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Volume 4, Issue 16 Game Time December 20, 2008

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

By Brad Lee for the Blues this season. While that number includes and Alex Steen coming over in the Dutchie Stempniak The St. Louis Blues are reaching the crossroads of the 2008- trade, that illustrates how inconsistent the lineup has been on a 09 season. And from the fans’ perspective, it doesn’t look good. nearly nightly basis. When Andy is having to shuffle Faced with even more injuries, mired in a five-game losing players, no one is building any chemistry. The power play is being streak, the schedule is doing them no favors. The performance of held together with duct tape and a little hope when you’ve got the team in the next few weeks will probably determine if the Brad Winchester and his four points playing with the second unit. Blues will be in contention for the down the stretch; The on the power play is a revolving door, a constant tryout buyers or sellers at the trade deadline. And if Thursday to see who can stick at the position. night’s game in Washington is any indication, the Injuries. They’re piling up as fast as the losses. rest of the season may require a parental Fragile Jay McKee finally showed his brittle self warning. Caution, Blues games may contain breaking a finger. Eric “The Beloved” Brewer objectionable language and adult situations. had surgery on a herniated disc this week. And lots of disappointment. He’s out indefinitely. Legace was out. Paul The Blues fell 4-2 to the Capitals, the Kariya and his bad hip are just now returning second best home team in the NHL this to the ice, but not practice. TJ Oshie and his season. Rookie high ankle are still hurting. Then there’s looked slow and surprised by what kinds of Andy McDonald and his broken ankle and shots he was seeing. Or not seeing as the case and his busted up golf cart. may be. His performance was not the deciding When you factor in injuries for Dan Hinote, factor in him returning to Peoria on Friday, but and a night missed here and it didn’t make the decision difficult to add there out of the lineup and it’s staggering to see Emmanuel Legace back to the roster from injured TM how injuries have affected this team. reserve. He’s apparently over his Duck-induced concussion This Blues squad isn’t as talented with the puck, experienced or and could get the start against the Wild. dangerous as the lineup that took to the ice opening night in In Washington the Blues had not one but two players make October. And while Murray and John Davidson don’t want to their NHL debuts during the game. Defensemen Jonas Junland come out and say, “Hey people, these guys suck. We didn’t have a and Tyler Strachan busted their NHL cherries. They’re not alone chance tonight,” they’re kind of saying it. this season for the Blues. Eight players have made their NHL “We talked before the game that we need to have the mentality debut this season wearing the Note. What’s more indicative with to win games 2-1,” Murray told Dan MacLaughlin on Fox Sports how injuries have affected this team, 36 players have suited up (Continued on page 26) Today’s Records, Injuries & News Today’s Team Records: Today’s Injuries: Today’s News & Notes:

Blues: Wild: Blues: C Andy McDonald (fractured • Colton Gillies, nephew of Islanders 12-16-3 (27 points) 16-13-2 (35 points) ankle), LW (lower body), four-time Cup champion , 5th in Central 3rd in Northwest RW Dan Hinote (lower body) and F TJ scores his first NHL for the Wild 15th in Western 7th in Western Oshie (ankle, again) are out. on Friday night.

Last Ten Games: Wild: D Kurtis Foster (leg surgery) is • Blackhawks win six straight Friday; Blues: Wild: out. F (leg) is day-to-day. it’s their first time it since 2001. 3-6-1 3-6-1 • Game Time staff simultaneously here and working on an issue for a game Season Series: All-Time Series: that starts in 21 hours. 1-1-0 10-12-8-0

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 16 From The Editor December 20, 2008

Not too long ago all good Blues fans were The current crop? Legace, Chris St. Louis Game Time talking about our current goaltending Mason and Ben Bishop. Established: November 6, 2005 controversy. The term itself suggests that the And I’ll admit that I’ve done it, too: St Louis, Missouri team has a really good problem on their I’ve worshipped at the altar of Phone: 402-2266 hands: they have too many good guys at the Emmanual Legace. The guy has stolen www.StLouisGameTime.com position. some games for the Blues. But he’s also cost them a few. With his contract Now, about 10 days later, the real Godfather goaltending controversy seems to be not running out in a few months and Mason Jeffio about how many too-good goalies the Blues signed through next year and Bishop have, but more of Do the Blues have any being hustled to the NHL, he looks like good goalies? the odd man out. Where do you Publisher & Editor-in-Chief suppose he ends up this summer? Sean Gallagher I haven’t been a Blues fan since My guess is that it’s not back here. [email protected] 1967 (mainly since I wasn’t born I’m more certain that he goes until a few years after that and elsewhere as a moderately didn’t actually see my first Blues Advertising compensated backup goalie. game until a couple decades after [email protected] that), so I can’t speak to the Which is pretty much what [email protected] goaltending exploits of Glen Hall and he is. Throughout his career and even here. A No. 2 guy thrust into a No. 1 role. Jacques Plante and Mike Liut. Trust me, Distribution based on who I have watched, I wish I was The biggest difference between a starter John Nicolay around in those days. and a backup in the NHL is consistency after all, and that’s what Manny has Amy Benoist, Becky Benoist, I would argue at this point that the Blues Billy Cash, Clarence Walker lacked over the last couple years. Hot haven’t had a true No. 1 goaltender in net streaks and stolen games have kept him since the days of and Grant in the top spot, but if he was on a Columnists Fuhr. And honestly, at the time of those guys, contender, his overall play would be a Chris Gift, Duke, Brad Lee, I always felt like they were good goalies, but Answer Man & Brian Weidler concern. His career St. Louis stats as a not the best goalies that could have been in starter are good, but fading. net at the time. Even the near-miss on Mike Contributors Richter never had me wishing wistfully about is a similar story. At 32, Jeffio, Jeff Browning, LosBri, what could have been. He was yet another he has always been a backup or a No. 1/B Childhood Trauma, Dan Doke, Jeff goalie who would have come into St. Louis goalie, splitting time with someone else. Fahrenkrog, Jeremy Pratte & Chris Reed with a big reputation and a fading skill set. His numbers are better than Legace’s this year, but he has won just three of the Photographer And don’t get me started on Roman Andrew D’Angelo 14 games he’s played where he’s gotten a Turek. The guy put in his official bio that his decision. favorite pastime was taking naps. That one Mission: comment still makes me feel like I just drank As for Bishop, he’s right at a Marek Game Time will provide prospect battery acid. Schwarz crossroads. Does he become a information, up-to-date statistics, articles bona fide top goalie prospect or does he that spark discussion and humor that Instead, look at the group of guys who go one to become another guy who points out the best and worst about our have manned the crease for the Note for favorite team and sport. We are all fans of struggles to establish himself as an NHL more than one year since the days of CuJo the Blues and our opinions will reflect goalie? and Fuhr: Jaime McLennan, Turek, Freddie those of subjective fans. Brathwaite, Reinhard Divis, Chris fucking Finding and accurately assessing The paper is published for every home goaltender talent is probably the most game, excluding the pre-season, which we Osgood, , , all know sucks. and Manny Legace. A couple difficult of all of the positions in hockey, of them were fan favorites, but mainly which is why guys like Rights & Permissions: because they were nice guys, not because get drafted in the ninth round and they were incredible netminders. The players like Al Montoya are taken sixth All material printed herein is copyrighted and protected. Do not reprint in any majority of that crew are Where Are They overall and wind up out of hockey having format without expressed, written Now? candidates. never played a single NHL game. They permission from Game Time LLC. develop slower and really come into their Even worse, look at the guys who have own much later than prospect defense- blown out of here after just one season Logos & Photos men and forwards. wearing our beloved Note in a less-than- Team logos and pictures used herein are honorable fashion: , Tom Barrasso, Which is why the Blues need to start the property of the individual teams Cody Rudkowsky, Patrick latrine Lalime, taking them in droves in the draft. and/or the NHL and are used solely for identification and editorial purposes. Chris Beckford-Tseu and Hannu ‘stop yelling I once heard that a certain scout at me’ Toivonen. (Continued on page 27) Today’s Question: seriously, who the hell makes these schedules anyway? G AME TIME Page 3

Tonight’s Trivia Top 11 Ways The Blues By Childhood Trauma Haven’t Hurt Themselves Yet First Period (true or false): 1. Owen Nolan is a first overall draft pick. 11. Choking on a pretzel. 2. The Wild have never had a team last an entire 10. ‘Guitar Hero’ wrist. season. 9. A fondue incident. First Intermission (T/F): 8. Celebratory headbutt with Gus Frerotte. 7. Angelllla induced. 3. Joe Francis, creator of the ‘Girls Gone Wild’ franchise, has 6. Tarp racing with Vince Coleman. done jail time for child abuse. 5. Sneeze-induced back spasms. Second Period (multiple choice): 4. Wackers’ elbow. 4. Which current Wild defenseman started out a right winger 3. Washing the truck with Jeff Kent. in his OHL career: Brent Burns, Nick Schultz, Kim 2. Playing with Mike Matheny’s new Christmas Johansson, or Marek Zidlicky? knife. 1. Snipe Hunt. 5. Which player has already equaled his goal output of last

season: , Jay McClement, , or From the 12 Fluid Ounces of Gallagher’s Brain Ryan Johnson? Second Intermission: 6. The 2008 Republican National Convention was held at the Wild’s Xcel Energy Center and nominated John McCain. Trustworthy. Who did the convention nominate with its only St. Louis- based convention: Gerald Ford, Herbert Hoover, William Ish. McKinley, or Ulysses Grant? Third Period: www.stlouisgametime.com 7. Who was the first coach of the Wild? 8. Forty-three players have scored five or more goals in a single game in the NHL. Name the player who did it as a Blue Corrections & Clarifications and the one who did it as a Wild. 9. Pavol Demitra started this season ninth in Wild scoring • Game Time would like to force the highway depart- history with 188 points. Where did he start the season on the ment to apologize for putting red wings on all the Blues list of all time scorers? street signs on the new bridge overpasses on 40. Nice work, numbnuts. Overtime! • Game Time printed the wrong picture of the Blues’ 10. What long time Canadien was the last head coach of training room in the last issue. The correct picture

Minnesota’s first NHL team? is shown here.

