Sport-scan daily brief

Todd McLellan said: “The [0-for-7] is not a good thing, yet when we looked at it today, there were some really good looks. A couple posts and that kind of stuff, but the puck still has to find its way in.”

The Sharks’ best power play was its first one, and included captain Joe Thornton ripping a wrist shot off of the cross bar less than five minutes into the game. San Jose’s top unit of Thornton, Boyle, Logan Couture, Joe Pavelski and Patrick Marleau has been together long enough that there is no reason to think it won’t get its fair amount of goals with a man advantage.

The second unit, which struggled to produce last season, is of much more concern and will be a work in progress. On Thursday, Jason Demers, Matt Irwin, Tyler Kennedy, Tomas Hertl and Brent Burns that made up the Sharks’ second five-some.

That unit got about half the time as the top unit, though. In fact, on the lengthy five-on-three, when a line change could have been made midway through, the Sharks’ coaches opted to keep the top unit out there for all but 14 seconds.

McLellan talked on Friday about his power play philosophy. While the first unit will remain unchanged for the foreseeable future, the head coach could mix and match on the second unit if need be.

“The first unit has a good idea of where everybody’s going to be and what they’re going to do. I thought there were times they got a little too cute, to tell you the truth. They had chances to be a little more meat and potatoes, and they weren’t, and we can fix that. And they know they can fix that.”

“We’ll try and establish a second unit, but if we feel we have to move guys in, we definitely will. There was talk on the bench. We’re in night one, and they haven’t even gotten to play through the exhibition season, and maybe we should do this or do that. But, no, it was let them work through it. Give them some time. They have to get familiar with each other and understand what each other’s tendencies may be.”

The Sharks would like to continue to get goals from different sources, no matter how they come. Defenseman Justin Braun broke an 85-game goalless drought with what turned out to be the game-winner late in the second period, while third-liner Tommy Wingels put the game away with a late score in the third.

Boyle said: “We got some goals from a couple guys, Brauner and Tommy, you don’t see on the scoresheet every night. That’s what it takes to win, so overall, a pretty good start.”

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.05.2013

719626 San Jose Sharks

Sharks recall McCarthy, send Pelech to Worcester

SAN JOSE -- The Sharks have re-assigned forward Matt Pelech to their AHL affiliate in Worcester, and recalled forward John McCarthy.

Pelech played in San Jose’s season opener against Vancouver, logging just five minutes and one second of ice time in a fourth line role.

McCarthy, 27, had nine goals and 16 assists in 65 games with Worcester last season. He is the Worcester Sharks’ captain.

In 51 career NHL games over three seasons, all with the Sharks, McCarthy has two goals and two assists for four points and 18 penalty minutes.

McCarthy got the call ahead of 21-year-old rookie Freddie Hamilton, who will have to wait to make his NHL debut.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 10.05.2013

719627 St Louis Blues

Blues face teams from East again

3 hours ago • By Jeremy Rutherford jrutherford@post-dispatch.com 314-444-7135

With the Blues’ season opener in the rearview mirror, the pomp and pageantry will be put aside tonight at Scottrade Center. But while a game against Florida won’t be the first on the club’s calendar, it will mark the return of hockey in one manner.

The Western and Eastern conferences are back battling each other again.

The Blues have not faced an East opponent in the regular season since a 3-1 victory over Tampa Bay on March 17, 2012. That’s a span of 20 months and a stretch of 73 games, including the playoffs.

The NHL lockout last season limited the league to a 48-game schedule, and when the puck finally dropped in January, there was only enough time left for intra-conference play. The first meeting between the West and East came in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals between Chicago and Boston, a series eventually won by the Blackhawks.

Now, following an offseason of realignment, the two conferences are ready to renew acquaintances in the regular season. In fact, teams are guaranteed to see each other twice in 2013-14, once in each other’s arena.

“To have a year off from playing them and then play everybody home and home, it changes it up a little bit,” Blues defenseman Barret Jackman said. “It’s a fresh look at the rest of the competition and the other side of the NHL.”

