10.13.2009 3:54 pm
St. Louis Blues look to spark offense by changing lines
The Blues have changed their forward combinations. Whether or not this is what they’ll look like against Phoenix Thursday, I don’t know . . . but here’s what they’ve been showing in practice the last two days:
Andy McDonald-David Backes-Brad Boyes
Brad Winchester-Keith Tkachuk-Paul Kariya
David Perron-Patrik Berglund-T.J. Oshie
Alex Steen-Jay McClement-B.J. Crombeen
Brad Winchester-Keith Tkachuk-Paul Kariya
David Perron-Patrik Berglund-T.J. Oshie
Alex Steen-Jay McClement-B.J. Crombeen
By my count, it’s the fifth different variation of lines since opening night. I didn’t have a chance to talk with Blues coach Andy Murray about the line changes, but when I do, I’ll post his comments in a blog.
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Overlooked in the Blues’ recent losses is the play of Keith Tkachuk, who leads the team with six points (3 goals, 3 assists).
“If you look at Keith’s history here the last few years, each year he’s gotten off to a good start and been very strong,” Murray told the media today. “He’s around the front of the net, he’s screening goaltenders, getting in the way and using that big body. He’s been a good example in terms of work for the rest of our players as well. The key thing, from Walt’s perspective, is we have an 82-game schedule in which we expect him to give us that.
“I think what we have to manage with Keith is make sure he gets rest days, and so on. He’s very demanding of himself and pushes himself real hard. We need to make sure that when there is an opportunity to do it we conserve energy so he’s got that the second half of the season.”
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Murray may be looking for chemistry between Tkachuk and Paul Kariya. After scoring two goals on opening night, Kariya has two assists in the last three games.
“We’ve seen some real positive signs from Paul, where he’s been dominant on the ice and other times where we’ve seen a little bit of rust,” Murray said. “So we expect him to get better game by game.”
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Defenseman Barret Jackman may try and skate for the first time Wednesday since spraining his ankle in last Thursday’s loss to Atlanta. Jackman won’t begin the road trip with the Blues, but depending on his progress, he could join the team in Anaheim or Pittsburgh.
The Blues will call up an extra defenseman for the three-game road trip. It appears that defenseman will be Tyson Strachan, but nothing is official yet.
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Don’t forget about tonight.
Blues forward T.J. Oshie will be joining former Blue Reed Low and myself in person tonight at Topshooters in Columbia, Ill., as we broadcast “The Low Down” on 590 The Fan KFNS. Oshie will arrive after 6 p.m. and stick around until 8 p.m. or so.
JR
Thanks J.R.
Maybe putting Berglund back with Perron
and Oshie will get him going.
You giving out the line changes reminded me when a reporter asked Mike Martz a couple a years ago he was going to give a certain look during the game on Sunday, because of what he was showing in practice during the week. Martz just blew up at the reporter and said something like, “…why don’t you just tell them the game plan!”. Watch out for Andy. Actually, nice insight that you cannot get anywhere else. Nice to see Berglund back w/ Oshie and Perron.
it won’t matter what murray does in the beginning of the game with the line changes. he’ll change them up again by the 2nd period. how can these guys expect to have any chemistry when they dont even play together for an entire game?