St. Louis Blues

ST. LOUIS – St. Louis Blues Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Armstrong announced the club has activated forward T.J. Oshie from injured reserve.

Oshie, 26, has dressed in 26 games this season, posting 17 points (five goals and 12 assists) to go along with 13 penalty minutes.

Overall, the 5-foot-11, 189-pound forward has appeared in five National Hockey League (NHL) seasons, all with the Blues, accumulating 192 points (68 goals, 124 assists) and 144 penalty minutes in 288 career games.

The Everett, Washington native was drafted by the Blues in the first round (24th overall) of the 2005 Entry Draft... read more

Blues goalie moves into a tie for first in team history with 16 shutouts Saturday, 03.23.2013 / 11:20 PM / St Louis Blues - News By Chris Pinkert  - St. Louis Blues

Jaroslav Halak picked up his 16th shutout as a member of the Blues in Saturday's 3-0 win against the Edmonton Oilers.

Halak has tied Glenn Hall for No. 1 in franchise history in shutouts, requiring just 115 games to accomplish the feat.

Hall set the team record in 1971, picking up 16 shutouts in 140 games.

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By David Kalan - NHL.com Staff Writer

The Blues earned the second-best record in the West this season with a staunch defensive style that took away ice and minimized risk. Given that, it might be a bit unexpected for general manager Doug Armstrong to be making a gamble, but he is confident this one will pay off, as the Blues signed restricted free agent David Perron to a four-year deal Thursday that both sides admitted carries an element of risk for each of them. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but TSN's Darren Dreger reported the deal to be worth $15... read more

Defenseman returns to the Blues, where he played from 2005-2009

St. Louis Blues

ST. LOUIS – St. Louis Blues Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Armstrong announced Monday the club has signed defenseman Jeff Woywitka to a one-year, two-way contract.

Woywitka, 28, appeared in 27 games for the New York Rangers in 2011-12 recording six points (one goal, five assists) and eight penalty minutes while also dressing in six games for the Rangers’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, Connecticut Whale, tallying three assists and six penalty minutes.

A former Blue, Woywitka played in 152 games with the club from 2005 to 2009 posting 35 points (six goals, 29 assists) and 106 penalty minutes... read more

McKenna is a St. Louis native; Chorney played briefly for Blues last season

St. Louis Blues

ST. LOUIS – St. Louis Blues Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Armstrong announced today the club has signed goaltender Mike McKenna as well as defensemen Taylor Chorney and Scott Ford to one-year, two-way contracts.

A native of St. Louis, McKenna, 28, appeared in 41 games for the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Binghamton Senators last season posting a 14-22-1 record including a 2.98 goals against average and a .918 save percentage.

The 6’2, 190-pound goaltender has dressed in 17 career National Hockey League (NHL) games between Tampa Bay and New Jersey posting a 4-9-1 record to go along with a 3... read more

St. Louis Blues

PITTSBURGH – The St. Louis Blues selected defenseman Jordan Schmaltz with the 25th overall selection in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Schmaltz, 18, split last season between the United States Hockey League’s (USHL) Green Bay Gamblers and Sioux City Musketeers, ranking second among USHL defensemen with 41 points (10 goals, 31 assists) in 55 games.

A native of Madison, Wisconsin, Schmaltz played 46 games for Green Bay, leading the team’s defensemen in assists, points and power-play goals (five). He added seven points (two goals, five assists) and had a plus-10 rating in 12 playoff games for the Clark Cup Champions... read more

Defenseman will remain the longest-tenured athlete in St. Louis sports

St. Louis Blues

ST. LOUIS – St. Louis Blues Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Armstrong announced Monday the club has signed Barret Jackman to a three-year contract.

