This photo of Bruce Boudreau before he was fired has nothing to do with this post. I'm just trolling for hits.

Apologies on lack of postings, those of you who notice that I write stuff. Work has been killer, and then a holiday hit in which I foolishly brought work home with me, and meh. That, and the Blues've been so totally awesome that I haven't been worked up enough to write anything. You know, with that 7-1-2 record under the new coach and all, they're rolling right along.

Right?

Not according to some guy at some website. As posted today in the link dump at St. Louis Game Time, apparently a blogger at Gather.com (whatever that is - is it like Patch but not owned by AOHell? Who knows) thinks that the Blues are playing awful hockey and that Jason Arnott is going to be their sacrificial lamb to help them rebuild. I honestly wonder if he's watched the team this season, or if he just trolled Bleacher Report a while back and then piggybacked off of one of their usual inane, unsubstantiated rumors. Oh! Wait:

The latest from Bleacher Report has the San Jose Sharks looking to add some veteran leadership and another scorer on their third line, and Jason Arnott of the St Louis Blues is a player that fits the teams needs.

Ok, then. A team whose youngest member is Logan Couture at 22, and who has vets like Michal Handzus (34), Martin Havlat (30), Patrick Marleau (32), Joe Thornton (32), Andrew Murray (30), and Dan freaking Boyle (35) need veteran leadership. Is Arnott going to get all of those young whipper-snappers in line? Add playoff experience that no one but 4/5ths of the roster has? God, research sources first. Bleacher Report IS NOT A SOURCE. They're barely a website.

The funniest part is when he discusses the Blues, though, stating that the Blues'd love to move Arnott's salary. His $2,500,000 contract isn't breaking the bank; it's keeping the Blues above cap floor. Also, the Blues' rebuild's done - they're trying to get those kids going in the right direction, and they added Arnott (and Langenbrunner) to SPECIFICALLY DO SO.

Buddy, blog posts like this is what gives sports bloggers a bad name. Some of us like to research facts or let events happen before we write on them; we don't just write stuff for blog hits. If I did, don't you think that the title of this post'd be "CAPITALS FIRE BRUCE BOUDREAU/HAGAN DAAS GROCERY STORE STOCK PLUMMETS IN DC?" Yes, yes it would be.

Since Wednesday's debacle of a game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Tampa Bay Lightning, the hockey world has come down on the Bolts and their coach Guy Boucher. In case you missed it, here's what happened when the Lightning continued to play the 1-3-1 trap that got them to the Eastern Conference Finals:



Needless to say, this is completely the Lightning's fault. How dare Guy Boucher rely on a system that got the Bolts farther in the playoffs than they've been since they won the Stanley Cup? No team should be allowed to stop the natural flow of a hockey game just so they can win! How SELFISH.

Oh, for shit's sake, general managers. Do you know how stupid it is for you to have even have discussed Boucher's trap today at the GM's meeting? Furthermore, was discussion on Philadelphia's strategy necessary too? They failed to play the puck, the play was called dead, and their point was made. To waste agenda time on something like that is inane. It's over, it's done with, and their point was proven.

The funniest thing about the whole situation is, frankly, the point that the Flyers made - that Tampa's trap slows the game and makes it tough to play - was promptly negated in the Lightning's next two games. St. Louis, despite all the worry that this game'd be stagnated too, demolished the Lightning's trap and gameplan to the tune of a 3-0 shutout. They never let them get set up. The forecheckpressured them constantly and overwhelmed their tendency to fall back into their trap. If you can't set something up, you can't use it.Coach Ken Hitchcock's plan was perfect:

"They play with structure, so how do you counteract the structure? To me, it's like any team. If you allow a team to set up in their structure, they're going to beat you, doesn't matter if it's 1-3-1, 1-2-2 or 2-1-2.

"You have to attack the structure before they set up. ... It's the same as an offensive zone forechecking system. You have to find a way to get by it before it sets its course. So for us it's about not allowing them to control the tempo of the game."

