St Louis

Volume 4, Issue 14 Game Time December 8, 2008

Four Dollars Of Good Karma The Game Day Guide To St. Louis Blues Hockey Established in 2005

By Brad Lee Jovanovski skated in from the point, found plenty of open space in the slot right in front and buried the goal. Roman Polak was one of The Blues can extend a couple of two-game streaks tonight the defensemen on the ice for the score. Remember that. against Nashville. On St. Louis’ first goal, Keith Tkachuk took control of the puck St. Louis can earn points in three straight games with their in the corner, tried to center and was successful only after the third straight win against the Sexual Predators. A regulation win puck bounced off the side of the net. It ricocheted to David Backes would bring the Blues within three points of Nashville, the eighth who slammed the puck home. When asked about it in the Blues’ -place team in the Western Conference. It’s been a tiring stretch dressing room after the game, he said of course he planned it with games Friday, Saturday and now tonight. The poor that way. And then he told the truth. “It was one of bastard who runs this paper can’t wait for the Blues those where I wanted to put it at his feet, hope for to head out for a quick three-game West Coast the best and I just got a lucky bounce. road trip. The second period saw a lot of action. On the We’d probably be ready to blow shit up if second Phoenix goal, defenseman Polak the Blues had blown three home games in a couldn’t hold onto the puck in his own end, to row where they enjoyed a two-goal lead. But Legace’s right. Peter Mueller skated in hard, they somehow figured out the difficult task pushed Polak off the puck and found Doan of having two more goals than the other open in the right faceoff circle for the goal. team. It feels liberating. Suddenly the Blues were down again by a The win Saturday night showed that a goal, this time 2-1. Remember Polak’s name. crappy team can’t keep the Blues down forever. While both Phoenix goals were strong plays by Phoenix swept the Blues in all four games last the Coyotes, the Blues didn’t do a very good job season. But that was before Patrik Berglund became TM of making quick decisions in their own end. a St. Louis Blue. The rookie center with the heart throb Phoenix got aggressive, caught St. Louis Fighting Sioux for a roommate is super smooth with the puck flat-footed and capitalized. I hate to sound like Bernie Federko, and has a nose for the net. His size and skill with the puck is a but the goaltender, and I don’t care if it’s Emmanuel Legace or game-changing combination. I’m gushing. Let’s move on. Emmanuel Lewis, he doesn’t have a chance on those The Phoenix game didn’t get off to a great start. For the opportunities. second game in a row the Blues allowed a goal after an opposing The Blues didn’t panic and scored their second goal on a very forward set up shop behind the St. Louis net. This time it was smooth power play. With the man advantage, the puck came to Shane Doan killing time, unmolested behind the goal. As the attention was turned to the back of the cage, defenseman Ed (Continued on page 26) Today’s Records, Injuries & News Today’s Team Records: Today’s Injuries: Today’s News & Notes:

Blues: Predators: Blues: C Andy McDonald (fractured • Maple Leafs’ rookie defenseman Luke 11-11-3 (25 points) 14-10-2 (30 points) ankle) and LW Paul Kariya (lower Schenn (drafted 5th overall) is out two 4th in Central 3rd in Central body) are out. RW Dan Hinote (lower weeks with a lower body injury. 13th in Western 8th in Western body) is still day-to-day. F TJ Oshie • Paul Maurice wins first game in his (ankle, again) is out. second tour of duty as the coach of the Last Ten Games: Blues: Predators: Predators: LW Steve Sullivan (back Carolina Hurricanes. 5-3-2 6-3-1 surgery) is out. G Dan Ellis (knee) is • Avs’ Wojtek Wolski is 5-for-5 in SO. probable. Season Series: All-Time Series: • Game Time Staff not exactly sure what 2-0-0 27-21-10-1 day it is anymore.

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 14 From The Editor December 8, 2008

I’ve done a lot of research over the years to back on Nov 6, 2005. But it has never St. Louis Game Time find out if there’s anyone else out there in been easy. The procedures have gotten Established: November 6, 2005 any NHL city that is like us. By that I mean easier and we’ve figured out some of the St Louis, Missouri anyone crazy enough to run a fan-based tricks and time-savers along the way. Phone: 402-2266 paper that caters to the hardcore fans of the We’ve also gotten a lot of help from www.StLouisGameTime.com team and prints and sells an unofficial people who really didn’t have to help us, program before the home games. either. All of that made this possible, but it has still always been difficult. Godfather I’ve never found any. Jeffio So I was never that surprised to find To be honest, if not for Jeffio and his that there weren’t any other papers like Game Night Revue, I never would have had ours out there in other NHL cities. Publisher & Editor-in-Chief the idea to do something like this on Sean Gallagher my own, so it’s not surprising to find Imagine my surprise then, when [email protected] that no one else in any other city I was contacted by a guy from has had this idea on their own and another website that is like then gone through the hardship of ours and he asked if he could Advertising designing it, creating it, printing it interview me about the Blues [email protected] and then stepping out on the city for his fan-run paper he was [email protected] streets to try to sell it to a skeptical group of putting together. I was surprisingly excited, especially since my new fellow fans on their way to a game. I’m lucky that Distribution Jeffio forged out and did it here in St. Louis, crazy person was a Hawks fan. I John Nicolay otherwise I’d just be a frustrated fan sitting responded quickly and helped him out with his questions to fill some space for Amy Benoist, Becky Benoist, at home yelling and throwing stuff at the TV. Billy Cash, Clarence Walker the upcoming Blues-Blackhawks game But Jeffio had someone to inspire him, in Chicago. I also barraged him with too. The idea for the GNR came from a night questions about his paper. It’s nice after Columnists in Chicago many years ago as he walked into all, for misery to have a little company. Chris Gift, Duke, Brad Lee, the Chicago Arena to catch a game. He Answer Man & Brian Weidler stumbled onto a guy hawking a fan-based The new venture is called The paper called The Blue Line. Boasting itself as Committed Indian and, just like us, is Contributors ‘A Real Program’ it was 20 pages of comedy, sold outside the rink before all home Jeffio, Jeff Browning, LosBri, stats and full-on Wirtz bashing. games. They’re doing about 16 pages Childhood Trauma, Dan Doke, Jeff now, but I expect that they’ll expand, just Fahrenkrog, Jeremy Pratte & Chris Reed Jeffio was immediately inspired. After as we did, as they get more and more spending time with the publisher of The Blue writers and contributors. Their editor, Photographer Line and getting his own paper together, the Andrew D’Angelo publisher and maniac-in-chief is a guy Game Night Revue was unleashed upon the named Sam Fels and he did much the world in the lockout-shortened 1994-95 Mission: same as I did, taking the format and season. experience of a predecessor and spinning Game Time will provide prospect At some point The Blue Line gave up the information, up-to-date statistics, articles off of that. When you see The Committed that spark discussion and humor that ghost in Chicago, but not before building a Indian in print, it looks a lot like The points out the best and worst about our huge following among the remaining Hawk Blue Line did, just as Game Time has favorite team and sport. We are all fans of faithful who hadn’t been run off by the plenty of nods to the Game Night Revue the Blues and our opinions will reflect those of subjective fans. owners. The Game Night Revue ran for 10 format. Funnily enough, Game Night years before Jeffio put it to rest, printing one The paper is published for every home Revue took some cues from The Blue game, excluding the pre-season, which we gigantic farewell issue for the home opener Line too, so when you flip through any of all know sucks. in 2005, the first year back after the lockout. the four programs you get the feeling It’s ironic that one lockout gave birth to that there’s been some incest going on. Rights & Permissions: It’s funny that after all these years, the GNR because the second one is basically All material printed herein is copyrighted what killed it. As Jeffio said near the end of permutations and changes in editors, and protected. Do not reprint in any his run in publishing, “During the lockout I without even trying, Game Time and The format without expressed, written realized what it is to have a life during that Committed Indian look like cousins. permission from Game Time LLC. six to nine months of the year.” If you ever get to Chicago to see a As you know, it was just about seven home game, do us a favor and check out their Logos & Photos games later that we came out with our first paper. We guarantee you won’t regret it. Team logos and pictures used herein are the property of the individual teams Plus, Hawk fans always buy ours, so issue of St. Louis Game Time. If not for our and/or the NHL and are used solely for time working with and for Jeffio, this paper consider it a karma thing. identification and editorial purposes. never would have happened. And I think -Sean “no, no one wants to adver- we’ve come a long way since that first issue tise with us, either” Gallagher Today’s Reminder: Predators usually prey on children. G AME TIME Page 3

Tonight’s Trivia Top 11 Ways Keith By Childhood Trauma Tkachuk Celebrated His 1,000 Point Milestone First Period (true or false): 1. The Predators have never won a playoff series. 11. Drank only one glass of Metamucil. 2. Although currently injured for over a year, Steve Sullivan 10. Stayed up late past 9:30 for a change. has more points as a Predator than Paul Kariya does. 9. Wore his good white leather belt and shoes after First Intermission (t/f): the game. 8. Told the kids Oshie and Berglund about how he 3. Kevin Kline, the St. Louisan, won an Academy Award. had to drive a Toyota uphill in the snow to Second Period: practice in Winnipeg when he was their age. 4. Which Predator goalie won the Roger Crozier Saving Grace 7. Took a nap. award for the league’s highest save percentage: Dan Ellis, 6. Stopped counting the white hairs in the stubble Chris Mason, Thomas Vokoun, or Mike Dunham? on his chin. 5. Crank-called Dallas Drake’s house for old times 5. Which future hall of famer did the Predators once rent: sake. Brendan Shanahan, Joe Sakic, Sergei Fedorov, or Peter 4. Introduced himself to Alex Steen for the first Forsberg? time. Second intermission: 3. Tried to put some of his “his music” on the dressing room stereo, but it didn’t have a 6. Who is the only actor to be in a Predator movie and an cassette deck. Alien movie before the cross over Alien Vs. Predator: Danny 2. Took another nap. Glover, Bill Paxton, Carl Weathers, or Lance Hendrickson? 1. Doughnuts for everyone! Third Period: 7. Craig Leopold, the Predators’ owner for their first nine seasons, now owns what team? From the Empty Beer Cup of Brad Lee 8. Jay Mckee is a noted shot blocker. Which Predator has blocked more shots than Jay over the last two seasons? 9. The Predators are famous for having one head coach in their history. How many general managers have they had and Are You Ready who is their current one? Overtime! For Some... 10. Before getting the expansion Predators, Nashville offered $20 million to any NHL team that would move, and had one www.stlouisgametime.com specific team in mind. Which current NHL team attempted to get rid of their lease and move to Nashville during the

mid-90ʼs? stayed in New Jersey. Jersey. New in stayed Corrections & Clarifications

10. The New Jersey Devils. Instead they restructured their lease and and lease their restructured they Instead Devils. Jersey New The 10. • This apology was s only GM in its history. history. its in GM only s Nashville is Poile David 9.

