place finish at the Division I-B U-20 World Junior junior. Championships (3-3-6 in five games) last week. Jonathan Filewich: A change of scenery might have been Travis Erstad: Slated to begin skating for perennial NCAA just what the former Penguin prospect needed to rediscover power Wisconsin this year, Erstad decided at the 11th hour to the scoring touch (52-40-92) he displayed in his first two AHL return home to Stevens Point, WI and attend the Stevens Point seasons. Filewich made his debut with Peoria on Dec. 21 after campus of the University of Wisconsin instead. The Pointers coming over in trade from Pittsburgh, and scored the game- compete in Division III, rather than the Division I level at UW- winning goal in a shootout win over Houston. Last night, Madison, and Erstad’s development will be slowed signifi- Filewich racked up a goal and two assists, and was named cantly by his decision to play at a lower level. In 12 games at third star of Peoria’s 5-4 OT win in Grand Rapids. UW-SP, Erstad is 4-4-8 with 20 PIM. Matt Foy: Signed by the Blues as a free agent over the Cade Fairchild: One word describes Fairchild’s game: summer by the Blues, the 6’2, 219-pound 25-year-old physical offense. Currently serving as the trigger man on the deadly winger with 56 games of NHL experience (6-7-13, 48 PIM) (21of 92, 22.8%) University of Minnesota power play, all of underwent surgery for a sports hernia in October and has yet Fairchild’s three goals and eight of his 11 total assists have to play a game for Peoria this season. Foy is expected to be in come with the man advantage. His 32 minutes in penalty time the Peoria lineup shortly after the first of the year. ranks third on the Gophers. Fairchild, along with Cole and Next time in “Tomorrow’s Blues,” we’ll continue our Michigan star Aaron Palushaj, is currently skating for Team mid-season look at the Blues’ stable of prospects with USA in the U-20 World Junior Championships in Ottawa. everyone from defenseman Alexander Hellström to forward T.J. Fast: Acquired by the Blues last summer from Los Ange- Cam Paddock. Don’t miss it, and remember... “if we do not les for a fifth-round pick in the 2009 Entry Draft, Fast was prepare for ourselves the role of the hammer, there will be unable to build off of a spot on the 2007-08 WHL Western nothing left but that of the anvil.” Conference All-Star Team and started the 2008-09 season Auf wiedersehen. riding the pine in Peoria before being sent to Alaska (ECHL). Volume 4, Issue 18 Page 22 December 27, 2008 The Five Hole 9 (continued) -200 2008 The huffle (Continued from page 5) kate S ucky S Roy and Colorado had, Marty Brodeur and New Jersey did, and L cker JS Gigeure’s two playoff runs in Anaheim. Tra “Nabby” is one hell of a goalie. Any and all credit he receives is justified. The Sharks wouldn’t be where they are without him. Brian Boucher overcame a spell of crappy play in Philadelphia, Phoenix, Chicago, Calgary, Columbus, to become Times Occurred a more than serviceable backup to Nabokov. Finishing Point This Year / Back to the bell curve: until the Blues start finding, signing, Percentage or developing more players that are to the far right of the curve, then this franchise will become to the hockey bell curve what Puck finishes in same Detroit has become to the bell curve of cities. 13 / 76.5% skate as starting point.

Contact: [email protected] Puck finishes in skate one place lower than start 4 / 23.5% point.

Somewhere Just Puck finishes in skate one place higher than start 0 / 0.0% North of Ridiculous. point.