Dallas in 1993. 1993. in Dallas

from 1990-1995, they moved to to moved they 1990-1995, from Stars the coached Gainey Bob 10.

9. He is safely in fifth place with 493 points. points. 493 with place fifth in safely is He 9.

8. Red Berenson scored six as a Blue; Marian Gaborik scored five. five. scored Gaborik Marian Blue; a as six scored Berenson Red 8.

ly head coach in Wild history. history. Wild in coach head ly on the is Lemaire Jaques Coach 7.

Cleveland and Alton Parker in the same building in 1888 and 1904. 1904. and 1888 in building same the in Parker Alton and Cleveland

crats would nominate Grover Grover nominate would crats Demo Hall. Music and Exposition

6. In 1896 the Republicans nominated McKinley at the St. Louis Louis St. the at McKinley nominated Republicans the 1896 In 6.

ason equal last season’s total. total. season’s last equal ason se this goals two Jackman’s Barret 5.

when the Wild drafted him. him. drafted Wild the when winger right a was Burns Brent 4.

contraband charges and served 339 days. days. 339 served and charges contraband

3. True. Joe pled no contest to child abuse, prostitution and and prostitution abuse, child to contest no pled Joe True. 3.

ted Captains on a monthly basis. basis. monthly a on Captains ted rota always have Wild The True. 2. 1. True. The Nordiques selected him first overall in 1990. 1990. in overall first him selected Nordiques The True. 1. Volume 4, Issue 16 Page 4 December 20, 2008 Page 5 G AME TIME The Five Hole

With Chris Gift

Author’s note: With apologies to the famous ‘Yes Virginia, Playoffs. The most real things in the world are those that nei- there is a Santa Claus,’ it is time to answer a question that ther children nor men can see. But that’s okay, Liam, Bernie many Blues fans have had for a few years now. With Federko will tell us all that we didn’t see it and we never had a apologies to Answer Man, I’m answering a letter in my chance to see it while those that did see the real thing column. Ordinarily, I'd write an original Christmas celebrate and get ready for the faceoff. column, but face it, most of the Christmas stuff we see is Did you ever see Bobby Orr dancing on the ice? Of course not, recycled anyway. you’re too young. But that’s no proof that he never did it. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are Dear Editor, unseen and unseeable in the playoffs, but NHL referees some- I am 7 years old. Some of my little friends say there are times call penalties that they don’t see and are unseeable, no Playoffs. Papa says, “If you see it on especially if it is a close game and the penalties aren’t even. Youtube, it’s so. And get your old man another PBR while You tear apart Charles Glenn and see what makes the noise you’re at it.” Please tell me the truth, are there Stanley Cup inside, but there is a trophy covering our unseen postseason Playoffs? world which not the strongest man, nor even the united Liam Gallagher strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could win. If that was the case, only the best player would win, and only the best team on paper would win each year. Only faith in Liam, your little friends are wrong. They have been your goaltender, a healthy TJ Oshie, , Patrik affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age, and an Berglund, can push aside that curtain and view and picture overabundance of injuries to star players (During the the supernal beauty and glory beyond that is the Stanley Cup holidays, even and Fragile Jay McKee are star Playoffs. Is it all real? Ah, Liam, in all this world there is players). They do not believe except what they see, which nothing else as real and abiding as a long playoff run. lately has been terrible. They think that nothing can be No Stanley Cup Playoff! Thank God! They live and will live which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, forever, or until screws up another entire Liam, whether they be men’s or childrens’, are little…so by season. A thousand years from now, Liam, nay 10 times grouping all minds together, Liam we’re not directly making 10,000 years from now, they will continue to make glad the fun of either , or Towel Boy. heart of every hockey fan. In this great league of ours, man is a mere fourth liner, a Contact: [email protected] healthy ’s backup, in his intellect as com- pared with the boundless league about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth, The Jeffio Joke of the Day knowledge, the neutral zone trap, why there is a trapezoid behind each goal, and the brilliance that is the Zamboni. Yes, Liam, there are Stanley Cup Playoffs. They exist as John Davidson’s wife was in the kitchen making a certainly as winning streaks, and offensive defensemen and breakfast of fried eggs. Suddenly, Davidson burst into big wins on the road exist, and you know that they abound the kitchen. “Careful,” he said, “Careful! Put in some and give to your season its highest beauty and joy. more butter! Oh my gosh! You’re cooking too many at Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no once. Too many! Turn them! Turn them now! We need Stanley Cup Playoffs! It would be as dreary as if there were more butter. Oh my gosh! Where are we going to get no Liams. There would be no early season faith then, no more butter? They’re going to stick! Careful. Careful! I breakaways, no odd man rushes to make tolerable this said be careful! You never listen to me when you’re existence that Bill Laurie inflicted upon us, Liam. We should cooking! Never! Turn them! Hurry up! Are you crazy? have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight, and rooting Have you lost your mind? Don’t forget to salt them. against . The external light with which goal scorers light the lamp would be extinguished. You know you always forget to salt them. Use the salt! Not believe in the Stanley Cup Playoffs! You might as well Use the salt! The salt!” not believe in Reg Dunlop. You might get your papa to hire The wife stared at him. “What in the world is wrong men to watch all of the games and prepare all year for the with you? You think I don’t know how to fry a couple of Stanley Cup Playoffs for little or no monetary compensation, eggs?” but even if your team did not make the Stanley Cup Playoffs, what would that prove? Nobody sees the playoffs in Davidson calmly replied, “I just wanted to show St. Louis, but that is no sign that there is no Stanley Cup you what it feels like when I’m driving.” Volume 4, Issue 16 Page 6 December 20, 2008 St. Louis Blues Statistics

Skater Statistics PLAYER GP G A PTS +/- PIM ATOI PPG PPA SHG SHA SOG SPCT Brad Boyes, RW 31 16 14 30 -19 12 19:43 9 7 0 0 81 19.8 , C 31 12 9 21 -7 33 18:17 8 2 0 0 78 15.4 Patrik Berglund, C 26 10 10 20 10 4 15:46 4 4 0 0 50 20 , LW 30 2 18 20 E 18 15:33 0 6 0 0 60 3.3 Andy McDonald, C 16 6 12 18 -12 12 19:55 2 9 1 0 46 13 , RW 3197 16 -3 83 17:01 2 2 0 0 56 16.1 Paul Kariya, LW 11 2 13 15 1 2 18:06 0 9 0 0 31 6.5 Jay McClement, C 3118 9 -6 15 16:43 0 0 0 0 45 2.2 Barret Jackman, D 3126 8 -5 46 22:01 0 1 0 0 35 5.7 B.J. Crombeen, RW* 1562 8 1 30 12:53 0 1 0 0 29 20.7 Eric Brewer, D 2815 6 -14 24 25:07 1 2 0 0 49 2 Carlo Colaiacovo, D* 1215 6 -4 6 18:35 0 5 0 0 19 5.3 , LW* 1215 6 -1 2 17:38 1 3 0 0 23 4.3 Jeff Woywitka, D 1704 4 E 24 17:08 0 3 0 0 19 0 Brad Winchester, LW 1331 4 -5 32 12:08 2 1 0 0 13 23.1 Steve Regier, LW 831 4 -1 4 10:59 2 0 0 0 11 27.3 Roman Polak, D 3104 4 -2 27 20:01 0 1 0 0 27 0 T.J. Oshie, C 1222 4 2 2 15:15 1 0 0 0 16 12.5 Cam Paddock, C 1521 3 -4 0 10:43 0 0 0 0 17 11.8 Jay McKee, D 3011 2 -6 12 16:32 0 0 0 0 19 5.3 Cam Janssen, RW 2402 2 -7685:4000009 0 Yan Stastny, C 2511 2 -13 20 12:45 0 0 0 0 20 5 Mike Weaver, D 1301 1 -4010:5300003 0 D.J. King, LW 101 1 E08:2000000 0 Dan Hinote, RW 1400 0 -61710:5000008 0 Tyson Strachan, D 100 0 -1215:0500000 0 Goalie Statistics PLAYER GP W L GAA SV SV% SHO TGA TSA PIM ENG Manny Legace 16 8 5 3.19 353 88.9% 0 44 397 0 1 Chris Mason 15 3 10 3.17 391 90.3% 1 42 433 0 5 Ben Bishop 5 1 1 3.18 97 89.0% 0 12 109 0 0 *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 Brett Hull 527 Points Brad Boyes 30 Points Bernie Federko 1,073 Plus/Minus Patrik Berglund 10 PIM Brian Sutter 1,873 PP Goals Brad Boyes 9 Goalie GP Mike Liut 347 Wins Manny Legace 8 Wins Mike Liut 151 GAA Chris Mason 3.17 GAA Jacques Plante 2.07 Save PCT Chris Mason 90.3% Glenn Hall 16

