Come Back Jaden! Come Back!

I'm anxious for Jaden Schwartz to rejoin the Blues. He hasn't played since he left the game on Dec 9th against Detroit. He suffered a lower-body injury, which is believed to have been a broken ankle when he blocked a shot in the first period.

You may not remember, but Schwartz scored the first goal of that game before going down with the injury. The Blues won that game in Detroit 6-1. 

As training camp began and injuries started piling up, added to the off-season injuries there was a lot of worry and fret on the part of the Blues fans as to how this season would go. To the surprise of most hockey pundits, the Blues came out blazing. They won their first 4 games and went 10-2-1 in the month of October. 

Schwartz, along with linemates Brayden Schenn and Vladimir Tarasenko were being talked about as one of the best lines in hockey.  They certainly were being productive. Only the line in Tampa led by Stamkos and Kucherov had more points than the St. Louis trio.

One player does not a team make, but it's hard for a car to go anywhere without an engine. Schwartz was that engine. I called him a bulldog. He was a puck-hound and never seemed to take a shift off, always chasing, always battling for the puck and always finding a way to help get the puck in the net. 

To put things into perspective on the difference with and without Schwartz just take a look at these numbers.

With Jaden Schwartz

19-8-2   3.20 goals per game  17.8% power play

Without Jaden Schwartz

9-9-1     2.31 goals per game   7.8% power play

Although he has missed 18+ games he still is among the team leaders in goals and points. He has 14 goals (4 behind Schenn and 6 behind Tarasenko) and 35 points (10 behind Schenn and 11 behind Tarasenko). 

The original timeline was for him to be re-evaluated in 6 weeks which would be around Jan 20th. He has been walking without crutches and without a boot for a couple of weeks now and was skating as early as a week ago. 

His return will be one of the most welcomed returns I can think of and I would love to be in the building at Scottrade the night he steps back on the ice. It will be a moment that I'm sure the St. Louis fans will make one of those "hair-standing-on-the-back-of-your-neck" moments. Whenever it happens, may I be the first to say, "Welcome back, Jaden Schwartz! Welcome back!"

 

St. Louis Blues vs Colorado Avalanche - Game 8 Recap

Blues Hang on For Victory in Colorado
Goals: Stastny (3), Schwartz (6), Dunn (2) and Bortuzzo (1)
Record 6-2-0

My thoughts on tonight's game:

• Hutton once again backing up Jake Allen on the 2nd night of a back-to-back game played like a #1 goalie.  The Avalanche only scored once while he was in the net.  We just gotta keep him in the net. LOL (See following points for explanation)
• Stastny scores his 600th point of his career on a nice goal in the 2nd period to tie the game. He later assisted and notched point #601.
• Schwartz continues to score, this time while falling down.
• Dunn's goal was a rocket off the pipe for his 2nd career goal.  John Kelly's comment "Dunn gets it done!" was cool.
• Bortuzzo continues his physical play.  Tonight he even tackled his own goalie. (See point #1)
• On a funky carom off the boards, Hutton finds himself out of position and allowed a goal when he couldn't get back in net. (See point #1)
• The line of Brodziak, Jaskin and Upshall is looking better the last couple of games.
• Sobotka's shifty move and no-look pass to Bortuzzo on his goal was outstanding.
• It seems like we don't always do a good job of getting a body on guys in front of the net, especially when we are on the penalty kill. 
• We have to find a way to play 60 minutes.  We're being outscored in the 3rd period 13-8 thus far this season. Late penalties and lapses in concentration will cost us points.
• Tarasenko may not have scored tonight but he does so many things right.

#AllTogetherNowStL #LGB

Chicago Blackhawks vs St. Louis Blues - Game 7 Recap

Schwartz Gets Hat Trick in Win Over Blackhawks
Goals: Schwartz (3,4,5), Taraskenko (5) and Brodziak (1)
Record 5-2-0

My thoughts on the game

• Blues defense was OUTSTANDING - only allowed 4 shots on goal in each of the first 2 periods.
• As I said earlier this year, and Mike Yeo said in an interview today, Jaden Schwartz never gives up.  After a head-on crash into the boards late in the first period he comes back and scores two more goals for the hat trick. 
• Forechecking was much better tonight through 2 periods.  Looked like we got a little gassed by the 3rd period, but it was a very physical game.
• Bortuzzo was hitting everybody. 
• We had much better traffic in front of the net tonight, something that's been lacking in the past few games.
• Fortunate to escape this game with no major injuries.  Pietrangelo and Schwartz both went hard into the boards.
• Penalty kill was very solid.  Up until late in the 3rd Chicago was 0 for 4 on power play with only 2 shots on goal.
• NBCSN commentators bragged on Dunn.  He's looking better all the time.
• Paajarvi had a good game.
• Jake Allen with the assist on the 2nd Schwartz goal!
• Blues had a harder time scoring when Chicago pulled their goalie than we did when Crawford was in net. LOL
• Nice gesture by the Blues to acknowledge broadcaster Eddie Olczyk, who is battling colon cancer.  This and the nice "welcome back" to Hitchcock in the season opener reminds me that St. Louis fans are always classy.  
• I like Schenn.

#AllTogetherNowStL #LGB

St. Louis Blues vs Florida Panthers - Game 5 Recap

Blues notch first loss of the season falling to Florida 5-2
Goals by: Stastny (2) and Dunn (1)
Record 4-1-0

My thoughts on tonight's game. 

• We looked like a different team tonight. A step or two slow all night, sloppy defense, sloppy passing. 
• However, I try to keep things positive so here goes...
• Schwartz looks like he never gives up. 
• Although Dunn wasn't perfect he looks like he's gaining confidence and his first NHL goal was a beauty. 
• Looks like anyone could have walked right up at game time and bought a seat anywhere they wanted. There were entire sections that were nearly empty. (see photos below) 

• The refs in this one were a little too much. How many times did you yell "just drop the puck, will ya!"? 
• On to Tampa Bay. Let's close this trip out with a win. 
• PS. I wasn't there. I listened on the radio to 1st and 2nd period, then went home and watched from the beginning on FSMW.

#AllTogetherNowStL #LGB

St. Louis Blues vs NY Rangers - Game 4 Recap

Blues Remain Undefeated on Young Season with 3-1 Win Over NY Rangers
Goals: Gunnarson (2), Schenn (2) and Schwartz (2)
Record 4-0-0

My thoughts on tonight's game

• Gunnarson scored during the National Anthem almost. 19:45 actually, but that's as quick a goal as I can remember. 
• Hutton looked like a #1 tonight. His save on the short-handed breakaway and several saves late in 3rd were outstanding. 
• Schwartz looked good, especially on his rush where he drew the penalty and nearly walked it in past two defenders then gets an empty-netter late to seal the night. 
• We played much better with the lead late in the 3rd under some pretty heavy pressure by the Rangers. 
• I like Schenn! 
• 4-0 for only 2nd time in team history.

#AllTogetherNowStL #LGB