ʼ traded for future

8. Greg Zanon. Greg was 7th in the NHL while Jay was 9th. 9th. was Jay while NHL the in 7th was Greg Zanon. Greg 8. considerations. 7. Leopold now owns the Minnesota Wild. Wild. Minnesota the owns now Leopold 7.

Aliens, and “The Lone Ranger” in Predator 2. 2. Predator in Ranger” Lone “The and Aliens, • Game Time printed

6. Game over man: Bill Paxton was in both sequels. He was a grunt in in grunt a was He sequels. both in was Paxton Bill man: over Game 6. the wrong picture

the cost of Scottie Upshaw, Ryan Parent, a first, and a third. third. a and first, a Parent, Ryan Upshaw, Scottie of cost the of how future

5. Peter Forsberg played 17 regular season games for the Predators at at Predators the for games season regular 17 played Forsberg Peter 5. NHL hockey Trotz

4. Dan Ellis won the award last season with a 92.4 save percentage. percentage. save 92.4 a with season last award the won Ellis Dan 4. operations guys MacInnis

for his “A Fish Called Wanda.” Wanda.” Called Fish “A his for

3. True. He won best supporting best won He True. 3. chillax in the last

2. False. Steve Sullivan is stuck two points behind Paul Kariya. Kariya. Paul behind points two stuck is Sullivan Steve False. 2. issue. The correct

rst round each time. time. each round rst have lost in the fi the in lost have picture is shown

1. True. They have been to the playoffs four consecutive times but but times consecutive four playoffs the to been have They True. 1. here. Page 4 Volume 4, Issue 14 December 8, 2008

All photos by Andrew D’Angelo—2008 Page 5 G AME TIME The Five Hole

With Chris Gift

OK, this is the fifth time I’ve written for this newspaper change my wardrobe depending on what the Blues do. since Thursday night. This column, plus the other two, plus I’ve never heard Andy Murray say, “Well, the goofball in two “Remember Me” features. So guess what…I’m going to 307 is wearing shorts even though it snowed. Let’s win this touch on a few different things instead of putting together a one for him.” column that requires a complete thought. Anyway, so what the hell, I typed in “St. Louis Blues Hopefully it makes you laugh, because you need some Jerseys” on eBay and found the Corson jersey for $30 reward for making it to the game on a Monday night in including shipping. December against the damn Predators. Go ahead, we said it is OK, go on eBay and find a cool The first two things I want to touch on are things that jersey. Not just Blues stuff either, New England Whalers, Sean mentioned about me in his column on Saturday. Kansas City Scouts, Atlanta Thrashers (I lost out on a vintage Since one of our readers asked me during one of the 1999-2000 Ray Ferraro jersey by $10); if you have a jersey intermissions, I’ll tell the story. fetish you may be able to get one at a good price. My bid of Yes, I did house a possum in my car for a little while. “one possum turd” almost won the auction for the game worn How did it get in there? I’m not quite sure, but I’m going to Sasha Khavanov jersey. play a hunch and say it went something like this… Finally, and I’m sure this won’t be a problem tonight; I’m I live in the city, and I have a detached garage, I’m really getting tired of the whole “19,150” crap. You, me, and thinking that one of the times that the door was open and I everybody else knows that the place holds more than that. wasn’t paying attention that the little fucker sneaked in and According to espn.com 19,150 is only 91.2% full. Chris Kerber lived in the garage for a little while. One night I left my told us after the game that the attendance for the game on windows down in my car, in the garage, and he climbed in Saturday was 19,150-how about “19.15 thousand”, to make it my window. sound like a big money contact- and that was the Blues tenth sellout of the season. Since possums freeze when they’re scared, I’m guessing that every time I got in the car he “played possum,” and hid No way in hell is that anywhere near accurate. under the passenger’s seat. I realize that it is based on tickets sold, but there’s a Looking back on it, I realized something was up when I difference between a “sellout crowd” and a sellout. The Blues’ found a “dropping” on the back seat of my car. I thought website says that the Florida game was sold out, that the with it being early fall that I’d tracked a piece of rodent poo Montreal game was sold out, and the afternoon game against in my car somehow, either from a pair of shoes I had in my (Continued on page 22) car, or hell, I don’t know how else how, but he was under the seat. I left the Blues’ game (the one against Chicago that TJ Oshie won in the shootout), and when I went to open the door to my car, I saw a furry ass and a pink tail crawling The Jeffio Joke of the Day under the seat. I’ll admit I shrieked like a little girl and said something Jordin Tootoo and his wife were having along the lines of “Oh, shit, there’s a possum in my car!” problems and were giving each other the silent If it was up to me, I’d still be there on Chestnut and 11th treatment. The next week Tootoo realized that he street saying the same thing. Luckily another Blues fan, a would need his wife to wake him at 5 a.m. for an real Steve Irwin, heard me say this and he went to the passenger’s door, opened it up, grabbed the bastard by the early flight to Vancouver. Not wanting to be the tail and kind of tossed it away. first to break the silence, he finally wrote on a I thanked him, we went our separate ways, and now that piece of paper, “Please wake me at 5 a.m.” it’s in print, I’ve officially told this story for the last time. The next morning Tootoo woke up only to The other thing Sean talked about was my Shayne Corson discover it was 9 a.m. and that he missed his jersey. flight. Furious, he was about to go and see why his Funny shit happens when you get bored and you have an wife didn’t wake him. Then he noticed a piece of eBay account. Having season tickets, and only two jerseys to wear, I was getting tired of alternating Jackman-Backes- paper by the bed. It said, “It’s 5 a.m. wake up!” Jackman-Backes. Unlike a certain GT columnist, I don’t Volume 4, Issue 14 Page 6 December 8, 2008 St. Louis Blues Statistics

Skater Statistics PLAYER GP G A PTS +/- PIM ATOI PPG PPA SHG SHA SOG SPCT Brad Boyes, RW 25 13 12 25 -14 10 19:52 7 6 0 0 62 21 Andy McDonald, C 16 6 12 18 -12 12 19:55 2 9 1 0 46 13 Keith Tkachuk, C 25 12 6 18 -7 27 18:17 8 1 0 0 61 19.7 Patrik Berglund, C 20 8 8 16 11 2 15:06 3 3 0 0 39 20.5 Paul Kariya, LW 11 2 13 15 1 2 18:06 0 9 0 0 31 6.5 David Perron, LW 24 2 13 15 3 16 15:10 0 4 0 0 42 4.8 David Backes, RW 25 6 5 11 -1 79 16:37 2 1 0 0 40 15 Eric Brewer, D 25 1 5 6 -15 20 25:17 1 2 0 0 43 2.3 Barret Jackman, D 25 2 3 5 -1 32 22:23 0 0 0 0 25 8 Jay McClement, C 25 1 4 5 -6 8 16:45 0 0 0 0 37 2.7 Jeff Woywitka, D 11 0 4 4 2 14 17:20 0 3 0 0 12 0 Carlo Colaiacovo, D * 6 0 4 4 E 4 17:14 0 4 0 0 11 0 Steve Regier, LW 8 3 1 4 -1 4 10:59 2 0 0 0 11 27.3 T.J. Oshie, C 12 2 2 4 2 2 15:15 1 0 0 0 16 12.5 Jay McKee, D 25 1 1 2 -2 12 16:54 0 0 0 0 16 6.3 Cam Janssen, RW 21022-5535:5000008 0 Cam Paddock, C 11 1 1 2 -3 0 10:47 0 0 0 0 11 9.1 Yan Stastny, C 19 1 1 2 -9 7 13:08 0 0 0 0 17 5.9 Roman Polak, D 25 0 2 2 -4 19 19:47 0 1 0 0 24 0 Steve Wagner, D 16 1 1 2 -5 18 16:32 0 1 0 0 11 9.1 Chris Porter, C 6112-1010:320000714.3 B.J. Crombeen, RW * 9 1 1 2 -1 19 12:06 0 0 0 0 13 7.7 Mike Weaver, D 10011-2010:5500003 0 Brad Winchester, LW 7011-22011:1901006 0 D.J. King, LW 1011E08:2000000 0 Dan Hinote, RW 10000-2911:1200004 0 Alexander Steen, LW * 6000-2217:3700009 0 Goalie Statistics PLAYER GP W L GAA SV SV% SHO TGA TSA PIM ENG Manny Legace 14 7 5 3.18 325 89.0% 0 40 365 0 1 Chris Mason 11 3 6 2.53 291 92.1% 1 25 316 0 4 Ben Bishop 3 1 0 2.41 66 91.7% 0 6 72 0 0 Marek Schwarz 2 0 0 0.00 5 100.0% 0 0500 *Statistics reflect time with St. Louis only.

