SB Nation St. Louis - Blues Vs. Blackhawks: St. Louis Falls 4-3 In Shootouthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49009/stl-fave.png2012-04-03T07:00:58-05:00http://stlouis.sbnation.com/rss/stream/26762402012-04-03T07:00:58-05:002012-04-03T07:00:58-05:00NHL Standings 2012: Blues Sit Second In Western Conference With 106 Points
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<p>Two extremely rare occurrences happened on Saturday during the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.jacketscannon.com/">Columbus Blue Jackets</a>' 5-2 victory over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">St. Louis Blues</a>. For one, the NHL's worst team (Columbus) defeated what was the NHL's best team. The loss also clinched the Central Division for St. Louis for the first time since 1999-2000.</p>
<p>The loss to Columbus marked back-to-back games for St. Louis. It also means the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.nucksmisconduct.com/">Vancouver Canucks</a> have leapfrogged the Blues in the standings by one point. Both teams have three games left. Right now, the Canucks have 107 points, the Blues have 106.</p>
<p>It's not going to be an easy final stretch for the Blues. The remaining schedule includes two locks for the playoffs in the Western Conference and one team squarely on the bubble. St. Louis will play the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.wingingitinmotown.com/">Detroit Red Wings</a> on Wednesday, followed by another home game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/phoenix-coyotes">Phoenix Coyotes</a> on Friday. The Blues will finish things up on Saturday in Texas against a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.defendingbigd.com/">Dallas Stars</a> team that couldn't be fighting for the No. 8 seed.</p>
<p><i><span style="outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'Liberation Sans',FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">For more on the Blues, visit </span><a style="outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: #ffffff; color: #703600; font-weight: bold; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'Liberation Sans',FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://www.stlouisgametime.com/">St. Louis Game Time</a><span style="outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'Liberation Sans',FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"> and </span><a style="outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: #ffffff; color: #703600; font-weight: bold; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'Liberation Sans',FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/" target="_blank">SB Nation St. Louis</a><span style="outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'Liberation Sans',FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">. For more on the NHL news and notes, keep it locked to </span><a style="outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: #ffffff; color: #703600; font-weight: bold; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'Liberation Sans',FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" href="http://sbnation.com/nhl">SB Nation NHL hub</a><span style="outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'Liberation Sans',FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">.</span></i></p>
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https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-blues/2012/4/3/2921664/2012-nhl-standings-bluesRicky O'Donnell2012-03-29T22:24:03-05:002012-03-29T22:24:03-05:00Blues Vs. Blackhawks Final Score: St. Louis Loses 4-3 In Shootout
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">St. Louis Blues</a> fell short of pulling off an impressive road victory in a disappointing 4-3 defeat against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.secondcityhockey.com/">Chicago Blackhawks</a> at the United Center. St. Louis never led on Thursday night, but the Blues forced overtime and ultimately a shootout before allowing the Blackhawks to take the win.</p>
<p>After allowing the Blackhawks to initially take a 1-0 lead, the Blues quickly responded just seconds later to tie the game back up. A scoreless second period followed, but the Blackhawks used the early portion of the third period to rebuild up a 3-1 advantage. </p>
<p>Chicago blew that lead, too, but the Blues couldn't snag the victory in overtime. Following a scoreless five-minute period, the two teams traded failed shootout attempts until Chicago's <span>Dave Bolland</span> scored on Blues goalie <span>Jaroslav Halak</span> to give the Blackhawks the victory.</p>
<p><i><span style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more on the Blues, visit </span><a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffff; color: #703600; font-weight: bold; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.stlouisgametime.com/">St. Louis Game Time</a><span style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"> and </span><a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffff; color: #703600; font-weight: bold; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/" target="_blank">SB Nation St. Louis</a><span style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">. For more on the NHL news and notes, keep it locked to </span><a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffff; color: #703600; font-weight: bold; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://sbnation.com/nhl">SB Nation NHL hub</a><span style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">.</span></i></p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-blues/2012/3/29/2913049/blues-blackhawks-recap-nhl-2012Satchel Price2012-03-29T21:22:11-05:002012-03-29T21:22:11-05:00Blues Vs. Blackhawks Score Update: Game Still Tied After Second Period
