Ty Conklin fans are out of luck. The Blues will go with Chris Mason (above) in net tonight. Mason is 1-2-1 this season with a 2.73 goals against average and .904 save percentage.
All-time against the Penguins, Mason is 0-2-0 with a 4.10 goals against average and .846 save percentage.
UPDATE: Blues coach Andy Murray held a little pow-wow with some members of the media after today's optional skate. Pretty solid guy. We've seen him for years on television and he always just looked like some bitter, old, craggly man. After a 10-minute chat with him, we came away with a totally different perception of Murray, even if he did dress like your average Bob Evans customer. He made a point to shake everyone's hand in the media scrum before and after the questions. Very impressive.
On his team's injuries on the blue line:
"We played without Erik Johnson last year. It’s difficult playing without Eric Brewer too. And (Barrett Jackman) was our minute guy. Played 25 minutes a game for us last year. It’s tough but what it’s done is give Tyson Strachan an opportunity. He’s played good. Somebody else’s misfortune is somebody else’s fortune. You got to take advantage."
On coaching Dan Bylsma while with the Kings:
"Coaches measure things in different ways. I measure it in the sense that you’re just trying to make a difference. Ultimately in life isn’t that everybody’s job? Just to make a difference for other people. Championships, gold medals, Stanley Cups. They’re pretty short-lived. You measure everything in life by relationships. So I’m excited for Dan. He made a difference for me in the way that he played and approached the game. He found a way to get himself into an NHL lineup with what I would say not above average skills. He asked a lot of great questions. And those guys like that are on the bubble, they ask a lot of questions because they want the coach to notice them all the time and he was good at that."
On former Penguins defenseman Darryl Sydor (right) who joined the Blues this past offseason:
"I think what you could do is you could take the things that are being written about Jay McKee here and transfer them to Darryl Sydor with us. He’s been solid. He’s not a loud guy just like Jay but when it’s appropriate to say something, he says something. He’s played good for us. Jay McKee was our mentor for Erik Johnson two years ago. And Darryl’s kind of taken that under his wing right now. Darryl’s been good for Erik."
On the value of his young players:
"To me they got to earn their credibility and I think they’re doing that with how hard they’re working. We count on our young guys so much that we can’t afford for them to have a night off. We got young guys playing in key positions so they got to be good every night. And that’s a challenge for a young player so I got to keep them on edge all the time."
On the cultural differences between his veterans and rookies:
"It’s almost comical to see Keith (Tkachuk) and his interests in life and (T.J.) Oshie and some of the other guys, the video games they play. I don’t know anything about them, but they got these video games they can play each other at their different houses and that. And they can be online. They’re talking strategy there all the time. Keith has no idea what they’re talking about."
On adding former Penguins goaltender Ty Conklin in the offseason:
"Our chances of getting in the Stanley Cup Finals are pretty good. If we had an outdoor game we’d be successful. He’s a good guy. Our goalkeeping has been our strongest position so far this year."
(Photo: Mason-Nick Didlick/Getty Images; Murray-Brian Kersey/Getty Images; Sydor-Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
Posted
Oct 20 2009, 01:39 PM
by
Seth Rorabaugh