The Blues have plenty of new players on the roster this season.
But after Thursdays 4-3 preseason overtime win over the Stars, did a new one show up? In discussing his breakout exhibition game, Kasperi Kapanen spoke about his linemates Brayden Schenn and ...
MoJo.
MoJo? Thats Mathieu Joseph, and the nickname was as brand new to him as it was to onlookers, he said.
Most guys here call me Matty, but I dont mind MoJo, Joseph said with a laugh.
Its got a good mojo going.
I like it.
The story is fairly simple.
Mathieus brother, Blues defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph, has a pretty straightforward nickname.
Because of his initials, P.O.
became known as PoJo.
So it was only natural that Mathieu Joseph would become MoJo, as coined by defenseman Tyler Tucker and repeated by assistant coach Mike Weber.
Then Kapanen dropped it in his postgame interview, and now Mathieu Joseph has a new nickname to add to Joe, Matty, Jos, Matt or Joey, which he has accumulated in his six-year NHL career.
It might also fit the style of game he plays, a punchy, fast game with moxie.
I feel like its also another synonym (for grit), Joseph said.
After Thursdays game against Dallas, Blues fans could be looking forward to more MoJo mojo.
Joseph had a goal against the Stars, and was one-third of perhaps the best line on the ice with Kapanen and Schenn.
When Joseph, Schenn and Kapanen were on the ice at 5 on 5, the Blues held a 12-7 edge in shot attempts and a 6-2 advantage in shots on goal across 9:55 of ice time, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Of course, St.
Louis also outscored Dallas, 2-0, during that time.
It would have been 3-0 if Ryan Suters goal wasnt disallowed when officials ruled that Joseph interfered with Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger.
I knew there was maybe contact, Joseph said.
I didnt know if I was in the crease or not.
I think good thing it happens in preseason.
I feel like it would have sucked a little bit more in the regular season.
Ive got to make myself a little bit smaller next time.
On Josephs goal, his line took over after an extended offensive zone shift from Pavel Buchnevichs line, and Schenns wall play to win a puck set up Joseph for a clean look in the slot.
Schenner won two or three battles in a row to get that puck to Kappy and I feel like thats how our line was tonight, Joseph said.
We were responsible defensively, and when we could hound pucks, we did.
We created some offense.
The line played together in a game for the first time on Thursday.
Throughout training camp, Joseph mostly played alongside Dylan Holloway and Radek Faksa.
They were outstanding (Thursday), Bannister said.
They did a lot of good things.
They were very responsible tracking, getting above the puck, filling for their D and then in the offensive zone, they made good things happen.
As the Blues conducted a late-camp line shuffle that mixed up all their combinations and resulted in a more balanced looking forward corps, their third line could take on added importance as a potential difference-maker.
If the Blues want to become a playoff team again, they may need to develop a productive third line, and that could involve Joseph no matter who his other two linemates are.
Theres a lot of new guys, Joseph said.
It takes time to get to your new systems and know your teammates and develop chemistry with guys, and see what works.
The NHL group is done playing games after Thursday nights preview, and their next chore will be opening the season on Tuesday in Seattle against the Kraken.
Youre kind of fired up, Joseph said.
You can see the start of the season coming up, and everyones definitely excited.
Training camp is always kind of a grind, but also, its good that you get to know systems, know your teammates, spend some time with them..
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