Only Suicidal In The Mornings. St. Louis Game Time G AME TIME Page 7 Statistics Skater Statistics PLAYER GP G A PTS +/- PIM ATOI PPG PPA SHG SHA SOG SPCT Mikko Koivu, C 31 11 21 32 5 32 22:08 3 10 1 0 112 9.8 Antti Miettinen, RW 31 8 15 23 -2 16 19:10 2 6 0 0 66 12.1 Andrew Brunette, LW 31 10 10 20 E 10 17:52 5 4 0 0 43 23.3 Eric Belanger, C 29 8 10 18 -4 2 18:03 2 7 0 0 64 12.5 Marc-Andre Bergeron, D 31 3 13 16 -2 18 17:06 3 8 0 0 64 4.7 Pierre-Marc Bouchard, RW 2868 14 -6 6 16:48 2 2 0 0 58 10.3 Marek Zidlicky, D 27 4 10 14 -6 28 22:32 4 7 0 0 50 8 Brent Burns, D 2756 11 -5 27 20:36 3 2 0 0 77 6.5 Benoit Pouliot, C 3156 11 3 14 11:55 2 2 0 0 31 16.1 Kim Johnsson, D 3119 10 -3 18 24:27 0 5 0 1 38 2.6 Owen Nolan, RW 1755 10 -1 8 15:24 3 2 0 0 41 12.2 , C 3125 7 -10 11 15:14 0 0 0 0 30 6.7 Stephane Veilleux, LW 3132 5 -9 15 16:04 0 0 0 0 58 5.2 Colton Gillies, C 1513 4 E 8 8:44 0 1 0 0 9 11.1 Marian Gaborik, RW 421 3 2 0 20:48 0 0 0 0 15 13.3 Nick Schultz, D 3103 3 2 21 20:34 0 0 0 0 23 0 Derek Boogaard, LW 2803 3 5544:2700009 0 Martin Skoula, D 3102 2 -4 4 19:23 0 0 0 0 21 0 Krys Kolanos, C 311 2 1 4 11:06 0 0 0 0 4 25 Craig Weller, D 1511 2 -1 22 6:37 1 0 0 0 11 9.1 Erik Reitz, D 2411 2 1 34 10:38 0 0 0 0 13 7.7 Cal Clutterbuck, RW 2720 2 -4 15 10:15 1 0 0 0 32 6.3 Tomas Mojzis, D 401 1 -127:1501002 0 Goalie Statistics PLAYER GP W L GAA SV SV% SHO TGA TSA PIM ENG Niklas Backstrom 27 15 10 2.25 724 92.5% 3 59 783 0 1 6 1 3 2.04 140 93.3% 0 10 150 0 0

*Statistics reflect time with current team only.

Wild Leaders Wild All-Time Leaders Goals Mikko Koivu 11 Games Played Marian Gaborik 489 Assists Mikko Koivu 21 Goals Marian Gaborik 208 Points Mikko Koivu 32 Points Marian Gaborik 417 Plus/Minus Mikko Koivu 5 PIM Matt Johnson 698 PP Goals Andrew Brunette 5 Goalie GP Manny Fernandez 260 Wins Niklas Bac kstrom 15 Wins Manny Fernandez 113 GAA Josh Harding 2.05 GAA Niklas Bac kstrom 2.19 Save PCT Josh Harding 93.3% Shutouts Dwayne Roloson 15

Change Simply For The Sake Of Change. www.StLouisGameTime.com Volume 4, Issue 16 Page 8 December 20, 2008

Like The Photos in GT? The Big Johnson Joke of the Day Hey there, Minnesota, you wanna know how big my Now available for purchase Johnson is? My Johnson is so big, it forechecks from our photographer while I backcheck. My Johnson is so big, it spoils every Christmas by sneaking down early and opening all the presents. My Johnson is so big, it gets its copies of Game Time for free.

The Roman Polak Joke of the Day

A popular bar on Washington Avenue just had a new robotic Great Rates! bartender installed. A guy came in for a drink and the robot asked him, “What's your IQ?” Perfect for autographs! The man replied, “130.” So the robot proceeded to make conversation about Great gifts for your favorite fan! physics, astronomy, and so on. View the shots online. Another guy came in for a drink and the robot asked him, “What's your IQ?” Contact: Andrew D’Angelo The man responded, “100.” So the robot started talking about the [email protected] Super Bowl, dirt bikes, and so on. (314) 546-0369 A third guy came in to the bar. As with the others, the robot asked him, “What's your IQ?” The man replied, “80.” The robot then said, “So, how are things with the Polaks these days?”

The BJ Crombeen Joke of the Day

On his 60th birthday, a man’s wife asked him, “What do you Wanna Be Semi-Famous want to do on your special day?” The man replies, “Well, in all of our (Regionally)? years together, you’ve never given me a BJ. I’d like that.” Do you have a different The wife, visibly offended, says, “No perspective? way! You’d lose all respect for me. Passion? Knowledge? Desire? There’s no way that’s happening!” Work well under deadlines? She storms out of the room. Ever pay kick-backs to an editor Later, after several hours of thinking to get better space? about the request, she decides that out of love, she should grant the request. She surprises him in the bedroom and completes the act. We’re looking for writers, graphic artists, As they lay in the bed afterwards the phone rings and the statisticians and comedy writers. man answers it. Contact: [email protected] “Sure, hold on,” he says, “Here, it’s for you, cocksucker.” G AME TIME Page 9 ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, Blues Style By Childhood Trauma

'Twas the week before Christmas, when all through the Then just a bit later yelled “Jump!” to Towel Boy.. place As I filled in the score card, and was turning around, The playoffs were gone, at least at this pace; Down the aisle Louie came with a bound. The third jerseys were lettered with rookies galore, He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, In hopes that the season would produce a bit more; And his clothes were all tarnished with boogers and soot; The children were crowded all round dirty Louie, A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, Who was performed by an inmate a bit screwy; And he looked like a pedophile just touching some back. And mamma with her Game Time, and I in the ‘Note, His eyes -- how they twinkled! His ears how merry! Had just settled down for some all stars to vote, His cheeks were like blueberries, his clothes like Don When out on the ice there arose such a clatter, Cherry! I sprang from my seat to see what was the matter. He was a zero and that made me smile, The teams were at center but the puck had not dropped, And the whiff he was giving meant no bath for a while; When Cam threw a punch that couldn’t be topped. The game grabbed back my attention real quick, The Answer Man’s column had fell to the floor One of our Boyes just scored a hat trick; As Cam’s opponent turtled and wanted no more, ‘Twas a power play goal now it was 4-2. When, what to ears was a sound like a squeal, So the crowd looked at their goalie and shouted “Screw But in reality was a ref who answered to Peel, you!” With a raise of his arm, so weak and so thin, He was chubby and plump, a lot like old Turek, He commanded our Cam to the evil sin bin. The Schwarz was with him, not even a Marek. More rapid than McDonald his linemen did come, A wink of coach’s eye and a jerk of his thumb, And he whistled, and dropped it, and I sat back on my Soon gave me to know their goalie was done; bum; He spoke not a word, but went straight to his bench, “Great save! Clear it! Damn it, pass truer! And then the coach needed to pardon his French, Go, Boyes! Skate Perron! Shoot it! and Trade Brewer! And after a time out and an empty old net, To the top of slot! To the back of the net! The crowd wanted one more on that you can bet; Get the rookies out! Never mind! Show me the vets!” Perron sprang to his line, and passed it to Brad, Just like Santa handing a gift to his elf, And away flew the puck that made us all glad. A pass went to BJ who one-timed it, top shelf, ‘Cos I heard him exclaim, the old goal scoring wizard, So up lit the lamp, and the glad hands flew, Andy Murray looked mean, but what else is new?. “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a free Blizzard!” And then, in a twinkling the fans jumped for joy

Still Probably Not On The ‘Nice’ List. St. Louis Game Time Volume 4, Issue 16 Page 10 December 20, 2008 The Ghost of the Blues With Jeff Browning

I have always loved paying attention to really obscure Blues Pavol Demitra not only doesn’t play for Minnesota anymore, players who come and go faster than anyone else can really but he has been trash talking the team lately. Funny because he care. But I have no recollection of Tomas Mojzis whatsoever. rarely did any coherent talking at all with us. While Vancouver The Blues got him at the trade deadline was looking for a new captain, he said Minnesota’s alternating along with a third rounder for Eric captaincy was one of the stupidest things he has ever heard. Weinrich (meaning even though I know More recently, he claimed that kept the team nothing about the guy, I do know it was a on a short leash, and that a player like Marian Gaborik would good trade), and he spent most of the next season flourish on a team like the Canucks. In other news, Demitra is with Peoria. He did play six games here in 2006- the only Slovak on the Canucks and is very lonely. 07 and he even got a goal, putting him higher than Speaking of former Wild, obscure Blues, Minnesota natives, most of our defense that year. He played a few games with the and -- bringing the entire article together -- draft picks: Sean Wild this year, but was quickly sent down to the AHL, so Hill. He currently plays in the Swiss league, but the Wild was maybe he’ll be a phantom in Minnesota as well. the last team to pick him up, and during Minnesota is the state of hockey, and we have a few young steroid allegations too. A twenty game Minnesotans on our team. TJ Oshie is from Warroad suspension and a few passed lie detector (awesome name), Steve Wagner hails from Grand Rapids tests later, his name was cleared. Regardless, if (not Michigan), and David Backes comes from . you don’t remember his hit on The latter two were teammates at Minnesota State University vs. Colorado in the Conference Finals, you aren’t a Blues fan. at Mankato from 2004-06. Surprisingly, not too many While Owen Nolan may be getting more injuries than goals Mankato Maverick hockey players have made it big, and these days (let’s sign him!) he still holds the record for the Backes may be the most famous alumnus ever to come from longest goal in Kiel/Sav/Scot history when the Sharks beat us the school (his only competition -- Cedric Yarbrough a.k.a. in Game 7. That record is probably pretty safe, too, as it was Deputy Jones from “Reno 911”). scored from 6,076 feet away.

