Blues Trades

I have really been getting behind on my posting. This is a week late, but deal with it.

Along with many other Blues fans, I was anxiously awaiting the trade deadline. After what happened last season, it freaked me out that we might deal away some awesome players just for a last-ditch effort to make it to the playoffs. Thankfully, nothing like that happened - at least in my opinion.

We signed Barret Jackman to another few years. I see this as money well-spent. Granted, he hasn't been as influential this season as he has been in the past, but everyone has a bad year. Even at his worst, he is still better than most. We traded Bryce Salvador, which is kind of a bummer since he is a veteran Blue and he has been playing well. However, I had been thinking what it would be like if we mixed up the defensive lines a little and this was a good way to test my theories. I'm not even dwelling on the trade of Christian Backman because I don't care. I have not been impressed with him this season and have seen him make more errors than plays. No offense to him, but I am glad to see him go.

The addition of Cam Janssen really psyches me up. He is a homegrown boy from Eureka, MO, who grew up watching the Blues play. Now he has the honor of wearing the Blue note himself. He is a physical player, something the Blues need. We have good ol' King Kong (D.J. King), who I will deem as Basher Brother #1, and now we have Janssen, Basher Brother #2. (Those who have seen "The Mighty Ducks 2" know what I am referencing.) True, we could use some scoring power, but Janssen's aggressiveness can clear traffic in front of the net and open the lanes for playmakers such as Kariya and Boyes. I see the addition of Janssen as nothing but positive. He seems like a genuinely good guy who is excited to be here. And I, for one, am excited to have him.

P.S. Anyone know if Janssen is single? (Ha.) (Seriously, though.)

Goaltending Saved the Blues

St. Louis Blues goaltender Manny Legace has been the Blues’ saving grace this season. With a struggling offensive line, defense and strong goaltending have become the Blues’ safety net. Legace, 35 years old, is playing in his ninth NHL season. This is Legace’s second season with the Blues, having signed him as a free agent in 2006 after a long stint with the Detroit Red Wings. Despite the Blues’ current losing streak, Legace has remained tough in goal. This season he was named to his first NHL All-Star game, an accomplishment that was long overdue.

Legace has played in 54 games for the Blues this season and is posting a 23-20-7 record. However, goaltending is not the problem for the Blues. Currently, Legace ranks eighth in the NHL with a 2.29 save percentage and is tied for fifth in the NHL with four shutouts.

Legace broke the Blues’ record for most consecutive shutout minutes on January 8 in the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. During the 1988-1989 season, Greg Millen held the record of 184 minutes, 47 seconds. Legace smashed Millen’s time with 186 minutes, 15 seconds. In addition, he has 22 shutouts in his career. He has been named NHL’s Star of the Week twice in a little over a month. The first time was after posting two shutouts in three games for the week ending January 6. The second time was for the week ending February 17 after stopping 124 of 130 shots.

Legace holds a very impressive career record. In his 296 games played, 160 of those were wins and 78 were losses. With statistics like that, one would expect him to have a large ego. The truth is that Legace is humble and quick to bestow the praise on his teammates. His favorite hobby is riding his Harley Davidson around the neighborhood where he and his wife are renovating a house. Legace is also a spokesman for the Judson Center, a facility that meets the needs of children who are living a life of abuse and neglect.

The Blues have been missing a solid back-up goalie, so when a bad case of the flu ripped through the Blues’ locker room and hit Legace, the team was worried. But because he has such a strong dedication to his team, he braved the flu and manned the pipes. It is that strength and determination which truly makes Manny Legace the all-star that Blues fans know and love.

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

The NHL All-Star Break seems to have done the Blues some good. It was a rough few days without the men in action, but they pulled out the stops for their first game back. The boys won 3-2 against the Toronto Maple Leafs after their hockey-less days. Hanging onto that momentum, they pulled out a 1-0 shutout against reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. I must say, that was a phenomenal victory. I had the privilege of being at that game and the energy was invigorating. It was one of the most exciting games I have ever attended and also the first shootout I have witnessed in person. Unfortunately, they broke the (short) winning streak and suffered a tough 6-4 loss on Saturday against Coach Q’s Colorado Avalanche.