Remember Me? By Brad Lee & Chris Gift

Darren Turcotte season points; 10 playoff games with no points) were lower than he had DOB: March 2, 1968; Boston, Mass previously posted in his more Position: Center productive years in the league. Played for the Blues: 62 games In his four full seasons playing for during the 1997-1998 season the , he topped 20 Like many of the trades of the late goals each year, and scored over 30 1990s, the acquisition of Darren twice. Turcotte from San Jose was to rid the During the 1998 Expansion Draft, Blues of a acquisition. Turcotte was dealt to the expansion Turcotte came here in exchange for future for Stephane Matteau in late July of considerations. He played less than 1997. He was supposed to provide 50 games there over the course of consistent, if not brilliant play on the two seasons and added four more second and third lines while killing goals to his career total. penalties and occasionally playing when the team had After his playing career ended, Turcotte made a few the man-advantage. coaching stops in the North Junior Hockey Think Jay McClement but with a little less height League, including coaching the Abitibi Eskimos and and a little more offensive skill. the North Bay Skyhawks. Injuries kept Turcotte out of 20 games during his year here, and his numbers (12 goals, 18 regular G AME TIME Page 23 Checking On Our Pieter [Throughout the season we will occasionally check in on But Pietrangelo’s hectic fall has continued a frantic pace the progress of 2008 draftee Alex Pietrangelo. After being as he tried out for and made Canada’s U-20 World Junior selected fourth overall by the Blues, Championships team. The WJC tournament Pietrangelo made the team, only to be began the day after Christmas in Ottawa and returned to his junior squad on Nov. 13 after both Canada and Pietrangelo have gotten off playing in eight NHL games.] to a hot start. Team Canada has rolled early, skating to After returning to the Niagara (formerly an 8-1 win over the Czech Republic. Mississauga) IceDogs of the OHL, Pietrangelo Pietrangelo scored a goal in that game. quickly re-established himself with the team Expectations are high for Pietrangelo and that he has played with for the last two Team Canada, which is expected to win gold seasons. in the most prestigious exhibition of young Despite missing over a month of the team’s hockey talent. schedule due to his eight games played with Upon his return to the IceDogs, St. Louis (and six games missed due to injury Pietrangelo can expect the pressure to stay thanks to a hit from behind during the game in high, as Niagara sits at the bottom of the Toronto), Pietrangelo stepped into OHL play with a divisional standings, but are within striking distance of vengeance, tallying five goals and 10 assists in nine games second place if they can put together some wins. If that is to with the IceDogs. He is plus-3 and has only four penalty happen, Pietrangelo will have to lead the way. minutes. He was also named captain of the team.

“How much can Top 11 Procedures That you know about Eric Brewer Is Undergoing

yourself if you’ve 11. Back surgery. 10. Front surgery. never 9. Press Box Padding being added to posterior. 8. Enzyte suppository. been in 7. Wallet enlargement. 6. Andy Murray tongue lashing. 5. Exploratory spine stiffening. a 4. Shamwowed. 3. Hot beef injection. fight?” 2. Lube job. 1. Upgraded operating system to Mojave.

From the perfectly normal adolescence St. Louis Game Time of Childhood Trauma www.stlouisgametime.com Volume 4, Issue 18 Page 24 December 27, 2008 NHL Standings—Don’t Look

