Bleacher Report - Articles by Joey Coleman

St. Louis Blues Lose Tough One to Ottawa, 3-1

Joey Coleman — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 02:57:18 -0500

It was just another typical loss for the Blues in what has been a long and very disappointing season. They always find themselves in the third period with a chance to win it. The Ottawa Senators outplayed the Blues for much of the game and surprisingly enough, the goaltending the Blues received from Chris Mason kept them in it.

Scoring started with Mike Fisher intercepting a lackadaisical pass from Blues forward David Perron and beating Mason, who was partially screened by Daniel Alfredsson, for the shorthanded goal.

The Blues were able to tie the game just three minutes later with a tip-in goal from Brad Winchester.

The second period was very up-and-down, with no major scoring chances. There was an incident where Chris Neil and Jarkko Ruutu teamed up to hit Carlo Colaiacovo, who stayed down for a couple seconds, but was able to get up and return to action.

The third period was dominated by the Senators. They were finally able to convert with two minutes left on what looked like a harmless wrap-a-round by Patrick Regin. Mike Fisher was able to finish the game with an empty-netter, his second goal of the night, with a minute left.

This was a typical game for the St. Louis Blues this year. Stay with a team for 40 minutes, but find a way to lose in the final 20.

St. Louis Blues Rally Late, Beat Chicago Blackhawks 4-3

Joey Coleman — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 16:45:39 -0400

After a dominating win against the Stars two nights ago, the Blues made it a little more interesting. If you missed this game, you missed probably the best game so far this year. I know its early, but oh boy this was a thriller.

40 seconds into the first period Patrick Kane tapped in a suspect goal past Manny Legace. Legace had made a harmless save on a shot from the point and thought about coming out to get to the rebound then took a step back and it was too late to get into position to stop Kane's shot.

After that it was just the Blues and Blackhawks going up and down the blue lines creating chances.

Three minutes into the second the Blackhawks took a 2-0 lead when Brian Campell took a pass from Patrick Kane just outside the blue-line, skated into the slot, and wristed one past Legace who was partially screened by Eric Brewer.

With three minutes left Chris Porter, who was just called up, scored his first ever NHL goal on a rebound off a shot from Barrett Jackman. It was an ironic call because the whole game the announcers were talking about North Dakota teammates Jonathan Toews and T.J. Oshie, but did not say a word about former Sioux Chris Porter in these talks.

Patrick Kane scored his second goal of the game on the power play on a wrister off the cross bar and in. Keith Tkachuk kept his scoring streak alive scoring again with his sixth of the year. Then, with 20 seconds left in the game, Andy McDonald snuck a wrister past Nikolai Khabibulin

The overtime period was dominated by the Blues as they were able to get a power play with about four minutes left in the overtime. The Blues had multiple great scoring chances off this, but Khabibulin played a phenominiol game and was able to stop them.

The shootout started out with a great move by Andy McDonald, but he was unable to capitalize when he had Khabibulin down. He just shanked his backhand way wide.

Patrick Kane then tried the patented move of fake forehand roof the backhand, but he was just unable to get it high enough.

Boyes took the next shot for the Blues and he just sniped it top shelf past Khabibulin's glove. Toews answered right back with a very weak five hole goal. Both Paul Kariya and Kris Versteeg were robbed, so it went to a sudden death shootout.

Oshie was first to shoot for the Blues and he made a great move and put in a forehand past Khabibulin. Martin Havlat had a chance to extend the game, but just could not complete his opportunity.

Blues Look Great, Beat Stars 6-1

Joey Coleman — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:52:31 -0400

And who said the Blues were going to struggle scoring goals? Yes it is early, but if the Blues can keep this up who's to say they can't make the playoffs. The Blues have scored 17 goals in 4 goals a little over 4 and 1 quarter a game.

Tonight was more of the same and in a game with 7 goals no one scored twice. The Stars came into St. Louis playing last night and it sure showed. The First period was dominated by the Blues. Keith Tkachuk jumped on a turnover and beat Turco to give the Blues a one nothing lead. Three minutes later in what could be his only goal of the year Jay Mckee was able to beat Turco and put the Blues up two nothing. Krys Barch made the game close for the last time tapping in a shot from Trevor Daley.

The second period was more of the same. Yan Statsny was able to score a goal in his first game playing this year from D.J. King and newcomer Mike Weaver. To all those Brad Boyes doubters out there, he looks for real. He was able to snipe one to put the Blues up four to one. Then Steve Wagner was able to let a absolute rocket top shelf to beat Turco from just inside the blue line.