With 16 teams in the Eastern Conference — Detroit and Columbus have left for the East and Winnipeg has joined the West — the Blues’ 32 matchups outside their conference will be a marked increase from the 18 played each season from 2008-12. That number had dipped to just 10 from 2005-08, when the league emphasized division rivalries.

“A few years back, you were playing teams in your own division like eight times a year and it was just too much,” Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester said. “Then they cut it down to six and you played the other teams a little bit more. But as a player, you like playing everybody and you like going to different buildings.

“I think it’s good for fans, too. There’s marquee players on a lot of different teams all over the place, and if people don’t get to see (Pittsburgh’s) Sidney Crosby, I don’t think that’s a very good way of promoting your game. I think it’s good for everyone.”

Florida has a couple of the game’s top young talented players in forward Jonathan Huberdeau, who was the No. 3 overall pick in 2011 and rookie of the year last season, and forward Aleksander Barkov, who was the No. 2 overall pick last summer. Barkov scored in the Panthers’ 4-2 win over Dallas on Thursday.

“I know Dallas is fast but they got outskated (by Florida) and that was really surprising to me,” Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. “Then when you look at the (Panthers’) personnel and the way they’ve built their team, their forwards are quick. They transition the puck really quickly and they’ve got speed. Controlling their speed is going to be the challenge for us.”

In recent years, the East has been considered the speedier of the two conferences, with teams playing a more free-wheeling offense. In the West, clubs are known to play a tighter-checking game with more physicality.

“It’s weird because way back, the East was big and strong and kind of wore you down and the West was the Detroits and Colorados … they were skilled and fast,” said Bouwmeester, who once played for Florida. “It’s kind of almost changed, where the East is a little bit more open and the West has all these teams that play like us and LA.”

New Blues winger Brenden Morrow noticed the difference last season when the career Western Conference player, who spent 13 seasons in Dallas, joined Pittsburgh for the stretch run.

“I didn’t play every team, but the experience I did have, it was a lot more kind of puck plays and speed … always head-manning the puck,” Morrow said. “It’s a really fast tempo and that kind of plays into this team’s hands.”

The Blues have enjoyed success against the East in recent years, posting a record of 25-6-5 in 2011-12 and 2010-11 combined. But in the last 1½ years, rosters have changed and there are new faces, including the one on the Blues’ bench.

Hitchcock acknowledged that his club might need to make adjustments when playing against the East, but not until later in the season.

“I don’t think it matters early, but if you go long stretches without playing them …” Hitchcock said. “It’s more about the tempo of the games right now.”

Perhaps also benefiting the Blues is that not all the faces are new.

Former Blues’ 40-goal scorer Brad Boyes, who played in St. Louis from 2007-11, and defenseman Mike Weaver (2008-10) will be in Florida’s lineup tonight. They stopped in front of the Blues’ locker room Friday to greet ex-teammates.

“There’s still a lot of guys that I played with here,” said Boyes, whom the Blues originally traded to Buffalo. “It’s good to chat with them. I loved it here, I had a great time and it’s always good to come back.”

Now on the other side, though, they’ll receive little love in return.

“There’s a few guys that we know,” Jackman said. “It’s going to be fun to play them hard and take two points against them.”

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 10.05.2013

719628 St Louis Blues

Steen misses practice but will play Saturday

3 hours ago • By Jeremy Rutherford jrutherford@post-dispatch.com 314-444-7135

Blues left winger Alexander Steen was not at practice Friday, spending the time instead at the dentist’s office.

In Thursday’s 4-2 win over Nashville, Steen was high-sticked by the Predators’ Victor Bartley in the third period, drawing a four-minute double-minor penalty.

“He’s fine,” Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock said. “He just got his tooth looked at. He’ll be back at the skate (today), ready to go.”

The Blues may lose a few teeth this season, but they don’t want to lose anyone off the line of Steen, David Backes and T.J. Oshie following Thursday’s performance.

Backes and Steen each had power-play goals, and the trio accounted for Oshie’s 5-on-5 goal. They combined for seven of the Blues’ 28 shots.