Eastern Conference ATLANTIC GP W L OTL PTS GF GA PP% PK% HOME AWAY L10 NY Rangers 37 22 12 3 47 100 99 14.4 88.4 12-6-2 10-6-1 5-4-1 Philadelphia 35 19 9 7 45 123 109 27.5 83.2 12-4-3 7-5-4 7-2-1 Pittsburgh 35 19 12 4 42 114 102 19.0 81.3 8-6-2 11-6-2 4-6-0 New Jersey 33 19 11 3 41 99 85 16.1 80.9 11-7-1 8-4-2 6-3-1 NY Islanders 35 11 21 3 25 87 125 17.9 81.0 6-9-2 5-12-1 1-8-1 NORTHEAST GP W L OTL PTS GF GA PP% PK% HOME AWAY L10 Boston 34 25 5 4 54 126 77 26.6 81.1 13-1-1 12-4-3 9-1-0 Montreal 33 18 9 6 42 98 86 14.6 81.2 11-4-4 7-5-2 5-3-2 Buffalo 35 16 14 5 37 99 101 19.1 87.3 9-8-2 7-6-3 5-3-2 Toronto 35 14 15 6 34 110 126 21.0 75.2 6-6-4 8-9-2 5-5-0 Ottawa 32 12 15 5 29 77 89 18.2 81.2 9-6-3 3-9-2 4-5-1 SOUTHEAST GP W L OTL PTS GF GA PP% PK% HOME AWAY L10 Washington 36 22 11 3 47 116 108 22.4 79.7 14-1-1 8-10-2 8-2-0 Carolina 36 17 14 5 39 95 108 14.9 77.3 9-8-1 8-6-4 5-2-3 Florida 34 16 13 5 37 85 89 14.3 83.2 8-4-3 8-9-2 6-2-2 Atlanta 35 12 19 4 28 105 130 21.2 72.3 6-10-2 6-9-2 4-5-1 Tampa Bay 34 9 16 9 27 78 104 14.4 80.7 3-6-6 6-10-3 3-6-1 Western Conference CENTRAL GP W L OTL PTS GF GA PP% PK% HOME AWAY L10 Detroit 34 23 7 4 50 125 101 26.2 81.1 12-3-2 11-4-2 7-3-0 Chicago 32 19 6 7 45 119 83 23.6 85.3 11-1-4 8-5-3 9-0-1 Nashville 34 17 14 3 37 87 97 13.5 82.2 10-4-1 7-10-2 5-4-1 Columbus 34 14 16 4 32 89 103 9.9 80.7 10-6-1 4-10-3 3-6-1 St.Louis 34 13 18 3 29 97 118 21.4 80.4 8-7-2 5-11-1 3-7-0 NORTHWEST GP W L OTL PTS GF GA PP% PK% HOME AWAY L10 Calgary 34 19 11 4 42 101 102 18.4 85.2 10-4-3 9-7-1 5-2-3 Vancouver 36 19 14 3 41 105 97 18.1 81.7 10-5-1 9-9-2 5-4-1 Minnesota 33 17 14 2 36 87 76 22.9 89.1 10-6-2 7-8-0 3-6-1 Edmonton 33 16 14 3 35 90 100 18.7 74.7 5-5-3 11-9-0 6-3-1 Colorado 34 17 16 1 35 93 100 16.2 79.9 9-6-0 8-10-1 5-4-1 PACIFIC GP W L OTL PTS GF GA PP% PK% HOME AWAY L10 San Jose 34 27 4 3 57 121 80 22.9 86.0 18-0-2 9-4-1 7-1-2 Anaheim 35 18 14 3 39 100 98 19.1 81.7 10-7-2 8-7-1 4-6-0 Phoenix 36 17 14 5 39 94 101 14.8 80.7 11-4-2 6-10-3 5-2-3 Los Angeles 35 14 15 6 34 91 100 18.5 83.2 10-7-6 4-8-0 4-4-2 Dallas 33 14 14 5 33 98 115 15.2 76.5 7-5-3 7-9-2 6-3-1

Wish You Had Game Time When You Watch The Blues At Home? Subscribe! [email protected] 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 10 Fri Predators 5-2 1-0-0 Legace/Ellis Jan 17 Sat Blackhaw ks Oct 11 Sat @Islanders 2-5 1-1-0 MacDonald/Mason Jan 19 Mon @Bruins Oct 13 Mon @Maple Leafs 5-4 SO 2-1-0 Legace/Toskala Jan 21 Wed @Blackhaw ks Oct 16 Thu Stars 6-1 3-1-0 Legace/Turco Jan 24 Sat All-Star Skills/Young Stars Game Oct 18 Sat Blackhaw ks 4-3 SO 4-1-0 Legace/Khabibulin Jan 25 Sun All-Star Game Oct 22 Wed Red Wings 3-4 4-2-0 Conklin/Legace Jan 29 Thu Senators Oct 24 Fri Kings 0-4 4-3-0 LaBarbera/Legace Jan 31 Sat Flyers Oct 25 Sat Panthers 4-0 5-3-0 Bishop/Anderson Oct 30 Thu Hurricanes 0-1 5-4-0 Ward/Mason

