Know Your Enemy: The St. Louis Defense
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 13, 2009 10:05 AM PDT
in NHL Playoffs
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Over the next few days Sean and I will do our best to help you learn more about our friends in St. Louis (probably more then you ever cared to) so you'll have some perspective on the names you'll hear and how they stack up against the Vancouver ranks. I'll roll these up into a comprehensive series preview before the drop of the puck on Wednesday.
Just two days to go...screw Christmas, this really is the best time of the year.
In the meantime, let's take a look at the St. Louis blueline:
St. Louis Pairings (based on EV stats from the last game)
Barret Jackman - Roman Polak
Carlo Colaiacovo - Mike Weaver
Jay McKee - Jeff Woywitka
We all know by now that part of what made the Blue's improbable run towards sixth place so impressive was they did it while suffering a slew of injuries, notably on the blueline to Eric Brewer and Erik Johnson. Brewer, part of the post-lockout Pronger deal, suffered a shoulder injury during a fight in the first game of the year. He's out all season following reconstructive surgery.
Johnson, the first overall pick of the 2006 draft (the same year we took Grabner at 14th) has an even better story: his right foot was caught between the accelerator and brake pedal of a golf cart at a team outing in September. This Mensa candidate has been out all season as well.
That leaves the following to patrol the blueline for St. Louis:
A first round pick from 1999, Jackman is a combination of Ohlund and Mitchell. He can score, but better known for being a big guy who can deliver the huge hits. He's one of those blueliners who's not a pleasure to play against. He also has a history of shoulder injuries while others have questioned aloud what effect this hit will have on him long term healthwise. I don't put a bunch of faith in that: he's their rock who will eat up a ton of minutes, shadow (I'd assume) Sundin, Kesler or one the Sedins and will get plenty of time when they go short handed.
A 6th round pick from 2004, Polak is a decent-sized defensemen who is in his third year with the Blues and has career highs in points and assists this season. He and Jackman serve as good shutdown guys against the opposition's top lines. He reminds me a bit of a bigger Krajicek with a bit less of an offensive upside. Nothing spectacular, but gets the job done in his end of the rink.
I don't think these two teams have enough Toronto castaways; it'll be a mini reunion if Colaiacovo has to line up across from Sundin or Wellwood. Colaiacovo was brought over in a trade (along with Alex Steen) for Lee Stempniak back in November. Since then he's had a career year in points, 19 of which have been on the powerplay (which you should have you concerned Vancouver fans) and leads their defense in points. Such things are invaluable to a team beset with blueline injuries and the SLGT guys nominated him, not surprisingly, as their best defenseman of the year.
Weaver was Vancouver's reserve defenseman last year and played the same role with the Blues this year. Though with the injuries, he's received far more icetime then what he was probably originally slated for. We know little Mike; he's not getting on the scoresheet but plays responsibly in his own end. If he ends up on the ice against Vancouver's second or third lines, he'll have some considerably larger bodies (Sundin, Bernier, Pyatt) to contend with down in the corners but he's been dealing with that his whole career.
Another part of the post lockout Pronger deal, Woywitka was drafted in the first round by the Flyers back in 2001. He's another guy having a career year for St. Louis and is a fixture on the power play as well. He sounds like a jack of all trades, an all-around type of defenseman.
After a century or so in Buffalo, McKee joined St. Louis three years ago and plays similar to Mitchell or Vaananen in terms of being a shutdown, stay-at-home player. He's huge (6'4''), will knock people around and is definitely a guy you'll see when the Blues go short handed. Along with Jackman, this is a guy we'll learn to hate as the series goes on.
By The Numbers
2008-09 Shots
STL Blueliners - 462
VAN Blueliners - 691
2008-09 Points
STL Blueliners - 110
VAN Blueliners - 166
2008-09 Fights
STL Blueliners - 9
VAN Blueliners - 22
2008-09 PIMs
STL Blueliners - 317
VAN Blueliners - 594
2008-09 Blocked Shots
STL Blueliners - 737
VAN Blueliners - 566
2008-09 Giveaways
STL Blueliners - 194
VAN Blueliners - 308
2008-09 Takeaways
STL Blueliners - 132
VAN Blueliners - 175
2008-09 Hits
STL Blueliners - 485
VAN Blueliners - 580
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Well he’s going to have 4 losses in the next 2 weeks.
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 13, 2009 5:38 PM PDT up reply actions
coming from a blue note fan
saying jackman can score is probably the funniest joke i’ve heard in 2009. He is lucky if he can hit the net. I believe 2 of his 4 goals were empty netters and he seems to only be able to hit the net from 100 feet out. The numbers look to favor vancouver, but I agree with a lot of your analysis when you said that a lot of what a couple of the blues blue-liners do won’t show up on the stat sheet. Weaver and Mckee have been our best 2 d-men these past 10 games and I hope for that to continue. Well here’s to a good series and let’s show the NHL why these two teams are the best right now in the league.
After 5 No-Dozes I feel great.. only except that i can hear my ears.. and I believe that toenails are the funniest thing I have ever seen.
Come Root on the blues at
www.stlouisgametime.com
I always wished we had kept Weaver. Great physical and reliable guy.
