Blues Having Trouble Killing Penalties

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replying the story in its archived form does not constitute a re-publiccation of the story.

The Blues return to the playoffs last season had a lot to do with the fact that they were great at killing penalties. Andy Murray's club was ranked third-best in NHL penalty killing behind only the New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild. The Note killed opposing power plays at a rate of 83.8 percent.

This season the Blues rank 17th on the penalty kill and have allowed at least one power play goal in six of their first seven regular season games (exception: 5-0 win in Anaheim last Saturday night). The Note allowed two power play goals in a 5-1 loss at Pittsburgh on Tuesday night and have given up seven PPG's total in 31 times shorthanded for a rating of 77.4-percent this season.

The obvious question is "Why?". Why the drastic difference from last season to this one? Key personnel currently occupying spots on injured reserve is a start for an explanation. The rest is hard to figure. Forward Alex Steen and defenseman Barret Jackman are both missing as Steen is out 6-8 weeks with a right wrist fracture. Jackman has been out for over a week from an ankle sprain and his return date has not yet been determined. He's listed as week-to-week.

Both Steen and Jackman are first-unit key coggs to the Blues' minimizing opposing teams' man-advantages. Forward Jay McClement and defenseman Mike Weaver are usually out on the first unit, as well, and have been mixed with many others who have rotated in an effort to fill the voids created by the team's injuries early this season.

Perhaps improvement is on the horizon. Up next on the schedule are back-to-back games against Minnesota and Dallas, Friday and Saturday night at home (both 7:00 starts). The Wild are currently 10th on the power play while the Stars are 21st with their PP.

TPC