Blues' added depth, physicality on defense set up favorably for playoffs
ST. LOUIS -- A significant ongoing transformation could make the Blues' defense better prepared for the physical, grinding nature of the postseason.
Robert Bortuzzo has already met and exceeded all of coach Ken Hitchcock's expectations in the first three games since a trade that sent Ian Cole to Pittsburgh last week. But the 6-foot-4, 215-pound bruiser isn't the only player contributing to a more aggressive approach from the back of the Blues' lineup.
"I think you've got to add a guy like (Petteri) Lindbohm into this mix, too," Hitchcock says. "They brought a different size, a different element into our team. We're a little bit harder to play against back there."
Lindbohm (6-3, 198) sees the similarities in size and style between himself and Bortuzzo, a player he loves to watch deliver big hits. The rookie hasn't left the lineup since getting called up from the American Hockey League nine games ago, and he's eager to throw his body around whenever possible.
Some familiarity from the preseason and two previous stints in St. Louis made it easy for Lindbohm to slide into the lineup, especially with veteran defensemen such as Jay Bouwmeester and Barret Jackman in the locker room. They've also welcomed Bortuzzo with open arms as he tries to develop chemistry while soaking in as much information as he can.
"They've done an amazing job, but there's communicating on the ice or just being good teammates in the room," Bortuzzo says. "It's easy to tell why this team's had success."
Early reviews characterize Bortuzzo as a great personality in the Blues' locker room, and Lindbohm says his new teammate tells some good stories. Bortuzzo is still learning the game, and Hitchcock says the 25-year-old has all the ingredients to become a valuable player in just a couple of seasons.
In St. Louis this year, though, it might get a little harder for him to find consistent ice time over the next few weeks. Zbynek Michalek finally practiced with the entire team Thursday morning for the first time since getting traded from Arizona a week ago, and Hitchcock says the 32-year-old veteran has been cleared to play whenever he's ready.
That won't happen in Thursday night's game against Philadelphia, set for 7 p.m. on FOX Sports Midwest. But Michalek doesn't expect the adjustment to be too difficult when he gets into the Blues' lineup.
"I don't want to change my game and try to be somebody that I'm not," Michalek says. "I just want to be hard to play against, basically be a good defender and move the puck well."
He leads the NHL with 1,559 blocked shots since 2005, a different kind of physicality that should be just as valuable as what St. Louis gets from Bortuzzo and Lindbohm. All three got their chance to shine for the Blues at least in part due to the absence of Kevin Shattenkirk, one of the league's best defensemen before he went down with an abdominal injury Feb. 1.
After surgery to repair some painful tears in his right groin and the abs on both sides of his pubic bone, Shattenkirk recently returned to skating on his own and hopes to be back well before the playoffs. The Blues are still reluctant to put out a timetable, and Hitchcock tried to temper expectations for both Shattenkirk and Michalek, who hasn't played since suffering a concussion Feb. 14.
"You have to be careful because you might get a guy's name back, but you don't get the player back when you have long-term injuries," Hitchcock says. "When Michalek comes back in or when (Shattenkirk) comes back in, we've got to be careful on our analysis right away because it's going to take them some time to get up to speed also."
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If all goes well, though, St. Louis will have nine healthy bodies and significantly more physicality on its defense heading into the postseason. Results have been mixed thus far, with three goals allowed in two of the games since Bortuzzo took over Cole's spot March 5.
However, the offense appears to be heating up thanks in part to better puck movement from the back, and defensemen have earned assists on seven of the Blues' last 11 goals. More competition among players for spots in the top six should only raise the level of play, although defenseman Alex Pietrangelo prefers to look at it differently.
"I don't think it's competition," says Pietrangelo, who has three assists in the last two games. "I think it's depth. Everyone's going to have to accept their role and it's certainly going to be important going into the playoffs to have that depth."
Considering how injuries derailed St. Louis at the end of last season, that's a lesson the Blues know all too well.
You can follow Luke Thompson on Twitter at @FS_LukeT or email him at lukegthompson87@gmail.com.