“Barret has been a solid leader for our club, on and off the ice, and we’re happy to have him in the fold for the next three years,” said Armstrong. “He’s a staple of the organization and the community and his positive influence on our young core has and will remain an invaluable asset.”“St... read more

Tarasenko, a 2010 pick, will sign a three-year entry level deal with the Blues

UPDATE (JUNE 4, 1:46 P.M.) - St. Louis Blues Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Armstrong issued the following statement regarding Vladimir Tarasenko. “There have been inaccurate reports stating that Vladimir Tarasenko has signed a contract to play hockey in Russia. I have confirmed with the player and his agent that these reports are 100% false and Vladimir is committed to join our organization for the upcoming season. We will have no further comment on this matter.”ST. LOUIS – General Manager Doug Armstrong announced Saturday the club has agreed to a three-year entry level contract with forward Vladimir Tarasenko... read more

BY JEREMY RUTHERFORD • jrutherford@post-dispatch.com

 

Ever since the matchup was drawn between the Blues and Los Angeles Kings in the Western Conference semifinals, the theme has been the similarities between the teams... read more

Associated Press

 

When the Blues review video of their regular-season series against the Los Angeles Kings, their opponent in the upcoming Western Conference semifinals, the club sees few advantages in a matchup that appears even... read more

BY JEREMY RUTHERFORD • jrutherford@post-dispatch.com

 

In the minds of the Blues' coaching staff, T.J. Oshie's dazzling assist in Game 2 of the Western Conference quarterfinals, ducking and deking several San Jose players before setting up a goal by David Backes, was his second-best move of the series... read more

BY JEREMY RUTHERFORD jrutherford@post-dispatch.com

 

The last time the Blues and Los Angeles Kings met, on March 22, the score was 0-0 through overtime and had to be decided in a shootout... read more

BY JEREMY RUTHERFORD

 

Recently, Blues players sensed the importance of playoff hockey in St. Louis in different ways.

 

"You could see it when they were painting the Bluenotes on the streets," goaltender Brian Elliott said... read more

Associated Press

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues were 6-7 when coach Ken Hitchcock came aboard. They've been among the NHL's best since.

Jamie Langenbrunner and David Perron scored in a 45-second span in the third period, and the Blues woke up in time to put away the San Jose Sharks3-1 and wrap up their first-round series on Saturday night... read more

BY JEREMY RUTHERFORD

After 10 long years, the Blues turned their playoff fortune around in 45 quick seconds against San Jose Saturday night.

Looking to capture their first postseason series since 2002, and with those chances diminishing late in the third period, the Blues received back-to-back goals from Jamie Langenbrunner and David Perron for the team’s first lead, and Andy McDonald added an empty-netter for a 3-1 triumph in Game 5... read more

BY BERNIE MIKLASZ, Post-Dispatch Sports Columnist

There was a big house party at 14th and Clark on Saturday night. The Blues and 19,490 fans blew the doors off the hinges at the Scottrade Center... read more

BY TOM TIMMERMANN • ttimmermann@post-dispatch.com

 

The dial that controls playoff intensity is an unusual one. Just when you think it's turned up all the way, it will get turned up some more... read more

BY BERNIE MIKLASZ, Post-Dispatch Sports Columnist

 

The forecast for tonight at Scottrade Center calls for cold beer and warm feelings. Loud voices will be heard, and there could be dancing at the corner of 14th and Clark... read more

Associated Press

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- For a team that hadn't won a single playoff game in eight years before last week, the St. Louis Blues sure are getting the hang of winning in the postseason... read more

By Pierre LeBrun | EPSN.com

St. Louis Blues goaltender Jaroslav Halak did not take part in practice Wednesday as a suspected ankle injury keeps him on the shelf in St. Louis' Western Conference quarterfinals series against the San Jose Sharks.

"He's not going to play obviously (Thursday)," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said after practice. "He skated yesterday. So we'll just keep him working back towards here sometime, but right now he's just not available. So Brian (Elliott)'s the guy."

