If names mean anything, St. Louis should change the name of its hockey team. The Blues are experiencing just that… The Blues. Maybe if they were the Hip Hops or the Raps, things would be a little more upbeat. After suffering through an NHL worst season last year, the Blues are looking as if nothing has changed. A 3-0 loss to the Flames Tuesday night was only compounded by two key injuries that could make the Blues ship sink even farther.
Blues goalie Curtis Sanford suffered a mild groin strain in the first period while apparently making a tremendous save. Sanford made what looked like an amazing glove save on a shot from Calgary’s Alex Tanguay. But when officials looked at the replay they decided the save was made behind the line and called a goal.
Calgary led 1-0 until the third period when the Blues unfolded and gave the game away. With the Blues on a power-play, Doug Weight mishandled the puck in his own zone and turned it over to Kristian Huselius who scored on a breakaway to make it 2-0. It was the third short-handed goal scored against the Blues this season.
The Flames put the icing on the cake with a power-play goal later in the period.
Bryce Salvador left the game in the second period for the Blues, after blocking a shot with his left hand. X-rays taken came back negative.
St. Louis had their chances to score but went 0-for-5 on power-play opportunities. The Blues were shutout for the second time this year.