That's it: control the tempo. The Blues did so perfectly, and the Winnipeg Jets - who had lost twelve games straight to the Bolts - managed to do so as well. When you can't break the trap, you deflect attention away from the fact that you can't break it via a "statement" like the Flyers made. Perhaps next time the Bolts face Philadelphia, former Blues captain and current Flyers captain ChrisPronger should look back at what his old team did and encourage Flyers coach Peter Laviolette to follow Hitchcock's lead: just out play them. Then the GMs could spend more time one pertinant issues then, like suspending players for concussing goalies who try to come out of the crease to make an ill advised "impressive" play. That's far more important.

Ok, I don't even know if he's had it before, but this seems like something that he'll find out about sooner or later. Gooey Butter Cake. Awww, yeah. The St. Louis dessert that is so rich you can have about one square before you get ill, but in a goooood way.

From Wikipedia, the tale of how this happy accident happened:

A legend about the cake's origin is included in Saint Louis Days...Saint Louis Nights (ISBN 0-9638298-1-5), a cookbook published in the mid-1990s by the Junior League of St. Louis. The cake was supposedly first made by accident in the 1930s by a St. Louis-area German American baker who was trying to make regular cake batter but reversed the proportions of sugar and flour.

 

John Hoffman was the owner of the bakery where the mistake was made. The real story is there are two types of butter "smears" used in a bakery. A gooey butter and a deep butter. The deep butter was used for deep butter coffee cakes. The gooey butter was used as an adhesive for things like danish rolls and stolens. The gooey butter was smeared across the surface, then the item was placed in coconut, peanuts, crumbs or whatever was desired so they would stick to the product.

John hired a new baker that was supposed to make deep butter cakes, but got the two butter smears mixed up. The mistake wasn't caught until after the cakes came out of the proof box. Rather than throw them away, John went ahead and baked them up. They sold so well, John kept producing them and soon, so did the other bakers around St. Louis.

And there you go. After the jump, the recipe for this wonderfulness.

In his review of the home of the Blues, the Scottrade Center, Jack Winter of Stadium Journey gives the venue 3.3 stars, while the average fan rating is 4 stars. So, which is it to you?

He highlights the positive atmosphere of the crowd during a Blues game, which is interesting to me - they might be excited pre-game, but Blues crowds are some of the most silent sell-outs on television. Is this because everyone's intently watching the action? Too drunk to speak? Asleep (if it's a Minnesota Wild visit, my money's here)? There is criticism of the neighborhood around Scottrade as not being close enough to appealing venues around it for pre-or-post game fun. As someone who frequented Philips Arena quit a lot, that can be a bit of a buzzkill. You had three sit down places to eat and the CNN Center attached, but the rest of the neighborhood? Snoozeville, and not somewhere I'd meander about after dark.

Apparently we were mellow fans when Mr. Winter visited. That, as he points out, probably had something to do with this huge thing happening down the road at Busch Stadium. Come back for a Blackhawks or Red Wings game, Mr. Winter - we won't be mellow then.

I'm not quite sure what "Extras" are, but apparently Scottrade's lacking. Anywho, head over to the site and see if you agree. Any disagreements, hash them out in the comments.

St. Louis sports fans are obviously spoiled by the Cardinals. In winning their 11th World Series championship against improbable odds, it proved two things: God is a Cardinals fan, and this is one of the best-run and best managed teams in baseball and has been fairly consistently. Eleven World Series championships, eighteen National League championships, and countless trips to the playoffs later, the Cards find themselves second to only the Yankees as the most successful franchise in MLB.

Yup. The Best Fans In Baseball ™ are certainly the second-most spoiled. But following the discussion after the game on Twitter, there wasn’t (in my timeline, at least) very much derision at the Rangers. Most Cardinals fans that I have read - and that includes the press - have thanked the Texas Rangers for an excellent series and recognized what a solid and respectable organization they have. There could have been pointing and laughing at Nyjer Morgan (I did so loudly and internally), the Brewers, the Reds, the Cubs, the national media who openly rooted against the Cardinals at every step of their journey... but there was very, very little of that going on.

We were too happy, too amazed - too gobsmacked - that the Cardinals had just won this Series that they “should not have won” that we didn’t care about any hiccups that happened along the way. We brushed off our shoulders and moved on. But this was just my Twitter timeline. There’s a commonality there... what is it... oh! Right. About 95% of the Cardinals fans I follow on Twitter are also Blues fans. Could it be - could it possibly be - that being hockey fans have made us better baseball fans?

