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Pronger, teammates are glad to face Sharks
By Derrick Goold
Of the Post-Dispatch
04/03/2004
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - His relationship with the fans in San Jose is so rich and cuddly with shared history, Chris Pronger knows exactly what it will be like when he skates out for the start of the playoffs.
"Can't wait for the first shift," he said. "All those boos."
Pronger, who routinely is crooned to with such a welcome when he plays in San Jose, expects no different when the Blues open the best-of-seven first round series against the Sharks there this week. The Blues' 4-1 win Saturday in Nashville clinched them the seventh seed in the Western Conference and set up the meeting with No. 2 seed San Jose - the foe, the Blues candidly admit, they wanted.
"That's the team we wanted to match up against," Blues center Mike Sillinger said. The teams split the season series 2-2-0-0.
The Blues' one loss in San Jose this season was rare. They are 19-4-1-0 all-time there.
The teams have met twice in the postseason, each winning once. San Jose's win came in 2000, when the eighth-seeded Sharks toppled the Presidents' Trophy-winning Blues. The next spring, the Blues won in six games. Hence, some of the animosity toward Pronger.
"It's like we're the same type of team in a lot of ways," the Blues' Bryce Salvador said. "It should be a great series, the one we wanted. We really only had two choices (San Jose and top seed Detroit). We don't mind not facing Detroit. Let somebody else beat them up, tie 'em down."
Noteworthy
Blues coach Mike Kitchen removed enforcer Reed Low from the lineup Saturday in favor of playing seven defensemen and getting his "skill forwards" more ice time. Low's absence left the Blues with three complete lines and two rotating forwards. Keith Tkachuk was used on several lines to get him away from Nashville's draping defensive line.
Jeff Finley was the seventh defensemen, playing after missing the previous four games. Finley played just 4 minutes 24 seconds.
Pronger closed Saturday's scoring with an unassisted empty-net goal, his 14th goal of the season. That tied a career-high set in 1999-2000, the season in which he was the league's MVP.
Twice previously this season he's had his 14th goal erased after further review showed a teammate tip or touch his shot.
Pronger and goalie Chris Osgood will be among the Blues expected to get Sunday afternoon's season finale off to rest for the playoffs. Pronger has played in 80 of the Blues' 81 games, and Osgood has started the previous seven games.
Eric Boguniecki, out since Feb. 28 because of a mild concussion, probably will re-enter the lineup. The Blues have recalled defenseman Jame Pollack from Worcester for Sunday's game. .
By Derrick Goold
Of the Post-Dispatch
04/03/2004
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - His relationship with the fans in San Jose is so rich and cuddly with shared history, Chris Pronger knows exactly what it will be like when he skates out for the start of the playoffs.
"Can't wait for the first shift," he said. "All those boos."
Pronger, who routinely is crooned to with such a welcome when he plays in San Jose, expects no different when the Blues open the best-of-seven first round series against the Sharks there this week. The Blues' 4-1 win Saturday in Nashville clinched them the seventh seed in the Western Conference and set up the meeting with No. 2 seed San Jose - the foe, the Blues candidly admit, they wanted.
"That's the team we wanted to match up against," Blues center Mike Sillinger said. The teams split the season series 2-2-0-0.
The Blues' one loss in San Jose this season was rare. They are 19-4-1-0 all-time there.
The teams have met twice in the postseason, each winning once. San Jose's win came in 2000, when the eighth-seeded Sharks toppled the Presidents' Trophy-winning Blues. The next spring, the Blues won in six games. Hence, some of the animosity toward Pronger.
"It's like we're the same type of team in a lot of ways," the Blues' Bryce Salvador said. "It should be a great series, the one we wanted. We really only had two choices (San Jose and top seed Detroit). We don't mind not facing Detroit. Let somebody else beat them up, tie 'em down."
Noteworthy
Blues coach Mike Kitchen removed enforcer Reed Low from the lineup Saturday in favor of playing seven defensemen and getting his "skill forwards" more ice time. Low's absence left the Blues with three complete lines and two rotating forwards. Keith Tkachuk was used on several lines to get him away from Nashville's draping defensive line.
Jeff Finley was the seventh defensemen, playing after missing the previous four games. Finley played just 4 minutes 24 seconds.
Pronger closed Saturday's scoring with an unassisted empty-net goal, his 14th goal of the season. That tied a career-high set in 1999-2000, the season in which he was the league's MVP.
Twice previously this season he's had his 14th goal erased after further review showed a teammate tip or touch his shot.
Pronger and goalie Chris Osgood will be among the Blues expected to get Sunday afternoon's season finale off to rest for the playoffs. Pronger has played in 80 of the Blues' 81 games, and Osgood has started the previous seven games.
Eric Boguniecki, out since Feb. 28 because of a mild concussion, probably will re-enter the lineup. The Blues have recalled defenseman Jame Pollack from Worcester for Sunday's game. .
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