The third period was dominated by checking a little bit of ugly play. Turco was pulled to start the third period and Tobias Stephen came into his place. After a couple of silly penalties from the Stars. The Blues received a four on three and Eric Brewer was able to capatilize Paul Kariya and Brad Boyes.

Right now Keith Tkachuk is on pace for 85 goals, yes this is not realistic and I'm not saying he is going to do that, but jeeze the guy is on fire. Brad Boyes is on a pace for 82 goals right now, he has shown that it was no fluke last year. Manny Legace had another great game in net stopping 29 out of 30 and continuing his excellence versus the Stars.

Joey MacDonald Dominates, Islanders Defeat Blues

Joey Coleman — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:14:07 -0400

After the Red Wings decided they didn't need him anymore, Joey MacDonald came to the New York Islanders looking for a fresh start. He played a great game in his first chance this year.

The first period was dominated by the Islanders and filled with scoring. It started early with Mike Comrie scoring from Richard Park and rookie Kyle Okposo. Just 11 minutes later, with the Islanders on the power play, Trent Hunter buried a great pass from Doug Weight.

Youngster Sean Bergenheim scored just two minutes after Hunter's goal. Just when you thought you saw enough goal-scoring for a period, Brad Boyes put the Blues on the board with a snipe with three minutes left in the first period. And that wasn't all the scoring for the first period. With 20 seconds left, Andy Hilbert snuck in a shorthanded goal to end the period.

The second period was nothing like the first with very few scoring chances for either team. The Islanders could not convert on any of their three power plays in the second period.

The third period is when MacDonald really started to shine. Keith Tkachuk scored another one, for his third goal in two games. It was a pretty lucky goal for the Blues. Paul Kariya took a shot that changed direction and bounced off MacDonald's pad right to Tkachuk, who just buried it five-hole.

Jay McClement had a great chance from a foot away with five minutes left, but MacDonald robbed him with some beautiful saves. Bill Guerin scored an empty netter with under a minute left to round out the scoring.

Blues-Predators: St. Louis Wins Big in Opener, Power Play Dominates

Joey Coleman — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:20:26 -0400

The St. Louis Blues come into the season young and still rebuilding, with many people saying they are still a year or two away from being something in the league.

After tonight's performance, though, you've got to step back and say, "Really?"

The Nashville Predators came into St. Louis tonight, and jumped out to an early lead, with Ryan Suter scoring from Scott Nichols and Jordan Tootoo just two minutes in. The first ten minutes were dominated by the Predators, but the Blues coaches seem to think it was the nerves on the part of their boys.

With around seven minutes left in the period, Keith Tkachuk snapped a one-timer from Paul Kariya on the power play to tie the game up. Thirty-three seconds later, David Perron found Barrett Jackman in the slot, and Jackman buried the puck for a 2-1 lead.

The second period was dominated by the Blues' special teams. Brad Boyes showed early flashes of last year's form, putting one past Nashville's Dan Ellis on the power play. Joel Ward put a goal in for the Predators, and it started to look like the Preds might have a chance—but five minutes later Keith Tkachuk tapped in his second power-play goal on the night, off a beautiful pass from David Perron behind the net.

With three minutes left in the second period, David Backes scored a power-play goal, when a slap shot from Lee Stempniak tipped off Backes' foot and into the net.

Third period was dominated by the checking lines and the goalies. Both teams were running out four lines and playing solid defense, and there wasn't much action.

The Blues went four for six on the power play. Andy Murray looked like a genius, as earlier in the preseason he experimented with five forwards on the power play to add some scoring. He went with that same strategy tonight and it worked to perfection with some good passing and great pucking moving.

If this is any of indication of how the year could turn out for St. Louis, all of us Blues fans have a lot to look foward to.

Blues-Kings: St. Louis Loses Preseason Opener, Special Teams Fail Again

Joey Coleman — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:04:59 -0400

It was last year's St. Louis Blues last night—special teams cost them another game. The Blues played the Los Angeles Kings last night in Kansas City. The Kings had their B team out, as most of their starters were in Los Angeles for their game against Phoenix.

The first period was scoreless, with the Blues leading in shots nine to five. Both teams went zero for two on their power play chances—with the Blues failing to convert on a five-on-three.

Davis Drewiske scored a shorthanded goal one minute into the second period from Tom Preissing and Jarrett Stoll. The Blues could not convert on their two power plays in the second period. The Blues had ten shots in the period, while the Kings had nine.