Blues Leaders Blues All-Time Leaders Goals Brad Boyes 13 Games Played Bernie Federko 927 Assists Kariya / Perron 13 Goals Brett Hull 527 Points Brad Boyes 25 Points Bernie Federko 1,073 Plus/Minus Patrik Berglund 11 PIM Brian Sutter 1,873 PP Goals Keith Tkachuk 8 Goalie GP Mike Liut 347 Wins Manny Legace 7 Wins Mike Liut 151 GAA Chris Mason 2.53 GAA Jacques Plante 2.07 Save PCT Chris Mason 92.1% Shutouts Glenn Hall 16 Finding Comedy In Tragedy St. Louis Game Time G AME TIME Page 7 Nashville Preds Statistics Skater Statistics PLAYER GP G A PTS +/- PIM ATOI PPG PPA SHG SHA SOG SPCT J.P. Dumont, RW 26 6 20 26 4 8 18:07 1 9 0 0 65 9.2 Shea Weber, D 26 11 14 25 12 33 24:05 4 3 1 1 90 12.2 Jason Arnott, C 23 13 8 21 5 12 18:26 4 2 0 0 74 17.6 Martin Erat, RW 23 7 10 17 3 20 18:26 2 5 0 0 45 15.6 Ryan Suter, D 26 3 11 14 6 26 23:30 0 5 0 0 49 6.1 David Legwand, C 2658 13 -1 16 17:31 1 2 1 1 50 10 Dan Hamhuis, D 2627 9 -6 35 22:22 0 1 1 1 41 4.9 Scott Nichol, C 2535 8 2 28 11:51 0 0 0 3 25 12 Ville Koistinen, D 1825 7 1 6 15:27 1 4 0 0 16 12.5 Patric Hornqvist, RW 1525 7 -2 12 13:31 0 1 0 0 34 5.9 Radek Bonk, C 2415 6 -2 12 14:49 1 0 0 1 34 2.9 Joel Ward, RW 2433 6 3 17 15:04 1 0 1 0 33 9.1 Ryan Jones, RW 1533 6 E 4 12:14 2 0 0 0 23 13 Vernon Fiddler, C 2232 5 -5 4 13:30 0 0 1 1 39 7.7 Jordin Tootoo, RW 2632 5 -7 54 11:47 0 0 0 0 50 6 Rich Pev erley , C 1514 5 -2 8 11:21 0 1 0 0 20 5 Greg de Vries, D 2613 4 -9 36 18:14 0 0 0 0 19 5.3 Jerred Smithson, C 2613 4 1 19 13:55 0 0 0 0 17 5.9 Greg Zanon, D 2613 4 4 22 19:29 0 0 0 0 16 6.3 Kevin Klein, D 812 3 2 2 10:21 0 0 0 0 6 16.7 Wade Belak, RW * 501 1 1106:3000003 0 Nick Tarnasky, C * 1101 1 1175:3800006 0 Antti Pihlstrom, LW 601 1 1 0 14:34 0 0 0 0 10 0 Goalie Statistics PLAYER GP W L GAA SV SV% SHO TGA TSA PIM ENG Dan Ellis 20 8 10 3.06 500 89.3% 1 60 560 0 2 Pekka Rinne 8 6 0 2.25 165 91.7% 2 15 180 2 0

*Statistics reflect time with current team only.

Predators Leaders Predators All-Time Leaders Goals Jason Arnott 13 Games Played Kimmo T imo ne n 573 Assists Shea Weber 14 Goals David Legwand 126 Points JP Dumont 26 Points David Legwand 340 Plus/Minus Shea Weber 12 PIM Scott Hartnell 544 PP Goals Arnott/Weber 4 Goalie GP Tomas Vokoun 383 Wins Dan Ellis 8 Wins Tomas Vokoun 161 GAA Pekka Rinne 225.00 GAA Tomas Vokoun 2.54 Save PCT Pekka Rinne 91.7% Shutouts Tomas Vokoun 21

You Gotta Kill Time At Work Somehow. www.StLouisGameTime.com Volume 4, Issue 14 Page 8 December 8, 2008

TO CATCH A PREDATOR The Big Johnson Joke of the Day Hey there, sexualPredators, you wanna know how big Hello, Nashville. Have a seat. C’mon. Right there. Now, what my Johnson is? are you doing here? My Johnson is so big, it’d leave Nothing? Hmm. What do you have here? Some wine coolers Nashville for Kansas City. and the 2008-2009 Blues Media Guide? My Johnson is so big, whenever it Who were you hoping to meet here? A stops moving, like 10 clowns young man named Oshie maybe? A boy climb out of it. named Perron? A young Swedish boy called the IceBerg? My Johnson is so big, FedEx won’t insure it. You do realize that Berglund is basically a teenager, don’t you? Hey, where are you going? The Roman Polak Joke of the Day

Roman Polak goes to buy a saw to cut down some trees in his back yard. At the chainsaw shop the dealer tells him, “Get the top-of-the-line model. It’ll cut a hundred cords of wood in one day.” So, he buys the chainsaw and begins working on the trees. After cutting for Making Our Points several hours and only cutting two cords, he decides to quit. He thinks With Curse Words. there is something wrong with the chainsaw, so the next morning he gets up early and cuts until nightfall, www.stlouisgametime.com but he only manages to cut five cords. The next day he brings the saw back to the dealer and explains the problem. The dealer says, “It looks fine,” and starts the chainsaw. Roman Polak looks up and says, “What's that noise?” Wanna Be Semi-Famous The BJ Crombeen Joke of the Day (Regionally)? A guy is hiking up a mountain when he sees a girl standing at Do you have a different the edge of a cliff, crying. perspective? “Hey,” he says, “if you're going to Passion? Knowledge? Desire? jump, how about giving me a BJ before you do it?” Work well under deadlines? “My life’s been nothing but crap,” Ever pay kick-backs to an editor says the girl, “So I might as well.” to get better space? After she’s done, the guy says, “Wow, that was great! Why are you so We’re looking for writers, graphic artists, depressed, anyway?” statisticians and comedy writers. The girl replies, “My family disowned me for dressing like a woman.” Contact: [email protected]

Your Kids Gotta Learn Bad Words Somewhere. www.stlouisgametime.com G AME TIME Page 9

Analyzing The NHL By Jeff Fahrenkrog With nearly one-third of the 2008-09 NHL season in the books, its time to look around the league at some of the best bargains, biggest busts and expensive injuries so far this year: Volume 4, Issue 14 Page 10 December 8, 2008 The Ghost of the Blues With Jeff Browning

Well, I stand corrected. While I never had anything bad to Meanwhile, the Blues’ other big Nashville acquisition say about Chris Mason himself, I made it clear in the first hasn’t adapted to our climate that well this year. Actually, I issue this year that acquiring him guess he has been pretty good, as he was leading the team shouldn’t have been at the top of the for awhile from the injured reserve, but seriously, how long Blues’ priority list this year. And he is Paul Kariya gonna be hurt? In each of his past five started bad with his bursting appendix seasons (one here, two in Nashville, and two in Anaheim. and all, but now he is probably the biggest He never played for Colorado) he played in all 82 games. It’s star at the moment. a shame too, because his 15 points in 11 games would put He has been all around the league, but the him at his best point per game rate of the decade. I guess he Nashville silver and mustard are the only other colors he avoided injuries as a Predator because he could always take has worn playing in the big time. I also stand corrected by out his little medkit thing and spend the twenty minutes it saying he had two different stints with the Predators, takes to heal him that they show in every movie. when he actually had three, getting picked up, but never Did you know that the Predator playing for, by Anaheim and Florida to cut up his time in movie started out as a joke script that (Horrible) Music City. He has been either a backup goalie was actually submitted for Rocky V? or an alternate starting goalie pretty much all his career, Rocky was the strongest fighter on Earth, so he goes into but he still put up a very respectable record of 58-43-1-11 space to fight aliens. True story. Kinda like how the as a Pred. And if Mason was a Predator, then the Blues Nashville Predators themselves started as a joke, but are must have been his Jesse Ventura or Carl Weathers, as now one of the league’s better teams. Don’t worry though, Mason was 13-3 against them, averaging two goals against they will soon become their Aliens vs. Predator requiem and posting two shutouts. Wow, I think even Bill Paxton soon. did a better job fighting the beast.

Blues Record When… With LosBri

Playing at SorryWeDon'tHaveLidsForLargeSodasCentre 6-5-2 Lotta kids here tonight 0-3-0 Playing on the road 5-6-1 Leading after the 1st 5-2-3 Berglund for Calder 11-11-3 Tied after the 1st 3-2-0 They score first 5-2-3 Trailing after the 1st 3-7-0 The other team scores first 5-9-0 Damn its cold 1-1-1 They score fewer than 4 goals 4-11-2 Leading after the 2nd 7-0-1 They score on the PP 9-4-3 Tied after the 2nd 2-2-2 The other team scores on the PP 4-7-2 Trailing after the 2nd 2-9-0 They score shorthanded 1-0-0 Crowd Fight! Crowd Fight! Crowd Fight! 1-0-0 The other team scores shorthanded 1-1-0 Fight! Fight! Fight! 4-6-1 An opposing player has multiple goals 2-1-1 No fights 7-5-2 They take 30 or more shots 4-2-0 They are called for 7 or more penalties 4-4-2 They allow 30 or more shots 6-5-2 Other team called for 7 or more penalties 4-3-1 Game is on FSN 4-7-3 Emmanual Legace starts 7-6-1 Game is on KPLR 3-3-0 Chris Mason starts 3-5-1 Sunday Game 1-0-1 Ben Bishop Starts 1-0-1 Monday Game; Lets go for two 1-0-0 Playing the Eastern Conference 3-4-1 Tuesday Game 1-0-0 Playing the Atlantic Division 0-2-0 Wednesday Game 0-5-0 Playing the Northeast Division 1-1-1 Thursday Game 1-1-1 Playing the Southeast Division 2-1-0 Friday Game 3-1-1 Playing the Western Conference 8-7-2 Saturday Game 4-5-0 Playing the Central Division 4-1-0 Playing in October 5-4-0 Playing the Northwest Division 1-3-1 Playing in November 5-6-2 Playing the Pacific Division 3-3-1 Playing in December 1-1-1 Hinotes' wife's measurements are 34D-24-34 Page 11

