Man, u guys analysis this to death! The issue in my view is scoring goals when you get the chances. The Blues have had the chances an either Quick has stopped them or the Kings have cleared the puck. Some they just failed to put in the net. Lets face it, if you don't score more goals then the other team, u lose.

How would you like to see him play it? As a fellow tender myself, i'm curious as to your tender thoughts...

I'd have liked him to use the stance i put in my photo link only with a slightly different angle and it still likely would not have mattered. The stance in the photo i posted would allow for a more active stick though Elliott catching left makes that less usefull because of the side this play was on.

Quick does the same type of thing for certain. He is over-agressive a lot of the time. Have you noticed that this tendency also has him often leaning forward, being further down and not as upright when sliding across (leaving more of the net up high open and available)? It doesn't happen all the time but i have noticed it at least a dozen times.
- stljam

I would like it if he didn't over-commit and pull himself out of the goal. You just can't do that, especially when the other team is on the power play. Someone is open, you have to keep yourself in position or else it is likely to lead to a sure goal.

Man, u guys analysis this to death! The issue in my view is scoring goals when you get the chances. The Blues have had the chances an either Quick has stopped them or the Kings have cleared the puck. Some they just failed to put in the net. Lets face it, if you don't score more goals then the other team, u lose.
- arh777

The reason the Blues haven't won this series. No finishers on this team.

The reason the Blues haven't won this series. No finishers on this team.
- carcus

Agreed!

On what basis? You can't draw anything meaningful from his play last year - and even if you did, you'd say "the one game he played start-to-finish, he lost in 2OT" which doesn't exactly scream "he stood up to the pressure of the playoffs." So really, you're basing that off of one (1) performance in the 2010 playoffs which may or may not be an aberration. Sure, neither of us have any idea which it is if he never gets in again to play - but just like I wouldn't dismiss it as a one-off a la Burke in 1988, I wouldn't put full faith in it either.


The comment about Halak getting hurt was intended more as a statement about how you're putting more trust in a guy who hasn't played in 6 weeks and has struggled to stay healthy than the guy who's gone 1.46, .941 over his last 18 games - solely because one of them backstopped his team to upsets of the #1 and #2 seeds 3 years ago while the other has lost the last 3 games, 2 of which were squarely not his fault and the 3rd was debateable. More importantly, you're effectively saying to Elliott, "if I have to win a game, I can't trust you no matter how great you've been playing - I'll go with someone else first."

Is that the message you want to send to both Elliott and the rest of the team? If so, that's a really, really ballsy call to make. I'm not saying it's the wrong call to make, I'm just saying you know what you're getting from Elliott but you're hoping you'll get at least that or better from Halak - and there's a more than decent chance that move doesn't work. I think there's a time and a place for using both goalies in the playoffs; right now isn't it, though.
- Chip McCleary

I think Elliott is gassed. He has played a lot lately. Halak has proven that he can come back after a long layoff and not miss a beat.

The message right now should be win or go home. I want to win, and I believe Halak is the better option tomorrow. Tarasenko in for AMac as well. I don't care what everyone else thinks, I do what I think gives us the best shot of winning.

FYI, Elliott has never won a game in LA. Something like 0-10 in his career.

He used the butterly as his way of getting to the spot/take the angle, probably the safest way to move there as far as not opening up holes for Kopitar to hit. He obviously can't butterly slide to be against the post and not leave holes, so he has to slide in front of it. Of course, he over slid a little but he has to fully take out the potential shooter, trusting that his teammates have the pass. I personally would have preferred he move to the position like i had in the photo link I posted but I don't think either move prevents a goal to be honest.
- stljam

As a former goalie, I also agree with your statement. I don't think either way prevents a goal, a goalie has no choice but to trust the defensemen around him. He cant play the shooter and the pass. Even if he didn't "over commit" I highly doubt he could have gotten over fast enough to stop the shot. Even if he stood up and come out to cut the angle there is know way he could have gotten over fast enough. If he went into the position of the pic you posted it leaves a spot above or maybe even the possibility of squeezing it through the pads if they are not together. Granted it would take a great shot, but it was a great shooter...

