Hockey Guy senses great unrest among Blues fans. The early downturn for the Note sucked much of the preseason optimism from the pucks-loving public.

Daunting road games at Buffalo and Chicago loom on the schedule, giving the team scant opportunity to earn more points on this five-game adventure. The Blues then return home to face the explosive Montreal Canadiens.

But it’s a bit soon to give up on the team and the season. It’s a little early to see veterans Keith Tkachuk and Andy McDonald rank among the top seven of the 25 Players Most Likely to Be Traded Between Now and March 4.

It’s too soon to plan another talent sell-off and prepare for another NHL Draft lottery. Hockey Guy likes what Patrik Berglund has shown lately and Lee Stempniak is back among the living.

We’ll say this, however: Andy Murray must get steadier play from his veteran defensemen or the John Davidson-Larry Pleau-Doug Armstrong management team will have to find alternatives.

Eric Brewer’s minus-10 rating jumps off the statistics sheet — yet it was Jay McKee that was relegated to the No. 7 defensive role in Monday’s practice.

The Blues need to get back-up goaltender Chris Mason playing better. And the simultaneous loss of veteran Paul Kariya and explosive rookie T.J. Oshie put a dent in the offense.

David Checketts tried to help out by wooing Brendan Shanahan, but the big free-agent limited his options to the Rangers (who passed), Flyers. Penguins, Devils, Canadiens and Bruins. As it turned out, the Blues really could have used another forward.

SOME GOOD NEWS FOR THE NOTE

The Hockey News put another young Blues defensive prospect on its weekly “Hot List”:

Ian Cole, D – Notre Dame Fighting Irish (CCHA): The U.S. NTDP product is putting up impressive numbers from the back end so far, totaling eight points in nine games for the Irish. That’s basically double what he did as a freshman. Drafted 18th overall by St. Louis in 2007.

AROUND THE RINKS: Blues goaltender injuries left Jean-Philippe Lamoureux very busy. With Chris Holt up to Peoria. St. Louis and back to the Peoria, Lamoureaux became an ironman for the Alaska Aces of the ECHL. He allowed just five goals in a five-game span for a 0.98 goals-against average and .966 save percentage. Currently, the Blues have Holt, Ben Bishop and Marek Schwarz all playing for Peoria . . . Also excelling at Alaska is former Blues prospect Colin Hemingway, a 41-goal scorer last season for the Edinburgh Capitals in the United Kingdom . . . Slovakian cohorts Lubos Bartecko and Jaroslav Obsut, two former Blues prospects, are enjoying strong seasons for Lulea in the Swedish Elite League . . . If you want to see Gary Bettman prattle on about the state of the game, check out the Puck Daddy blog . . . Roberto Luongo is making his bid for the Vezina Trophy, now that a torn biceps muscle sidelined Martin Brodeur for a big chunk of the season . . . Canadiens forward Tom Kostopolous was profusely apologetic about blasting former Blues defenseman Mike Van Ryn face first into the boards. Van Ryn, now a Maple Leaf, could miss at least a month with a severe concussion. Kostopolous got a three-game NHL suspension.