Blues Record When… With LosBri Playing at HidingInTheBathroomOvernightCentre 7-6-2 Don't have to drive to Peoria to see the Rivermen 12-16-3 Playing on the road 5-10-1 Leading after the 1st 5-2-3 WTF?!? A T-shirt for the X-mas gift!?! Really?!? 12-16-3 Tied after the 1st 4-4-0 They score first 6-2-3 Trailing after the 1st 3-10-0 The other team scores first 6-13-0 Still hating Owen Nolan 12-16-3 They score 4 or more goals 8-1-1 Leading after the 2nd 7-1-1 They score fewer than 4 goals 4-15-2 Tied after the 2nd 3-2-2 They score on the PP 10-8-3 Trailing after the 2nd 2-13-0 The other team scores on the PP 5-12-2 Crowd Fight! Crowd Fight! Crowd Fight! 1-0-0 They score shorthanded 1-0-0 Fight! Fight! Fight! 5-9-1 The other team scores shorthanded 1-1-0 No fights 7-7-2 A Blues players has multiple goals 6-2-1 They are called for 7 or more penalties 4-7-2 An opposing player has multiple goals 2-6-1 Other team called for 7 or more penalties 4-7-1 They take 30 or more shots 4-5-0 Emmanual "Half a brain" Legace starts 8-7-1 They allow 30 or more shots 6-9-2 Chris "I'll still be here next year" Mason starts 3-8-1 They played the day before 4-3-1 Ben Bishop Starts 1-1-1 The other team played the day before 2-2-1 Game is on FSN 5-11-3 Sunday Games 1-0-1 Game is on KPLR 3-4-0 Monday Games 2-0-0 Game is on VS 1-0-0 Tuesday Games 1-1-0 Playing the Eastern Conference 3-5-1 Wednesday Games sure do suck ass 0-6-0 Playing the Atlantic Division 0-2-0 Thursday Games 1-3-1 Playing the Northeast Division 1-1-1 Friday Games 3-1-1 Playing the Southeast Division 2-2-0 Saturday Games 4-6-0 Playing the Western Conference 9-11-2 Playing in October 5-4-0 Playing the Central Division 5-1-0 Playing in November 5-6-2 Playing the Northwest Division 1-4-1 Page 11

Franchise Foundations

St. Louis Blues Minnesota Wild Year Player Year Player 1999 Barret Jackman ~ Drafted 1st rd (17 overall) by STL Marian Gaborik ~ Drafted in 1st rd (3 overall) by MIN 2001 Jay McClement ~ Drafted 2nd round, 57 overall by STL 2000 Nick Schultz ~ Drafted in 2nd round, 33 overall by MIN 2002 D.J. King ~ Drafted in 6th rd (190 overall) by STL Erik Reitz ~ Drafted in 6th rd (170 overall) by MIN 2003 David Backes ~ Drafted in 2nd rd (62 overall) by STL Mikko Koivu ~ Drafted in 1st rd (6 overall) by MIN 2004 Roman Polak ~ Drafted in 6th rd (180 overall) by STL Stephane Veilleux ~ Drafted in 3rd round, 93 overall by T.J. Oshie ~ Drafted in 1st rd (24 overall) by STL 2001 MIN Eric Brewer ~ Acquired from EDM with Jeff Woywitka Derek Boogaard ~ Drafted in 7th round, 202 overall by 2005 and Doug Lynch for MIN Jeff Woywitka ~ Acquired from EDM with Eric Brewer Pierre-Marc Bouchard ~ Drafted in 1st round, 8 overall and Doug Lynch for Chris Pronger 2002 by MIN Erik Johnson ~ Drafted in 1st rd (1 overall) by STL Josh Harding ~ Drafted in 2nd rd (38 overall) by MIN Patrik Berglund ~ Drafted in 1st rd (25 overall) by STL Brent Burns ~ Drafted in 1st round, 20th overall by 2003 2006 Jay McKee ~ Signed as Free Agent (BUF) MIN Dan Hinote ~ Signed as Free Agent (COL) Benoit Pouliot ~ Drafted in 1st rd (4 overall) by MIN 2005 Manny Legace ~ Signed as Free Agent (DET) Kurtis Foster ~ Signed as Free Agent (ANA) Yan Stastny ~ Acquired from BOS for 5th rd pick in Martin Skoula ~ Acquired with from DAL 2007 for Willie Mitchell Brad Boyes ~ Acquired from BOS for Dennis James Sheppard ~ Drafted in 1st rd (9 overall) by MIN Wideman 2006 Cal Clutterbuck ~ Drafted in 3rd rd (72 overall) by MIN Steve Wagner ~ Signed as Free Agent (undrafted) Niklas Backstrom ~ Signed as Free Agent (undrafted) David Perron ~ Drafted in 1st rd (26 overall) by STL 2007 Kim Johnsson ~ Signed as Free Agent (PHI) Keith Tkachuk ~ Signed as Free Agent. Originally Colton Gillies ~ Drafted in 1st rd (16 overall) by MIN acquired from PHX in 2001 for a 1st rd pick in 2002, 2007 Eric Belanger ~ Signed as Free Agent (ATL) , Michal Handzus and Marc-Andre Bergeron ~ Acquired from ANA for a 3rd Paul Kariya ~ Signed as Free Agent (NAS) rd pick in 2008. Andy McDonald ~ Acquired from ANA for Doug Tomas Mojzis ~ Signed as Free Agent (STL) Weight, Michal Birner and a 7th rd pick in 2008 Cam Janssen ~ Acquired from NJ for Marek Zidlicky ~ Acquired from NAS for Mike Weaver ~ Signed as Free Agent (VAN) 2008 and a 2nd rd pick in 2009 Chris Mason ~ Acquired from NAS for a 4th rd pick in Andrew Brunette ~ Signed as Free Agent (COL) 2008 Craig Weller ~ Signed as Free Agent (PHX) 2008 B.J. Crombeen ~ Claimed off waivers (DAL) Antti Miettinen ~ Signed as Free Agent (DAL) Alexander Steen ~ Acquired with Carlo Colaiacovo Owen Nolan ~ Signed as Free Agent (CGY) 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 16 Page 12 December 20, 2008 NHL Leaders NHL Leaders Points Goals Against Average Shootout Goals 1. Evgeni Malkin, PIT 53 1. Steve Mason, CLS 1.91 1. Wojtek Wolski, COL 5 2. , PIT 46 2. Manny Fernandez, BOS 2.02 2. Nikolai Zherdev, NYR 5 3. Alex Ovechkin, WAS 43 3. Jonas Hiller, ANH 2.07 3. Jonathan Toews, CHI 4 4. , NJ 39 4. , BOS 2.15 4. Milan Hejduk, COL 4 5. , CGY 38 5. Craig Anderson, FLA 2.15 5. Brad Boyes, STL 3 27. Brad Boyes, STL 30 39. Chris Mason, STL 3.17

Goals Save Percentage Rookie Points 1. Thomas Vanek, BUF 24 1. Craig Anderson, FLA 94.0% 1. Derrick Brassard, CLB 25 2. Jeff Carter, PHI 22 2. Jonas Hiller, ANH 93.6% 2. Kris Versteeg, CHI 24 3. , BOS 21 3. Tim Thomas, BOS 93.2% 3. Patrik Berglund, STL 20 4. Alex Ovechkin, WAS 20 4. Steve Mason, CLS 92.9% 4. Mikhail Grabovski, TOR 20 5. Zach Parise, NJ 18 5. Roberto Luongo, VAN 92.8% 5. Blake Wheeler, BOS 18 9. Brad Boyes, STL 16 30. Chris Mason, STL 90.3%

Plus/Minus Wins Defensemen Points 1. Evgeni Malkin, PIT 20 1. Miikka Kiprusoff, CGY 18 1. Shea Weber, NAS 26 2. Alexander Semin, WAS 20 2. , NYR 18 2. Dan Boyle, SJ 26 3. Simon Gagne, PHI 19 3. Evgeni Nabokov, SJ 17 3. Mark Streit, NYI 25 4. Marc Savard, BOS 18 4. Niklas Backstrom, MIN 15 4. Andrei Markov, MTL 24 5. Blake Wheeler, BOS 18 5. Ryan Miller, BUF 14 5. Brian Campbell,CHI 23 43. Patrik Berglund, STL 10 27. Manny Legace, STL 8 87. Barret Jackm an, STL 8 Around The

Canucks Snub Burke — Former Canucks GM Brian Burke “We’re hoping it will be like when Sidney Crosby’s jersey complained to Vancouver media that he was upset about not was stolen and he got it back,” said Jayme Day, Pyett’s aunt. being invited to the ceremony retiring Trevor Linden’s jersey Pyett is playing this season with Detroit’s farm team in on Thursday night. Grand Rapids, Mich., of the AHL. “I was clearly excluded and I'm extremely disappointed. I Wrigley Getting Ready — In the battle of Blues’ fans most would have flown from anywhere on the planet to be there hated teams, the Red Wings will visit the Blackhawks on last night.” New Year’s Day for the second ‘Winter Classic.’ This year the Burke, now the president and general manager of the game is taking place in the home of Cubs’ baseball, Wrigley Maple Leafs, was the Canucks assistant general Field. manager when the team drafted Linden in 1988. In 2001, The folks in charge of the rink have already started build- when he was the Canucks GM, Burke made a trade to bring ing the playing surface (including a ceremonial arrival of all Linden back to Vancouver. He signed Linden to a new of the equipment in a truck with Bobby Hull riding shotgun) contract in 2003 to keep him in the fold. and are supposedly ahead of schedule already. Linden, for his part, did not snub Burke, thanking him Tickets for the game are doing a good deal of business on during his speech. the electronic Bays already and the players and fans are all Probably Someone From Detroit — As the junior hockey getting properly geeked up. Of course, we’d all care about world prepares for the 2009 World Junior Championship in 1,000% more if there was any other team skating on that day Ottawa, the family of Detroit Red Wing prospect Logan Pyett than the two participating in the game. is hoping to get the WJC gold medal he won last year Seriously, what’s worse than being way hungover and returned to them. having the only televised hockey game of the day be the The gold medal from last year’s WJC was on display in the Wings and Hawks? home of Pyett’s parents in Balgonie, Sask., but was stolen on One interesting quirk of the game is that the teams will Tuesday when thieves broke in while the couple was at a not only switch sides to start each period, but they will also Christmas function. change sides halfway through the third period. The hope is The Pyett’s car and other personal effects were also stolen. to negate the effects of the notorious winds that blow The medal was on display with his Team Canada sweater, through the Friendly Confines. We say, Fuck ‘em, can they which was not stolen. both play into the wind? Volume 4, Issue 16 Page 13 December 20, 2008

Fried Chicken’s www.hockey-fights.com

Tonight’s Matchup: Coming into tonight the Minnesota Wild have but 19 fights to their credit, while the Blues have fought 31 times. But without the services of DJ King, the boys in Blue really don’t have an answer for the monster named Derek Boogaard who pretends he’s a hockey player and protects the Euro-heavy Wild lineup. Once you take the cement block headed Boogaard out of the equation, there aren’t many other guys on the team that like to drop ‘em.