Nove m be r Fe br uar y WINNING/LOSING WINNING/LOSING DATE OPPONENT SCORE RECORD DATE OPPONENT SCORE RECORD GOALIE GOALIE Nov 1 Sat Penguins 3-6 5-5-0 Fleury/Mason Feb 2 Mon @Red Wings Nov 5 Wed @Ducks 2-5 5-6-0 Giguere/Mason Feb 3 Tue @Blue Jackets Nov 6 Thu @Sharks 4-5 SO 5-6-1 Nabokov/Bishop Feb 5 Thu Oilers Nov 8 Sat @Kings 3-5 5-7-1 Ersberg/Legace Feb 7 Sat Avalanche Nov 12 Wed @Sabres 3-4 5-8-1 Miller/Mason Feb 10 Tue Canucks Nov 14 Fri @Blackhaw ks 4-3 OT 6-8-1 Legace/Khabibulin Feb 12 Thu @Predators Nov 16 Sun Canadiens 2-3 SO 6-8-2 Price/Legace Feb 13 Fri Blackhaw ks Nov 21 Fri Ducks 3-2 OT 7-8-2 Legace/Giguere Feb 16 Mon Rangers Nov 22 Sat @Wild 2-1 8-8-2 Mason/Backstrom Feb 18 Wed @Blue Jackets Nov 25 Tue @Predators 1-0 SO 9-8-2 Mason/Ellis Feb 19 Thu @Predators Nov 26 Wed @Avalanche 1-3 9-9-2 Budaj/Legace Feb 21 Sat Predators Nov 29 Sat Oilers 2-4 9-10-2 Roloson/Legace Feb 24 Tue Coyotes Nov 30 Sun @Thrashers 4-2 10-10-2 Mason/Pavelec Feb 26 Thu @Stars Feb 28 Sat @Coyotes

De ce m be r M ar ch WINNING/LOSING WINNING/LOSING DATE OPPONENT SCORE RECORD DATE OPPONENT SCORE RECORD GOALIE GOALIE Dec 3 Wed @Wild 0-4 10-11-2 Backstrom/Legace Mar 3 Tue Red Wings Dec 5 Fri Flames 3-4 OT 10-11-3 Kipprusoff/Mason Mar 6 Fri @Lightning Dec 6 Sat Coyotes 4-3 11-11-3 Legace/Bryzgalov Mar 7 Sat @Panthers Dec 8 Mon Predators 6-3 12-11-3 Legace/Rinne Mar 10 Tue Stars Dec 10 Wed @Ducks 2-4 12-12-3 Giguere/Mason Mar 12 Thu Sharks Dec 11 Thu @Kings 2-6 12-13-3 Ersberg/Mason Mar 14 Sat Red Wings Dec 13 Sat @Sharks 4-5 12-14-3 Nabokov/Mason Mar 15 Sun Wild Dec 16 Tue Flames 3-6 12-15-3 Kipprusoff/Mason Mar 17 Tue @Oilers Dec 18 Thu @Capitals 2-4 12-16-3 Varlamov/Bishop Mar 19 Thu @Canucks Dec 20 Sat Wild 4-2 13-16-3 Legace/Backstrom Mar 20 Fri @Flames Dec 21 Sun Bruins 3-6 13-17-3 Fernandez/Legace Mar 24 Tue Kings Dec 23 Tue @Red Wings 1-4 13-18-3 Conklin/Legace Mar 26 Thu Canucks Dec 27 Sat Sharks Mar 28 Sat Blue Jackets Dec 28 Sun Ducks Mar 29 Sun @Blue Jackets Dec 30 Tue Devils