Coach Andy Murray is switching up Barret Jackman’s defensive line since Jackman’s defensive partner, Christian Backman, has been placed on the injured reserve with a cracked left foot. He is expected to be out for 1-2 weeks. As terrible as it sounds, I see this as a good thing. I have not been impressed with Backman this season and I think that it is time for one of our many good defensemen to have a shot. (No pun intended.) It was announced that the Blues have recalled Jeff Woywitka from the Peoria Rivermen to take Backman’s place. This thrills me because I am a huge Woywitka fan. (And no, it is not just because of his fun name.) (Even though it is pretty cool.) I have liked Woywitka’s game play in previous Blues’ seasons and I think he will bring a fresh energy to the team. He has almost three times as many points with the Rivermen as Backman has for the Blues. Plus, Woywitka will have something to prove and a possible position as an NHL defenseman for which to strive.

Another point I would like to discuss is Manny Legace. I know I mention Legace a lot – okay, in almost every post – but I think he deserves all the credit he can get. Granted, his game on Saturday was far from stellar, but he did play back-to-back games – something that is not usually done to goaltenders. Toivonen could have easily been placed between the pipes, but because of Legace’s outstanding record against Colorado, it was an obvious decision for Murray to go with Legace. Since the Colorado game was disheartening, I am choosing not to dwell on it and am instead going to focus on Legace’s bad-assness that was showcased on Friday night against the Ducks. He blocked all 30 shots he faced, plus two shots in the shootout. If it wasn’t for Legace, the Blues could have easily lost the game. Legace presented his near acrobatic goaltending skills with fluidity, proving why he was chosen to play in the NHL All-Star game. To have the presence of mind to wrap his puck-laden glove around the goalpost as he is being shoved into the net, preventing the puck from ever crossing over, takes an enormous amount of skill. So many times I have watched a game and said, “I can do better than that.” Not that time, my friends. Not that time.

Believe it or not, other sports do exist.

For the first time, I willingly sat down and watched a football game. Yes, I do recognize that there are sports other than hockey that exist. Believe it or not, I do have outside interests. However, football is not one of them. I don’t understand football. I don’t understand the penalties. (How can interference be a penalty? Aren’t you supposed to interfere during a pass?) If you asked me to name five current football players, I would be unable to answer. I only know that Tom Brady is a football player because he is dating Gisele Bundchen, who is a former Victoria’s Secret model, and because he is featured on TMZ.com quite often. Anyway, I watched the entire second half of the Giants-Packers game and listened intently to the commentary in an effort to better educate myself on this popular sport. To my surprise, I actually began to understand what was happening in front of me. It was truly a monumental day.

Even though I got somewhat sucked into the game, I remain a casual observer and nowhere near a football fan. I will still choose a hockey game any day. Football is too slow for me. There is an over-abundance of the stop-and-go and it gives me ADD. The hitting is a thrill, though, I must admit. That is also one of the high points of hockey. Call me a sadist if you must, but a little friendly violence between opposing sports teams brightens my day.

Similar to the NHL’s Winter Classic, it was pretty cool to see the players freezing their asses off in an outdoor game while retaining their physical prowess and skill. Unlike the Winter Classic, though, some of the football players kept their arms bare, which I thought was a stupid move since the temperatures were below freezing. Maybe they were flaunting how tough they were, but if it was me, I would have been out there Brett Favre-style with a hood and face-mask on in between playing time. Either way, I expanded my horizons and learned a little something. Now I might even be able to hold my own in a conversation centralized around football. At least until the Superbowl, anyway.