Bottom line is I don't blame Elliot on that one

I would like it if he didn't over-commit and pull himself out of the goal. You just can't do that, especially when the other team is on the power play. Someone is open, you have to keep yourself in position or else it is likely to lead to a sure goal.
- carcus

So how does he go cover Kopitar as the shooter without over-committing?

Agreed!
- arh777

Right but that was the obvious analysis and nothing to discuss there

I think Game 6 is going to be pretty intense. LA has learned how to close out a series, and they're really strong at home. Game 4 was the first time Elliot had a sub 90 save %, and he had one again last night.. LA didn't even get 20 shots on goal last night. I don't think LA is going to be limited to that few of shots at home.. They only had 21 game 3, but I think it'll be closer to 30 like in game 4 (29)... Elliot's save percentage could indicate he's a little rattled now that Kopitar and Carter have woken up, as professional as everyone is, it's gotta be in the back of their minds "Oh boy, here we go again...."

And LA has to be confident knowing home ice has treated them well, and they've come back from holes twice against the Blues to win it in regulation.

Game 6 will be interesting, if the Blues are focused and LA is overconfident, the Kings could be in trouble... If LA jumps out to an early lead though, that could shake the Blues a bit.

It's going to be intense, I can see this series ending Friday night, but just as easily I can see this being extended to game 7. Such a shame this is a first round matchup.

Chip, I thought this was a great effort from the blues. Yes, their were unwarranted odd-man rushes... but with the number of scoring chances the blues generated, they should have easily won this game. I think the outcome of the next game will be the same whether tarasenko replaces A-mac or not. I also think the blues have reached a point where putting the puck on net isn't always the best option... there were several times that the blues shot the puck directly into the body of Quick when a pass would have resulted in an open net opportunity. Blues in 7.. LGB

I really hope this one ends up going to 7.

For sure some of the best hockey I've seen in a long while. It's just a shame one of these two teams is going to be out soon.

Since we're discussing Halak ...

http://www.ktrs.com/news/...lems-in-blues-locker-room

After Wednesday night's 3-2 overtime loss to the Kings, KTRS Sports Director John Hadley reports that the Blues are having issues behind the scenes.

Obviously, there are issues for the Blues on and off the ice--down 3-2 on the ice. KTRS Sports has confirmed that goalie Jaroslav Halak and Coach Ken Hitchcock got into a very animated and loud argument prior to game 4 out in LA, with Halak shouting profanity at Hitchcock. Furthermore, there are players on the team that noted earlier in the series, when Brian Elliot was hurt and down on the ice, Halak did not even begin to stretch.

Keep in mind, the "source" for this is Hadley - who's only slightly more reliable than Adam Lambert is knowledgable about being heterosexual - but given other comments about Halak this season (especially Oshie's comment about Halak deciding he couldn't play right before one game), when there's smoke ...

Since we're discussing Halak ...

http://www.ktrs.com/news/...lems-in-blues-locker-room



Keep in mind, the "source" for this is Hadley - who's only slightly more reliable than Adam Lambert is knowledgable about being heterosexual - but given other comments about Halak this season (especially Oshie's comment about Halak deciding he couldn't play right before one game), when there's smoke ...
- Chip McCleary

This is garbage.

So how does he go cover Kopitar as the shooter without over-committing?
- stljam

I didn't realize that Kopitar is a hockey God and can only be stopped if you over commit. How in the world has he not scored more?

Keep in mind, the "source" for this is Hadley - who's only slightly more reliable than Adam Lambert is knowledgable about being heterosexual....
- Chip McCleary

Since Adam has zero reliability, I am going to disagree. That would mean Hadley has some reliability. So I will have to disagree.

I didn't realize that Kopitar is a hockey God and can only be stopped if you over commit. How in the world has he not scored more?
- carcus

I'm not being a smart a$$. Technically, how would you want him to move over to take the angle on the shooter? Is it a T-push? a shuffle? something else? What stance do you want him to try and take once he gets there?