Franchise Foundations

St. Louis Blues Nashville Predators Year Player Year Player 1999 Barret Jackman ~ Drafted 1st rd (17 overall) by STL 1998 David Legwand ~ Drafted in 1st rd (2 overall) by NAS 2001 Jay McClement ~ Drafted 2nd round, 57 overall by STL 1999 Martin Erat ~ Drafted in 7th rd (191 overall) by NAS 2002 D.J. King ~ Drafted in 6th rd (190 overall) by STL 2000 Dan Ellis ~ Drafted in 2nd rd (60 overall) by NAS 2003 David Backes ~ Drafted in 2nd rd (62 overall) by STL Dan Hamhuis ~ Drafted in 1st rd (12 overall) by NAS 2001 2004 Roman Polak ~ Drafted in 6th rd (180 overall) by STL Jordin Tootoo ~ Drafted in 4th rd (98 overall) by NAS T.J. Oshie ~ Drafted in 1st rd (24 overall) by STL 2002 Vernon Fiddler ~ Signed as Free Agent (undrafted) Eric Brewer ~ Acquired from EDM with Jeff Woywitka Ryan Suter ~ Drafted in 1st rd (7 overall) by NAS 2005 and Doug Lynch for Chris Pronger 2003 Kevin Klein ~ Drafted in 2nd rd (37 overall) by NAS Jeff Woywitka ~ Acquired from EDM with Eric Brewer Shea Weber ~ Drafted in 2nd rd (49 overall) by NAS and Doug Lynch for Chris Pronger Steve Sullivan ~ Acquired from CHI for a 2nd rd pick Erik Johnson ~ Drafted in 1st rd (1 overall) by STL (Ryan Garlock) in 2004 and a 2nd rd pick (Michael Patrik Berglund ~ Drafted in 1st rd (25 overall) by STL Blunden) in 2005 2004 2006 Jay McKee ~ Signed as Free Agent (BUF) Pekka Rinne ~ Drafted in 8th rd (258 overall) by NAS Dan Hinote ~ Signed as Free Agent (COL) Greg Zanon ~ Signed as Free Agent (OTT) Manny Legace ~ Signed as Free Agent (DET) Jerred Smithson ~ Signed as Free Agent (LA) Yan Stastny ~ Acquired from BOS for 5th rd pick in Patric Hornqvist ~ Drafted in 7th rd (230 overall) by 2007 2005 NAS Brad Boyes ~ Acquired from BOS for Dennis Scott Nichol ~ Signed as Free Agent (CHI) Wideman Ville Koistinen ~ Signed as Free Agent (undrafted) Steve Wagner ~ Signed as Free Agent (undrafted) 2006 Jason Arnott ~ Signed as Free Agent (DAL) David Perron ~ Drafted in 1st rd (26 overall) by STL J-P Dumont ~ Signed as Free Agent (BUF) 2007 Keith Tkachuk ~ Signed as Free Agent. Originally Rich Peverley ~ Signed as Free Agent (undrafted) acquired from PHX in 2001 for a 1st rd pick in 2002, Antti Pihlstrom ~ Signed as Free Agent (undrafted) Ladislav Nagy, Michal Handzus and Jeff Taffe 2007 Radek Bonk ~ Signed as Free Agent (MTL) Paul Kariya ~ Signed as Free Agent (NAS) Greg de Vries ~ Signed as Free Agent (ATL) Andy McDonald ~ Acquired from ANA for Doug Jed Ortmeyer ~ Signed as Free Agent (NYR) Weight, Michal Birner and a 7th rd pick in 2008 Ryan Jones ~ Acquired with a 2nd rd pick from MIN for Cam Janssen ~ Acquired from NJ for Bryce Salvador Marek Zidlicky 2008 Mike Weaver ~ Signed as Free Agent (VAN) Joel Ward ~ Signed as Free Agent (MIN) Chris Mason ~ Acquired from NAS for a 4th rd pick in Wade Belak ~ Acquired from FLA for Nick Tarnasky 2008 Cam Paddock ~ Signed as Free Agent (PIT) 2008 B.J. Crombeen ~ Claimed off waivers (DAL) 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 14 Page 12 December 8, 2008 NHL Leaders NHL Leaders Points Goals Against Average Shootout Goals 1. Evgeni Malkin, PIT 43 1. Tim Thomas, BOS 1.83 1. Wojtek Wolski, COL 5 2. Sidney Crosby, PIT 40 2. Brian Boucher, SJ 1.88 2. Nikolai Zherdev, NYR 5 3. Alex Ovechkin, WAS 35 3. Dany Sabourin, PIT 1.96 3. Jonathan Toews, CHI 4 4. Ryan Getzlaf, ANH 34 4. Alex Auld, OTT 1.97 4. Brad Boyes, STL 3 5. Jarome Iginla, CGY 32 5. Craig Anderson, FLA 2.03 5. Drew Stafford, BUF 3 26. Brad Boyes, STL 25 22. Chris Mason, STL 2.53

Goals Save Percentage Rookie Points 1. Jeff Carter, PHI 19 1. Craig Anderson, FLA 94.3% 1. Kris Versteeg, CHI 22 2. Thomas Vanek, BUF 19 2. Tim Thomas, BOS 94.2% 2. Derrick Brassard, CLB 22 3. Patrick Sharp, CHI 16 3. Jonas Hiller, ANH 93.3% 3. Mikhail Grabovski, TOR 18 4. Phil Kessel, BOS 16 4. Roberto Luongo, VAN 92.8% 4. Patrik Berglund, STL 16 5. Marian Hossa, DET 15 5. Dany Sabourin, PIT 92.8% 5. Blake Wheeler, BOS 15 10. Brad Boyes, STL 13 13. Chris Mason, STL 92.1%

Plus/Minus Wins Defensemen Points 1. Alexander Semin, WAS 17 1. Miikka Kiprusoff, CGY 16 1. Shea Weber, NAS 25 2. Simon Gagne, PHI 16 2. Henrik Lundqvist, NYR 16 2. Dan Boyle, SJ 24 3. Blake Wheeler, BOS 16 3. Evgeni Nabokov, SJ 15 3. Rob Blake, SJ 21 4. Marc Savard, BOS 15 4. Niklas Backstrom, MIN 14 4. Andre Markov, MTL 21 5. David Krejci, BOS 15 5. Carey Price, MON 13 5. Sheldon Souray, EDM 21 19. Patrik Berglund, STL 11 23. Manny Legace, STL 7 98. Eric Brewer, STL 6 Around The

Burke Bringing His Followers To Toronto — Brian “We have a past history together. He lived with my wife Burke, president and general manager of the Toronto Maple and I in Detroit when he was a young rookie. Leafs, announced Saturday that David Nonis has been named “I thought that he was the type of guy that our dressing senior vice president of hockey operations. room needed to light a little bit of a fire and get a little bit Nonis was most recently the Anaheim Ducks’ senior more emotion on the ice.” advisor of hockey operations, where he served under Burke. Hull said Avery will use his down time to deal with For the previous four years he was senior vice president and personal issues that have gotten him into these problems. He general manager of the Canucks, a position he took over when agreed to seek a professional anger-management evaluation. Burke left Vancouver for Anaheim. Avery’s future with the Dallas Stars is unsettled, but Hull “We have successfully worked together in the past, and he said the organization has not yet decided what to do. The has a deep understanding of contractual, legal and financial Stars could trade Avery or put him on waivers. Dallas can matters as well as scouting and roster management,” said also buy Avery out at the end of the season. Burke. Hull defended Avery by saying he is “a good man, and a Nonis played hockey for the University of Maine where he “pleasure to be around when he’s not around the rink.” served as captain for two seasons, leading his team to back- to-back NCAA championship tournaments. He returned to Avery has 3 goals, 7 assists, a plus-2 rating and 77 penalty Maine in 1989 to serve on the coaching staff of his alma mater minutes in 23 games. The Stars are last in the Pacific. before joining the Vancouver Canucks staff in 1990. He He has already issued an apology through his publicist, became the ninth, and youngest-ever, general manager of the but Hull said he anticipates Avery will issue more private Canucks in 2004. apologies, “including, I’m sure, phone calls to the people The Mouth Defends The Mouth — Brett Hull admitted involved.” that he feels responsible that Sean Avery is a Dallas Star and Trip To Russia Sparks AO — Alex Ovechkin, who wasn’t that the Stars are involved in his current controversy because lighting up the league to start his season, has been he was a major influence in signing his former Red Wings unstoppable since returning from Russia after visiting his teammate to a four-year contract this summer. ailing grandfather. Avery just got a six-game suspension, without pay, for In the first nine games after his return, Ovechkin potted conduct detrimental to the League. 13 goals and added 11 assists. Volume 4, Issue 14 Page 13 December 8, 2008

Fried Chicken’s www.hockey-fights.com

Tonight’s Matchup: The Blues played the Predators here in the home opener back on October 10th. The Predators lineup is a lot beefier this time around, as Nick Tarnasky is off of the injured list and Wade Belak was claimed off waivers from Florida. The Blues have been involved in 23 fights on the year, while Nashville has taken part in 19. Janssen has been a healthy scratch two of the past three games for the Blues, but if he’s dressed perhaps he and Belak will renew acquaintances. They have a bit of a history, with three fights against each other in their careers.

St. Louis Blues Probable Fighters Nashville Predators Probable Fighter

•Cam Janssen – Cam is the most active pugilist on the Blues •Wade Belak – Acquired recently from the Florida Panthers, roster, with seven fights. He has done quite well so far, Belak is one of the better fighters in the league. He takes on hanging in there with much bigger opponents while the Blues the top heavies and usually does well. At 6’5 and 220 pounds, top fighter DJ King is hurt. He had a spirited battle Friday Belak is a force to be reckoned with. He fought eight times last night with Calgary’s Brandon Prust…and was scratched the season. Belak has three fights so far this year, all of which next game against Phoenix, as apparently Coach Murray game against another huge enforcer: Minnesota’s Derek questioned whether the timing of the Prust fight was Boogaard. Belak has fought Janssen three times in his career, appropriate. Huh? all while Janssen was playing for New Jersey and Belak was playing for Toronto. •BJ Crombeen – Crombeen is a high energy, physical player who is willing to drop the gloves when need be. He is 6’2, 212 •Jordin Tootoo – Standing at 5’9 and weighing in at 194 pounds, and he’s a decent fighter who will win some and lose pounds, Tootoo had nine fights last season and has four so far some. He fought Phoenix’s Daniel Carcillo Saturday night, this season. He is an agitator who hits hard and really gets with Carcillo tagging BJ pretty good and sending him down to under his opponent’s skin. the ice. •Nick Tarnasky – Tarnasky has good size at 6’2, 225 •Brad Winchester – Winchester has the size of a heavy- pounds. He is a high energy guy who plays with reckless aban- weight at 6’5, 230 pounds. Winchester is a good fighter, who don. His style of play lands him on the IR list a lot. Tarnaksy has had stints with Edmonton and Dallas before signing with has had three fights so far this season, his last coming on 11/14 the Blues. He fought Coyote’s forward Todd Fedoruk Saturday versus Anaheim’s Brad May. May really popped Tarnasky, who night. had to leave the ice for repairs after the fight.