“Yeah, it was good,” Hitchcock said. “(The line) was probably better offensively than most people thought. We need a little better work without the puck, but I liked their diligence, I liked their competitiveness ... and where they were really good was both ends of the special teams. Those guys really contributed in a huge way.”

Backes, a notorious slow starter offensively, had a goal and an assist for a two-point night in the opener.

“It’s one game, and things kind of went well for us,” Backes said. “It’s not going to be perfect every night, but we have to find a way to contribute, however that is. When we’re winning games, it doesn’t matter how we score.”

lappy yapping

Most Blues fans are familiar with Maxim Lapierre’s personality on the ice.

The former Vancouver Canuck likes to talk to opposing players and fans saw that Thursday, as Lapierre literally glided along with Nashville players during stoppages in play and yapped in their ear.

“There’s an art to it,” Blues defenseman Barret Jackman said. “Some guys have it, some guys can be witty the entire game and some guys can get under your skin. You make a bad play and all of the sudden there’s a guy chirping you every time you do it. It’s a very effective tool for some guys and ‘Lappy’ is pretty (dang) good at it.”

balanced ice time

The leader in ice for the Blues on Thursday night was no surprise. Alex Pietrangelo finished with 25 minutes, 10 seconds, following by Jay Bouwmeester (23:50).

That much will be expected this season, but what may be more important to watch is the Blues’ balance of ice time throughout the rest of the roster.

Ryan Reaves was the only Blues player Thursday to finish with less than 10 minutes (8:13). The rest of the lineup played 11:32 or better, and the 11:32 belonged to Brenden Morrow, who flew back to St. Louis from Detroit on Thursday after taking care of his visa issues.

“I thought the big thing for us was we played with good energy in the third (period) because we were able to keep good balance,” Hitchcock said. “If you look, we had one player who played less than double-digit minutes, which to me is really important moving forward.”

bluenotes

Jaroslav Halak, who had 28 saves for the win Thursday, will be back in net tonight against Florida. ... The Panthers’ roster includes defenseman Ryan Whitney, who had a camp tryout with the Blues.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 10.05.2013

719629 St Louis Blues

Blues-Panthers matchup box

4 hours ago • By Jeremy Rutherford jrutherford@post-dispatch.com 314-444-7135

BLUES VS. PANTHERS

When • Tonight, 7 p.m.

Where • Scottrade Center

TV, radio • FSM, KMOX (1120 AM)

Blues • The Blues continue a season-opening, five-game homestand tonight against Florida. It will mark the return of competition between the Western and Eastern conferences, following an intraconference schedule. Jaroslav Halak will get the start in goal tonight for the Blues. In the club’s last meeting against Florida, Halak made 20 saves for a 4-1 victory over the Panthers on Nov. 17, 2011.

Panthers • Florida is 1-0 after a 4-2 victory over Dallas on Thursday. Marcel Goc had two goals and rookie Aleksander Barkov, the No. 3 overall pick in last summer’s draft, scored in his NHL debut. The Panthers’ goaltender is former Boston Bruin Tim Thomas, who sat out the entire 2012-13 season. Thomas, who turns 40 in April, made 25 saves against the Stars in his first NHL game in 17 months.

Injuries • Blues — none. Panthers — D Ed Jovanovski (hip), questionable; F Nick Bjugstad (concussion), F Steven Pinizzotto (hip) and F Sean Bergenheim (hip, abdomen), out.

Jeremy Rutherford

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 10.05.2013

719630 St Louis Blues

Blues' Steen misses practice but he'll be OK

17 hours ago • By Jeremy Rutherford jrutherford@post-dispatch.com 314-444-7135

Blues left winger Alexander Steen was not a practice Friday, spending the time instead at the dentist's office.

In Thursday's 4-2 win over Nashville, Steen was high-sticked by the Predators' Victor Bartley in the third period, drawing a four-minute double-minor penalty.

"He's fine," Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock said. "He just got his tooth looked at. He'll be back at the skate (Saturday), ready to go."

The Blues may lose a few teeth this season, but they don't want to lose anyone off the line of Steen, David Backes and T.J. Oshie, after the group's fine performance Thursday.

