Berglund Awakens, Blues Start Their Break

Since this worked so well, are we going to get a series of posts for Chris Stewart, Matt D'Agostini, and maybe Jamie Langenbrunner coming out of the ASB? heheh

Here's a thought after Berglund's big night: Was it enough to make the Blues want to retain him or did it bump up his value enough to move him in a deal? Could really be viewed either way.

Can't wait to see what happens.

Regardless of all of the trade speculation I did a couple of days back in that absurdly long multi-comment reply, I'm still of the belief that nothing will get done, whether or not it's reasonably available given the pieces the Blues could conceivably give up, if the ownership situation doesn't get finalized before the trade deadline. In that scenario, I expect at most a scenery change move along the lines of a Berglund (if this game wasn't him finally turning on the jets for the year) or D'Agostini (similarly) for a similar type of player in skill/age/contract length/dollars, and at least, probably a move of Bishop and any other pending unrestricted free agents at Peoria that the team doesn't intend to resign for whatever they can get in future considerations/draft picks.

One last comment, on the game in general: This was the fourth game in six nights for the boys, and they actually did manage to find their wheels and draw even and really pressure the Pens after getting in a bad spot down two goals. Could it have been better? Sure. Any game where we don't bury the opponent by three or four goals could have been better. But after the Wings game, and then getting down in this one, it was nice to see this year's Blues come charging back out and knot it up. Last year, they don't do that.

If the Blues want to go deep, the simple fact of the matter is this: The guys they have now, returning injured or otherwise, are going to have to find a way to find the back of the net on a more regular basis. Capitalize on chances, whatever you want to call it, the boys are going to have to find a way to do it more regularly. (Blues postgame on KMOX is saying exactly the same thing right now.)

I know Stewart was doing well playing with Backes, but I've really liked his play with Langenbrunner the last couple of games. Sure, he doesn't have points to show for it yet, but he's at least been a visible force on the line. Similarly with D'Agostini tonight - while he didn't have the goals that Berglund got, he at least wasn't the ghost on the ice that he's been so often in the past couple of weeks.

The worry about McDonald is certainly a potential issue, but one thing I think he will bring back to the team whether or not his timing is immediately ready at the NHL level is another honest-to-goodness speed threat. Just adding another player with that dimension to the lineup gives opponents one more thing to have trouble matching up against. Similarly for Steen, and we can hope that he'll be back in the mix in nine days against LA.

A quick hit on the shootout: The points sitting there on the table are an issue, no doubt about it. That said, games won in regulation and overtime (the ROW column on the NHL.com standings) actually becomes the first tiebreak once the season is over. So, there is some kind of penalty for the Detroits and San Joses and Colorados of the West who can't finish their business by playing real hockey.

Aaaand I found the character limit again. (1/2)