Elliott has been rock solid since taking over early in the second period of Game 2 when Halak was injured... read more

BY Dan O'NEILL • doneill@post-dispatch.com

 

SAN JOSE • On the flight into San Jose a few days ago, the Boeing 727 bounced a couple of times on the runway before taxiing safely to the gate... read more

BY JEREMY RUTHERFORD • jrutherford@post-dispatch.com

SAN JOSE, Calif. • Blues coach Ken Hitchcock prides himself on promoting the game of hockey. In the past two days, he's done a dandy job of selling the city of San Jose... read more

BY DAN O'NEILL • doneill@post-dispatch.com

 

Keep in mind, Ken Hitchcock has a Stanley Cup. But he is coaching a team that has none. He is mentoring a franchise that has come no closer to that goal than a conference final since 2001, an organization that has not played for the Cup since losing it to Bobby Orr's Bruins in 1970... read more

Associated Press

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- A record-setting defense carried the St. Louis Blues to the Central Division title in a breakthrough season. When they can pair a potent power play with a stingy, tight-checking mentality, they truly are tough to beat... read more

BY JEREMY RUTHERFORD • jrutherford@post-dispatch.com

 

SAN JOSE, CALIF. • The postseason typically brings added pressure to players, but early on in the Blues' first-round playoff series against San Jose, center Patrik Berglund seems more at ease... read more

BY JEREMY RUTHERFORD • jrutherford@post-dispatch.com

 

SAN JOSE, CALIF. • The Blues and San Jose Sharks haven’t agreed on much in their Western Conference quarterfinal playoff round, but going into Game 3 Monday night the clubs concurred that playmakers — not haymakers — would decide the outcome of the series... read more

BY BERNIE MIKLASZ, Post-Dispatch Sports Columnist

Coach Ken Hitchcock sounded like a proud father late Saturday night, praising his young Blues for growing up and handling the San Jose Sharks during a 3-0 victory in Game 2 of their Western Conference playoffs... read more

Associated Press

ST. LOUIS -- Brian Elliott and Jaroslav Halak formed the NHL's best goalie tandem during the regular season. The St. Louis Blues needed them both to even their series with San Jose... read more

BY BERNIE MIKLASZ, Post-Dispatch Sports Columnist

The Blues returned in Game 2. Welcome back, boys. In clobbering the San Jose Sharks for a 3-0 victory that evened their first-round Western Conference playoff series at 1-1, the Blues played like the spirited, tenacious unit that defied expectations to rise to the elite level of the NHL... read more

BY BERNIE MIKLASZ, Post-Dispatch Sports Columnist

Blues fans had waited three years for this night, patiently biding their time and conserving a little energy since The Note's last appearance in the Stanley Cup playoffs... read more

BY DAN O'NEILL • doneill@post-dispatch.com

 

Maybe it wasn't "The Decision." Maybe it wasn't LeBron James announcing he was taking his "talents to South Beach."

 

But a nation of Blues followers has been on edge for days, awaiting coach Ken Hitchcock's determination on the team's starting goaltender for Game 1 of its Stanley Cup pursuit... read more

BY BERNIE MIKLASZ, Post-Dispatch Sports Columnist 

The Blues begin their pursuit of a Stanley Cup tonight at Scottrade Center, once again straining to reach for the ultimate but elusive prize... read more

WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT Congratulations to Heather Vlasak, the winner of Game 5 Blues Tickets!  Thanks to all who took time to participate! Heather, we will contact you by email to arrange the pick-up of your tickets.   Who wants to see the Blues in action vs the San Jose Sharks?  

 

Rules are simple!  1. Comment on the photo. 2. Make sure your profile has an avatar (Profile Picture).

