NHL  >>  St. Louis Blues
2009_nhl_awards_0105
Dale Hunter will not return, options to replace the Capitals head coach
New_jersey_devils_2be2
Devils know they can lean on Brodeur
Columbus_blue_jackets_ac06
Blue Jackets Preparing to Deal Rick Nash as Franchise Hits Rock Bottom
Gettyimageproxy.ashx_requesturl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f76961916.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dewsasset_26k_3d2_26d_3d17a4ad9fdb9cf1933eaaf67a98db7ae43d3954716dd763cd
Bruins acquire son of Ray Bourque
Carolina_hurricanes_v_d453
Should the New Jersey Devils inquire about Roberto Luongo if Martin...

#5: David Backes

Found December 31, 2011 on Rant Sports: Yardbarker Blogger Network
PLAYERS: David Backes
TEAMS: St. Louis Blues

Gettyimageproxy.ashx_requesturl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f84144204.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dewsasset_26k_3d2_26d_3d17a4ad9fdb9cf193307e2c13f1c609621bfc5dfcddbe4a11
Backes has always been a notorious slow starter and this year was no exception.  He finally was paired on a line with Oshie and Steen and the 3 of them have been one of the best lines in the league on both sides of the puck on any given night.  Captain Backes has shown that he can handle the responsibility that comes with the C.  He still goes out there and plays the same physical game that he has his entire career. One thing that I have recognized more this season than any other is his great defensive zone play.  As a first line center, captain, and special teams guy, Backes has to be the guy that is always going to go 200 feet and play the whole rink the whole game.  Backes has excelled at that this season and honestly with as well as he has shut down opposing top lines he should be a serious candidate for the Selke.  Going against the other team’s top line for 20+ minutes a night has to take a toll on you at some point but even with that task every night, Backes has only be...
Original Story: http://www.rantsports.com/st-louis-bl... Verified_ybn
THE BACKYARD
BEST OF MAXIM
AROUND THE WEB
RELATED ARTICLES

Blues look to continue home winning streak

Via Fox Sports Midwest  |  December 30, 2011
Before the St. Louis Blues can look forward to their second trip to Detroit in five days, they must first focus on continuing their dominance at home.The Blues seek their seventh straight victory at the Scottrade Center on Friday night when they look to defeat the Nashville Predators for the first time in three tries this season.St. Louis (21-11-4) will travel back to face Detroit...

Poll: Who Has Been Blues MVP?

Via STLSportsMinute  |  December 31, 2011
After Ken Hitchcock was hired to replace former head coach Davis Payne after just 13 games this season, nobody could have expected the huge amount of success fans have seen from the Blues since. Despite a recent two game mini-slump, the Blues sit in sixth place in the NHL's Western Conference with 47 points after 37 games played. During the last eight weeks, the Blues have...

Blues' McDonald is skating again

Via STLtoday.com  |  December 31, 2011
Andy McDonald was back practicing with the Blues on Friday morning, wearing a "no contact" red jersey. That's good news. It means McDonald has progressed enough to take his comeback from another concu

Blues’ Cole earns first ban of 2012; Three games for head hit

Via Puck Daddy  |  January 01, 2012
Congratulations are in order for St. Louis Blues' defenseman Ian Cole, who becomes the first of what, if 2011 was any indication, will be many NHL players to earn a Shanaban in 2012. Cole has been suspended 3 NHL games, and will forfeit $21,081.09 in salary to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund (i.e. used to buy a car for the player whose confidence is shaken when he...

Blues’ Cole will sit three games for hitting Red Wings’ Justin Abdelkader in the head

Via Kukla's Korner  |  January 02, 2012
As it turns out, St. Louis Blues defenseman Ian Cole will spend three games watching his teammates play thanks to his hit to the head of Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader. Per the NHL: Blues defenseman Ian Cole has been suspended for three games for delivering an illegal check to the head of Detroit Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader during NHL Game #563 in Detroit on Saturday...

#9: Vladimir Sobotka

Via Rant Sports  |  December 31, 2011
Vladi has been a great 2 way forward ever since he was brought to St Louis from Boston.  In his 134 games with the Bruins and played limited minutes, but in St Louis, Sobotka gets decent minutes every game including time on the PK.  Since the move from Boston, Sobe has appeared in 93 games with the Blues and recorded 39 points compared to the 22 in his time with Boston.  If not...