Best bet of the night: Janssen vs Belak – Jason Travers, hockey-fights.com Date Combatants Description Decision Crombeen was a Dallas star when this happened. Tootoo and Turco got involved, and all the players converged together. BJ Crombeen vs 10/11/2008 Multiple fights were going on, and Crombeen and deVries Draw Greg deVries paired off from the group and jostled. It wasn’t much of a fight. This wasn’t much of a fight. They dropped the gloves right Mike Glumac vs 1/19/2008 off of the face off. Weber threw a couple of rights and then Decision: Weber Shea Weber wrestled Glumac to the ice. Hordichuk laid a big hit on Mayers, which didn't sit well with Mr. King. He quickly jumped in to challenge Hordichuk, and DJ King vs 10/10/2007 the two dropped the gloves and began throwing bombs. They Decision: King Darcy Hordichuk exchanged big rights, then they switched hands and threw lefts. King landed the most and the best punches of the fight. The square off and each land a couple, then King takes over and lands a real good right. They keep at it, with King DJ King vs 2/16/2007 landing the better punches. The fight ended when King Decision: King Darcy Hordichuk landed a punch that knocked Hordichuk off balance and down to the ice. St. Louis Blues Rosters General Manager: Larry Pleau Head Coach: Andy Murray and Statistics Asst Coaches: Ray Bennett

December 8, 2008 2008 8, December Brad Shaw Volume 4, Issue 14 Issue 14 4, Volume 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 25 1 5 6 -15 20 25:17 $4,500,000 5Barret Jackman D Mar 05 '81 Trail BC CAN 72 203 L 25 2 3 5 -1 32 22:23 $2,500,000 7Keith Tkachuk C Mar 28 '72 Melrose MA USA 74 232 L 25 12 6 18 -7 27 18:17 $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 R Jan 30 '77 Leesburg FL USA 72 187 R 10 0 0 0 -2 9 11:11 $1,000,000 15 Brad Winchester L Mar 01 '81 Madison WI USA 77 228 L 7 0 1 1 -2 20 11:18 $600,000 18 Jay McClement C Mar 02 '83 Kingston ON CAN 73 201 L 25 1 4 5 -6 8 16:44 $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 26 2 2 4 -6 8 16:05 $1,700,000 21 Patrik Berglund C Jun 02 '88 Vesteras SWE 76 187 L Y 20 8 8 16 11 2 15:05 $850,000 22 Brad Boyes R Apr 17 '82 Mississauga ON CAN 72 195 R 25 13 12 25 -14 10 19:52 $2,500,000 25 Yan Stastny C Sep 30 '82 Quebec City QC CAN 70 191 L 19 1 1 2 -9 7 13:07 $500,000 26 B.J. Crombeen R Jul 10 '85 Denver CO USA 74 212 R Y 24 2 5 7 -2 45 10:10 $550,000 28 Carlo Colaiacovo D Jan 27 '83 Toronto ON CAN 73 200 L 16 0 5 5 -2 10 17:00 $1,400,000 29 Jeff Woywitka D Sep 01 '83 Vermilion AB CAN 74 217 L 11 0 4 4 2 14 17:20 $725,000 42 David Backes C May 01 '84 Minneapolis MN USA 75 216 R 25 6 5 11 -1 79 16:36 $2,500,000 43 Mike Weaver D May 02 '78 Bramalea ON CAN 69 182 R 10 0 1 1 -2 0 10:54 $700,000 46 Roman Polak D Apr 28 '86 Ostrava CZE 73 227 R 25 0 2 2 -4 19 19:46 $475,000 55 Cam Janssen R Apr 15 '84 St. Louis MO USA 72 210 R 21 0 2 2 -5 53 5:50 $550,000 57 David Perron L May 28 '88 Sherbrooke QC CAN 72 180 R 24 2 13 15 3 16 15:09 $875,000 65 Cam Paddock C Mar 22 '83 N. Vancouver BC CAN 72 178 R Y 11 1 1 2 -3 0 10:46 $510,000 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 D Sep 08 '77 Kingston ON CAN 76 203 L 25 1 1 2 -2 12 16:54 $4,000,000 TOTALS 62 109 171 -76 407 $42,618,333 # 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 14 7 5 1 0 3.18 89.0% $2,500,000 50 Chris Mason Apr 20 '76 Red Deer AB CAN 72 195 L 11 3 6 1 1 2.53 92.1% $3,000,000 TOTALS 10 11 2 1 $5,500,000 $48,118,333 Page 14 Page Page 15 Page Nashville Predators Rosters General Manager: David Poile Head Coach: Barry Trotz and Statistics Associate Coach: Brent Pederson Assistant Coach: Peter Horachek Goaltending Coach: Mitch Korn

# Player Pos DOB City S/P Ctry Ht Wt S Rk GP G A Pts +/- PIM TOI/G Salary 2 Dan Hamhuis D Dec 13 '82 Smithers BC CAN 73 200 L 26 2 7 9 -6 35 22:21 $2,250,000 3Wade Belak R Jul 03 '76 Saskatoon SK CAN 77 221 R 20 0 1 1 1 35 4:55 $650,000 4 Ville Koistinen D Jun 17 '82 Oulu FIN 71 190 L 18 2 5 7 1 6 15:27 $700,000 5Greg Zanon D Jun 05 '80 Burnaby BC CAN 71 211 L 26 1 3 4 4 22 19:28 $750,000 6Shea Weber D Aug 14 '85 Sicamous BC CAN 75 213 R 26 11 14 25 12 33 24:05 $4,500,000 7 Greg De Vries D Jan 04 '73 Sundridge ON CAN 74 215 L 26 1 3 4 -9 36 18:13 $2,750,000 8 Kevin Klein D Dec 13 '84 Kitchener ON CAN 73 195 R Y 8 1 2 3 2 2 10:21 $500,000 10 Martin Erat R Aug 29 '81 Trebic CZE 72 195 L 23 7 10 17 3 20 18:26 $3,500,000 11 David Legwand C Aug 17 '80 Detroit MI USA 74 190 L 26 5 8 13 -1 16 17:31 $5,500,000 12 Scott Nichol C Dec 31 '74 Edmonton AB CAN 69 175 R 25 3 5 8 2 28 11:51 $750,000 14 Radek Bonk C Jan 09 '76 Krnov CZE 75 213 L 24 1 5 6 -2 12 14:49 $1,600,000 19 Jason Arnott C Oct 11 '74 Collingwood ON CAN 76 220 R 23 13 8 21 5 12 18:26 $4,500,000 20 Ryan Suter D Jan 21 '85 Madison WI USA 73 196 L 26 3 11 14 6 26 23:30 $3,500,000 22 Jordin Tootoo R Feb 02 '83 Churchill MB CAN 69 194 R 26 3 2 5 -7 54 11:46 $975,000 25 Jerred Smithson C Feb 04 '79 Vernon BC CAN 75 194 R 26 1 3 4 1 19 13:54 $500,000 26 Steve Sullivan L Jul 06 '74 Timmins ON CAN 68 165 R On Injured Reserve $3,200,000 29 Joel Ward R Dec 02 '80 North York ON CAN 74 205 R 24 3 3 6 3 17 15:03 $500,000 37 Rich Peverley C Jul 08 '82 Guelph ON CAN 72 185 R 15 1 4 5 -2 8 11:20 $475,000 38 Vernon Fiddler C May 09 '80 Edmonton AB CAN 71 204 L 22 3 2 5 -5 4 13:30 $900,000 42 Antti Pihlstrom L Oct 22 '84 Vanntaa FIN 70 181 L Y 6 0 1 1 1 0 14:34 $530,000 71 J-P Dumont R Apr 01 '78 Montreal QC CAN 73 205 L 26 6 20 26 4 8 18:06 $4,000,000 TOTALS 67 117 184 13 393 $42,530,000 #Player DOB City S/P Ctry Ht Wt C Rk GP W L OT SO GAA Sv% Salary 35 Pekka Rinne Nov 03 '82 Kempele FIN 77 207 L Y 8 6 0 0 2 2.24 91.7% $575,000 39 Dan Ellis Jun 19 '80 Saskatoon SK CAN 72 185 L 20 8 10 2 1 3.06 89.3% $1,500,000 TOTALS 14 10 2 3 $2,075,000 $44,605,000

Legend: S:Shoots; C: Catches; Rk: Rookie (any player who has played fewer than 25 games in the previous season or fewer than 26 in the previous two years and has not reached age 26); GP: Games Played; G: Goals; A: Assists; Pts: Points; PIM: Penalties in Minutes; TOI/Game: average Time On Ice per Game. Volume 4, Issue 14 Page 16 December 8, 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 1 3 3 0 1 0 8 37 34 3 5 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 3 14 11 1 2 0 7 25 23 1 5 1 12 Koharski, Don Dartmouth, NS 1981 2 12 6 1 1 0 13 O'Halloran, Dan Essex, ON 1995 2 15 16 1 0 1 8 36 49 5 2 1 14 LaRue, Dennis Savannah, GA 1991 1 4 4 1 0 0 7 28 30 2 2 3 15 Auger, Stephane Montreal, PQ 2000 6 34 43 4 1 1 16 Shick, Rob Port Alberni, BC 1986 2 6 8 2 0 0 8 24 33 2 5 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 3 14 12 1 2 0 9 41 31 3 4 2 21 VanMassenhoven, Don Parkhill, ON 1993 1 6 4 1 0 0 8 33 36 6 1 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 1 4 3 1 0 0 4 18 19 3 0 1 28 Lee, Chris St John, NB 2001 2 13 13 0 1 1 6 28 31 2 2 2 29 Walsh, Ian Philadelphia, 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 1 7 6 1 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 1 4 3 1 0 0 4 18 23 1 3 0 45 St. Pierre, Justin Dolbeau, PQ 2003 5 23 22 3 1 1 TOTALS 25 109 115 10 12 3 454 480 43 48 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. Nashville Predators; Monday, December 8, 2008

Referee: ______Referee: ______

Linesman: ______Linesman: ______

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

Preds Preds

Blues Blues

Blues Starting Lineup Goal Scoring

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

Predators 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 14 Page 18 December 8, 2008