St. Louis Blues Probable Fighters Minnesota Wild Probable Fighter

•Cam Janssen – Cam has done quite well filling in for the •Derek Boogaard – If DJ Dwayne King Kong wasn’t nursing injured DJ King so far, hanging in there with much bigger his torn up shoulder out at the condo, there’d be some poten- opponents. For some reason, though, Andy Murray has made tial for a really great bout tonight between him and Boogaard. Janssen a healthy scratch a lot lately. He has eight fights so far As it stands, no one is likely crazy enough to go with ‘the this season, with his last one occurring on 12/8 against Bogeyman.’ At 6’8 and 257 pounds, we don’t blame them for Nashville’s . taking a pass. •Brandon Crombeen – Crombeen is a high energy, physical •Nick Schultz – Schultz can handle himself, but is clearly a player who is willing to drop the gloves when need be. He is ‘fight for your teammates’ type of guy. He isn’t likely looking to 6’2, 212 pounds, and he’s a decent fighter who will win some pick a fight, but if he needs to send a message for himself or and lose some. He’s on a heck of a scoring streak right now, for one of his elfish teammates, he’ll do it. but he still makes time for the dirty work. BJ has had eight •Erik Reitz – Reitz isn’t much of a brawler and will pick his fights thus far. He lost his last fight to Anaheim’s Steve opponents wisely. Case in point: He fought Jordin Staal of the Montador on 12/10. this year. Guess Pierre Turgeon wasn’t •Brad Winchester – Winchester is a big guy with the size of available. a heavyweight at 6’5, 230 pounds. He’s a good fighter, as he showed poor Matt Greene of the LA Kings this past Thursday by nailing him several times in the noggin.

Best bet of the night: Cam Janssen vs playing time.

Date Combatants Description Decision

In a battle of true heavyweights, Boogaard got the better of the bout. He changed hands a couple times, getting King to DJ King vs back away. He tagged him with a left and then he quickly 11/1/2007 Win: Boogaard Derek Boogaard went back to the right and landed a weak uppercut. They came in close again and Boogaard threw a series of shots to the back of King’s head.

Boogaard completely dominated this one with a couple big bombs that had King reeling early. He also managed to land DJ King vs 3/22/2007 a beauty of an uppercut. In what became a very long fight, Win: Boogaard Derek Boogaard King tried to throw as much as he could, but was in defense mode from the start.

With only two fights over the last four years, the Wild and Blues don’t dance much. Nick Schultz had this, the team’s Nick Schultz vs 12/17/2007 latest fight this week. He took on Bourque as a message- Win: Bourque Rene Bourque (CGY) sender, but was wildly mismatched and was thrown around wildly by Bourque St. Louis Blues Rosters General Manager: Larry Pleau Head Coach: Andy Murray and Statistics Asst Coaches: Ray Bennett Volume 4, Issue 16 Issue 16 4, Volume December 20, 2008 2008 20, 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 BCCAN72203L31268-64622:02$2,500,000 7Keith Tkachuk C Mar 28 '72 Melrose MA USA 74 232 L 31 12 9 21 -7 33 18:16 $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 '77LeesburgFLUSA72187R14000-61710:50$1,000,000 15 Brad Winchester LMar 01 '81MadisonWIUSA77228L13314-53212:07$600,000 18 Jay McClement CMar 02 '83KingstonONCAN73201L31189-61516:42$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 32 3 7 10 -5 8 16:22 $1,700,000 21 Patrik Berglund C Jun 02 '88 Vesteras SWE 76 187 L Y 26 10 10 20 10 4 15:46 $850,000 22 Brad Boyes R Apr 17 '82 ON CAN 72 195 R 31 16 14 30 -19 12 19:42 $2,500,000 25 Yan Stastny C Sep 30 '82 Quebec City QC CAN 70 191 L 25 1 1 2 -13 20 12:45 $500,000 26 B.J. Crombeen R Jul 10 '85 Denver CO USA 74 212 R Y 30 7 6 13 0 56 10:57 $550,000 28 Carlo Colaiacovo DJan 27 '83TorontoONCAN73200L22167-61217:48$1,400,000 29 Jeff Woywitka D Sep 01 '83 Vermilion AB CAN 74 217 L 17 0 4 4 0 24 17:07 $725,000 42 David Backes C May 01 '84 Minneapolis MN USA 75 216 R 31 9 7 16 -3 83 17:00 $2,500,000 43 Mike Weaver DMay 02 '78BramaleaONCAN69182R13011-3010:49$700,000 46 Roman Polak DApr 28 '86Ostrava CZE73227R31044-32720:02$475,000 55 Cam Janssen RApr 15 '84St. LouisMOUSA72210R24022-7685:39$550,000 57 David Perron L May 28 '88 Sherbrooke QC CAN 72 180 R 30 2 18 20 0 18 15:33 $875,000 62 Tyson Strachan DOct 30 '84Melfort SKCAN75205RY1000-1215:05$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 79 138 217 -108 529 $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 16 8 5 1 0 3.19 88.9% $2,500,000 50 Chris Mason Apr 20 '76 Red Deer AB CAN 72 195 L 15 3 10 1 1 3.17 90.3% $3,000,000 TOTALS 11 15 2 1 $5,500,000 $48,183,333 Page 14 Page Page 15 Page Minnesota Wild Rosters General Manager: Doug Risebrough Head Coach: Jacques Lemaier and Statistics Assistant Coaches: Mike Ramsey / Mario Tremblay / Matt Shaw Goaltending Coach: Bob Mason

# Player Pos DOB City S/P Ctry Ht Wt S Rk GP G A Pts +/- PIM TOI/G Salary 2Erik Reitz D Jul 29 '82 Detroit MI USA 73 222 R 24 1 1 2 1 34 10:38 $500,000 3 Marek Zidlicky D Feb 03 '77 Most CZE 71 190 R 27 4 10 14 -6 28 22:32 $3,500,000 5 Kim Johnsson D Mar 16 '76 Malmo SWE 73 193 L 31 1 9 10 -3 18 24:27 $5,250,000 8 Brent Burns D Mar 09 '85 Ajax ON CAN 77 219 R 27 5 6 11 -5 27 20:35 $3,000,000 9 Mikko Koivu C Mar 12 '83 Turku FIN 74 200 L 31 11 21 32 5 32 22:08 $3,300,000 10 Marian Gaborik R Feb 14 '82 Trencin SVK 73 199 L 4 2 1 3 2 0 20:48 $7,500,000 11 Owen Nolan R Feb 12 '72 Belfast IRL 73 214 R 17 5 5 10 -1 8 15:24 $2,750,000 12 Craig Weller R Mar 17 '81 AB CAN 76 220 R 15 1 1 2 -1 22 6:36 $575,000 15 Andrew Brunette L Aug 24 '73 Sudbury ON CAN 73 210 L 31 10 10 20 0 10 17:51 $2,500,000 18 Colton Gillies L Feb 12 '89 White Rock BC CAN 76 189 L Y 15 1 3 4 0 8 8:44 $875,000 19 Stephane Veilleux L Nov 16 '81 Saint-Georg QC CAN 72 190 L 31 3 2 5 -9 15 16:04 $862,500 20 Antti Miettinen R Jul 03 '80 Hameenl FIN 72 190 L 31 8 15 23 -2 16 19:10 $2,000,000 22 Cal Clutterbuck R Nov 18 '87 Welland ON CAN 71 213 R Y 27 2 0 2 -4 15 10:15 $557,500 24 Derek Boogaard L Jun 23 '82 SK CAN 80 257 L 28 0 3 3 5 54 4:27 $850,000 25 Eric Belanger C Dec 16 '77 Sherbrooke QC CAN 71 187 L 29 8 10 18 -4 2 18:03 $1,750,000 39 Krystofer Kolanos C Jul 27 '81 Calgary AB CAN 75 206 R 3 1 1 2 1 4 11:06 $500,000 41 Martin Skoula D Oct 28 '79 Litomerice CZE 75 226 L 31 0 2 2 -4 4 19:23 $1,900,000 47 Marc-Andre Bergeron D Oct 13 '80 Trois-Rivières QC CAN 69 198 L 31 3 13 16 -2 18 17:06 $1,691,000 51 James Sheppard C Apr 25 '88 Halifax NS CAN 74 210 L 31 2 5 7 -10 11 15:14 $850,000 55 Nick Schultz D Aug 25 '82 Strasbourg SK CAN 73 200 L 31 0 3 3 2 21 20:34 $3,200,000 67 Benoit Pouliot L Sep 29 '86 Alfred ON CAN 75 199 L Y 31 5 6 11 3 14 11:55 $850,000 96 Pierre-Marc Bouchard C Apr 27 '84 Sherbrooke QC CAN 70 173 L 28 6 8 14 -6 6 16:47 $3,350,000 TOTALS 79 135 214 -38 367 $48,111,000 # Player DOB City S/P Ctry Ht Wt C Rk GP W L OT SO GAA Sv% Salary 29 Josh Harding Jun 18 '84 Regina SK CAN 73 197 R 6 1 3 0 0 2.03 93.3% $750,000 32 Niklas Backstrom Feb 13 '78 Helsinki FIN 73 189 L 27 15 10 2 3 2.25 92.5% $3,100,000 TOTALS 16 13 2 3 $3,850,000 $51,961,000

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 16 Page 16 December 20, 2008 NHL Referee Statistics

