Reilly
11-02-2005, 03:32 AM
Chicago Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) (3-9-0) at St. Louis Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) (2-7-2).
TIME: Wednesday, 8 p.m. EST.
Many teams complain about difficult early season schedules. The Chicago Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) have them all beat.
Following three straight losses to league-leading Detroit, the Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) should be happy to see the St. Louis Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) when the teams with the league's worst records meet at the Savvis Center.
Already struggling to become familiar with a first-year coach and several new players, the Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) had the misfortune of facing the Red Wings (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66304) in three straight games, all resulting in losses.
Chicago lost the first meeting 5-2 on the road on Thursday, suffered a 4-2 home loss two days later and was a 4-1 loser at Detroit on Tuesday.
"Detroit takes advantage of our mistakes," Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) rookie coach Trent Yawney said. "If it's one thing we're lacking, its not finishing off the (opponents') mistakes."
The Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303), losers of four straight and six of seven, did get some good news Tuesday with the return of center Tuomo Ruutu (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/342719), who missed six games with a sore back.
While nobody considered the Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) to be as good as the Red Wings (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66304) this season, the signing of goalie Nikolai Khabibulin (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66791) and several other free agents figured to at least help them close the gap.
The three games, however, proved the Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) have a long way to go be considered anywhere near the same class as the Red Wings (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66304), who have won nine straight and 12 of 13 games this season.
The Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318), clearly in rebuilding mode, have won just two of their first 11 games (2-7-2) and are tied for the fewest points in the league with the Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303).
St. Louis completed a three-game road trip Saturday with its fifth straight loss, 5-2 at Los Angeles.
Petr Cajanek (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/105473) and Jay McClement (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/353909) scored for the Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318), who played without left wing Keith Tkachuk (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66757), captain Dallas Drake (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66770), starting goalie Patrick Lalime (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66658) and defenseman Christian Backman (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/105496).
Tkachuk is sidelined with bruised ribs, Lalime missed his second consecutive game with a bruised left knee, Backman will be out at least two weeks with a shoulder injury and Drake will complete a two-game suspension Wednesday.
Top center Doug Weight (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66771) left Saturday's game in the second period because of concussion-like symptoms and will also be out Wednesday.
"We have guys that are capable," Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) forward Jamal Mayers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66768) said. "We can't make excuses. Somebody's got to get the job done."
St. Louis beat Chicago 4-1 on Oct. 11 for one of its two wins this season.
STANDINGS: Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) - 6 points, 4th place (tied), 18 PB, Central Division. Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) - 6 points, 4th place (tied), 18 PB, Central Division.
TEAM LEADERS: Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) - Pavel Vorobiev (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/343469), 5 goals; Tyler Arnason (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/109803), Brent Seabrook (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/341477) and Vorobiev, 7 assists; Vorobiev, 12 points; Matthew Barnaby (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66798), 37 PIM. Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) - Mayers, 5 goals; Cajanek, 9 assists and 11 points; Barret Jackman (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/342753), 22 PIM.
SPECIAL TEAMS (through Oct. 31): Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) - Power play: 13.1 percent (10 for 76), 26th in NHL. Penalty killing: 78.4 percent (69 for 88), 22nd. Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) - Power play: 16.4 percent (11 for 67), 19th. Penalty killing: 80.5 percent (58 for 72), 18th.
GOALTENDERS: Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) - Khabibulin (3-8-0, 0 SO, 3.82 GAA); Craig Anderson (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/343273) (0-1-0, 4.14). Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) - Lalime (2-5-2, 3.60); Reinhard Divis (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/109816) (0-2-0, 4.90).
SEASON SERIES: Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318), 1-0.
LAST MEETING: Oct. 11; Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318), 4-1. At St. Louis, McClement scored his first NHL goal on a penalty shot and Lalime stopped 32 shots to lead the Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) to their first win of the season.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) - 1-6-0 on the road; Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) - 2-4-0 at home.
