Personal Loans

Detroit, MI, United States (AHN Sports) – St. Louis forward Matt D’Agostini admits the team is basically fighting for pride and also hoping to secure roster spots for the 2011-12 season.

But in Wednesday’s 10-3 shellacking over first-place Detroit at Joe Louis Arena, the Blues looked anything but like a team in last place of the Western Conference’s Central Division.

“This doesn’t happen against a team like Detroit that is typically sound defensively and you’re hoping that they don’t put up double-digit numbers,” D’Agostini said. “You have to give the guys a lot of credit. We had nine different scorers.

“We were creating turnovers in their end. We kept our mistakes to a minimum and capitalized on our chances.”

D’Agostini had a goal and assist for the game and has 20 goals and 22 assists for the season as one of the team’s most dangerous players.

Coming into the contest, D’Agostini, acquired by the Blues from Montreal a year ago, had 12 goals and 15 assists in his last 43 games and multiple point games in four of his last nine outings.

He was second on the team with four game-winning goals.

The Blues had a feeling D’Agostini could have a breakout year when he scored three goals in his first three games of this season. Before this year, it had been 49 games before he collected three goals.

The Blues, at 35-32-10, with 80 points, were in last place going into the game against divisional rival Detroit.

“You know Detroit has a lot of firepower and they put up a lot of numbers,” D’Agostini said.

In their last 11 meetings, the two teams had combined for no less than six goals in each game. St. Louis had 18 total goals against the Wings last season for their most against any NHL squad.

“I don’t know what it is,” D’Agostini said. “I guess it’s the level of play you expect to see from them. We prepare for this game. We come to that extra level. Because they are good, teams are ready for them.

“When you get four lines that are producing, you can’t shut down one line. We had a lot of guys going.”

The playoffs are out of reach for the Blues but D’Agostini promised his team would be ready for the rest of the season.

“There’s plenty to play for guys to keep jobs and prove that they’re professionals and they can play at a high level every night,” he said. “We have the spoiler’s role. That’s our motivation. We played a team in Detroit that’s trying to pick up the No. 2 seed (in the Western Conference). Friday, we play a Calgary team that’s trying to lock up a playoff spot.”

As for his own season, “I can’t complain,” D’Agostini said. “My defensive responsibilities are better playing against the other team’s top guys night in and night out. For the most part, I feel that I’m doing a good job.”

For his career, D’Agostini has played 178 games with 34 goals and 33 assists. D’Agostini still likes his team’s future prospects.

“Guys are trying to win spots and there’s evaluation going on of guys from top to bottom,” he said. “This is time to make impressions and not just work on your contract but a roster spot.”

Ironically, the Blues are at the bottom of their divisional standings with a winning record.

“That’s the way it typically goes in the Central Division,” he said. “If we didn’t play so many games against each other, I think all five teams would have a shot of getting in.”

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