Ask Game Time’s Answer Man

Dear Answer Man, keep all the players they develop. They deserve to keep them. A short time back, it was mentioned that the Blues may Ship them all back and keep them in whatever league they open the season in Sweden next year. Obviously you have a want but make sure they are over there and not here in beau- real, dare I say, hatred towards European hockey players. I tiful North America. I know some of you will gawk at this can’t even imagine what goes through your head on a daily, idea because of Phruits like Mats Sundin, Peter Forseberg so what are your thoughts on this? How do you feel about and a host of other players that I can’t even tolerate because the Blues playing in Europe next year? apparently they are really skilled. It isn’t important to me though. Hell, I’d take some Frenchie from Quebec before I -Charles (St. Louis, MO) took on some Euro. Here’s an example for you to think about. Imagine if you Chas, you may dare. Dare your little heart out you scrump- will, being a rapidly growing teenage boy from North County. tious bastard. I hate European hockey. I hate the teams. I You rock the tight gear, sweet threads, you eat right, lift mad hate those foolish jerseys with the adver- weights, love your mom, wear footie pajamas, watch wres- tisements. They look like they belong tling and can work it out on the ice. You pine and pine over at a NASCAR race but I’m fairly some hot piece of trim you have chemistry lab with. certain Europeans have more teeth She lets you do her homework, wash her car, pay for her then your standard NASCAR fan lunch, rake her leaves and fill up the gas tank on her Chrysler (like that is hard to do). Lebaron. Then one day you find out she is going to home- Why the hell would I support our coming with some guy from South County who plays soccer, Blues to go to Europe to play? I have doesn’t wear a fanny pack and can’t produce a Cam Neely played hockey in another country rookie card from the aforementioned non-existent fanny and it ain’t all it’s cracked up to be. pack. The main point I have bones with is those bone heads in You realize that your devotion runs deep with this piece Sweden have never supported the Blues. Yeah we got a solid and she goes and hooks up with the Captain of all Phruits. dude on the GT site that is down for the Core but the rest of He may as well have a popped collar and listen to Emo. You them can take a hike. can’t help but get pissed because you have paid your dues. Have any of those Phruits stood outside near some sort of You have invested your time and you a Rocker to the core. Kung Fu Bunny and yelled, Let’s Go Blues? Have they ever This is all hypothetic of course but hopefully you catch my had to sit through a replay listening to Bernie Federko drift. butcher the English language? Have they ever witnessed a My drift is this: we are the Blues Nation. We stand by white tuxedoed jackass count the number of goals with a them and sometimes even fight for them. That means they towel and throw it indiscriminately into a crowd? Have they are ours and no one else’s. Sweden, you have officially been ever stood outside of Brian Sutter’s house at the predeter- warned. mined distance as to not violate the restraining order in the middle of winter waiting for him to come home from a long road trip? Have they carved their initials into the insulation Send your questions on hockey (NHL or rec league), of the house the Brett Hull was building in the early 90’s? Busch beer or any other thing that keeps you awake at night Have they ever picked a fight with a guy in the parking lot to: [email protected] and have them outside of the old Arena just because he was wearing a Black- answered here. hawks jersey and had a stupid grin on his face? The answer to all of those questions is an emphatic, “No!” So I ask the league, team management, the players, the Scottrade Center employees and those of you out in glorious Blues Nation and Answer Nation, do you all think Sweden deserves it? God I hope you say, “Hell no Answer Man. They sure as hell don’t and you are one very attractive badass.” You know what I think Sweden deserves? It deserves to

Ask Answer Man; He’ll Give You The Fist. www.stlouisgametime.com G AME TIME Page 19 The Fantasy Files By Duke

I fully understand that it isn’t my job to do editorial-style in the corner of the upper deck. The Osh tried to get up the first opinion-based writing for the paper, but every so often I’m time and stumbled while that inbred in airbrushed jeans willing to risk that big paycheck to talk about something that cupped a hand to his ear while begging the crowd for their I just couldn’t ignore. attention. The franchise was still struggling to get onto his One of those things happened on Saturday night. skates when I thought to myself: “surely (Shirley?), the rag-fag will realize what’s going on and wait until the franchise gets With about 5 minutes to go in the second period of Satur- helped to the bench.” day night’s game versus the Coyotes, Blues Oh, no – he just kept going. It took about 15 long seconds for rookie and frosted-tip the towel boy to get everyone’s attention, but once he had it, he phenom T.J. Oshie was helped us all count to four. And with that, the Osh limped off on the ice immediately the ice to thunderous applause… but not because he worked up after BJ Crombeen’s the energy to recover from yet another massive hit, but first goal in the ‘Note applause for that self-aggrandizing, mulleted asshole who when he took his third managed to rip off Peoria’s gig and make some sort of notable hit of the night, quasi-living off of it, especially by doing it at the most this time just outside of inappropriate times. the trapezoid on the He’s done it when the Blues were down by a landslide to boards behind Phoe- Detroit with less than a minute to go in the third period when nix’s net. It was just all of the non-GT readers were headed for the exits. He’s done it BJ Crombeen’s first goal as Oshie’s second game after a great 1-0 shootout victory even when the Blues never a Blue touched off another back from a high-ankle really scored a goal, and still hardly anyone paid attention to embarrassing Towel Boy sprain that had kept him as they celebrated their way to the exits. In one particular incident. him out since Nov. 1. instance, he got so frustrated that he threw his dirty laundry He had been skating so onto the ice. He’s even done it at his daughter’s wedding well with linemates Patrik Berglund and David Perron on the reception - the one night in a young woman’s life when her newly formed “kid line” that it was just a matter of time whole world should be looking right back at her, he was busy before he started scoring goals at the same rate that he changing into that trashy Blues tail-coat and throwing out probably pounds vagina, and then that hit happened. towels from one of the tables in the middle of the reception hall. It looked bad. The way that he was pinned against the What a fucking douche. boards after whoever hit him was reminiscent of how Wile E. The sum of all of his prior transgressions combined, Coyote looked when he smashed into a boulder that the Road however, didn’t equal his desperate cries for attention while Runner had quickly painted to look like a tunnel, and that Blues trainer Ray Barile skidded to a stop as he scrambled to thought might’ve been even mildly amusing if not for the fact help out the Osh. It was surreal. From now on, when someone that it was Oshie who had been flattened and not, say, asks me why my corner of the upper deck screams someone expendable like Cam Janssen. “JUUUUMMMMMMMP!” after the towel boy celebrates his It all happened in the matter of seconds – the goal, the hijacked abomination of a post-goal celebration, I’ll be sure to faceoff, and then the hit deep in the Coyote’s zone. Then came tell them all about that moment. the towel boy. T.J. was just peeling himself off of the boards Fuck the towel boy, let’s go Blues! when that dumb cunt was jogging down the stairs to his spot

The Degenerate Gambler’s Guide To Tonight's Game

• Over/Under on number of empty seats in your • Odds that TJ Oshie’s ankle doesn’t feel that great row tonight: 7. today: 2:1. • Odds of one of the good guys trying to take Jordin • Over/Under on number of shifts Cam Janssen Tootoo’s head off tonight: 22:1. gets tonight: 3.5. • Over/Under on number of times you’ll see the • Odds that Bernie doesn’t believe the Blues goalie ‘Ace Bailey’ filler on the NHL Network in any had any chance on that last goal: 750:1. given hour: 3.5. Volume 4, Issue 14 Page 20 December 8, 2008

Tomorrow’s Blues By Brian Weidler

2009 Draft Preview: Major Junior Players the first player selected from the “Q” in this summer’s draft. Over the last couple of nights, we’ve taken a look at some A July 1991 birthdate, Despres is one of the younger potential draft prospects from Europe, the USHL, and the players eligible for this draft, and as a younger player, he NCAA ranks. Tonight, we’ll close our draft preview with a remains somewhat raw in several key aspects of his game, look at some of the highly-regarded major junior players such as offensive reads, skating, and general puckhandling from the Ontario, Quebec and Western Leagues. skills. His skating in particular, especially first-step As the old saying goals, contenders are built from the net quickness, is regarded as only average, but his size gives him outwards, and if the Blues are looking for a top goaltending a long stride, which he uses to his advantage. prospect to spend their first-round selection upon, they need On the plus side, Despres likes the physical game, likes to look no further than the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles of hit, and does not back down from any opponent. His size and the QMJHL and goalie Olivier Roy. wingspan give him an advantage in defending, and coupled Considered the top goalie prospect in the QMJHL, and with the use of a long stick, he makes it difficult if not indeed in all North America, Roy is a six- impossible for opponents to make a cut foot, 167-pound save machine from Amqui, towards or around him, even if they are Quebec. He burst onto the scene last season coming with speed. In 33 games this year for as a 16-year old, setting QMJHL marks for the Sea Dogs, Despres has a goal and 15 wins (27) and shutouts (4), and was named assists, along with a solid plus-9 mark and 36 to the QMJHL All-Star Team as well as minutes in penalty time. Rookie of the Year and Defensive Rookie of Out West, big (6’5, 218) Jared Cowen has the Year. This season, Roy has picked up cut a pretty wide track in a relatively short where he left off, posting a 14-7-0 record in time. “Few have accomplished what Cowen 23 games played, with a 3.20 GAA and has already in his brief junior career,” says 89.8% save percentage. McKeens scout David Burstyn. “A former Scouts at the McKeens Hockey Prospects first overall pick in the WHL bantam draft, website note that Roy is a classic butterfly- he has lived up to his promise by winning a style goalie, with first-rate quickness both Memorial Cup and most recently a gold up-and-down and post-to-post. Technically medal at the Ivan Hlinka tournament.” very sound, Roy is hard to beat either down Brandon Wheat Kings center Cowen, according to Burstyn, “has great low due to quick leg work, or up high as he Brayden Schenn is a prime presence and has an outstanding feel for the has a fast glove hand. He has great anticipa- game.” He has all the intangibles to make tion, his ability to read and react to the play candidate for a top ten selection in the 2009 him a future franchise defenseman: smarts, is solid, and he has the ability to shake off a poise, maturity, and an ability to control the NHL Entry Draft. goal against and refocus quickly. pace of the game when he has the puck. His Roy does have a few areas of the game to work on, defense is rock-solid, as he is rarely out of position and keeps however; his rebound control and puckhandling ability need the game simple, and he has first-rate stickhandling and some refinement, and occasionally he will commit early or passing skills as well as the ability to make big, perfectly- overplay a shot. He also needs to learn how to communicate timed hits. more effectively with his defensemen, but this, like his other The Allan, Saskatchewan native is a physical player and shortcomings, is coachable. All told, Roy is a solid prospect, most opponents tend to avoid him and prefer not to wake the well worth a first-round selection for a team in the market sleeping giant. His work ethic and will to win are impressive, for a potential franchise goalie. and he is always first to the puck in his zone, rarely if ever On defense, twin towers Simon Despres (Saint John/ beaten to it along the boards or down low. QMJHL) and Jared Cowan (Spokane/WHL) have In 30 games with the Chiefs this year, Cowan is 4-7-11 distinguished themselves as consolation prizes for the teams with a plus-8 mark and 21 minutes in penalty time. that miss out on drafting Swedish sensation Victor Hedman. Last, but certainly not least, are the forward prospects Despres, who stands 6’4 and weighs in at 214 pounds, is a available in this draft. Perhaps foremost among these from player who seems to save his best performances for the the standpoint of potential interest to the Blues is budding games that matter most. According to McKeens, in the Ivan power forward Zack Kassian of the Peterborough Petes Hlinka Memorial U-18 Tournament this past September, (OHL). Kassian, McKeens notes, is “a beast, tipping the “Despres gave the Canadians both a defensive presence with scales at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds,” but the LaSalle, Ontario his size and an offensive game with his ever improving puck native is more than just an NHL-sized body on the ice. handling skills.” These two attributes make this big native of the Montreal suburb of Laval a better-than-even choice to be (Continued on page 21) G AME TIME Page 21