Ok, a few reasons why I chose today's selecton. 1) Drew Doughty plays for the Kings, and his nickname is "Doughnuts." 2) I'm happy he's out (not that he's hurt, but that the Blues don't have to worry about him - I'd ather no one be injured). 3) LA has a large Hispanic population. 4) I don't do nearly enough dessert on here.

I enjoy something sweet once in a blue moon. Usually my snack of choice is a Cadbury candy bar, like a Crunchie specifically, but I have an affinity for doughnuts. I could, quite possibly, live on them until my heart gave out. Cream filled, custard filled, cake, glazed, iced - you name it. Growing up as a little kid and getting fresh doughnuts from the bakery has made me into a bit of a snob, but I'm never, never above a field trip to Dunkin Donuts. Ever.

Today's Puck Pies is the Spanish version of the wonderful concept of fried dough: the churro. These are easy, but a couple things first - wear an apron in case of oil splatters and you should have a piping bag with a large star tip to get the distinctive churro shape.

These'll make about 3 dozen or so - invite some friends over.

Ingredients: 

1 cup water
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
6 tablespoons sugar, divided
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs
Vegetable oil for frying
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

 

Place water, butter, 2 tablespoons sugar and salt in medium saucepan; bring to a boil over high heat. Remove from heat; add flour. Beat with spoon until dough forms ball and releases from side of pan. Vigorously beat in eggs, 1 at a time, until mixture is smooth. Spoon dough into pastry bag fitted with large star tip. Pipe 3X1-inch strips onto waxed-paper-lined baking sheet. Freeze 20 minutes.

Pour vegetable oil into 10-inch skillet to 3/4-inch depth. Heat oil to 375°F. Transfer frozen dough to hot oil with large spatula. Fry 4 or 5 churros at a time until deep golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes, turning once. Remove churros with slotted spoon to paper towels; drain.

Combine remaining 4 tablespoons sugar with cinnamon. Place in paper bag. Add warm churros, 1 at a time; close bag and shake until churros is coated with sugar mixture. Remove to wire rack. Repeat with remaining sugar mixture and churros; cool completely. Store tightly covered at room temperature or freeze up to 3 months.

A special treat is melted chocolate for dipping. Get a double boiler, break up a dark chocolate bar (I suggest Green and Black's Maya Gold Mexican style - not sweet, but it has orange and spices in it and it's amazing). Put the chocolate in the top of the double boiler and WATCH IT closely so it doesn't burn. Add a tiny bit of milk and stir to create a dipping sauce, and enjoy!

Carlo Colaiacovo has a reputation in the league as being easily injurable, and let's face it - it's true. While he's been successful on the blue line for the Blues, he hasn't exactly been available the whole season. So far this season it took about three quarters of a game before he was tripped and went awkardly into the boards, hitting his head. He's been suffering from headaches, and per NHL rules won't be able to return until those stop.

The most games Colaiacovo has been able to play in a season is 67, which came in 2009-2010. The Blues do tend to suffer without him in the lineup thanks to the fact that the defensive depth in Peoria is basically a defensive wading pool. Sure, most injuries aren't really his fault - he got hit in the face with a puck two games in a row last season, for God's sake. But an injury is an injury, and it hurts when he's not in the line-up, so allow me to offer some suggestions for Mr. Splodeybones.

Let's see if I can watch it, huh NHL? 

Anyway, blackout bitterness aside, I'm thrilled that the Blues season's starting again with tonight's match up against the Nashville Predators (and if you want to go poke at the competition, direct your attention at Fang Faction). Sure, the Blues kind of owned the Preds last season, but that was last season - and if I remember correctly, the Blues didn't own the Preds by scads and bounds. I admit, I respect Nashville and the game that they play, and the fact that they're always - always - a tough team to play against.

Sadly, Evgeny Grachev's one of the healthy scratches tonight. I'm pretty sure that most fans were looking forward to seeing him play. But it's opening night, so we can't be too picky, now can we?

The Blues're paying tribute to Igor Korolev and Pavol Demitra this season via a small 38 sticker on the back of their helmets, as tweeted earlier today by Jeremy Rutherford.  Louie Korac also mentions that the team will have a memorial video for those who passed away this summer in the Lokomotiv crash, as well as Wade Belak who retired as a member of the Nashville Predators.