January April WINNING/LOSING WINNING/LOSING DATE OPPONENT SCORE RECORD DATE OPPONENT SCORE RECORD GOALIE GOALIE Jan 2 Fri @Hurricanes Apr 1 Wed @Blackhaw ks Jan 3 Sat Blue Jackets Apr 2 Thu @Red Wings Jan 9 Fri @Canucks Apr 4 Sat @Stars Jan 11 Sun @Oilers Apr 7 Tue @Coyotes Jan 13 Tue @Flames Apr 10 Fri Blue Jackets Jan 15 Thu Avalanche Apr 12 Sun @Avalanche Volume 4, Issue 18 Page 26 December 27, 2008

This Might Bite (continued)

(Continued from page 1) I do. Joe Thornton often looks like the The Sharks come into tonight with a best player on the ice against St. Louis. And yes, rooting against the Blues 7-1-2 record in December. They won He’s scored 28 points in 23 games. Of not only in one game but in dozens of the last game against the Blues in San those points, he’s totaled 22 assists, games is being traitorous. While you Jose 5-4 on Dec. 13. The Blues had a continuing to show that he’s an root for them to lose now until April, two-goal lead and blew it. Patrick absolute passing machine. At 6 feet, 4 are you doing that while wearing your Marleau scored the game winner with inches tall and 235 pounds, Thornton Tkachuk jersey? You still going to just over five minutes to play in the has the size to be a dominating goal games and doing that? How do those third period. It was his second goal of scorer. But as the Sharks’ best center, $10 beers taste while you root for the he prefers to make his teammates Red Wings? Are you even bothering to better around him. It sucks. watch on TV? Devin Setoguchi looks like a I think it’s noble to be a dedicated younger, hipper, more metrosexual So Even the fan. Anyone who went to multiple Taguchi. He has 17 goals and 18 assists promise games in 2005-06 (and judging by the giving the Sharks not one or two, but of Jon attendance, there weren’t many) three players with more points than Tavares deserves the equivalent of the Purple games played. Bastards. is enough Heart for diehard hockey fandom. to make Dan Boyle is close to being a point-a- Putting up with this rebuild is going to us root game player with 29 in 33 games. Did I take patience. Understanding. Gallons against mention he’s a defenseman? His 11 of hard alcohol. Something tells me that our team. goals is tied for first among defensemen the Blues are going to have good draft while his 29 points are first for his posi- picks this coming summer regardless of tion in the league. Bastard. who I’m rooting for. And it doesn’t mean I’m expecting the Blues to win Evgeni Nabokov is taking it easy this season. He’s only played in 24 games every night, but there’s something the game. In the season’s first meeting with a sparkling 19-3-2 record. He’s called hope. And hope is a good thing. between the two teams, the Blues held a tied for first in wins in the league, but Besides, I’d much rather enjoy a Blues two-goal lead, blew it late and San Jose his 90.7 save percentage is good for win than reveling in a Blues loss. won 5-4 – this time in a shootout. only 28th. Wonder if it’s a carryover for Maybe a change of scenery will be good Here’s the point. If you don’t want playing nearly every game last season. for the Blues against the Sharks. Maybe the Blues to win every game, why He played in a mind boggling 77 games they don’t like seeing all that teal in the bother? There are no guarantees with last season. Brian Boucher of all people building. The Sharks have yet to lose in prospects developing. Very few players is backing up Nabby and has done a regulation at the HP Shark Pavilion even at the top of the draft at age 18 can spectacular job. In five appearances last Tank place. Their 18-0-2 record is the be guaranteed to become superstars. season, he was 3-1-1. Before that, he’s best at home in the NHL. At 9-4-1 on Sure, either center or only had two winning seasons since the road, the Sharks are just above defenseman would be making his debut in 1999-2000. He had average. great additions to the Blues organiza- a 10-19-10 season for Phoenix and a tion. At this point they seem to be the Marleau, the Sharks’ captain, leads 1-10-3 season in Chicago. To coax consensus top two players available in the team in scoring with 40 points, but winning hockey out of Boucher and see next summer’s draft. You pick third and he’s only been mediocre at best against him with an 8-1-1 record this season, it you’ve got the best of the rest. Still, the Blues. In 43 career games against shows what an average goalie can do there are no guarantees. St. Louis, he’s only scored 8 goals and behind a good team. 13 assists. And if you read the top of Granted, it’s just a game. So winning And to say the Sharks are anything this story carefully, you’ll remember and losing shouldn’t matter that much. but a great team is insane. It will be that two of those goals came in just the Knowing that by losing the Blues might interesting to see if the Blues can play a last game against St. Louis. Through 34 draft a franchise cornerstone that could close game and stay in contention games this season, Marleau has 18 provide years of joy watching him play tonight. They’ve shown in two games goals, one short of his 19-goal total wearing the Note, it should be easier. that they can play with San Jose. But from a season ago. Marleau is a good But I just can’t do it. I invest too much can they beat them? of myself into watching and following player, but as his career numbers this hockey team. And if you’ve read all against St. Louis attest, he rarely is the Let’s Go Blues! this so far, you might feel the same way best player on the ice vs. the Blues. G AME TIME Page 27 Game Time Bingo!

