It was a hockey homecoming Tuesday for Joe Vitale, whose last visit to Scottrade Center resulted in a state championship during his days as a star player at CBC High in St. Louis.
“It was the state championship versus DeSmet, we won in overtime,” recalled Vitale, who was back in his hometown Tuesday as a center for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
When the Blues play Pittsburgh at 7 o’clock tonight at Scottrade Center, it will be a special night for Joe Vitale and his family.
The Pittsburgh forward and St. Louis native will be making his first NHL appearance in his hometown.
As the Ducks prepare for a seven-game road trip beginning Tuesday in Chicago, they made another roster move Monday to gain additional depth up front.
Patrick Maroon was recalled from the organization’s AHL affiliate in Syracuse, the second time this month the 23-year-old left wing from St. Louis was brought up by the club.
The offseason is often the best time to begin speculation about transactions and players shifting through the system, but the same can be said of that short amount of time between finalized rosters and the start of the season.
You know. Like, now.
Joe Vitale’s performance in the preseason was enough to win over the hearts of Dan Bylsma and Ray Shero.
The Blues finished with a 3-1-0 record, good for third overall in tournament play. Philip McRae led all skaters with 7 points (4 goals, 3 assists) in four games played. He also finished tied for first in goals. Goalie Jake Allen finished first in saves with 104, finishing 32 saves ahead of second place. He also finished tied for first in wins (2).
Roll out a map of Paul Stastny’s life, and the geography gets a little confusing. Paul Stastny – born in Quebec City of Slovak decent, raised in St. Louis, current center (centre) for the Colorado Avalanche, formerly of the River City Lancers, dual citizen of the United States and Canada. Identity crisis? One would assume – and one would be wrong.
The New Jersey Devils on Thursday signed unrestricted free agent forward Cam Janssen to a one-year, two-way contract. The 27-year-old Janssen spent the last three-plus seasons with the St. Louis Blues after being traded by the Devils in exchange for defenseman Bryce Salvador on Feb. 26, 2008. Janssen had 1 goal, 3 assists and 131 penalty minutes in 54 games with the Blues in 2010-11.
The Ottawa Senators announced today the club has signed goaltender Mike McKenna to a one-year, two-way contract. McKenna, 28, spent his second consecutive season with the New Jersey Devils organization in 2010-11, appearing in 39 games with the American Hockey League’s Albany Devils and playing two games in the National Hockey League.\
St. Louis Blues Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Armstrong announced Tuesday the club has signed goaltender Ben Bishop to a one-year, two-way contract. “Ben keeps pushing himself to take the next step and we expect him to compete to make our team this season,” said Armstrong.