Free Food, Painful Game

Maybe I spoke too soon in my previous blog and jinxed Manny Legace, although I would like to think that isn’t the case. Maybe this is simply a slump of which the Blues will soon break free. (I like that explanation better because then I am not at fault.) Either way, the past couple of games have been excruciating.

The Blackhawks game on Wednesday was awful. Manny started off strong by making a couple of key saves very early into the first period. I got my hopes up, thinking that we could beat the dreaded ‘Hawks and move even further ahead in the standings. My hopes were soon dashed when a Chicago player barreled into Legace, sending him to the ice in pain. Legace – one of the Blues players that I feel I have an emotional attachment to. Legace – our star player. Even with an injury, he finished the first period and stopped every shot that was taken. My spirits rose and thought this would be a game with a happy ending after all. Poor Marek Schwarz did not follow through on those hopes. I have conflicting feelings on whether or not to blame him. On one hand, he knowingly advanced into the back-up goalie position for an NHL team. He knew there is always a chance he could be placed in goal during a prominent game. Therefore, he should have been mentally ready to goaltend. On the other hand, he has not played in many NHL games and was probably knee-knockingly nervous. There are thousands and thousands of people watching you play. The Chicago coach was most likely telling his players to pound “the new guy” because he is an easy target. Either way, Schwarz did not last long and was moved back to Peoria after losing to the ‘Hawks.

Imagine my joy when it was announced that Legace was alright and would be playing in Saturday’s game against Nashville. Here is our chance to regain our pride! Instead, we lost 5-2 and have lost four straight games. Legace allowed four goals on fifteen shots and was replaced by Toivonen, who we (thankfully) recalled from Peoria. Toiv had played two games while in Peoria and won both of them, thus regaining his confidence from his recent losses with the Blues. Goals from Brad Boyes and Andy MacDonald were the highlights on the Blues’ side.

I hate seeing the Blues suffer like this. I am sure that Andy Murray will be working these guys hard in the next couple of practices, as well he should. We still need to work on our power-play, but I have a feeling I will be saying that for the rest of the season. We still need to work on defense. We still need stronger offense. However, as a die-hard Blues fan, I will weather this storm with the boys because nothing – nothing – can be as bad as it was two years ago.

Blues Goaltending Changes

When I first read that Blues goaltender Hannu Toivonen was sent to the minors, I was pretty upset. I have been a huge fan of Toiv since his debut game for St. Louis. However, the upcoming schedule for the Blues is a fairly light one considering the hell they have been put through for the past few weeks. Starting goalie Manny Legace is very capable of handling this, thereby almost eliminating the need for a solid back-up goalie with plenty of experience. Downgrading Toiv to the Rivermen is a nice way for him to stay fresh. He will have more playing time than he would receive in the NHL and he will get a chance to regain his confidence after suffering major losses in the past couple of games he has played.

Another upside to Toiv being relieved of his back-up goaltending duties (for now) is that Marek Schwarz has an opportunity to gain more experience with the big-timers. Schwarz made his NHL season debut on December 9 in the game against Colorado where he stopped three out of four shots. He has been doing extremely well in his run with the Rivermen. He has a 8-6-2 record, .900 save percentage, and a 2.37 goals-against average. I think it’s time for Schwarz to make a name for himself in the NHL and let hockey fans everywhere recognize that St. Louis is a force to be reckoned with.

With three great goalies for the Blues, it is no wonder that we are posting 50 points. Our offense has burst out of their slump with power. Our defense no longer seems to be sleeping at their posts. We have great players such as Brad Boyes, who is kickin’ it with 25 goals (yeahhh, Boyes!), and Paul Kariya, who is leading the team with 40 points. I have to also mention the two rookies that I have been talking a lot about lately – Erik Johnson and David Perron, both of whom were just named to the NHL YoungStars roster. It has been a long time since I have been this impressed by a Blues rookie, not to mention two of them. St. Louis, you might become a hockey city yet.

Hey, Wanna Hear Me Pee?

