Last night, the Blues first game under interim coach Davis Payne didn’t go accordingly. The mighty Blackhawks had something to do with it, doubling them up on the scoreboard (6-3) and also responding to physicality as this ferocious hit by Mike Weaver displays, catching Patrick Sharp in la la land. Teammate Cam Barker took exception and got the gate (27 PIM).

Oddly enough, Sharp returned and scored twice. Perhaps Weaver woke him up. Barrett Jackman also had a huge hit on Patrick Kane which led to a heavyweight bout between Ben Eager and B.J. Crombeen with Eager landing some rights before Crombeen cameback to get the knockdown. There even was a scrap between Hawk captain Jonathan Toews and David Backes with Backes predictably beating Toews, who shouldn’t have fought. Didn’t he have a concussion over a month ago?

No. Cam Janssen didn’t drop ’em. But this was quite a game.