The third period got ugly, with two fights and a bunch of roughing penalties. Wayne Simmonds scored a power-play goal for the Kings from Tom Preissing and Teddy Purcell four minutes into the third. Paul Kariya put a power-play goal in for the Blues from David Perron with six minutes left.

There were four roughing penalties handed out between the teams after Perron hit someone with a high stick. D.J. King fought Kevin Wesgarth and Matt Foy fought Wayne Simmonds.

Jonathon Quirk did not give up a goal for the Kings, as Jeff Zatkof came in the third and gave up for the lone goal tp the Blues. Marek Schawrtz and Chris Mason both gave up a goal for St. Louis.

The Blues had their chances, but they just couldn't finish. The turning point in the game was when the Blues had a five-on-three for 47 seconds, and only had one good scoring chance. As a NHL team, you have to convert on five-on-threes.

Blues Have One More Year of Rebuilding

Joey Coleman — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 11:34:19 -0400

The Blues looked like they were on the way up to the top and finally out of the rebuilding stage last year. They also showed that it's going to take a lot more offensive consistency for them to get to the top of the division.

With a majority of their goals coming from Brad Boyes, the Blues will need a lot more secondary scoring this year now that every team knows about Boyes' ability to put the puck in the back of the net.

The addition of Patrick Berglund should help, but he is more of a pass-first-shoot-second type of player. The other key forward prospect looking to play this year is T.J. Oshie, and he is more of an energy player then a scorer.

The defense should be much better this year, but the defense wasn't always the problem last year. A lot of games were lost 1-0 or 2-0. They can't be faulted for a loss when the offense only scores one or two goals.

Alex Pietrangelo should be able to step into the NHL by the start of the season. He should help this core group of young defensemen grow and build as a unit.

The major problem for the Blues was their special teams. They just could not bury their chances on the power play. Don't expect to see much of a change there, with no real additions made to the offensive unit. Their penalty kill should grow, with key forwards like Jay McClement and David Backes returning.

The Blues will continue to improve as a team, but are still a year and a skilled forward away from competing with the top of the Western Conference. That doesn't mean you should necessarily count the Blues out for one of the eight playoff spots up for grabs.

Expect better things in years to come with John Davidson showing he knows how to run an NHL team. They should end the season above .500 or hovering right around it. Anything else would have to be seen as a disappointment.

Are The St. Louis Rams A Lock For Worst Team in NFL Already?

Joey Coleman — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 19:18:29 -0400

Two weeks into the NFL season and it looks like we might have a clear cut worst team already. The St. Louis Rams have showed absolutely nothing positive besides keeping the game close with Giants till the fourth quarter where it turned into the same old beat down.

The Rams look like they are going to shoot for that unprecedented 0-16 mark and they way they are playing right now they are very capable. They look to be worse then the Miami Dolphins last year.

The Rams have only scored 16 points in two games. That would be alright if they were playing good defense, but you can't say your playing good defense when you've given up 79 points in two games.

Now whether they are actually about to achieve that 0-16 mark is hard to say. It is very hard to lose 16 games in a row with a decently talented team, but if something doesn't change soon. Then be ready to be talking about the Rams going for that 0-16 mark.

Why Chase Daniel is Better Than Tim Tebow

Joey Coleman — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:39:00 -0400

Now the first thing most people are going to say when they read this title is no one is better than Tim Tebow. Lets think about this, though.

Three years ago when Chase Daniel started his first full season for Missouri University, how many people even talked about Mizzou?

Now let's go back to when Tim Tebow started out at Florida University, it was already a big college that everyone was talking about thanks to their National Championship appearances and continued great play for years.

How many people outside of Missouri can honestly name a different receiver on Mizzou other than All-American Jeremy Maclin, or even another offensive player on Mizzou.

Chase Daniel has put up better quarterback stats. I say "quarterback" because I mean passing stats. Daniel has put up better passing stats than Tebow every year. He has done this with far less talent on offense.

Now for the people who say Daniel cannot compete under the pressure and Tebow can. Many of you last year kept saying, "Well, this is the week Mizzou will finally be put under real pressure," and week after week, Daniel put up great numbers.

He had one slip up vs. a very good Oklahoma team, where they were in that game until the end. Tebow has not done anything special for Florida yet since taking over full time from Chris Leak.

Yes, he has won his fair share of big games vs. big opponents, but so has Chase Daniel. So all in all, Chase Daniel is a better quarterback than Tim Tebow.