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Game 5, Blues vs. Kings - GDT: Moment of Truth |
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Game time is 8:00pm Central. Originally supposed to be on CNBC, but starts on NHL Network and apparently shifts over after Boston/Toronto is done. (Way to schedule games, guys!) Live blog in the comments during the game.
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I hate stating the obvious, but tonight's game is huge for both teams - but even more so for the Blues. A loss by the Kings isn't disastrous, as they'd still go home for Game 6 where they won the last two games in this series. A loss by the Blues, on the other hand, ... I guess if they wanted to go about this the hard way, that would be one way to do it - but at that point, all of the analogies related to "backs against the wall" come tumbling out. The more appropriate one might be "they've got a knife up against the throat" though - and the Kings would be poised to make the kill.
I and others can talk about the talent and potential on this Blues team until we're blue in the face, and I think (along with most other people) that it's really there. The mental side, though, is the real question mark - and it has been for a while. After seeing Los Angeles come roaring back in the 3rd period of Game 4 to seize the game and arguably control of this series, tonight may be the defining moment for this squad. It would be one thing if the guys on the team hadn't shown the ability to elevate their play, but we've seen that off and on over the last 3+ years. The key phrase is "off and on," though - it has to be consistent, and at this point it has to be at a level even they haven't shown yet. If they're ever going to display that they've got what it takes to advance deep in the playoffs, they're going to have to start showing it tonight. A 2-1 win along the lines of Game 1 won't cut it, either - it's going to have to be a convincing, in-your-face, "we will not be denied" effort from start to finish.
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The only change for either team appears to be the Blues swapping Tarasenko for Cracknell. The Kings look like they'll again go with 7 defensemen. Otherwise, no changes are anticipated.
The insertion of Tarasenko into the Game 4 lineup in place of Cracknell has been one of the more hotly debated moves among both Blues fans and the St. Louis media, and I really don't understand the hype and ongoing discussion around it. The move made sense on the surface, but the execution (5:51 of ice time for Vlad) was poor - and the loss of Cracknell wasn't the reason the Blues lost Monday night; it was simple mistakes on basic plays by Oshie, Shattenkirk and Berglund. However, browsing the Internet and seeing the comments some people have offered up, you'd think that Hitchcock took out Brett Hull in his prime and replaced him with Jason Ruff, and that single move has now cost the Blues the series - and this is from people who expected the series to go either 6 or 7 games before the first faceoff of the postseason.
Such is life in the playoffs; one night the fans are riding high and the next round is a given, the next night it's all doom and gloom and "we're done, blow it up and fire everyone" and sentiment can shift numerous times during a game. Don't get me wrong, I think the 4th line is better with Cracknell (who's nothing more than a 4th-line guy) than Tarasenko (whose upside is unlimited) ... but if Cracknell being in the lineup or not is the difference between this team being successful or not, the Blues have major problems that I don't think Doug Armstrong can fix without a partial overhaul of the roster. Guys in the locker room have to realize "the time is now" and step up accordingly; the alternative is to plan on wishing the Kings well in the 2nd round.
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Around the rest of the league
San Jose vs. Vancouver - If you had told me there would be a sweep in this series before the playoffs started, I would have bet the house that the Sharks would be going home early. As it is, there's major questions to be asked in Vancouver after another 1st-round exit. Do you can GM Mike Gillis? Head coach Alain Vigneault? Both? Neither? Maybe the more important question: has the window closed for this Canucks squad? I'm leaning toward "yes" and think major changes are in store - and I don't just mean settling the goaltending question.
Chicago vs. Minnesota - that was the most complete game the Blackhawks have played in the playoffs so far; they're going to need more of that going forward. The Wild can still take another game, but 3 more? I don't think so.
NY Islanders vs. Pittsburgh - the big news for the Penguins is that Tomas Vokoun will start in net for Game 5 ... but if the Pens continue to play defense as they have the last 3 games, there's a good chance they may go down in 7 at home.
Ottawa vs. Montreal - finally, the Canadiens showed up to play hockey. Unfortunately, they let the Senators back into the game in the 3rd and then lost it in OT. Gionta is out, White is out, Prust is out, Price is out, .... well, that last one might be an improvement for the Habs - but there's a decent shot they lose the series at home tomorrow night. The Zibanejad goal in the 3rd that cut the deficit to 2-1? No, I have no idea why it counted either; I suspect Brendan Shanahan was in charge of the war room last night based on the logic used there.
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