Cotton Eyed Joe guy Colaiacovo making Someone in your A goal is scored in wearing his jersey Yan Stastny playing that No. 28 look section vehemently the first two with Jay McKee’s like Dan Hinote used better than Matt dislikes Eric minutes of any name and TJ Oshie’s to play. number. Walker did. Brewer. period. Red Berenson Still not motivated Cowboy scoffs at Cam Janssen Patrik Berglund Mite game ends enough to vote for attempts to stop disburses a beating. gets another point. in a tie. the All-Star game. him. Someone in your You drop at least You love Boyes. Not BJ Crombeen gets Charles Glenn closer to having section never stops two ‘Slap Shot’ that there’s anything brings it. someone put his playing with their references. wrong with that. name on their jersey. phone.

Fight! Angelllla looks Dancing Kid seems bummed that she We Want Blizzards like he’s not just Air Horn Guy kinda Fight! didn’t get those extra still not as good as about the dancing fucking it up. Ls that she wanted for We Want Tacos. Fight! Christmas. anymore.

Still seeing more Someone gets their See a kid reading Another $200 stick Stempniak jerseys “Is that Martin copy of GT on the GT and think to breaks at the worst than Steen/ Rucinsky?” Jumbotron. possible time. Colaiacovo jerseys. yourself, “uh oh.”

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

From The Editor (continued)

(Continued from page 2) Blues back into the playoffs. But the vagtastic voyage his supposedly lingering injuries It’s becoming more and more obvious; Legace ain’t the have taken us all on have made everyone feel very similar to Manny and he’ll be gone next year. The fans have picked up on the way we did last year, which is that the $16 million over the cues from management. What do you think he’s picked up? four years that is being wasted on Jay McKee and the $16 mil- Paul Kariya, who pulled down the top spot with a lion being wasted on Eric Brewer are nothing compared to the commanding 15% lead in our poll, surprised me the most. $18 million the Blues are wasting on three years of Paul Mainly because I damn near forgot to put him in the poll. Kariya. Kariya, whose on-ice performance last year was the It’s still Festivus and we’ve aired our grievances. Next up is equivalent of hockey fluffer (all flash and dash, no payoff), the feats of strength. Too bad most of the Blues’ worst started off great this year. His first 11 games had every Blues underperformers aren’t up to the task. fan excited. Just two goals, yes, but his 13 assists and 15 points indicated a possible return to offensive prowess. A potential to score over a hundred points on the season would have been his Sean “keeping expectations low and getting a best since 1999 and possibly the best of his career (his career Stastny jersey” Gallagher high is 108). And that would go a long way towards getting the Like A Swift Kick To The Nuts.

St. Louis Game Time www.stlouisgametime.com