dha’

.&

 

Mott's,

POR

St. Louis surges thanks to young core

By Garth McLennan, Sports Editor

ne of the best stories this
O season has been the persistence

of the resurgent St. Louis
Blues. After languishing at the bottom
of the NHL standings for much of the
past few years, the Blues have been the
surprise team of the league and are one
the verge of stunning the hockey world
by sneaking into the playoffs.

St. Louis has been red hot lately,
and that has been largely thanks to a
few of the best young players in the
entire league. After 2006 first overall
draft pick Eric Johnson went down
with a season-ending leg injury that
prevented him from suiting up at all
this year, and leading star Paul Kariya
played just 11 games, most wrote the
Blues off from the beginning. But Brad
Boyes, David Backes, Chris Mason and
T.J. Oshie have done all they can to
prove everyone wrong.

Boyes, 26, is perhaps the most
underrated star in hockey. He’s a deadly
sniper that keeps quietly putting up
high goal totals. Last year he notched
43 and so far this season he’s put away
30 and has really emerged as one of the
best offensive guns around.

Backes, who Vancouver fans might
remember as the guy that Mike Gillis
tendered a restricted free agent offer

  

to last summer, also has 30 tallies, and
in Kariya’s absence he’s really stepped
into a leadership role at age 24. With
St. Louis battling for every point they
can get, they came up against the
powerhouse Detroit Red Wings a few
nights ago. Backes was the leading man
for the Blues as he potted four goals in
a 5-4 OT victory for St. Louis.
Goaltender Chris Mason, 32,
was expected to be an afterthought
this season. After being booted out of
Nashville despite strong play, Mason
was expected to be a flash in the pan
goalie with one good season who
would casually drift away. As it turns
out, that didn’t quite happen this year.

After projected St. Louis starter Manny
Legace faltered and subsequently
cleared waivers on his way to the AHL,
Mason was given the starting reins, and
he hasn’t missed his second chance at
NHL stardom. He’s played every single
minute of action for St. Louis for the
past 32 games and has suited up 53
times overall this season. He’s often
been the sole reason for his team’s
successes and has to be considered to
be a candidate for the year’s comeback
player award.

TJ. Oshie, 22, hasn’t had the
best statistical season of all time with
37 points in 53 games this year, but
as a rookie, the way that he plays is

 
   

where his real value lies and is a strong
indication that he is a standout young
prospect. He’s deceptively strong and
possesses tremendous strength on the
puck. His puck skills are second to
none and he’s definitely staked his
claim as a player to watch next season.

The Blues have been decimated
with injuries to their top stars this year,
but seems to have paved the way for
players like Boyes, Backes, Mason and
Oshie to step up. All have really proved
their worth and have helped transform
what should have been another
forgettable year in St. Louis into one
with a possible storybook ending.

 

solution, tips and computer
programs at www.sudoku.com

su|do|ku

© Puzzles by Pappocom

 

1 6

'

[ 49

 

S

—_a.

CO

 

 

 

ho

 

~J

OW

 

ail
NO

Oo

 

O1
CO ©

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last week’s solution

swat
~]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1
8
4
6
9
¢

BW HIN = MIO noo

 

= NOD

Oi N BRIO oH cfr = ©

 

wo Ola % AN wo oO

 

 

 

 

oR NI ® =lw o