I'm always trying to learn and get better since I have had zero coaching since i started playing and have been learning on my own through video of myself, noticing tendencies of other and game experience.

Since Adam has zero reliability, I am going to disagree. That would mean Hadley has some reliability. So I will have to disagree.
- carcus

This is a great scenario to throw out in a philosophy class for discussion.

Looks like the kill shots will be 3 for 3 (elimination games) after tonight. Let's hope the first miss is tomorrow night in LA.

Ok who had Voukon in the first backup playoff goalie to get a shutout pool? Also weird that both Pittsburgh goalies have shutouts in the same round without there being an injury.

PS - If this post jinxes the Hawks, even better

ETA - Sara Orlesky just tweeted - first time in 34 years that 2 different goalies have had a shutout in same series for same team (NYI with Billy Smith and Chico Resch I believe)

This is a great scenario to throw out in a philosophy class for discussion.
- Chip McCleary

I'm not being a smart a$$. Technically, how would you want him to move over to take the angle on the shooter? Is it a T-push? a shuffle? something else? What stance do you want him to try and take once he gets there?

I'm always trying to learn and get better since I have had zero coaching since i started playing and have been learning on my own through video of myself, noticing tendencies of other and game experience.
- stljam

Honestly, you can use whatever technique you feel most comfortable with. That said, if you over-commit using any of them, while shorthanded, and pull yourself completely out of the goal and give yourself zero opportunity to stop anything but the guy coming in from the side, you might as well just let Kopitar score himself.

If there is nothing he can do but what he did, what is the point of even playing goal?

Honestly, you can use whatever technique you feel most comfortable with. That said, if you over-commit using any of them, while shorthanded, and pull yourself completely out of the goal and give yourself zero opportunity to stop anything but the guy coming in from the side, you might as well just let Kopitar score himself.

If there is nothing he can do bit what he did, what is the point of even playing goal?
- carcus

I guess I'm trying to figure out what you mean by over commit. Is that he slid too far? That he butterflied too early? etc.

He has to get square to Kopitar or get beat by a bad angle shot much like Halak and he did during the year.

Guess we are just not typing the same language. Oh well.

I guess I'm trying to figure out what you mean by over commit. Is that he slid too far? That he butterflied too early? etc.

He has to get square to Kopitar or get beat by a bad angle shot much like Halak and he did during the year.

Guess we are just not typing the same language. Oh well.
- stljam

He definitely slid too far. He was way out there. Wasn't needed to stop a shot if it came. Bottom line, when you are shorthanded, you can't put yourself in a spot you can't recover from. These are Nhl players, and they don't miss wide open nets. (ummm, Blues players, that is a shot at you)

MacDonald needs to sit. He's been terrible for a while, but the playoffs are really showing it. His timing is off at every turn.

Quick is a huge reason we lost game 5. Hes been awesome.

And for the love of god STOP mixing up the lines so much. No one is going to have chemistry if they are shuffled around every game.

The blues also seem to miss the net alot. Like in true Brad Boyes fashion. Its so frustrating to watch at times.

We are hard on the blues because we want a damn cup!

I think Elliott is gassed. He has played a lot lately. Halak has proven that he can come back after a long layoff and not miss a beat.

The message right now should be win or go home. I want to win, and I believe Halak is the better option tomorrow. Tarasenko in for AMac as well. I don't care what everyone else thinks, I do what I think gives us the best shot of winning.

FYI, Elliott has never won a game in LA. Something like 0-10 in his career.
- carcus

I second this idea.

Amac is looking forwards towards retirment and he doesnt want to get hurt. He is playing extremely soft right now. Thats not what this team needs from him.

I second this idea.

Amac is looking forwards towards retirment and he doesnt want to get hurt. He is playing extremely soft right now. Thats not what this team needs from him.
- sycsam

I think that's an exaggeration of why McDonald is playing like crap, but it doesn't take away from the fact that he's been incredibly ineffective in this year's playoffs. I do think he's at the end of the line right now, though.