From: jca2@cec2.wustl.edu (Joseph Charles Achkar)
Subject: blues34.doc
Keywords: Blues, Minnesota, Hull, Shanahan, Janney
Organization: Washington University, St. Louis MO
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 22:18:00 GMT


  I've been too busy to write my own game report. Here's a report from 
the St. Louis newspaper by Dave Luecking of the Post-Dispatch Staff:         

    BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- All Blues goalie Curtis Joseph could do was laugh. He
slid the mask up off his face, shook his head and laughed.

    Not that Russ Courtnall's goal from just outside the blue line was a
laughing matter. It was the tying goal in a 2-2 deadlock with the Minnesota
North Stars on Tuesday at The Met Center, and it cost the Blues a point in the
National Hockey League standings.

    No, it wasn't funny. It was ridiculous, another bit of dumb luck that has
plagued Joseph and the Blues whenever they play well enough to win this season.

    The goal was the result of an unfortunate deflection. As Courtnall prepared
to unleash his long slap shot, Blues defenseman Garth Butcher tried to pull his
stick out of its path at the blue line.

    Too late.

    The low shot deflected off Butcher's stick and turned into a rising
fastball that was too hot and too high for Joseph to handle. It went over his
shoulder and into the net with 4 minutes 41 seconds to play.

    Joseph deserved a better fate. He played brilliantly in making 38 saves as
the North Stars outshot the Blues 40-29.  Somehow, he wasn't picked as one of
the game's three stars, a gross injustice on one his best nights of the season.

    Joseph also played well in a 1-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday at
The Arena. But typical of this season, he has only one of four points to show
for strong back-to-back performances.

    ``Spectacular," Blues coach Bob Berry said. ``He certainly saved our
several times, especially on all the penalties. Our penalty killers and Curtis
got us the point tonight."

    Referee Ron Hoggarth gave the North Stars eight power plays to two for the
Blues, who were two men short on two occasions. The Blues also lost Brendan
Shanahan for the game with a high-sticking major.

    Ulf Dahlen scored Minnesota's first goal on a power play in the first
period, but otherwise Joseph made the big saves with the North Stars playing
with the man advantage.

    ``When we were killing the penalties, he was there," Berry said.

    Joseph was there on Courtnall's shot as well, but the deflection caught him
off guard.

    ``It just took off," Joseph said, shaking his head without the smile. ``It
was down here to start with and turned into a rising ball. I just missed it
with my glove, too.

    ``It's unbelievable, and so disappointing. You always want to win, but to
lose the win on a fluke deflection like that. You'd be happy with the point if
you were losing and get that kind of goal for your side."

    The Blues have been losing, and the tie extended their winless streak to
five games -- 0-4-1 -- their longest such skid of the season. They remained in
last place in the Norris Division with a record of 11-18-5 for 27 points, three
behind the Tampa Bay Lighting.

    The North Stars remained in second place in the division behind Detroit
with a record of 17-12-5 for 39 points. The North Stars are 2-1-1 against the
Blues this season, losing only the season-opener.  The Blues haven't won at the
Met Center in six games, a span in which they have lost three and tied three.

    All things considered, a tie was better than nothing.

    ``I'll take the one point," Blues general manager Ron Caron said. ``I'd
have liked the two, but I'll take the one. It's better than none."

    Berry agreed.

    ``There was a lot of hard work that we can build on," he said. ``We still
had a few little mistakes, but we were ready to play hard tonight. We'll take
the `half-loaf' and go home for Christmas happy with the tie."

    Jeff Brown and Brett Hull scored for the Blues. Hull got his 18th goal of
the season, tying Shanahan for the team lead. Shanahan was ejected 5:27 into
the game for cutting Mike Craig with a high stick.

    Brown's goal, against Jon Casey, tied the game at 11:01 of the first
period, 46 seconds after Dahlen's wraparound on the power play had given the
North Stars a 1-0 lead.

    Hull's goal, against Darcy Wakaluk on a give-and-go with rookie Jason Ruff,
gave the Blues a 2-1 lead at 16:51 of the second period. Casey's foot was
injured in the first period, and Wakaluk replaced him at the start of the
second.

    With Joseph playing so well for the Blues, it looked as if Hull's goal
would hold up and become his first game-winner of the season.

    ``Curtis is playing a little better than good," Hull said. ``He played
fantastic. With all the power plays they had, it's a game we'd like to see from
him."

    What no one on the Blues wanted to see was a goal like Courtnall's to cost
them the point.

    ``Curtis gets that kind of shot every time," Butcher said.  ``On a shot
from there, you just get out of the way and let Curtis handle it. I was moving
away and moving my stick, but the puck hit the end and just took off.

    ``Curtis didn't have a chance."

    Hull said: ``It's more than frustrating. It's disappointing."

   At 16:51 of the second period, Brett Hull became the No. 3 goal-scorer in
St. Louis history when he gave the Blues a 2-1 lead.

   Hull's 293rd goal moved him past Garry Unger, who played 662 games with the
Blues. Hull, who began his career with Calgary and has 320 NHL goals, has
played 356 games with St. Louis.

   Hull, who scored 72, 86 and 70 goals the last three seasons, has only 18 in
34 games this year.

Box Score:
----------
Blues 2, North Stars 2

BLUES          1      1      0      0 -- 2
MINNESOTA      1      0      1      0 -- 2


FIRST PERIOD

    M -- (PPG) Minnesota, Dahlen 11 (Gagner, Sjodin), 10:15
    B -- Brown 12 (Janney, Shanahan), 11:01
    Penalties -- Shanahan (B), roughing, :47; Churla (M), roughing, :47;
Shanahan (B), slashing, 5:27; Butcher (B), unsportsmanlike conduct, 6:17; Craig
(M), unsportsmanlike conduct, 6:17; Hull (B), interference, 9:19; Shanahan (B),
major-game misconduct, high-sticking, 14:28; Craig (M), high-sticking, 14:28;
Churla (M), high-sticking, 16:49; Elik (M), high- sticking, 17:48.

SECOND PERIOD

    B -- Hull 18 (Ruff), 16:51.
    Penalties -- Bozon (B), roughing, 9:13; Gavin (M), roughing, 9:13;
Wilson (B), unsportsmanlike conduct, 10:09; Elik (M), unsportsmanlike conduct,
10:09; Modano (M), hooking, 10:45; Ron Sutter (B), interference, 13:20; Ruff
(B), interference, 19:27; Giles (B), cross-checking, 19:54.

THIRD PERIOD

    M -- Courtnall 12 (Sjodin), 13:19.
    Penalties -- Hull (B), slashing, 6:46; Baron (B), holding, 9:56.

OVERTIME

    No scoring.
    Penalties -- None.


    Power-Play Opportunities -- Blues 0 of 2; Minnesota 1 of 8.

SHOTS ON GOAL

BLUES           9      11       7      2 -- 29
MINNESOTA       9      12      17      2 -- 40

    Goaltenders -- Blues, Joseph (8-15-4; 40 shots-38 saves);
Minnesota, Casey (9-8); Wakaluk, 2-3-2 (0:00 second, 20-19).

    Referee -- Ron Hoggarth. Linesmen -- Mark Pare, Don Schachte.

    A -- 13,801.

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  %   \ \_)____________/         A L L E Z   L E S   B L U E S  ! ! !    * 
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  *      \   _______/                  Joe                               % 
  %       \  \                         Contact for the Blues             *
  *        \  \  SAINT LOUIS           jca2@cec1.wustl.edu               % 
  %        (___)             BLUES                                       * 
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