Peepin' Foes: St. Louis Blues

Pix pix pix pix pix pix pix pix pix pix pix pix pix pix pix pix pix pix pix ... hopefully the Rangers shoot as much tonight as the kids used to do when they were trying to win that damned video game on Channel 11 back in the day. The Blueshirts will be on WPIX at 8 pm to faceoff against the St. Louis Blues.

Where We Are: Coming off one of weak half-assed excuse for an effort after one impressive run. Was the 2-0 loss to the Sens an aberration like the 6-0 destruction at the hands of the Flyers? We will certainly find out.

Where They Are: St. Louis is on a three game win streak after a disappointing 0-5-2 run that saw them drop down the Western Conference Standings. Amid that slide, they ditched their head coach. They are 13th in the west but are just seven points behind eighth place LA with a game in hand. Sadly they just lost a megafan and my condolences go out to his family.

Who To Watch For: All American hero David Backes is a tough bastard who can score and he leads a large contingent of skilled kids: roller hockey star TJ Oshie (he of the check on the hit-happy Cal Clutterbuck in front of the hot chick in the picture on the right), David Perron, Patrik Berglund and Erik Johnson. Walt Keith Tkachuk is playing the part of toothless Bobby Clarke after taking a puck to the grill two weeks back while Paul Kariya has returned from another concussion; they are old and far from their prime but there is still a little left in the tank. Not much, but a little. Brad Boyes and Andy MacDonald are 1 and 2 in St. Louis in points but that isn't saying much as neither is close to a point per game. Andy Mac leads the team in goals with 14. Yeah. With our luck, they should put up six or seven on us, right? Let's hope not.

What To Watch For: If Tortorella needs to blow a timeout to motivate his players. Donald Brashear possibly being out with injury after getting his ass kicked by Matt Carkner, and thus avoiding B.J. Crombeen and Cam Janssen - both of whom would clobber the caveman. Barret Jackman playing the kind of tough, strong defensive defense that the Rangers have needed for years. Erik Christensen to get a single shot on goal - one more than against the Sens.

What We'll (Hopefully) See: The convincing win we wanted on Thursday. Avery yapping at Janssen like they did in the old days, with Avery showing up the cement-headed former Devil with a goal or two. Marian Gaborik to get back to his scoring ways. Vinny Prospal to get his legs back. Hobey Gilroy to put college dropout Erik Johnson in his place. MSG to realize that Micheletti is no real replacement for JD and convince Davidson to give up his cushy gig as king of the Blues kingdom.

Also Check Out: I don't check many Blues sites to tell you the truth. I should, seeing as they are at times a very exciting team. I have always enjoyed St. Louis Game Time, even after SBN snatched him up and I occasionally look at Let's Go Blues.