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 , 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 1 6 5 0 1 0 3 18 11 1 2 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 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 3 14 12 1 2 0 9 41 31 3 4 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 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 6 2 1 0 0 2 13 8 2 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 31 142 142 11 17 3 487 507 44 53 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. Minnesota Wild; Saturday, December 20, 2008

Referee: ______Referee: ______

Linesman: ______Linesman: ______

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

Wild Wild

Blues Blues

Blues Starting Lineup Goal Scoring

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

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

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

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

Game Notes: Volume 4, Issue 16 Page 18 December 20, 2008

Ask Game Time’s Answer Man

Dear Answer Man, looking belt to go with it. It has to all go together. If you I need some help here. I am starting up a new Rec League name your team The Misfits, you’ll all have to have the same Team and we can’t agree on a name. We voted as a team haircut and possibly bring your equipment into the rink in and decided that we’d have you decide. Yep, our team fate is coffins. Other then that, it shouldn’t be too much. in your hands. Also, I am relatively new to this and I can’t On the flipside of these two, you could go with something decide on what number to wear. How does one go about like the Butterflies or Chrysanthemums. If you do this, you deciding what number to wear? I want something that is have to be a team of thugs. Each player must be at least six cool and will stand out. Lay it out for me, man. foot tall and over 200 pounds (no fatties allowed either). P.S. Any chance you’d want to play for us? With fruity names like that, you have to be a team of complete badasses. You could be like a newjack Broad Street -Scott (Ellisville-MO) Bullies. This will be tough to field a team like this and injuries will mount up. Yo Scott, man I don’t know whether to Back up names to consider are The Skynyrds, Demons be flattered or to rip you a new one and The Blues. Never pick the name The Wild. That is just for being a giant Phruit. You are the ridiculous and insulting to everyone in the league. Captain right? Is this your team? If You just need to decide what your team identity is going to so, you decide and forget about the be. For you, I would recommend The Meat Helicopters. It rest of them. Take the lead, you takes real talent to pull that off (that’s what she said). pussy. Tell your teammates what’s up. Sounds like you need to reach When it comes to picking a number there are a ton of down and grab a pair, dude. variables here. A lot of guys pick the number of the guys they idolize. That’s fine but get these rules set right away. On the flipside I’d love to be Defensemen have numbers two through nine, though power involved. This is always exciting to be in on the ground floor forwards may take a number in the range if they choose. of building a Rec. League dynasty. Naming the team is Goalies get either number one or something between 30 crucial because every team needs an identity. The team through 33. Forwards get 10 to 29. The nerd numbers are identity needs to be a shared image or one that you all want like 27, 29, 23, 15 and 12. Avoid those. to become. You must fully embrace it and if you have anyone who’s not down with that, tell them to hit the road and to The other aspect in all of this is what we call the “look at keep their head up if you ever play against them. me numbers.” Those are numbers like 66, 68, 77, 88 and 99. For obvious reasons, you should never pick these numbers It will depend on what league you are in. Most will have a unless you are a complete stud and can’t be stopped. Very list of names on the internet so you know what names are few of us can pull that off. Lastly, never ever pick number 69. already taken. If it were my team I’d want something strong You look like a complete boob and your teammates will and possibly causes people to take a second look. With that rarely back you up. No one respects someone who wears being said, my first suggestion for your team name is “The number 69. Meat Helicopters.” Yep, that is right. A select few of you reading this have just done a spit take because you know Now go lace ‘em up and win it for The Answer. I almost what a Meat Helicopter is. If you take this as your team forgot, I appreciate the offer but I don’t want to play for a name, be ready to take on some insults about this and you’ll team call The Meat Helicopters. I’m too tough for that. need to have some thick skin, but it will really help your team bond behind a new name. Just think how a team will hate Send your questions on hockey (NHL or rec league), getting beat by The Meat Helicopters. So sweet. Busch beer or any other thing that keeps you awake at night My second would be “The Misfits.” This would get you to: [email protected] and have them easily the coolest logo in league history by using the skull answered here. logo from the band. I doubt you’d run into any copyright issues. With that logo, you need to crank up the evil so you’ll need some good colors to go with it to tie it all in. Like a good fanny pack, you can’t have a great looking fa-pac with a gay

Mess With One Of Us, You Mess With All Of Us. www.stlouisgametime.com G AME TIME Page 19 The Fantasy Files By Duke

Watching the Blues try to play defense against the Capitals Some of my personal favorites from the Plager Invitational, on Thursday night, I started to think that things should’ve however, include “The Penis Machinists” (Gallagher), Pabst started getting better a long time ago. It’s reasonable to Smears (Childhood Trauma), “Weiner Cleaners” (The Answer assume that if someone (the Blues) has been doing something Man, of course), and the ever-elusive “Matt Walker Hat (playing bad defense) for a long time, they should get better… Trick” (GT commenter Tim). right? Wrong. No matter how low my expectations are before When I’m not using the immature name of my column for sitting down to watch a game, I’m still somehow left disap- identification purposes, I’ve got a personal favorite name for pointed by the end of the my fantasy teams. There’s a bit of a story behind it, and it all game. Let’s talk about some- started with buying something on eBay. Don’t judge me; the thing else. statistics say that you’ve probably done it too. Anyways, I was With the Minnesota Wilds checking on a seller’s feedback when I saw something that in town, the topic of team changed my life: a snarky, Inter-web savvy purchaser of names seems to be a good something mundane had a sense of humor about their one. We’re not talking about satisfaction with the purchasing process and left the following senselessly singular profes- feedback. “(Insert item name here) was the final component to sional team names, but the my time machine – see you in the future!!!” Intrigued, I actual names that you and I checked the rest of the feedback that this joker left and they bestow on your fantasy were all formatted similarly. Brilliant. Since then my fantasy teams. teams have been guided to mediocrity under the flag of “My While you can change your Time Machine.” It’s usually accompanied by some sort of tag fantasy team’s name at any line like: “ was the final component to my time Matt Walker and his point in the season, it’s best machine – see you in the future!!!” ever-elusive hat trick for team morale and continu- Other personal favorites of mine that I’ve come across over lends itself to a great ity for the team name to be the years include, but certainly aren’t limited to: “Internet fantasy hockey team consistent from beginning to Tough Guys”, “Hoof Hearted?”, “Fashionable Male” (the name name. end. Your team’s name will of the “classy” men’s store that Ben Affleck’s character manages become its identity. We here in Mallrats), “Victorious Secret”, and the always classy at Game Time are very familiar with identity, considering the “Cincinnati Bow-Ties”, “Cleveland Steamers”, or any other one number of columnists and contributors who use fake names of those sex acts that, while you may understand the content, to protect their very real day jobs. I mean, who’s going to you’d be hard pressed to find a living, breathing person who believe that there’s actually someone out there named Chris would willingly explore it with you. Maybe check Craigslist – Gift? Crazy. you never know. Game Time’s very own Bob Plager Fantasy Hockey The most important thing about naming your team is Invitational is packed full of good names. I just used “The coming up with something that is clever while being at least Fantasy Files” for quick identification purposes, in case mildly insulting at the same time. After all, you more than likely anyone in the league needed to get in touch with me and created the team with the intention of embarrassing someone. didn’t want to dig around the mediocre part of the standings. As with anything else that you might concoct in your With 18 teams in the league, it gets a little confusing. GT imagination, profanity is always – and I mean always – an denizens Pagan and Dooks each took it a step further by effective way to drive home your point. combining identity with originality, resulting in “Pagan Puck Let’s fuckin’ go, Blues! Pounders” and “Dookie Dozen.” Well done. You Wanna Know How I Know… ...Towel Boy Is A Douche?

• The douche I sat next to last year thought he was • His website is www.toweldouche.dik. ‘the coolest.’ • The big blue rat thinks Towel Boy is an annoying • When you catch one of his towels, open it up: it’s gimmick. signed in blood and semen and says, ‘Welcome to • Sybergs agreed to give him a ride on their shuttle Herpes!’ if he promised not to come inside their restaurant. • He still airbrushes shit and he’s not even Mexican. • Kevin Federline thinks he’s pretty douchey. Volume 4, Issue 16 Page 20 December 20, 2008