#8: Alex Pietrangelo

Via Rant Sports  |  December 31, 2011
Alex has been awesome this year and quietly going about his business but I have noticed he is nowhere near as aggressive as he was last season.  That is one of the only flaws I have seen from him this year so I would say there is no sophmore slump.  But his lack of aggressiveness is the reason he is number 8 on this list.  Sometimes I wonder if moving Erik Johnson and bringing...

Preds grind out shootout win in St. Louis

Via Smashville 24/7  |  December 30, 2011
On December 17th, the Predators edged the St. Louis Blues 2-1 in a shootout victory. Two weeks later, it was the same song and dance. Martin Erat scored the shootout winner in tonight’s 2-1 win over the Blues, while Pekka Rinne, who turned away all five shots he saw in the shootout, carried over his effort from Wednesday and made 35 saves.Matt Halischuk got on the board early...

Blues Ian Cole shoulders Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader in the head; Abby OK

Via Kukla's Korner  |  December 31, 2011
Somehow, Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader managed to pass his baseline tests in the “quiet room” and return, and scored a goal no less, after taking a shoulder directly to the head from St. Louis Blues defenseman Ian Cole. Cole received 2 minutes for an illegal check to the head. Will post a better video when we find it: Here’s hoping that Fox Sports Detroit...

Predators slip past Blues in SO

Via Fox Sports Tennessee  |  December 30, 2011
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Martin Erat scored in the fifth round of the shootout to give the Nashville Predators a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Friday night. Erat sent a shot high over the glove hand of Jaroslav Halak and Pekka Rinne kept the Blues scoreless on all five attempts to win for the second game in a row in a shootout. Matt Halischuk scored for the Predators. Rinne...

Red Wings-Blues game-day updates: same formula, different result?

Via Kukla's Korner  |  December 31, 2011
As the Detroit Red Wings prepare to face off against the St. Louis Blues tonight (7 PM EST, FSD/FS Midwest/WXYT) and attempt to rebound from their 3-2 loss to Chicago on Friday night, MLive’s Ansar Khan reports that the Wings will go with what works most of the time, their starting goaltender included: Babcock said no lineup changes for wings tonight vs. st. louis. NHL.com...

Red Wings-Blues quick take: back-to-back to normal

Via Kukla's Korner  |  December 31, 2011
A little under 24 hours after dropping a distressing 3-2 decision to Chicago, the Detroit Red Wings displayed something which the St. Louis Blues seemed to have exhausted their reserves of on Saturday night: restraint. As a result, the Red Wings rode a sterling shutout performance from Jimmy Howard and the proper exertion of pressure upon one’s opponent at the proper time...

Blues D Cole suspended three games

Via Miami Herald  |  January 02, 2012
St. Louis Blues defenseman Ian Cole was suspended three games for illegally checking Detroit Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader in the head during Saturday night's game.

Random Athlete Of The Day- Chris Holt

Via Taking Bad Schotz  |  December 30, 2011
Chris Holt was a less than mediocre starting pitcher for the Houston Astros. Holt at 6-4 205 lbs, was drafted by the Astros in the 3rd round of the 1992 MLB Draft. Holt started off in Low A and went 2-5 with an ERA over 4. In ’93 he was  promoted to A and went 11-10, and had 10 complete games and 3 shutouts with a 2.27 ERA (his best year in the minors). Holt was promoted once...

St. Louis Blues (21-11-5) at Detroit Red Wings (23-13-1), 7 p.m. (ET)

Via Miami Herald  |  December 31, 2011
If the Blues are going to get back to .500 on the road, they'll need to find a way to slow down the red-hot Red Wings at home.
THE BLUES HOT 25
Today's Best Stuff
For Bloggers

Join the Yardbarker Network (YBN) for more promotion, traffic, and money.
Company Info
Help
What is Yardbarker?

Yardbarker is the largest network of sports blogs and pro athlete blogs on the web. This site is the hub of the Yardbarker Network, where our editors and algorithms curate the best sports content from our network and beyond.