 

** The winner will be randomly selected (by random number generator) and will receive 2 tickets to Game 5 on Saturday, April 21, at 6:30 PM.  Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferrable... read more

BY BERNIE MIKLASZ, Post-Dispatch Sports Columnist

As they prepare for the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Blues can't afford to look back and risk seeing the ghosts of postseasons past. They must ignore the whispered tales of The Curse of Scotty Bowman, and block the daunting flashbacks of goaltenders being blown up... read more

BY JEREMY RUTHERFORD • jrutherford@post-dispatch.com

 

Three years ago, the Blues' postseason life was over soon after it began. After an exhilarating second-half run that was narrowly enough to squeeze the club into the playoffs, Vancouver swept the Blues in four games in the first round, and the exuberance throughout the city evaporated... read more

BY DAN O'NEILL

 

The Blues begin a final approach to postseason when they play host to the Detroit Red Wings tonight. The team will conclude regular-season business by playing host to Phoenix on Friday before traveling to Dallas on Saturday... read more

BY JEREMY RUTHERFORD jrutherford@post-dispatch.com

 

On a night on which the Blues could claim their first Central Division title in 11 seasons, it's the end of another streak that will probably have more of an effect on the team in the playoffs... read more

BY JEREMY RUTHERFORD • jrutherford@post-dispatch.com

 

From here out, it should be deemed newsworthy if the Blues win in some fashion other than a shutout... read more

By Adam Gretz | NHL Blogger

The St. Louis Blues remain in the driver’s seat to finish with the best record in the NHL this season, which would give them their second Presidents Trophy in franchise history.

It's been one of the most remarkable stories in the league, and on a team of surprises and unexpected performances, there remains no bigger surprise than the play of goaltenders Brian Elliott and Jaroslav Halak... read more

BY JEREMY RUTHERFORD jrutherford@post-dispatch.com

 

For those wondering which forwards Blues coach Ken Hitchcock will suit up when everyone is healthy, join the group — a group that includes the players themselves... read more

BY JEREMY RUTHERFORD

 

PHOENIX • Despite a record of 1-2-2 in their last five games, the Blues, with 101 points, still have a handle on the No... read more

BY JEREMY RUTHERFORD • jrutherford@post-dispatch.com

 

In 2008-09, San Jose won the NHL's Presidents' Trophy for piling up the most points in the league... read more

BY DERRICK GOOLD • dgoold@post-dispatch.com

 

TAMPA, Fla. • Blues coach Ken Hitchcock referred to the losses last week as his young team's "wow moment" — recognition that as the top team in the NHL, the Blues would face lesser teams playing with desperation and urgency... read more

BY DAN O'NEILL

 

CHICAGO • These are the good old days for the Blues. They remain in first place overall in the NHL. They’re threatening to do things previous Blues team never have done... read more

BY DAN O'NEILL

CHICAGO • With 12 games remaining on the schedule, the Blues were in first place in the NHL by four points when they awoke in Chicago on Monday... read more

BY JEREMY RUTHERFORD jrutherford@post-dispatch.com

 

In between monstrous six- and seven-game road trips, the Blues had a three-game layover at Scottrade Center... read more

BY JEREMY RUTHERFORD • jrutherford@post-dispatch.com

 

As the head coach of a first-place team, the Blues' Ken Hitchcock rarely has been asked about a subject he doesn't want to discuss... read more

BY JEREMY RUTHERFORD jrutherford@post-dispatch.com

 

On Tuesday, the Blues climbed into the No. 1 spot in the Western Conference standings and a tie with the New York Rangers for the NHL points lead... read more

BY JEREMY RUTHERFORD| Posted: Monday, March 5, 2012

It began in the honky-tonks, went through the Great White North and ended not far from wine country. And when the Blues finally touched back down in St. Louis at 5 Sunday morning, wrapping up their six-game, 10-day trip, they were both exhausted and thirsty for more.

The club brought home a 5-1 record with victories over Nashville, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and San Jose. The only blip was a loss to Vancouver, the top team in the NHL, on the second night of back-to-back games — and that was a one-goal difference before the Canucks added an empty-netter for a 2-0 final... read more