Backes and Steen each had power-play goals, but the trio also accounted for a nifty 5-on-5 goal. They accounted for seven of the Blues' 28 shots.

"Yeah, it was good," Hitchcock said. "(The line) was probably better offensively than most people thought. We need a little better work without the puck, but I liked their diligence, I liked their competitiveness... and where they were really good was both ends of the special teams. Those guys really contributed in a huge way.

Backes, a notorious slow-start offensively, had a goal and an assist, for a two-point night in the opener.

"It's one game, and things kind of went well for us," Backes said. "It's not going to be perfect every night, but we have to find a way to contribute, however that is. When we're winning games, it doesn't matter how we score."

That was no more evident than on the line's even-strength goal. Backes fed Steen, who had a wide-open net but gave the puck to Oshie, who squeezed it into a tiny slit.

"Originally, I thought it was going to be an empty-net (for Steen)," Oshie said. "I was going to celebrate and then he slid it across. I didn't know what to do, but luckily I was able to get to the post before (Nashville goalie Pekka) Rinne.

***

LAPPY YAPPING

"There's an art to it," Blues defenseman Barret Jackman said. "Some guys have it, some guys can be witty the entire game and some guys can get under your skin. You make a bad play and all of the sudden there's a guy chirping you every time you do it. It's a very effective tool for some guys and 'Lappy' is pretty (dang) good at it."

***

BALANCED ICE TIME

Everyone knows they will be the team leaders, if healthy, so what may be more important to watch is the balance of ice time throughout the rest of the roster.

Ryan Reaves was the only Blues' player in Thursday's game to finish with less than 10 minutes, with 8:13. The rest had 11:32 or better, and the 11:32 belonged to Brenden Morrow, who had limited preseason action and flew back to St. Louis from Detroit Thursday after taking care of his visa issues.

"I thought the big thing for us was we played with good energy in the third (period) because we were able to keep good balance," Hitchcock said. "If you look, we had one player who played less than double-digit minutes, which to me is really important moving forward."

***

ODDS & ENDS

• The Florida Panthers arrived in St. Louis Friday and two former Blues — Brad Boyes and Mike Weaver — spent quite a bit of time chatting with ex-teammates outside the locker room.

• Brenden Morrow said today that he didn't know which Nashville player he got with his reverse hit in the second period. It turned out to be Mike Fisher, who retaliated, leading to a Blues' man-advantage and a power-play goal by Alexander Steen for a 4-2 lead.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 10.05.2013

719631 St Louis Blues

Blues' No. 1 line lives up to its billing in season-opening win

Published: October 5, 2013 Updated 4 hours ago

By NORM SANDERS — News-Democrat

ST. LOUIS — They comprise the St. Louis Blues' top line and Thursday night at Scottrade Center, there was no denying the value of David Backes, T.J. Oshie and Alexander Steen.

All three had a goal and Steen and Backes added assists as they generally imposed their will --especially early --in a 4-2 season-opening win over Nashville.

"As a line we feel like we've got some responsibility to set the tone and set the bar for work ethic," said Backes, a two-time 31-goal scorer who had only six in last year's abbreivated season. "With the skill that those two guys have and me getting in the other team's way, it seems to work out for some offensive prowess as well."

The veteran trio are among the team's most versatile players. They see time on the power play and penalty kill and typically take the ice against the other team's top line.

Hitchcock had harped about needing the Blues to finish off more scoring chances around the net and the goals by Backes and Oshie were perfect examples.

"We've got workers right now," Hitchcock said. "We want to make power forwards out of some of our workers. I think there's guys capable of scoring 20, 25 or 30 goals here. If we get them to play with a higher level of finish and tenacity around the net, I think we're going to be in good shape."

The Florida Panthers visit the Blues on Saturday for the second leg of a five-game homestand to open the season.

"You've got to be good at home and squeak out some on the road," Backes said. "We've had some great history in this barn and the fans were fantastic (Thursday). I thought the roof was going to come off a couple times. It gives you a little extra energy."