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">St. Louis Blues</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.secondcityhockey.com/">Chicago Blackhawks</a> are still locked up in a 1-1 tie after two periods at the United Center. Neither team could score in the second period, but the Blackhawks continued to be the more aggressive team in terms of getting shots on goal.</p>
<p>After attacking Blues goaltender <span>Jaroslav Halak</span> in the first period, the Blackhawks continued to get shots on goal during the second period but without much success. Halak has saved an impressive 23-of-24 shots that have came his way tonight.</p>
<p>Last time these two teams played, Halak gave up three goals in a 4-3 Blackhawks victory, so he's presumably hoping to even the score a bit by holding off Chicago's offense attack for the remainder of the night</p>
<p><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more on the Blues, visit </i><a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffff; color: #703600; font-weight: bold; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.stlouisgametime.com/">St. Louis Game Time</a><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"> and </i><a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffff; color: #703600; font-weight: bold; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" target="_blank" href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/">SB Nation St. Louis</a><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">. For more on the NHL news and notes, keep it locked to </i><a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffffff; color: #703600; font-weight: bold; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://sbnation.com/nhl">SB Nation NHL hub</a><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">.</i></p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-blues/2012/3/29/2912948/blues-blackhawks-score-nhl-2012Satchel Price2012-03-29T20:37:25-05:002012-03-29T20:37:25-05:00Blues Vs. Blackhawks Score Update: St. Louis, Chicago Tied Up After One Period
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">St. Louis Blues</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.secondcityhockey.com/">Chicago Blackhawks</a> are tied up, 1-1, early in the second period of Thursday night's game at the United Center. St. Louis is hoping to improve its record on the road of late while handing Chicago its third consecutive defeat.</p>
<p>The Blackhawks initially took the lead on <span>Bryan Bickell's</span> ninth goal of the season, but the Blues quickly responded just seconds after the subsequent faceoff with <span>Alexander Steen's</span> 14th goal of the season. The goal continues a recent run of strong play from Steen since returning from a concussion.</p>
<p>Chicago has an early advantage in terms of shots on goal, but Blues goalie <span>Jaroslav Halak</span> has kept the game tied up since Steen's game-tying shot.</p>
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https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-blues/2012/3/29/2912870/blues-blackhawks-score-nhl-2012Satchel Price2012-03-29T15:08:13-05:002012-03-29T15:08:13-05:00Blues Vs. Blackhawks: Blues Look For First Win In Two Years At Hostile United Center
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<p>The Blues are trying to clinch the Central Division title for the first time since 2000, and a win over the Blackhawks will help them get back on top of the NHL.</p> <p>The Blues are 2-2-1 against the Chicago Blackhawks this season, with their last game on March 13th being one to forget. The Blues blew a 3-0 lead to lose 4-3 in a shootout, the first time this season that they had lost a game when scoring three goals. The seven avoidable penalties taken against the Hawks cost St. Louis the game. Fortunately, the Blues have tightened up significantly, and are fighting to make these last five games successful ones by any means necessary. Chicago'd like to have home ice in the playoffs. The Blues? The Presidents' Trophy.</p>
<p>Goaltender Ray Emery was in net for all three Blues goals on the 13th, while Corey Crawford blocked all 18 shots that came his way in relief. Chicago doesn't have a go-to starter per se, and not for the positive reasons the Blues have. While Ken Hitchcock had issues choosing tonight's goalie (Jaroslav Halak) because he's working with the league's best tandem, Chicago coach Joel Quenneville has two fairly unstable guys on the bench to choose from. Crawford's been playing better lately, but he's still easily exploitable.</p>
<p>The Hawks are without key defenseman Duncan Keith, who will be serving game three of a five game suspension for elbowing Daniel Sedin in the head on March 21st. They've lost their first two games without him, and are still without team captain Jonathan Toews who has been out since February 19th with a concussion.</p>
<p>Alexander Steen, recent concussion victim himself, has played very well since his return Sunday against the Phoenix Coyotes. He assisted on Jamie Langenbrunner's first period goal Tuesday night against the Predators. Fellow concussed forward <a target="_blank" href="http://blues.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=624763">Matt D'Agostini has been activated from injured reserve</a>. He and Andy McDonald are not in tonight, but both could be back on Saturday. There's no point in rushing the players -- the Blues are assured of a playoff spot, and a healthy McDonald and D'Agostini are worth more then than two still sore players now.</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/2012/3/29/2912009/blues-vs-blackhawks-blues-look-for-first-win-in-two-years-at-hostileLaura Astorian