minus-3 mark, and 10 minutes in the sin bin. In six games with Nashville since November 25, Pihlstrom has only one assist, but it was an important one; he set up David Legwand's game-winning goal with one second to play in the first period of a 3-2 win vs. Colorado By Brian Weidler on Dec. 4. With between 19 and 20 shifts, and 14:34 of ice time per game, Pihlstrom is currently listed as the second LW on Nashville's depth chart. Antti Pihlstrom Before crossing the pond in 2007, Pihlstrom Shoots: Left put up 16-23-39 numbers in 56 games with HPK Hameenlinna of the Finnish Elite League Height: 5' 11 in 2006-07, adding three goals and eight Weight: 184 points in the SM-Liiga playoffs in 2007. In 78 games for the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) in Birthdate: October 22, 1984 2007-08, Pihlstrom struck for 27 goals and Birthplace: Vantaa, Finland added 18 helpers for 45 points, good for fifth place in the Admirals' scoring parade, with a plus-7 mark and 62 minutes in penalty time. Recently called up by Nashville from their farm club in Milwaukee, Pihlstrom has played a A free-agent signing by Nashville in June of scorer's role in the minors, but has yet to find 2007, Pihlstrom is an excellent skater with that part of his game at the NHL level. some power and good speed. Like most of his countrymen, Pihlstrom has been trained well in his Through 15 games with the Admirals in the AHL this defensive responsibilities, and this coupled with his speed year, Pihlstrom posted eight goals (5 PPG) and 12 points, a and hustle make him an effective backchecker.

Tomorrow’s Blues (continued)

(Continued from page 20) point closer to home, a clone of T.J. Oshie. “Schenn, much like Morrow, is stocky and strong on his skates,” says McKeens, Kassian is currently third on his team in scoring with 10-21- and “is a fluid skater although not an overly fast one ... he has 31 totals in 27 games, behind 19-year-olds Tony Roman and good mechanics in his skating, equipped with a nice stride and Pat Daley, and sports a respectable minus-4 mark despite his outstanding balance.” team being in fourth place in the OHL’s East Division with a Like another skilled grinder, former Maple Leaf Wendel record of 14-18-0-1. Kassian also leads the team in penalty Clark, Morrow uses that balance and skating ability to deliver minutes with 67, and five of his ten goals have come with the bone-jarring checks. Much like Oshie, “guys just explode off of man advantage, good for second spot on the Petes’ power play him,” according to McKeens scout David Burstyn. Schenn will scoring list. go to the high-traffic areas in the slot and in front of the net, Kassian comes to the rink every day ready to play, with a drawing a lot of penalties by forcing the defense to take him good attitude and focus. Not an accomplished goal-scorer, down, and he will pay the price at any time to score or set up a Kassian’s game is that of a set-up man, where he can use his goal for his team. In 30 games with the Wheat Kings this year size to get into the high-traffic areas and his slick passing Schenn has done exactly that, to the tune of 15 goals and 20 ability to thread the needle with a pass to a teammate. He is assists, with a sparkling plus-13 mark, 35 minutes in penalty also often called upon to kill penalties, which he does fairly time, three power play tallies, and a team-leading three well, and to use his size to take away time and space for the shorthanded goals. opposition down low. If Kassian can develop more of a Schenn, says Burstyn, “is loved by his team mates and goal-scorer’s touch, he could well be a top ten pick in this commands respect in a dressing room due to his kamikaze summer's draft; as it is, his size and work ethic should merit a approach. He has the offensive skills to be a difference maker long look from the Blues. and offers intangibles not often seen from prospects, and is the Another player with a first-class attitude and work ethic is type of player that a team may trade down to select knowing Brayden Schenn of the Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL). Blessed that he might still be available, as he is just outside the top five with good bloodlines, Schenn is the brother of 2008 NHL first at this point.” -rounder Luke Schenn, and is as accomplished an offensive Join us here in eight days for a special look at one of the player as his brother is a defenseman. Blues’ top prospects, and until then, remember... “If we do not Schenn has been described by McKeens as playing “a game prepare for ourselves the role of the hammer, there will be very similar to a young Brenden Morrow,” or, to bring the nothing left but that of the anvil.” Auf wiedersehen. Volume 4, Issue 14 Page 22 December 8, 2008 The Five Hole (continued)

(Continued from page 5) announce the damn attendance. The place can be full with Edmonton was sold out. 19,151 in it, or 19,200 or even more. Be proud of the fans that are there, announce the attendance and thank us for showing Here’s a quick rule of thumb for if the game is sold out or up not “Tonight’s game is officially 91.2% full, we’re going to not. Look in the upper bowl. Are there rows of empty seats? stop counting now. Thank you and enjoy the guy from Eureka Then it isn’t a sellout. in the penalty box that isn’t wearing a shirt.” Six of my friends wanted tickets for the Edmonton game. That’s all for tonight, unless there’s a raccoon in my seat They showed up late and bought them from a scalper. While when I get to it. not six in a row, they were close enough to each other. With empty seats from a “sold out game” aplenty around them, they sat together). Thirty-eight dollar seats for $20 each. But that Contact: [email protected] game was sold out, right? You’d think that if the game was a sellout that all of the concession stands would be open. If you want to tell us it is sold out, fine, but do it and

Stats May Lie, But It Takes Words To Say The Lie. St. Louis Game Time

Remember Me? By Brad Lee & Chris Gift

Tony Hrkac center with loads of potential while Brown became the Blues’ first truly “offensive minded defenseman.” DOB: July 7, 1966 in Thunder Bay, Ontario Drafted in the second round, 32nd overall, in the 1984 draft (a draft that the Blues also selected future NHLers Position: Center Brian Benning, Robert Dirk, Steve Tuttle, Cliff Ronning, Jim Played for the Blues: Vesey, and Tom Tilley) the North Dakota Fighting Sioux 1986-1989, 1993-1994 alum made stops in San Jose, Chicago, Dallas (twice; he won The first of four Hobey the Stanley Cup in Dallas in 1999), Edmonton, Long Island, Baker Award winners to Anaheim and Atlanta before dominating the AHL with the play for the Blues, Tony Milwaukee Admirals from 2003-2005. Hrkac came to town with Prior to the lockout, there was talk that the Crkac was a good deal of hype, going to return to St. Louis for a third act. However, Hrkac promise and potential retired during the lockout. He played in just over 750 NHL that any Hobey Baker games and finished with 371 points (132 goals, 239 assists). Award winner would The lasting image of Hrkac to many Blues fans was of his have. After Hrkac the fight against Pierre Turegon while playing for the Ducks. In Blues also signed Hobey Baker winners Scott Pellerin (yes, a true battle of the resistible force against the movable Scott Pellerin), Peter Sejna and Paul Kariya. object, Hrkac won the fight. After 201 games, and 121 points, it would be hard to say He spent five total seasons in Milwaukee, his first tour his time with the Blues wasn’t disappointing. lasting from 1994-1997; his number was been retired by the The Hrkac Circus, or the Hircus Crkac left the Blues with club. Greg Millen in a deal to the Quebec Nordiques for Jeff Currently he is the head coach of the Concordia Brown in December of 1989 in a trade the helped both University-Wisconsin Falcons hockey team, and lives in teams. Quebec received a veteran goaltender and a young Milwaukee. G AME TIME Page 23 “How much can 009 008-2 you know about The 2 uffle ate Sh ky Sk Luc yourself if you’ve acker Tr never

Times Occurred been in Finishing Point This Year / Percentage a

Puck finishes in same fight?” 10 / 76.9% skate as starting point.

Puck finishes in skate one St. Louis Game Time place lower than start 3 / 22.1% point. www.stlouisgametime.com

Puck finishes in skate one place higher than start 0 / 0.0% point. Top 11 Ways The GT Staff Spent Their Off Day Game Time Gear On Sunday 11. Crank called Towel Boy every hour telling him that he can’t count very high. 10. Looked through old issues of Game Night Revue for article ideas. 9. Tried to get in family time before the divorce papers were filed. 8. Begged Jeffio, Rob Stamp, and the Hockey Doc to write again. 7. Seriously considered giving up the “privilege” of writing for GT. 6. Slept all day, then called in sick Monday to get this issue ready for tonight’s game. Time to get your gear. 5. Recovered from the Mizzou flop just in time to watch another Rams flop. Any color. Any size. 4. Cursing selves for adding four more pages of content. 3. Sought out Jeffio for counseling. Wound up too Represent. drunk to talk. 2. Formed a search party and looked for the shaking fat guy. 1. Sunday was a day off?