The Blues scored on their first two power plays and were 2-for-4 on the night. They also killed off all four Nashville power plays.

Jaroslav Halak will be back in goal against Florida after winning the opener.

Familiar faces

Former Blues Brad Boyes and Mike Weaver will revisit their former hockey home Saturday night as members of the Florida Panthers.

Boyes signed a one-year deal with the Panthers on Sept. 28 after netting 10 goals and points last season with the New York Islanders. He came to camp on a pro tryout contract.

Boyes had his best two NHL seasons with the Blues from 2007-09, racking up 76 goals and 137 points in 164 games. That include a 43-goal outburst in 2007-08, but since scoring 33 goals in 2008-09 Boyes has never scored more than 14 again.

Weaver was with the Blues from 2008-10.

The Panthers got a goal from 18-year old rookie Aleksander Barkov and two from Marcel Goc on Thursday in a 4-2 victory at Dallas. Barkov was the second overall pick in the recent NHL draft.

The Panthers also signed veteran defenseman Ryan Whitney, who was in camp with the Blues on a pro tryout contract before being let go.

Florida's goaltender is Tim Thomas, the former Boston Bruins standout who is 39. Thomas hadn't played in the NHL since April 2012, before collecting the win on Thursday.

Belleville News-Democrat LOADED: 10.05.2013

719632 St Louis Blues

Morrow gets to play for the Blues; updates on Paajarvi and Roy

Published: October 4, 2013 Updated 18 hours ago

By NORM SANDERS — News-Democrat

ST. LOUIS — Veteran winger Brenden Morrow got his work visa issues worked out and was in the opening night lineup Thursday for the St. Louis Blues.

At the Blues' morning skate Thursday, winger Magnus Paajarvi skated in Morrow's place on the second line with Derek Roy and Chris Stewart.

Morrow missed the morning skate, but was there when it counted for the opener.

Earlier, Hitchcock was hopeful of seeing Morrow in the opening night lineup.

"I don't know," Hitchcock said. "It's up to the government."

Morrow said Wednesday that he began the application process for a new work visa last May. He had no idea about the reason for the delay, but the U.S. Government shutdown this week may not have helped expedite things.

Paajarvi was ready to step in if needed, but was a healthy scratch. He was asked about a game plan in case he was in the lineup.

"Do my thing and try to do that 100 percent," Paajarvi said. "That's good speed offensively and defensively, create space for them and create space for myself and maybe get a goal or two. I want to do my thing and do it 100 percent.

"If the chemistry is there, it's there."

The system Paajarvi comes from in Edmonton is a vastly difference from Hitchcock's tight checking with speed and aggressiveness in St. Louis.

"It is a big difference," Paajarvi said. "You have to be professional though, it's not the first time I've had to change systems. You just have to acclimate yourself and I've had a whole training camp for that. Hopefully it's just instinct right now."

Roy draws $10K fine

Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy made his NHL coaching debut with the Colorado Avalanche a memorable one Wednesday. And not just because of a 6-1 win over Anaheim.

Roy became upset with the Ducks about a hit by Ben Lovejoy on Avalanche rookie Nathan McKinnon and then turned his anger toward Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau.

Roy, whose junior coaching days included plenty of intensity, began shoving the glass partition between himself and Boudreau on the bench until it started to lean over.

"(Boudreau) could have had a new middle name -- 'Pancake,''' Hitchcock said Thursday. "He could have got smooshed. If that thing goes any further Bruce has got the best weight loss program going. Wow."

Hitchcock hopes that type of over-the-top behavior won't continue.

"That's junior hockey, it's got no place in our game," Hitchcock said. "You can't be pushing barriers down or whatever. It's just got no place in our game. I've been involved in some of those instances a long, long time ago and they are really scary."

Around the rink

*Making his debut for the Predators on Thursday was rookie defenseman Seth Jones, the son of former Murray State and NBA basketball player Popeye Jones. Seth Jones was the fourth overall pick in the 2013 NHL draft.

*Millstadt resident Tom Calhoun was in his familiar seat at center ice and is handling Blues public address announcer duties for another season.