Tomorrow’s Blues By Brian Weidler

Around The System, Part I years before they get an NHL , that does not seem to be Random thoughts about the Blues’ prospect pool in general. the case for potential impact players (players drafted in the top 100 of their draft class) of North American descent, nor do the Blues have a very good track record of rewarding their Bye-bye, Nikolay: As everyone who regularly reads this top minor-league scoring prospects with NHL callups. More column is surely aware, the Blues’ organization recently lost on those subjects later... a top-notch prospect when Nikolay Lemtyugov (7th round, 219th overall in 2005) decided that the handwriting was on the wall for him in the organization and returned Help Is On The Way For Shorthanded Rivermen: home to Mother Russia earlier this week. While the loss of Lemtyugov has made a big impact on the Peoria roster, the Rivermen will not be shorthanded for long. After seeing less-skilled players get called up ahead of him In the last 48 hours, the Blues returned goaltender Ben time and time again, Lemtyugov apparently lost confidence Bishop, defenseman Jonas Junland, and forward Cam in his ability to ever get a shot with Paddock to the banks of the the Blues. After his sole pre-season Jonathan Illinois River, and swapped a appearance with the Blues, during Filewich will conditional 2010 sixth-round pick training camp, Lemtyugov report- be expected to to the Pittsburgh Penguins for edly told Peoria beat writer Dave fill the gap in prospect forward Jonathan File- Eminian that he felt he wasn’t good Peoria left by wich, who will be reporting to enough to play in the NHL, an the departed Peoria as soon as today. opinion that neither Eminian nor Peoria GM and Blues Director of Nikolay Filewich, a 6’2, 208-pound Pro Scouting Kevin McDonald Lemtyugov. native of Kelowna, British Colum- shared. Stuck in a bia, was the Penguins’ third pick (70th overall) in 2003. A big scorer “He made a decision that is out clogged-up Pittsburgh in junior (121 goals in 321 career of our organization’s hands,” WHL games) and in the AHL (30 system, he McDonald told the Peoria Journal- goals with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Star earlier this week. “He has hopes to crack in 2006-07), the 25-year-old is a NHL skill and was absolutely through with good skater and plays a physical making progress. the Blues. game. In 19 games with W-B/S this “Whatever his frustration was year, Filewich is 2-2-4 with one with the process, we can point to the other second-year PPG, an even plus-minus, and six minutes in penalty time. prospects on the team, and only Chris Porter has played in He made his NHL debut last year with Pittsburgh, going the NHL from that group. We believe it takes a third or pointless with a minus-2 mark in five games. fourth season for most guys to get to the NHL and stay. Of the three returnees to Peoria, Paddock had spent the “We were pleased with Lemtyugov’s progress, as we are most time this season with the Blues. Called up on Nov. 14, with that of Porter, Julian Talbot and teammates in his class. the 194-pound six-footer scored his first NHL goal in his We have to focus on the guys who are staying and work with debut that night against the Blackhawks. In 15 games with them.” the Blues over the last month, Paddock has two goals, an Lemtyugov now joins a list of other skilled European assist, no penalty minutes, and a minus-4. The 25-year-old players -- Alexei Shkotov, Konstantin Zakharov, Carl Vancouver native was a model of consistency, going plus-1 in Söderberg and Tomas Kana -- who chafed at being held two games, minus-1 in five, and was even in the remaining “down on the farm” in the Blues’ organization and opted to eight games. return to their home countries. Kana is the only one of the Bishop has been up and down between Peoria and players on this list who has since returned, and has shuttled St. Louis a couple of times already this year, and has played between Peoria and Alaska as he tries to make up for lost 226 minutes in five appearances with the Blues. Overall, development time. Bishop is 1-1-1 in the NHL, with a respectable 3.19 GAA and A pair of other skilled Russian draft picks, goalie 89.0% save percentage. He and Marek Schwarz shared a Konstantin Barulin (84th overall in 2003) and winger Viktor of the on Oct. 25, a game that Alexandrov (83rd overall in 2004) have yet to attend so Bishop started but left with a groin injury. With the much as a Development Camp or even set foot in North Rivermen, Big Ben is 8-7-0 in 15 games, with a 3.00 GAA America. and 89.4% save percentage. While there is wisdom in McDonald’s stated organiza- First-year pro Junland played one game with the Blues, tional philosophy of developing prospects for at least three (Continued on page 21) G AME TIME Page 21

Selected in the first round (16th overall) of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by Minnesota, Gillies is an excellent skater that can use his size effectively to be a strong presence in front of the opposition’s net. Like his Hall By Brian Weidler of Fame uncle, Gillies plays a rugged physical game and marries that with an ability to score key goals Colton Gillies when his team needs them.

Shoots: Left In his draft year of 2006-07, Gillies was Height: 6' 4 rated a potential top ten selection by Weight: 189 various scouting services even though he Birthdate: February 12, 1989 managed only 13-17-30 totals and a Birthplace: White Rock, B.C., Canada minus-20 with 148 PIM in 65 games for Saskatoon (WHL). the following season, Gillies upped his goal total to 24 (14 power Thirty years ago, Clark Gillies made a name play goals), and signed with Minnesota in for himself as a big, physical, grinding winger who March of 2007, finishing the season in Houston could also chip in a big goal when needed. Gillies was (AHL) with 1-7-8 totals in 11 games. an integral part of the New York Islander dynasty that won four Stanley Cups, and in a new era, nephew Colton Gillies hopes to carry on the family tradition In 14 games with the Wild this season, Gillies is 0-3-3 in “The State Of Hockey” with the Wild. with a minus-1 mark and six minutes in penalty time.

We Dare You To Find Better Prospect Info. That’s Right, Dare You. St. Louis Game Time

Tomorrow’s Blues (continued)

(Continued from page 20) in a losing effort. Holt is 2-2-0 in that span, with a 1.26 GAA, a 94.4% save percentage, and a shutout of the Rochester Thursday’s 4-2 loss to the , in which he Americans on Dec. 12. For the season, Holt is 4-2-0 with a 1.51 scored no points in 12:28 of ice time, and picked up a third- GAA and a 93.4% save percentage, the best numbers in the period tripping penalty. With Peoria, Junland has six goals Blues' prospect goaltending stable this year by a wide margin. (4 PPG, 2 SHG) and 13 points in 22 games, with 12 minutes in penalty time and a plus-2 mark. His 13 points lead all Rivermen blueliners, and rank him 23rd in the AHL in Next time in ‘Tomorrow’s Blues,’ we’ll take a more in-depth defenseman scoring. look at the Blues’ history with scoring talent on the minor-league clubs, and also review the seasons to date of the Paddock and Junland both played Friday night in Peoria’s six Blues’ prospects who will be appearing in the U-20 World 2-1 home loss to the Iowa Chops. Neither player scored or Junior Championships beginning Dec. 26. Don’t miss it, and chipped in an assist, Paddock picked up a pair of slashing remember... “if we do not prepare for ourselves the role of the minors, and Junland was on the ice for Iowa’s game-winning hammer, there will be nothing left but that of the anvil.” goal at 7:58 of the third period. Chris Holt made his fourth consecutive start in goal for Peoria, and stopped 27 of 29 shots Auf wiedersehen. Volume 4, Issue 16 Page 22 December 20, 2008

Remember Me? By Brad Lee & Chris Gift

Jorgen Pettersson Pettersson made a name for himself as a smooth stickhandler with an Born July 11, 1956 ugly helmet. During his rookie Played for the Blues 1980-85 season, he fell for the Snipe Hunt trick and even believed he was being arrested and prosecuted for Jorgen Pettersson played for six illegally hunting snipes. seasons in the Swedish Elite League before he was convinced to give the After five seasons in St. Louis, North American game a try. To seal Pettersson was traded to Hartford the deal, Blues general manager who’s GM had a soft spot for the Emile Francis traveled to Stock- Swede. It was Francis. Pettersson holm to make sure that Pettersson would go on to play one season in was the real deal and to convince Hartford, one for Washington and him to come to St. Louis, which he then decided to return home to did before the 1980-81 season. Sweden where he would play four Pettersson was told by doubters more seasons before retiring in back home that he would only last 1990-91. During his NHL career, he one season in the NHL before played in 435 games and scored 174 returning home to the style of play he was used to. goals and 192 assists for a total of 366 points. Those predictions missed the mark. In 2002 the Frolunda Hockey Club retired four In 62 games he scored 73 points, a record for first numbers, including Pettersson’s No. 19 that he wore year players in St. Louis. He clicked immediately with during two stints with the team. He still lives in linemates Blake Dunlop and Joe Mullen. He also Sweden and plays hockey with several retired spent some time playing with Brian Sutter and Bernie Frolunda players. Federko. Known as “The Handsome Swede,”

Home of the Phony Tough and the Crazy Brave. www.stlouisgametime.com

You Wanna Know How I Know… That You’re A Wild Fan?

• Always talking about eating bean and rye and going • Can’t believe that people think the dialogue in the to drink some beer and eat nacho while you talk movie “Fargo” is funny at all. Yah. about the four new tire you put on your truck. • Really believe that those yokels in St. Paul are envious • You won’t be fully thawed until July. of you yokels in Minneapolis. • You consider ice-fishing a sport of some sort. • I heard your tire chains coming down the street for • Land of 10,000 lakes and you’ve pissed in all of ‘em. four blocks. That and all the “yah-hoos!” gave you away. • You wash your truck with a North Stars jersey. • Sweet “Walz” jersey. Yah. 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?” 12 / 80.0% skate as starting point.

Puck finishes in skate one St. Louis Game Time place lower than start 3 / 20.0% point. www.stlouisgametime.com

Puck finishes in skate one place higher than start 0 / 0.0% point.

Game Time Gear Top 11 Ways That Derek Boogaard Spends His Day

11. Remembering how to ties his shoes. 10. Using his head to keep his neighbor’s car jacked up while they rotate the tires. 9. Telling people he studies molecular biology. Actually studying the alphabet. 8. Eating a whole live cow. 7. Fleeing the torch-toting townspeople. 6. Using boltcutters to trim his toenails. 5. Looking at some property down under a bridge. Time to get your gear. 4. Getting ‘L’ tattooed on his left hand. 3. Trying to get his fist unstuck from the jar of Any color. Any size. jellybeans. 2. Using his body to count all the way up to 21. 1. Muttering, ‘Boogie bring hockey stick with Boogie Represent. on ice, Boogie brink hockey stick with Boogie on ice…”

From the 12 Fluid Ounces of Gallagher’s Brain StLouisGameTime.com Volume 4, Issue 16 Page 24 December 20, 2008 NHL Standings—We Could Use A Win