The number of students walking around campus while talking on cell phones is comparable to the number of goose droppings on an SIUE walkway. Whether in crowded hallways, a classroom prior to a lecture, or inside of an office, cell phone usage around campus is at an all-time high. People are so obsessed with staying connected that they talk on their cell phones everywhere, even in the bathroom. Who is so important that a person needs to talk with him or her while going to the bathroom? More importantly, who wants to talk with someone while he or she is going to the bathroom? Cell phone speakers are powerful enough now that they can pick up the smallest inkling of sound. Toilets flushing, faucets running, and various other “bathroom noises” are not quiet in nature, especially with a mass of students doing the same thing at the same time.

It is also disturbing for those who are going to the bathroom. When committing the act, a person enjoys envisioning said self in a private bubble. There is nobody overhearing anything that is being done. However, when a person is chit-chatting loudly on a cell phone, it is difficult to imagine the bubble that allows sound neither in nor out of the sitting space.

Also, think of the sanitary issues. Unless a person does not touch the phone after completing the deed, unwashed hands that are full of germs are placed onto the phone. That germ-filled phone is the same phone that is near the person’s face while he or she is speaking. If the person’s mouth touches the phone, those germs are now in the person’s mouth, about to infect the person full of only God knows what. Congratulations! Thanks to the compulsive need for social interaction, thousands of possible viruses are ready to commit the infection.

While goose droppings are fairly easy to avoid, habitual cell phone users are significantly more bothersome. Before one engages in meaningless conversation while on the toilet, think of the other people who are in the bathroom and of the person on the other end of the phone. Believe me, nobody wants to hear that.

Blues Buzz

Less than a week after St. Louis was named Hockey Future’s number one city for prospects, rookies Erik Johnson and David Perron have been mentioned in the same sentence as the Calder Chase. Both are shoe-ins for a nomination considering their impressive stats. At 6’4”, Johnson is a force to be reckoned with as a first round choice defenseman. In 27 of the games he has played, he has acquired 13 points – pretty impressive for his first season in the NHL. Johnson has a slapshot that, with a few more years of training, could possibly rival that of Al MacInnis. (Yes, I did just say that.) Perron has also played in 27 games and has 15 points to his name, 8 of which are goals and 7 of which are assists. Perron led the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with 39 goals and a plus-minus of 37 in the 2006-2007 season. He is very quick and very smart defensively.

Both of these guys have amazing potential and I give huge props to the St. Louis Blues organization for choosing to keep them in the line-up. The rookies have been the leading force of the team this season, despite the veterans we have. Paul Kariya has been in a scoring drought since the December 29 game in Dallas when he earned his tenth career hat-trick. Andy McDonald earned 5 points for the first game he played as a Blue, but has been out since then. (He did return for last Saturday’s game against Carolina.) Brad Boyes was super hot for a long time, but even he is in a drought now. Johnson and Perron bring a younger, faster energy to the ice – something the Blues desperately need.

The rookies are not the only ones who are smokin’. Blues goaltender Manny Legace has been insanely outstanding this entire season. Sure, he has had his few bad nights, but he always makes up for it in the following game. He earned the recognition he so greatly deserves when he was named NHL’s Player of the Week. Legace recorded two shutouts in three games – one against Detroit, with 31 sweet saves, and one against Carolina, with 27 saves. He currently has a 15-10-2 record, 2.09 goals-against average, .921 save percentage, and 3 shutouts in 29 games. I cannot remember a time when St. Louis had a goaltender as badass as Legace. Even his name is cool.

Dare I say it, I believe the Blues are making themselves a sure thing for the playoffs this year. We missed it by a hair last season and I think we will make up for it in 2008. Here’s to you, St. Louis, for recognizing the potential of our rookies and for honoring Manny Legace in what has surely been his best season ever.

Welcome to St. Louis ...

... here is your ass on a plate.