Love for Lokomotiv bracelets are sold tonight at the game, but if you're unable to grab one, you can order one from their website.

Let's Go Blues! 

There's something oddly validating about being told you're a hockey market after months of ridicule regarding how Atlanta doesn't deserve a team. Heck, according to the NHL, we're in two hockey markets! The Nashville Predators and Carolina Hurricanes are apparently both in our viewing area, despite the fact that Nashville's a four hour drive and Carolina's a seven hour drive or so. As a refresher to the NHL:



So, since we're apparently double the hockey market we were when we had a team here, we get double the blackouts. The Carolina Hurricanes and Nashville Predators games are so far being blacked out in Atlanta due to the fact that some games will be broadcast on FoxSports South. Not all, just a few. Inexplicably, the NHL is blacking out the games broadcast on Center Ice/Gamecenter Live regardless of if they're being aired in the Atlanta area.

So, to recap - fans in a non-hockey market who are paying almost $180 a year to watch a sport that they can no longer watch at the NHL level in their backyard can't watch teams on TV that they have to drive long distances to attend games for. As a paying customer, I'm miffed. As someone who needs to watch the Blues outside of the St. Louis market, this is disappointing.

So, in summary, Market A loses a team, and Markets B and C want to court Market A's fans. This keeps Market A's fan dollars in the NHL to a degree, which the NHL should want. The NHL is hindering Market B and Market C's ability to completely market to Market A, and in the process is upsetting fans in Market A that despite massive mistrust in the league still would like to continue to consume their product. 

Memo to the NHL: Atlanta stopped using different money in 1865. Please, take ours.

I appreciate the confidence boost, NHL, in your believing that we're suddenly a hockey market that can sustain fans for two teams. How about you give us a team here and let's see if we can make it three? 

EDIT: According to Brian Greer in the comments, the Nashville Predators have lifted the blackout here in Atlanta. I'm pretty sure that the Hurricanes are aware of the situation, and I wouldn't be shocked to see it resolved soon. 

Gary Bettman sure likes playing the role of tiny mafioso, doesn't he? He's become the NHL equiviilant of the father of the bride at a mob wedding - the guy you go to so you can ask that one favor. "Hi, can we get an NHL team?" "Sure. You get Phoenix, or Atlanta if Glendale steps up." "Thanks, Godfather Gary!"

"Hi, Godfather Gary. May you grant us our request to be re-aligned to the Eastern Conference next year? We'll pay you in pizza and increased revenue for the league." "Hmm... I suppose. You crushing Eastern Conference teams with your physical style of play will make you the dominant team in the East, and an easier travel schedule'll keep Niklas Lidstrom's sleep schedule regular. I want extra Crazy Bread though, ok?"

I think pretty much everyone in the world has thrown their hat into the "Columbus needs to move before Detroit" pool. Closer geographically to the teams in the conference, a style of play that's more similar, and a franchise that really would like to get fans to tune into games on TV, the Blue Jackets need to be the team that goes East. The Red Wings sell out regardless of who they play and where they play - the Blue Jackets don't. Detroit's been in the Western Conference since time began - they're used to the travel. Their fans are used to crappy 10:30 start times for West Coast trips. The Blue Jackets, who are trying to grow their fanbase and get money in the coiffers to make sure that their team stays in Columbus, needs to move to ensure their future.

But, much like Bettman's deal with Mark Chipman for a team, if someone does the league right and plays by the rules, that supercedes the fans and teams in small nontraditional markets, and all that pesky "extra effort" that some common sense moves would take. Why try to have multiple lucrative and successful markets when you can piggyback on the sure fire Original Six teams? Why try to help teams to get fans in their own cities when you can just have bandwagon fans buy merchandise instead? Heck, to see "their team," the bandwagon fans have to buy Center Ice, too, so kaching there.

I've disliked Gary Bettman since 1993. I don't question his business sense one bit, but I do question his scruples. You know, like how everyone feels about most mobsters. He might not own a waste management business, but by God is he good at granting favors. Just watch out, Gary. One day, when you go out to get the paper, it's all going to hit you like a ton of bricks.