Eastern Conference ATLANTIC GP W L OTL PTS GF GA PP% PK% HOME AWAY L10 NY Rangers 35 22 11 2 46 94 91 14.8 90.4 12-6-1 10-5-1 6-4-0 Philadelphia 31 17 8 6 40 107 96 26.6 83.6 10-4-3 7-4-3 6-2-2 New Jersey 30 18 9 3 39 96 80 14.9 79.7 10-5-1 8-4-2 7-2-1 Pittsburgh 31 17 10 4 38 106 90 19.3 81.9 8-4-2 9-6-2 4-5-1 NY Islanders 32 10 19 3 23 81 119 18.8 80.1 5-8-2 5-11-1 1-8-1 NORTHEAST GP W L OTL PTS GF GA PP% PK% HOME AWAY L10 Boston 31 22 5 4 48 114 72 27.0 81.4 12-1-1 10-4-3 8-2-0 Montreal 31 17 9 5 39 92 80 13.7 81.6 10-4-3 7-5-2 5-4-1 Buffalo 32 16 13 3 35 91 90 18.3 88.4 9-8-1 7-5-2 5-5-0 Toronto 31 12 13 6 30 94 109 20.7 75.2 6-5-4 6-8-2 5-4-1 Ottawa 30 11 14 5 27 68 79 16.7 83.6 8-6-3 3-8-2 4-5-1 SOUTHEAST GP W L OTL PTS GF GA PP% PK% HOME AWAY L10 Washington 33 20 10 3 43 107 95 23.2 80.2 13-1-1 7-9-2 7-3-0 Carolina 32 15 12 5 35 83 95 14.5 79.5 9-8-1 6-4-4 4-3-3 Florida 31 14 13 4 32 76 85 14.3 82.0 6-4-2 8-9-2 6-2-2 Atlanta 31 10 17 4 24 91 114 19.4 71.5 5-8-2 5-9-2 2-6-2 Tampa Bay 317159 23 69 97 13.9 80.5 3-6-6 4-9-3 1-7-2 Western Conference CENTRAL GP W L OTL PTS GF GA PP% PK% HOME AWAY L10 Detroit 31 21 6 4 46 113 93 27.3 80.2 10-3-2 11-3-2 7-3-0 Chicago 30 17 6 7 41 111 81 24.0 83.9 10-1-4 7-5-3 7-2-1 Nashville 31 15 13 3 33 83 92 13.4 81.3 8-4-1 7-9-2 5-4-1 Columbus 32 14 14 4 32 89 98 10.3 79.9 10-5-1 4-9-3 5-4-1 St.Louis 31 12 16 3 27 89 106 22.5 81.0 7-6-2 5-10-1 3-6-1 NORTHWEST GP W L OTL PTS GF GA PP% PK% HOME AWAY L10 Calgary 33 18 11 4 40 97 99 18.7 85.5 9-4-3 9-7-1 5-2-3 Vancouver 32 18 11 3 39 98 83 18.6 83.1 9-3-1 9-8-2 4-5-1 Minnesota 31 16 13 2 34 82 70 23.8 88.7 9-6-2 7-7-0 3-6-1 Colorado 32 16 15 1 33 88 93 15.7 80.2 8-6-0 8-9-1 6-3-1 Edmonton 31 14 14 3 31 83 96 18.3 73.5 4-5-3 10-9-0 5-4-1 PACIFIC GP W L OTL PTS GF GA PP% PK% HOME AWAY L10 San Jose 32 25 4 3 53 113 78 21.9 85.6 16-0-2 9-4-1 7-1-2 Anaheim 33 18 12 3 39 94 90 18.9 81.5 10-7-2 8-5-1 6-4-0 Phoenix 32 15 13 4 34 84 91 14.4 81.7 10-4-2 5-9-2 5-3-2 32 13 13 6 32 83 92 19.0 82.7 10-6-6 3-7-0 3-4-3 Dallas 31 13 14 4 30 86 108 13.8 77.5 7-5-3 6-9-1 6-4-0 Like Holding A Little Piece Of Punk Rock In Your Hand. St. Louis Game Time 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 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 16 Page 26 December 20, 2008

Hoping For A Wild One (continued)

(Continued from page 1) that. categories. He’s scored one goal and The Wild in town tonight is only the two assists in his last five games. For Midwest immediately after the loss in tip of the iceberg when it comes to how Minnesota to be competitive, Koivu will Washington. “We have to play perfect difficult the schedule appears in the have to keep his scoring at nearly a hockey. We were good, but we weren’t near term for the last place in the point a game pace. perfect and good won’t cut it in this Western Conference Blues. The red hot Gaborik scored a goal and an assist game.” Bruins come calling Sunday. Then the last night in his first game after missing Put those lines through the GM Blues play at Detroit before hosting the 27 with a lower body injury, allegedly a Translator 2000EZ and this is what Sharks, Ducks and Devils. It’s conceiv- yeast infection. So far this season Murray was really saying: “If we allow able the Blues could have a 10-game Gaborik has been healthy enough to more than a goal or two, we have no losing streak as we change the calendar skate in four games. He has two goals chance to win. We’re lucky to get the to 2009. Joy to the world! and an assist. An unrestricted free puck into the offensive zone without agent after the season, the 26 year old turning it over. We don’t have a very What does Davidson mean Slovak has balked at signing an exten- good power play. Don’t talk to me about by “good won’t cut it”? sion with Minnesota and seems to want playing at even strength. Our goaltend- to test the open market. With the econ- ing hasn’t been good enough to Let’s run it through the GM omy continuing to do a nose dive and dominate a game and steal a victory. I Translator 2000EZ. his health a constant question, he might have no idea who’s going to play on a want to reconsider that game plan. line after the first faceoff. And if I keep The Wild skated last night on home Antti Miettinen has a difficult name talking about having to play perfect and ice and enjoyed a 4-1 win over the to spell. Good thing for him he’s on saying we played well, maybe people hapless . Minnesota pace to have a career year. His 23 will forget how we didn’t have a chance is 3-6-1 in its last 10 games. The Wild points puts him on pace to out perform tonight.” suffered through a five-game losing his 34-point output last season. In his What these injuries really means is streak of their own before an overtime fifth season in the league, the 28-year- that Andy Murray’s going to get a loss to the Flames Wednesday and then old Finn is emerging as a scoring threat mulligan on this season. Toe Blake the win from the charitable Islanders. on a team lacking in consistent scoring couldn’t coax winning hockey out of With a record of 16-13-2, the Wild are threats. falling behind in the Northwest this collection of players. The worst Andrew Brunette is the only player part for fans is that with the injury Division race with Calgary and Vancou- ver leading them in the standings. In besides Koivu who has double digits in problems, it seems likely we won’t see goals and assists on the season. At age what this team was capable of. In the the self-proclaimed State of Hockey, tensions are running high. 35, he’s definitely on the downward early weeks of the season there was slope, but he likes to play St. Louis. In potential. The power play was red hot, In the last meeting between St. Louis 37 career games against the Blues he’s the youngsters were showing extreme and Minnesota, the Wild were coming scored six goals and 20 assists. promise; the veterans were leading the off one of their worst defensive way. All that is gone, drowned in the performances in recent team history Owen Nolan is still in the league. whirlpool of the training room, suffo- with a 6-5 loss to Colorado. They placed Who knew? cated by walking casts and athletic tape. an obvious emphasis on defense and Niklas Backstrom has tremendous The Blues made a few roster moves shut the Blues out 4-0. That wasn’t very numbers, but any goaltender behind Friday. The Swedish Junland won’t be indicative of how the Wild were playing this defense-first team would. He seeing his second NHL game soon as he at the time – they lost their next five probably can’t wait to see the Blues also hopped the Peoria Shuttle with games. So the Wild are probably licking again giving him one of his three Bishop and Cam Paddock. They traded their chops with another chance at the shutouts on the season. for Jonathan Filewich, a minor league Blues. The Wild are a tough team, even forward from the Penguins organiza- Captain Mikko Koivu has assumed when they’re struggling. The Blues tion. He will report to Peoria, replacing the mantle of “Best Minnesota Wild really need a win tonight during a some Russian dude who fled back to the Player” from the oft-injured, much difficult part of the schedule. If they get Motherland because he missed his maligned with trade rumors Marian blown out of the building tonight, look borsht and strong vodka, apparently. Gaborik. Koivu, at one time a shootout out. You never know where this team Well that and the fact that he never got specialist and little more, has 32 points could land when the fall ends. That’s’ a sniff of the NHL while Winchester is in 31 games played. His 11 goals and 21 about as optimistic as I can be. Let’s Go seeing power play time. OK, I can see assists lead the Wild in both scoring Blues! G AME TIME Page 27 Game Time Bingo!

Someone in your Cotton Eyed Joe guy A goal is scored in Someone in your Red Berenson section vehemently wearing his jersey with the first two section never stops Cowboy reveling in dislikes Eric Jay McKee’s name and minutes of any playing with their success of Operation Brewer. TJ Oshie’s number. period. phone. Table Move 2008.

We Want Blizzards Another $200 stick Starting to worry Still not motivated Cam Janssen shows still not as good as breaks at the worst about Manny enough to vote for us his tits. We Want Tacos. possible time. Legace again. the All-Star game.

The Maple Leafs Sec. 307 really Yan Stastny playing Dancing Kid needs twins helping you Mite game ends in wants to see like Dan Hinote to expand his forget Stempniak. a tie. Sorta. Towel Boy jump. used to play. repertoire.

Angelllla can’t decide Fight! Colaiacovo making whether she’d rather Patrik Berglund Air Horn Guy kinda that No. 28 look Fight! be picked on by GT gets another point. fucking it up. better than Matt or left out of GT. Fight! Walker did.

You love Boyes. Someone gets their Hear at least two Barret Jackman Tkachuk works on Not that there’s copy of GT on the ‘Slap Shot’ builds on his defense- shaking off the anything wrong Jumbotron. references. leading 8 points. ‘Mr. October’ tag. with that.

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

From The Editor (continued)

(Continued from page 2) Look at our future Blues teams: Patrik Berglund, , TJ Oshie, Aaron Palushaj, Son of McRae, David Perron, Erik always made sure that his team drafted at least one goalie from Johnson, Alex Pietrangelo, Ian Cole, Jonas Junland and so the QMJHL every single draft year. Not in the first or second many others that have the opportunity in front of them. round necessarily, but at least one a year. Those kids, the rea- Are you totally confident that Ben Bishop or Marek Schwarz soning went, play in a very offense-oriented league and see lots can step up and be the right final piece to that puzzle? I don’t of shots every game. They also usually play against a lot of the know that I am. I wonder if the Blues are. premier snipers in the junior ranks. It hardens them. It makes them more prepared for type of shelling they’ll see in the NHL. Seems like solid advice to me. -Sean “goalies are like beer: it’s hardly ever a It’s so hard to determine the quality of a goalie when he’s 18, problem to have too many good ones” Gallagher so you just grab a bunch of them. Mass quantities increases the odds you’ll get a couple of quality when you need them. St. Louis Game Time

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