StLouisGameTime.com From the motherboard of Dan Doke Volume 4, Issue 14 Page 24 December 8, 2008 NHL Standings—Get Over .500

Eastern Conference ATLANTIC GP W L OTL PTS GF GA PP% PK% HOME AWAY L10 NY Rangers 30 18 10 2 38 77 76 15.4 90.1 11-6-1 7-4-1 5-5-0 Pittsburgh 26 15 7 4 34 84 71 18.1 83.7 7-3-2 8-4-2 5-3-2 Philadelphia 26 13 7 6 32 84 78 23.6 85.8 6-4-3 7-3-3 7-1-2 New Jersey 24 14 8 2 30 70 63 14.0 77.6 7-4-1 7-4-1 7-3-0 NY Islanders 26 10 14 2 22 68 90 17.5 81.3 5-8-1 5-6-1 5-5-0 NORTHEAST GP W L OTL PTS GF GA PP% PK% HOME AWAY L10 Boston 26 18 4 4 40 89 56 22.8 83.2 9-1-1 9-3-3 8-1-1 Montreal 26 15 6 5 35 79 69 13.9 81.1 8-2-3 7-4-2 5-2-3 Buffalo 26 12 11 3 27 70 76 18.0 88.1 7-6-1 5-5-2 3-7-0 Ottawa 24 10 10 4 24 60 59 19.8 86.9 7-5-2 3-5-2 4-4-2 Toronto 27 9 12 6 24 80 96 20.8 77.0 4-5-4 5-7-2 2-6-2 SOUTHEAST GP W L OTL PTS GF GA PP% PK% HOME AWAY L10 Washington 28 15 10 3 33 88 86 22.3 78.4 10-1-1 5-9-2 4-6-0 Carolina 28 13 12 3 29 71 83 13.5 79.8 7-8-1 6-4-2 4-5-1 Florida 26 11 12 3 25 63 73 14.6 81.3 6-4-2 5-8-1 5-3-2 Atlanta 26 9 14 3 21 77 93 17.7 73.0 5-6-1 4-8-2 2-7-1 Tampa Bay 26 6 12 8 20 60 83 16.0 80.5 3-6-5 3-6-3 1-5-4 Western Conference CENTRAL GP W L OTL PTS GF GA PP% PK% HOME AWAY L10 Detroit 26 18 4 4 40 95 80 30.3 80.4 8-2-2 10-2-2 7-2-1 Chicago 25 12 6 7 31 90 73 22.9 82.4 8-1-4 4-5-3 5-3-2 Nashville 26 14 10 2 30 74 79 13.6 80.4 7-3-1 7-7-1 6-3-1 St.Louis 25 11 11 3 25 70 78 23.9 83.5 6-5-2 5-6-1 5-3-2 Columbus 27 11 13 3 25 76 86 9.6 78.9 7-5-1 4-8-2 3-6-1 NORTHWEST GP W L OTL PTS GF GA PP% PK% HOME AWAY L10 Calgary 27 16 10 1 33 80 80 20.6 83.2 9-4-1 7-6-0 7-3-0 Vancouver 28 15 10 3 33 86 74 18.2 81.1 7-3-1 8-7-2 5-4-1 Minnesota 26 15 10 1 31 72 56 25.4 88.7 8-6-1 7-4-0 4-6-0 Edmonton 26 13 11 2 28 74 78 19.8 75.2 3-3-2 10-8-0 5-4-1 Colorado 27 13 13 1 27 72 80 16.4 79.6 7-5-0 6-8-1 5-4-1 PACIFIC GP W L OTL PTS GF GA PP% PK% HOME AWAY L10 San Jose 27 22 3 2 46 102 64 23.0 83.5 14-0-2 8-3-0 9-0-1 Anaheim 28 15 10 3 33 82 79 21.6 81.5 8-6-2 7-4-1 6-3-1 Los Angeles 26 11 11 4 26 69 72 17.1 83.9 8-6-4 3-5-0 4-4-2 Phoenix 27 12 13 2 26 69 79 13.9 81.0 8-4-1 4-9-1 4-5-1 Dallas 26 10 12 4 24 72 93 13.7 76.4 4-4-3 6-8-1 5-4-1

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 Mar 10 Tue Stars Dec 10 Wed @Ducks Mar 12 Thu Sharks Dec 11 Thu @Kings Mar 14 Sat Red Wings Dec 13 Sat @Sharks Mar 15 Sun Wild Dec 16 Tue Flames Mar 17 Tue @Oilers Dec 18 Thu @Capitals Mar 19 Thu @Canucks Dec 20 Sat Wild Mar 20 Fr i @Flames Dec 21 Sun Bruins Mar 24 Tue Kings Dec 23 Tue @Red Wings 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 14 Page 26 December 8, 2008

To Catch A Predator (continued)

(Continued from page 1) Phoenix goals. the percentages and lets Mason get A few random notes from Saturday’s another crack at the Predators after he left point and defenseman Carlo game. Screw you Towel Boy for shut them out in regulation, overtime Colaiacovo. Under pressure, he made counting a Blues goal while TJ Oshie and even the shootout. That would give an easy to handle pass to Brad Boyes at was on his hands and knees on the ice him five starts in the Blues’ last eight the top of the left circle. Two defenders after a hard collision in the Phoenix games. Hey Coach, who’s the starter tried to cut his shooting and passing zone. He was knocked hard into the again? lanes toward the goal, but he got the glass behind the Phoenix net and The Predators could have their own puck around them to the right circle to crumpled to the ice as the play went the goaltender controversy brewing after Berglund. He one-timed it past Ilya other way. Oshie didn’t get up as the two shutouts in one week for Pekka Bryzgalov for the tying goal at 2-2. The puck came into the St. Louis zone. Play Rinne from Finland. The 6-foot, 5-inch pass from C-Cola was silky smooth, was whistled when the puck went over goaltender has played in eight games easy to handle and the key to getting the glass and trainer Ray Barile could this season, one game in 2007-08 and the defense moving in a reactive way finally make his way down to Oshie. two in 2005-06. He’s still young at age instead of proactively. The crowd rumbled, clearly seeing it 26, but the only reason he started The Blues took the lead for the first was the just returned from a long injury Saturday in the 1-0 win over Minnesota time after that. Tkachuk was on the layoff Oshie on the ice. And yet that was because usual starter Dan Ellis was doorstep when Backes put one on net. douche bag with the rags did his thing. hurt in the morning skate. Rinne has Bryzgalov made the save, but the puck The counting was definitely muted, but three wins in December, a 0.67 goals- dropped to the ice right at Tkachuk’s still. Wait until you see how bad he was against average and has stopped 97.6 feet and No. 7 was able to pounce and hurt, moron. percent of the shots he’s faced. So it score an easy goal. The play was set up The game was not televised Saturday should be interesting to see if troll-like with a nice cross-ice pass from Boyes. in St. Louis, but the Center Ice hockey head coach Barrty Hot To Trotz will go Speaking of Boyes, he was part of the package showed the Coyotes’ broadcast. with the hot hand or Ellis. Blues’ fourth goal of the night, the game They made a big deal about Tkachuk, a Shea Weber may be the best player -winning tally. He attempted a shot former Phoenix player, scoring on the Predators. The defenseman has coming down the left wing and it his1,000th career point last week. seven points in his last seven games. deflected wide. Berglund collected the Former teammate and current Phoenix The defenseman is second on the team puck behind the Phoenix net and captain Shane Doan said, “His person- in goals with 11 and second on the team quickly skated out toward the right ality is so big. Anybody that gets to in assists with 14. His 25 points (in 26 circle. BJ Crombeen saw the direction know him loves the guy and can’t say games) is first in the league among of the play moving away from the goal enough nice things about him. It’s a defensemen. Did I mention he’s only and he skated against the grain toward huge accomplishment, 1,000 points. 23? Who cares if his name sounds like the net. It created a small gap in the Not very many people do it.” he’s going to be the next Female defense and he weakly one-timed it on In an interview on the Phoenix Country Music Entertainer of the Year net and it trickled in off a Phoenix broadcast, Tkachuk reflected on his nominee. Dude can play. defenseman. time in the league. “It just seems like Surprisingly, so can JP Dumont. With the dreaded two-goal lead at yesterday that I just got in the league With his initials, you’d think St. Louis home, Phoenix was able to get within a and you’re just happy to be there and would have snapped him up already. In goal late in the second period. Polak trying to fight to stay. Never mind the last two full seasons and so far this challenged a Coyote player along the individual goals, you’re just trying to year, Dumont has played 188 regular half boards to the right of Emmanuel win,” Tkachuk told the Coyotes season games. During that span, he has Legace. He went out of his way to make broadcaster. “I take it day by day. I’m 162 points. That’s pretty freaking good, contact as the puck was sent to the not even thinking about tomorrow.” especially for a guy playing in hillbilly point. What Polak didn’t realize is that The Predators come into tonight’s country. a forward had basically been hiding in game with a three-game win streak. The Blues and Predators don’t like the corner and suddenly converged They’ve been hot with a 5-1-1 record in each other. Both teams have been toward the net. With Polak out of their last seven games. The overtime playing pretty well. The Blues were position wide of the play, it left Jay loss was to the Blues in Music City shorthanded at forward when they McKee alone with two Coyotes. The behind the dominating performance of played in Nashville and Mason got the puck found the hiding Coyote, Kyle Chris Mason against his former team. It win. It will be interesting to see what a Turris, who was wide open. That’s right, will be interesting if Andy Murray plays little healthier offense can do. Polak was involved with all three Let’s Go Blues! G AME TIME Page 27 Game Time Bingo!

A goal is scored in You love Boyes. Tkachuk works on Someone asks the Air Horn Guy getting the first two Not that there’s beating the announcer how on your nerves. minutes of any anything wrong Mr. October tag. much time is left. period. with that.

Jay McKee Another $200 stick David Backes stays Someone gets GT Crombeen makes continues to dodge breaks at the worst on a hot streak. on the Jumbotron. some new fans. the injury bug. possible time.

Colaiacovo making Forget for a second Sec. 307 really Angellla veering that No. 28 look David Perron that No. 20 isn’t wants to see ever closer to better than Matt shows us his hands. Mike Johnson. adding another ‘L’. Walker did. Towel Boy jump.

Someone in your Mason winning the Cotton Eyed Joe One of the section never stops Patrik Berglund ‘not a goalie guy makes you rookies scores. playing with their gets another point. controversy’ want to leave. phone. competition.

Fight! Red Berenson Andy Murray flips We Want Blizzards One of the Maple Cowboy not afraid to his wig at a bad still not as good as Fight! Leafs scores his stack cups on a call. We Want Tacos. first as a Blue. Monday. Fight! Get five in a row in any direction and you win!

Tales From The Crease

By Jeremy Pratte St. Louis Game Time

Giving You What You Want Since 2005.