WINNIPEG • A defense that has been quite impressive this season surrendered 10 shots to Nashville in the third period Thursday and accounted for three of the team's four giveaways. But the Blues' back end kept the Predators out of the net and cemented a 3-2 shootout win.
"We bent, and I mean we bent, but we didn't break," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said.
The team's blue line has been so efficient this season that at times it has been unobtrusive. However, uncharacteristic turnovers and recent odd-man rushes have been easily detectable.
The Blues ended a two-game losing streak with the victory Thursday, but heading into a matinee today at Winnipeg, the club is intent on cleaning up its defensive act.
"I see two areas," Hitchcock said. "First of all, we're over-pursuing and we don't have patience over 60 minutes, so it's cost us a little bit. We're a little bit too (fast) getting into the offense when we don't have the puck, so that's causing us some issues. And ... we've got to be better through the neutral zone with it. We're turning it over too many times, and if we can clean up that, it's going to help us quite a bit.
"It's just a learning curve. It's trying to create offense a little too quickly. We're forcing the issue and I don't think any team is good when you force the issue. You look at the last couple of games. We got scored (against) on a 2-on-1 and a breakaway. Those are the things you don't want to give up, especially against good teams."
First-place Winnipeg is 4-0-1 in its past five games, including a 4-2 victory over Boston, and the Jets have scored 20 goals in the five games. They are 19-9-3 in their new digs, following the franchise's move from Atlanta this summer. The team plays to a packed house, and the atmosphere is expected to be raucous today for a rare afternoon tilt.
"When we're going into tough environments, it's harder to find those patient plays," Kevin Shattenkirk said. "That's what (Hitchcock) has preaching to us as defensemen. You have to adjust your game when you play on the road. It's going to be a little more of the other team with the energy most of the time and you have to know how to weather the storm. ... We as defensemen have to work on skating with the puck and finding those passes.
"Like Hitch said, we didn't break (against Nashville). That's nice to see, but ... we just have to work on bending a little less and getting more of our game in there the full 60 minutes."
The Blues will have to do it without one of their defensive regulars. On Thursday, Kris Russell left the game in the third period, and the club announced Friday that he has returned to St. Louis for further evaluation of concussion-like symptoms.
Russell has nine points and is plus-10 in 48 games this season.
"Yeah, he's been good — really good," Hitchcock said.
The Blues will insert Kent Huskins into the lineup today and have called up Ian Cole from Peoria.
Huskins missed nearly four months with a fractured left ankle before returning last week. He played three games before he "hit a wall," according to Hitchcock. Huskins has sat out the past two games.
"When you miss that much time, ... looking back on it, we probably should have spaced it a little better," Hitchcock said. "But he looks fine now, it looks like he's got some jump back, so that will be good."
Asked if he had lost some adrenaline, Huskins said: "I guess maybe — it's tough to admit. But you just keep working hard and be ready to go when called upon. I tried to take advantage of the extra work on the ice, the work with the coaches, and just prepared myself to be ready to go."
When Cole arrives, the Blues will have seven healthy defensemen, but the loss of Russell for an uncertain amount of time might push the club to make a move before the NHL trading deadline Monday. The club has indicated that it will perhaps remain quiet, citing budget concerns.
"Sometimes chemistry is a big issue and we've got great chemistry," Hitchcock said. "Sure, we're banged up right now, everybody knows that, but at the end of the day, we're going to get healthy and we're going to get our group back. We're good enough to get to where we are right now, that's my focus. That (trade speculation) is none of my business, so I'm staying out."
