By Jeremy Rutherford, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Jan. 20–T.J. Oshie has never been to Montreal. “Never been anywhere around there,” the Blues forward said Tuesday.

Oshie’s only reference point to hockey’s hotbed is teammate David Perron, who grew up in nearby Sherbrooke, Quebec. Perron doesn’t spare a detail when bragging about his hometown.

“In my opinion, it’s probably one of the nicest atmospheres in the NHL,” Perron said. “They’re passionate about their team. There’s a lot more pressure. They expect their best players to score every night. They don’t like it when their players make mistakes and end up losing the game. It’s like baseball in St. Louis.”

Oshie listened to Perron’s comments and then decided he’ll wait until he sees Montreal firsthand. “You hear ‘Perry’ telling the stories, but you don’t know if they’re true because he’s kind of a homer,” Oshie joked.

Many of the youngsters are looking forward to tonight’s game against the Canadiens at the Bell Centre, where the Blues will attempt to bounce back from Monday’s 4-2 loss to Columbus.

Perron and defenseman Erik Johnson have each played one NHL game in Montreal — a 4-3 shootout win over the Canadiens on March 18, 2008. Like Oshie, defenseman Roman Polak has never played in Montreal, and Patrik Berglund’s only taste of the city was the All-Star Game festivities last season.

“Great atmosphere and probably some of the best ice in the league,” Johnson said. “It’s nice to go to a city where hockey has been the No. 1 sport. You can really breathe hockey there. The fans are into it … all the whistling and the cheering … it reminds me of playing in Europe.”

Berglund, who is from Sweden, left Montreal in awe last year after taking part in the NHL’s YoungStars game.

“We had a practice and the arena was completely full,” he said. “When we got to the game and walked down the red carpet, it was so many fans it felt like it never ended, so that was cool.”

Perron also played in the YoungStars game last year. He’ll have an extra piece of equipment when he returns this season. Perron recently started wearing a tinted visor.

“That’s the only reason he changed his visor,” Johnson joked. “He wants to show off for the fans in Montreal.” Perron chimed back, “Oh yeah, I wrote it down on my calendar.”

The youngsters aren’t the only Blues who will be making the first trip of their careers to the Bell Centre. The only experience in Montreal for head coach Davis Payne was with a New Jersey roller-hockey team at the old Montreal Forum.

“I didn’t finish that game, by the way,” Payne said.

A fight?

“Got a little frustrated,” Payne said. “I came out of the penalty box … and we’ll stop at that.”

Defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo, a former Toronto Maple Leaf who’s played plenty of games in Montreal, said the Blues will enjoy their trip.

“These are the types of games you love to play in, when the atmosphere is wild and rowdy and loud,” Colaiacovo said. “That’s what makes you love the game so much. Just go out there and have fun.”

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