The Blues (and Manny Legace) recorded their second shutout of the week with a 1-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. It was a big win for the home team considering that the past few home games have resulted in disappointing losses. A round of applause goes out to Stemper for his sweet shot that marked his 50th career goal.

The Blues defense was certainly stronger. I was very impressed with Bryce Salvador and Jamal Mayers, in particular. I thought the Blues power play was going to be much better since the guys had been working on it this week, but there was no change. They remained 0-for-4 despite playing against the team with the worst penalty kill in the league. Congratulations. No wonder our power play is ranked 30th -- or last place -- in the entire NHL. Andy Murray did switch up the PP lines a lot, so if I wanted to rationalize the situation, that would be the way to go.

Despite playing the night before, the 'Canes were on fire, especially during the first period. Having two fights in two seconds off two face-offs didn't hurt, either. DJ King, aka Mr. Likes-To-Fight, is definitely your stereotypical hockey player. I pretty much expect him to give somebody a good beatdown in every game. I was more surprised by Dan Hinote's fisticuffs with Craig Adams. I knew something was going to hit the fan as soon as Hinote dropped the gloves -- the classic sign of upcoming violence. Hot.

I have to give Carolina's Eric Staal credit for being a good player. If the Blues weren't playing opposite Staal, I would like him more. Michael Leighton showed nice skill in the net for the 'Canes, especially since this is only his second NHL start. He sure fooled me from the way he owned the goal. But there ain't no goalie who can outshine Legace. Manny is a hockey god.

Another round of applause goes out to the entire Blues organization for being ranked #1 by Hockey Future. We have a strong group of young guys who are really proving themselves. Rookies can sometimes be overlooked, but the Blues have done a great job of acknowledging how much potential they have. Erik Johnson, David Perron, T.J. Oshie, and Patrik Berglund (who recently received a silver medal at the World Junior Championships in Sweden) are included on the list.

With a final score of 1-0, I bid the Hurricanes "adieu" and a "see you in another six years."

Hockey on New Year's Day? Damn straight.

Unlike most people, my New Year's Day was spent watching hockey on TV. NBC hosted the first-ever outdoor NHL game. It was the Pittsburgh Penguins vs. the Buffalo Sabres. It may seem cliche to say this, but the Winter Classic really was classic. Maybe it was the snow that continued to form on the ice, causing the Zamboni's to work overtime. Maybe it was the sleet that kept pelting the players in their faces, compromising their vision. No matter what it was that made the Winter Classic great, it definitely brightened my New Year's.

Seeing as how I am a die-hard St. Louis Blues fan, it was pretty great for me to watch Sidney Crosby in action without any bias. It was as if the Winter Classic had been mapped out to be the perfect game. Tie score at 1. Hold throughout all 3 periods. Overtime comes and still no score. Holy Grail of all hockey games -- the shootout. (Cue Heavenly songs.) It was fantastic. Sidney Crosby makes the goal and brings Pittsburgh up for a 2-1 win over Buffalo. Crosby is the face of the NHL. The Blues have some amazing young players, but (and it pains me to say this because I hate speaking against my boys) none of them are Crosby. Crosby plays with such a passion and fire, the ice may as well melt underneath his skates. Just watching him dribble the puck on his stick while dodging Sabres was worth watching.

The Winter Classic brought in such high ratings that there is already talk of where the next one will be held. (*Cough* St. Louis *Cough*) Over 71,000 fans were in attendance, despite the frigid temperatures and horrible weather.

The game had a little bit of everything. Fights? Check. Drama? Check. Shootout? Check. Football may be the most popular sport to watch on New Year's Day, but for me nothing beats a good hockey game.

Adventures with Exfoliation, Part Deux

Update: Apparently, exfoliation should not make me want to rip my face off and scream. I visited the Clinique counter to report the ongoing burning sensation that brings tears to my eyes and I was commanded to stop using the exfoliation cleanser immediately. It should tingle, not burn. Burning = allergic reaction. Whoops.