TIME: Wednesday, 8 p.m. EST.
Many teams complain about difficult early season schedules. The Chicago Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) have them all beat.
Following three straight losses to league-leading Detroit, the Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) should be happy to see the St. Louis Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) when the teams with the league's worst records meet at the Savvis Center.
Already struggling to become familiar with a first-year coach and several new players, the Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) had the misfortune of facing the Red Wings (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66304) in three straight games, all resulting in losses.
Chicago lost the first meeting 5-2 on the road on Thursday, suffered a 4-2 home loss two days later and was a 4-1 loser at Detroit on Tuesday.
"Detroit takes advantage of our mistakes," Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) rookie coach Trent Yawney said. "If it's one thing we're lacking, its not finishing off the (opponents') mistakes."
The Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303), losers of four straight and six of seven, did get some good news Tuesday with the return of center Tuomo Ruutu (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/342719), who missed six games with a sore back.
While nobody considered the Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) to be as good as the Red Wings (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66304) this season, the signing of goalie Nikolai Khabibulin (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66791) and several other free agents figured to at least help them close the gap.
The three games, however, proved the Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) have a long way to go be considered anywhere near the same class as the Red Wings (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66304), who have won nine straight and 12 of 13 games this season.
The Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318), clearly in rebuilding mode, have won just two of their first 11 games (2-7-2) and are tied for the fewest points in the league with the Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303).
St. Louis completed a three-game road trip Saturday with its fifth straight loss, 5-2 at Los Angeles.
Petr Cajanek (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/105473) and Jay McClement (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/353909) scored for the Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318), who played without left wing Keith Tkachuk (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66757), captain Dallas Drake (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66770), starting goalie Patrick Lalime (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66658) and defenseman Christian Backman (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/105496).
Tkachuk is sidelined with bruised ribs, Lalime missed his second consecutive game with a bruised left knee, Backman will be out at least two weeks with a shoulder injury and Drake will complete a two-game suspension Wednesday.
Top center Doug Weight (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66771) left Saturday's game in the second period because of concussion-like symptoms and will also be out Wednesday.
"We have guys that are capable," Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) forward Jamal Mayers (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66768) said. "We can't make excuses. Somebody's got to get the job done."
St. Louis beat Chicago 4-1 on Oct. 11 for one of its two wins this season.
STANDINGS: Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) - 6 points, 4th place (tied), 18 PB, Central Division. Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) - 6 points, 4th place (tied), 18 PB, Central Division.
TEAM LEADERS: Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) - Pavel Vorobiev (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/343469), 5 goals; Tyler Arnason (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/109803), Brent Seabrook (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/341477) and Vorobiev, 7 assists; Vorobiev, 12 points; Matthew Barnaby (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/66798), 37 PIM. Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) - Mayers, 5 goals; Cajanek, 9 assists and 11 points; Barret Jackman (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/342753), 22 PIM.
SPECIAL TEAMS (through Oct. 31): Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) - Power play: 13.1 percent (10 for 76), 26th in NHL. Penalty killing: 78.4 percent (69 for 88), 22nd. Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) - Power play: 16.4 percent (11 for 67), 19th. Penalty killing: 80.5 percent (58 for 72), 18th.
GOALTENDERS: Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) - Khabibulin (3-8-0, 0 SO, 3.82 GAA); Craig Anderson (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/343273) (0-1-0, 4.14). Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) - Lalime (2-5-2, 3.60); Reinhard Divis (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/player/109816) (0-2-0, 4.90).
SEASON SERIES: Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318), 1-0.
LAST MEETING: Oct. 11; Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318), 4-1. At St. Louis, McClement scored his first NHL goal on a penalty shot and Lalime stopped 32 shots to lead the Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) to their first win of the season.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Blackhawks (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66303) - 1-6-0 on the road; Blues (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/team/66318) - 2-4-0 at home.