Blues Team Report
INSIDE SHOTS
Not that long ago, Blues defenseman Erik Johnson(notes) was the team’s leading scorer. On Tuesday, he was a healthy scratch.
Johnson’s play has dipped in recent weeks, even by his own admission, so on Tuesday the Blues decided to sit him out against the Nashville Predators. It marked the first scratch of the season for the NHL’s No. 1 overall pick in 2006.
“We need E.J. to play better, and we think he will,” coach Andy Murray said. “His play away from the puck is an area where he needs to consistently work.”
Johnson had 21 points (four goals, 17 assists) in his first 30 games this season. But he doesn’t have a point and he’s a minus-3 in his last eight games.
“Yeah, you always want to play,” Johnson said. “But, personally, I know that I haven’t played as well as I can, and there’s a lot more to be expected from me. I know when I’m not playing well, and the last couple of games I haven’t been at my best. It (the healthy scratch) is definitely deserving. … Everyone needs to be held accountable. There can’t be a double-standard where if a guy doesn’t play well, he doesn’t sit out.”
The U.S. Olympic hockey team will announce its roster on Friday, and most experts project that Johnson will be in that lineup. But he might not be in the lineup when the Blues host the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday.
Predators 4, Blues 3: Carlo Colaiacovo(notes) gave the Blues a 1-0 lead just 1:29 into the game, but the Predators responded with four unanswered goals for a 4-1 lead.
The Blues netted two goals—by LW Andy McDonald(notes) and LW Alex Steen—in the final 11 minutes of regulation, but their comeback bid fell short.
“I think when we got to 4-2, we lifted ourselves a little bit,” Steen said. “Then when we got to 4-3, I think everybody knew there was still a lot of time on the clock and it was going to be close hoping we would get that fourth one. We didn’t tonight.”
NOTES, QUOTES
• The Blues were nailed for eight penalties against Nashville, including a double-minor high-sticking call. “We played frustrated, and we took penalties,” Blues coach Andy Murray said. “We didn’t show a lot of composure with the puck, made poor decisions with it, put ourselves in a position where we took some penalties because we didn’t manage the puck very well. Certainly a number of poor penalties tonight, but most of it stems from the fact that we didn’t manage the puck very well.”
• LW David Perron(notes), who’s tied for the team lead in goals with 11, returned to the power play. Perron has been left off the unit in the past few games because the Blues want him to move the puck more quickly. “He has a tendency sometimes to get himself boxed in the corner,” coach Andy Murray said. “He has good patience with it, but on that power play sometimes you have to get that puck moving to get the PK moving.”
Quote To Note: “We obviously have to change this. Our record at home is not getting us in the playoffs right now. That’s the thing that needs to change … if we want to be a playoff team we have turn this around really quickly at home.”—Blues forward Alex Steen on the club dropping to 5-13-2 at Scottrade Center this season after Tuesday’s 4-3 loss to Nashville.
ROSTER REPORT
Goaltenders: Chris Mason(notes), Ty Conklin(notes).
Defensemen: Roman Polak(notes), Erik Johnson, Darryl Sydor(notes), Mike Weaver(notes), Carlo Colaiacovo, Eric Brewer(notes) and Barret Jackman(notes).
First Line: Andy McDonald, Keith Tkachuk(notes), Brad Boyes(notes).
Second Line: Alex Steen, David Backes(notes), T.J. Oshie(notes).
Third Line: David Perron, Patrik Berglund(notes), B.J. Crombeen(notes).
Fourth Line: Brad Winchester(notes), Jay McClement(notes), Cam Janssen(notes).
Player Notes:
• LW Alex Steen replaced an injured LW Paul Kariya(notes) on the Blues’ second line and scored his third goal in his last two games, and he had an assist.
• LW Andy McDonald netted his 11th goal of the season, tying LW David Perron for the team lead. McDonald also had an assist, which was No. 12 this season.
• D Erik Johnson, the No. 1 overall pick in 2006, was a healthy scratch for the first time this season. Johnson had no points and was a minus-3 in his last eight games.
Medical Watch:
• LW Paul Kariya (upper body) is considered day to day after being elbowed in the head by Buffalo’s Patrick Kaleta(notes) Dec. 27.
• LW D.J. King(notes) (hand) is looking to return to the lineup after Jan. 1. He suffered a broken hand in a fight with Dallas’ Krys Barch(notes) on Oct. 24.
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