Before finishing stretch, Blues get extra work
Share This Story
ST. LOUIS (AP)
The St. Louis Blues are getting extra conditioning for players coming off injuries, and they are working out the bad taste that came from backing into the Central Division title.
Practice lasted more than 1 1/2 hours Monday, long enough that the Blues needed to resurface the ice. While there are no health issues, forwards Andy McDonald, Matt D'Agostini, Alex Steen and defenseman Roman Polak are rusty from layoffs.
Coach Ken Hitchcock said all four returning players have shown signs of fatigue.
Steen has three points in four games since recovering from a concussion that sidelined him on Dec. 30. D'Agostini missed 26 games with a concussion before returning Saturday and was minus-2 in 8:27 of ice time. McDonald missed six games with a shoulder injury, and had an assist in nearly 17 minutes. Polak had missed five games with a lower body injury.
''We're hoping D'Agostini, his next game's going to be better, hoping that Andy Mac's next game is going to be better,'' Hitchcock said. ''They're trying to get up to speed quickly. When push comes to shove, I have to make sure I know what I'm getting.''
The Blues were the first team to clinch a playoff spot and are second in the Western Conference with 106 points, one point behind Vancouver. They lost composure Saturday night in a 5-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are last overall in the NHL, but clinched their first division title since 1999-2000 anyway when the Nashville Predators lost to Chicago.
Forward David Backes said Monday's practice was ''much longer than usual, but for good reason, to jump start us back on track.''
''We need to make sure we're not easing into things,'' he said.
The previous game, the Blues lost in a shootout at Chicago.
''I don't see that as a lull, I see that as a lack of focus,'' Hitchcock said. ''I see that as a combination of `Haven't we done good?' and `Man, I can hardly wait to get to the end of the year and the playoffs.'
''Then when you get there, it's like `Oh, my god, what happened?'''
St. Louis has three games to go with the first two at home where despite the stumble against Columbus they're an NHL-best 30-5-4. The Detroit Red Wings come to town Wednesday and the Blues wrap up the home schedule Friday night against the Coyotes before finishing the regular season at Dallas on Saturday.
The Blues need one point to set a franchise record for home points, and if they win out they would set a franchise record for victories.
''I think he expects us to be going full force and not looking back,'' forward David Perron said. ''Today was a good day, a good practice, and hopefully it brings an edge to our next game.''
Related Stories
Trending Now
-
Tiger, Sergio are both chicken
Neither Sergio Garcia nor Tiger Woods did anything to promote better race relations. ... -
Teen strangled by dog lead
A Kentucky high school football player known as a "jokester" was strangled by a dog l... -
O'Grady sorry for using term 'colored'
The head of the European golf tour apologized Thursday for using the term ''colored''... -
Jaworski serious about Tebow in AFL
Could it be Tebow Time in the Arena Football League? -
A-Rod a budding real estate mogul?
Injured Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez already rakes in more dough than any pla...
NHL Videos
Highlights: PIT/OTT - Game 4
Posted: May 23, 2013
Watch highlights of the Penguins Game 4 win over the Senators.
Watch highlights of the Penguins Game 4 win over the Senators.
Brown on second loss to Sharks
Posted: May 22, 2013
Dustin Brown reacts after the Game 4 loss tied the series.
Dustin Brown reacts after the Game 4 loss tied the series.
Highlights: SJ/LA - Game 4
Posted: May 22, 2013
Watch highlights of the Sharks' Game 4 win over the Kings.
Watch highlights of the Sharks' Game 4 win over the Kings.
NHL Headlines
More Than Sports on MSN
Fox Sports Store
| itemName | itemURL | imageSrc | price | itemDescription |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reebok Sidney Crosby Pittsburgh Penguins Premier Hockey Jersey - Black | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Pittsburgh_Penguins/browse/featuredproduct/175178/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_175000/FF_175178_xl.jpg&w=100 | 159.95 | Reebok Sidney Crosby Pittsburgh Penguins Premier Hockey Jersey - Black |
| Reebok Dallas Stars White Premier Hockey Jersey | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Dallas_Stars/browse/featuredproduct/243363/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_243000/FF_243363_xl.jpg&w=100 | 124.95 | Reebok Dallas Stars White Premier Hockey Jersey |
| Reebok Tampa Bay Lightning Primary Logo T-Shirt - Royal Blue | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Tampa_Bay_Lightning/browse/featuredproduct/301017/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_301000/ff_301017_xl.jpg&w=100 | 19.95 | Reebok Tampa Bay Lightning Primary Logo T-Shirt - Royal Blue |
| Majestic Anaheim Ducks Black Official Logo Full Zip Hoodie Sweatshirt | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Anaheim_Ducks/browse/featuredproduct/398322/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_398000/FF_398322_xl.jpg&w=100 | 43.99 | Majestic Anaheim Ducks Black Official Logo Full Zip Hoodie Sweatshirt |
| Detroit Red Wings Youth Black Southpaw Backpack | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Detroit_Red_Wings/browse/featuredproduct/403205/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_403000/FF_403205_xl.jpg&w=100 | 24.95 | Detroit Red Wings Youth Black Southpaw Backpack |
| Reebok Chicago Blackhawks #88 Patrick Kane Red Premier Hockey Jersey | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Chicago_Blackhawks/browse/featuredproduct/408123/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_408000/FF_408123_xl.jpg&w=100 | 159.95 | Reebok Chicago Blackhawks #88 Patrick Kane Red Premier Hockey Jersey |
| Majestic New Jersey Devils Red Felt Tek Patch Pullover Hoodie Sweatshirt | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_New_Jersey_Devils/browse/featuredproduct/456774/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_456000/ff_456774_xl.jpg&w=100 | 47.99 | Majestic New Jersey Devils Red Felt Tek Patch Pullover Hoodie Sweatshirt |
| Vancouver Canucks 2011 NHL Western Conference Champions Hockey Stick | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Vancouver_Canucks/browse/featuredproduct/665779/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_665000/ff_665779_xl.jpg&w=100 | 11.95 | Vancouver Canucks 2011 NHL Western Conference Champions Hockey Stick |
| Majestic New York Islanders Royal Blue Felt Tek Patch Pullover Hoodie Sweatshirt | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_New_York_Islanders/browse/featuredproduct/752594/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_752000/ff_752594_xl.jpg&w=100 | 47.99 | Majestic New York Islanders Royal Blue Felt Tek Patch Pullover Hoodie Sweatshirt |
Member Comments
Please note by clicking on "Post comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be Polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.