Health & Fitness
McDonald's Return Adds Much Needed Offensive Power to the Blues
Andy McDonald's return from a concussion will be a big boost for the Blues offense.
Despite the St. Louis Blues' success this season, they still rank 25th in the league in scoring.
It helps that their defense and goaltending have kept their goals against down so low that they are tops in the league with only 111 goals allowed, but the lack of scoring has cost them points on more than one occassion. Starting Sunday though, the Blues will get one of their offensive guns back in the lineup, Andy McDonald.
McDonald, who has been sidelined for much of the season with a concussion, makes his return to the team Sunday evening as the Blues take on the San Jose Sharks. The Blues who not long ago got David Perron back from a concussion, now can expect their scoring to gradually pick up.
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McDonald, has two assists in three games played this season, but has the potential to put up stronger numbers for the rest of the season. In his 2010-11 campaign, McDonald was a top scorer for the Blues with 20 goals and 30 assists in 58 games. Expect McDonald to add some much needed strength to the Blues struggling power play which sits 27th overall in the league.
The Blues, who are still without winger Alex Steen, announced this week that both Matt D'Agostini (concussion) and Jason Arnott (shoulder) have been placed on injured reserve. It is unclear when Steen and D'Agostini may return, due to the unpredictability of concussion like symptoms going away and returning so inconsistently.
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What is impressive about the Blues this season is how well they have managed to earn points against top teams, while battling numerous injuries to key players. This is a characteristic of a great team, and a pattern that has seemed to strike the Blues in recent years.
The Blues will take on the San Jose Sharks at the Scottrade Center on Sunday and the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday. The Sharks, who sit atop the Pacific Division, come in to St. Louis 5-4-1 in their last 10 games, and currently have 66 points. The Blue Jackets continue their disappointing season sitting last in the Western Conference.
The Blues continue their battle for the top spot in the Western Conference trailing the Detroit Red Wings by three points with two games in hand.
Do you think McDonald is what the Blues need to help their offense or should they look in to adding a player or two at the deadline? Let us know and leave a comment below!