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 13, 2009 4:09 PM PDT up reply actions
@MSUBluenoter – I hear you on Jackman’s offensive upside. That’s why I said he was like Mitchell…neither should be scoring. But even Mitchell somehow has been finding his way on the scoresheet this year even though that’s not what’s paid for. Like Jackman, they’re on the roster to frustrate and shutdown the top guys on the other team.
Truthfully I wrote this piece (and the upcoming forwards one) as much for me as for the rest of the Vancouver fans. We just don’t know you guys enough to realize who does what well and who doesn’t. Plus adding those numbers was really telling. If you go straight by them, you guys are far more disciplined and able to go into shutdown mode far more than Vancouver (reminds me actually of Van’s D back in 2007 when we had the #1 PK…alas). Keeping you guys off the PK, but activating the D will be pretty key.
But there’s little doubt…whichever team wins this series will be hellish for the remaining three three other teams. Should be a lot of fun.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 13, 2009 4:45 PM PDT up reply actions
Sorry I meant keeping you off the PP…but feel free to go on the PK!
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 13, 2009 4:46 PM PDT up reply actions
And remember, teams that beat the Canucks have a tendency of making it to the Finals
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 13, 2009 5:38 PM PDT up reply actions
as well as beating the blues.. lol
After 5 No-Dozes I feel great.. only except that i can hear my ears.. and I believe that toenails are the funniest thing I have ever seen.
Come Root on the blues at
www.stlouisgametime.com
by MSUBluenoter on Apr 13, 2009 6:54 PM PDT up reply actions
@Yankee Canuck
I hear ya and I think this is a great thread an a compelling read.. I think that the blue lines for both teams are going to be almost an x factor to this series. Who is able to shut down the other teams goal scorers. I was there for the Vancouver vs St. Louis game about three weeks ago when oshie put that puck by Luongo and I do remember that both teams defense had some trouble with slowing down the forwards. This will be a hellaciously epic series and who ever wins it is going to make some serious noise in the western conference. And who ever wins the west will win it all
After 5 No-Dozes I feel great.. only except that i can hear my ears.. and I believe that toenails are the funniest thing I have ever seen.
Come Root on the blues at
www.stlouisgametime.com
by MSUBluenoter on Apr 13, 2009 6:57 PM PDT up reply actions
Man that game you were at was a car wreck (for us). Zanstorm, I and the rest of us here doing the gamethread kept saying how much quicker and more hungry the Blues were than the Canucks all night long. That’s precisely the type of tempo we don’t want to see on Wednesday but it’ll be tough for you guys to have that on the road & on the opening night of the playoffs.
But then there’s game three and four…
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 13, 2009 7:34 PM PDT up reply actions
Do your homework.
6 of the blues last 7 games were on the road, and were in do-or-die position almost every one of them..
Whatever it takes?
Blues in 5 games
With the steam rolling Blues taking on a fish that belongs only in Canada or a radioactive waste dump, many questions arise mostly when you are knocked out of the first round will you A. Turn to the Blue side B. Watch Baseball or C. Crawl back in the hole you came from and heibernate for 5 months till your Canuckers can take another step back in the doo doo they were spawned from. Oh yeah and stemcells shouldn’t have been crossed with Adam Oates and Brett Hull to make the Sedin twins (I still think they’re the same guy)
Quite the sense of humor from these Blues fans hey?
A. It’s a good thing you’re typing because if you were speaking I wouldn’t be able to understand what the hell you’re saying because of your lack of front teeth.
B. When the Canucks win, how about all you inbred idiots hang yourselves from that Arch. I’ll take pictures!
C. Watch baseball? Most Canadians are smart enough not to watch that snoozer of a sport.
No, we rebuild our igloos and take the sled dogs for a ride to the supermarket.
D. The Sedins exchange heads for Xmas. What’s your fucking point?
LMAO
I enjoyed that but I had to reply
A. I have all my front teeth.. only lost one back one to a cd case.
B. It would take a helluva climb to hang yourself from the arch…
C.I agree baseball sucks as a sport… but I will fight you over the cardinals lol
D. You might have the Sedins but we have the Pahty Statah (Berg)
So get out the zamboni this series aint gonna take long. Blues in 5 after you sneak in a win in game 4.
After 5 No-Dozes I feel great.. only except that i can hear my ears.. and I believe that toenails are the funniest thing I have ever seen.
Come Root on the blues at
www.stlouisgametime.com
by MSUBluenoter on Apr 13, 2009 7:02 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh god. Now I know you have no taste! John Cena? C’mon!
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 13, 2009 8:16 PM PDT up reply actions
I'll see your fat man
and raise you…whoever the hell this is:
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 13, 2009 7:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Sean, don’t you think those Missourians are getting more and more tasteless?
We are all Canucks.
by Chinese Canuck on Apr 13, 2009 8:30 PM PDT up reply actions
Really?
You want to have a battle of playmates? You guys should choose your battles more wisely. Sure, pick on Hinote’s wife if you want, but you can’t counter that with some random bitch.
Here you go. Win goes to team USA. Game over.
Whatever it takes?
That’s no random biznatch. That’s Sundin’s woman.
JoMilla, you have anger issues? Want a hug?
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 13, 2009 9:04 PM PDT up reply actions
oh god
I look hot! Jesus man!
Nice work!
You will pay for this treachery! (After I stop laughing)
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 13, 2009 11:43 PM PDT up reply actions
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