Why would you deny the truth Carcus. We are one in the same. We have been playing around as if we were two people but really we are in actuality one person.



Of course now having written that joke some will wonder. carcus do you play goalie in pick up games at creve Coeur? If you are a goalie there is a good chance we have met and the same with stljam.
- BluemanGuruu

No, don't think I have ever played at Creve Coeur.

I still play occasionally at Chesterfield as a fill in. Don't have the time to commit to playing regularly anymore.

How about a recap/game day preview???

hmmm... This information sounds like a recap of a recap. Did you actually watch the game?

I would mention the terrible officiating and use as an example when Jackman crossed checked a player something crazy like eight times in a row and then another player just comes in and crushes Jackman who never had the puck.

In a strange night in the NHL Quick brings the puck into his net and the ref is waving it off. Contrast that with the first goal on Elliott wherein Benn takes both the goaltender and defender out and it is called a goal without a thought.

There were some obvious non calls like when Oshie beats two players and just as he is coming on the goaltender both defenders shove him into the post and goaltender. Might have been a penalty shot.

There were others going both ways that were not normal for their obviousness and not being called.

Ian Cole had a strong game, saved a goal. Faltered a bit on one shift in the third. But otherwise was making better decisions.

Elliott played great though I think he would love the third goal back.

Kudos to the Blues who on the first two goals scored them right back.

Shattenkirk's defensive play is much improved.

Gunnerson is an amazing player. Jackman made a few plays that were impressive.

I thought Daley went a bit overboard on Backes as he saw him coming and Backes never saw him.

The Stars defense has some potential but they push the edge too far too often and that is going to cost the Stars at some crucial times.

Benn and Senguin have amazing chemistry. Benn's ability to fake shots and make beautiful passes in the manner he does is some of the best passing I have ever seen. But seriously look at the player's chest and put him down. One player should just be Senguin's shadow whenever he is on the ice.

Ott playing on a line with Oshie and Schwartz was terrible although he made two good passes. He took one terrible penalty.

Lappy's play this season versus last season is night and day different. He is earning his keep this season.

The problem with someone hitting their head like Backes did is that it causes multiple contusions upon the brain as it bounces around the skull. The contrecoup can often be the biggest damage than the initial area of impact.
- BluemanGuruu

Hockey is a game of collisions. Lets look at this 180degrees. If it had been Backes whomw hit Daley? Do you honestly think he would have let up? Not used an unsuspecting players vulnerability as a chance to teach them to keep their heads up?


Ya I thought so!

But against that top quality competition Cole was very good. Many players were looking like they never played professional hockey against those guys they are that good. But Cole you could see caught himself before putting himself out of position. There was a puck in the corner near the net and he was in front and he started to go to the play which is his normal mistake. But he stopped and then looked around.

He is so strong on the puck though. I would rate him with forechecking pressure as high versus good, versus average versus bad. There was one play where he was being checked by one Stars player and another Stars player attacking the puck. He came out of it never losing the puck and makes a good outlet pass.

He made two bad passes. That is improvement. His positioning was much better. The two bad passes came on one shift. But this has been a team problem. I just have not seen this team in years make so many bad passes. Too many passes being made with their heads down or taking too long to decide on a play with a puck.


Dallas would be super scary if their defense was better and they spread their talent out a bit. Three number one centers on one line seems like a waste even when they are that dominant.

Ruff team's are taught to be cheap. I mean the play on Oshie was disgusting. I still do not understand how there is no call on that play. If the dmen do not push Oshie(they obviously did), then Oshie interfers with the goaltender.

I still do not know how Jackman got away with his tommy gun cross checks on autofire. Then the other Stars player coming in and checking him when he did not have the puck.

The level of terribleness of officiating this season is a new high in lows. I do not expect the officiating to be all that great as the way the game is called has always been mystifying at every level. The let them play mantra would be like well let that guy rob that house but not this one. I do not want to blame a game on the refs as officiating is just always strange. But at the same time the main reason for officials is to keep players from being injured and in a number of games we have seen this year hits targeting the head going uncalled specifically against Schwartz. Like Daley hitting Backes. He did not need to hit him there. He could have stood still or caught him. No one will call him for such a penalty.

What scares me though is the Blues refusal to then target the other teams' players. Reaves is a useless deterrent.
- BluemanGuruu

You do realize who your coach is..Correct?
He has NEVER had an issue with gooning it up
In your prior posts you complain that other players aren't letting up when players are in vulnerable positions. Now your complaining that your teams players aren't "targeting" other teams players. Again 50% of your team has never had an issue with this in the past. I think if your patient you will see your team come around to the style of play you so desperately want from them. And why when other teams players have the chance to "target" a few of your teams players. They will take it!

Am I the only one a little concerned about Backes? How many more times is he going to be able to get his bell rung? I don't think he's looked the same since the Seabrook hit. It's unfortunate because he really is not a dirty player. However he does take the body pretty much every chance he gets, so when guys get a chance to catch him off guard, they're more likely to follow through. A guy like him, who has a bit of a target on his back, needs to keep his head up a little more than most guys.
- fattyboubatty

You guys are seriously trying to spin this into a "poor Backes" story?
Look I would love to have him on my team. But he's no Lady Byng finalist.

From Andy Strickland

Center for disease control apparently investigating #stlblues facility according Hitch


- carcusI blame Ott.

Stltoday reported that was not true...typical Strickland

You do realize who your coach is..Correct?
He has NEVER had an issue with gooning it up
In your prior posts you complain that other players aren't letting up when players are in vulnerable positions. Now your complaining that your teams players aren't "targeting" other teams players. Again 50% of your team has never had an issue with this in the past. I think if your patient you will see your team come around to the style of play you so desperately want from them. And why when other teams players have the chance to "target" a few of your teams players. They will take it!
- camfor

Take a look below at Hitch's comments regarding Reaves. It doesn't quite fit your idea of how our team operates.

From: http://www.foxsports.com/...eedless-fisticuffs-042813

"Still, some fans would trade that progress for more fisticuffs. And that irks Hitchcock.

"He [Reaves] doesn’t do the things that some people want him to do, which I quite frankly think is a waste of time, unless it’s a retaliation to something gone bad, or kind of regulating what’s going on on the ice," Hitchcock said. "He does that fine. But the other stuff, the sideshow part, I don’t want him to participate in that."

"By being able to focus on being a hockey player, and playing the game the right way, he has a way bigger impact on the outcome," the coach added. "That's what we want him to do. He's not a fourth-line player. He's a third-line player that started his career on the fourth line."

Take a look below at Hitch's comments regarding Reaves. It doesn't quite fit your idea of how our team operates.

From: http://www.foxsports.com/...eedless-fisticuffs-042813

"Still, some fans would trade that progress for more fisticuffs. And that irks Hitchcock.

"He
- eggsegan[Reaves] doesn’t do the things that some people want him to do, which I quite frankly think is a waste of time, unless it’s a retaliation to something gone bad, or kind of regulating what’s going on on the ice," Hitchcock said. "He does that fine. But the other stuff, the sideshow part, I don’t want him to participate in that."

"By being able to focus on being a hockey player, and playing the game the right way, he has a way bigger impact on the outcome," the coach added. "That's what we want him to do. He's not a fourth-line player. He's a third-line player that started his career on the fourth line."

Honestly, What do you expect the coach to say? I actually agree with him here on Reaves. Just because he is a big player that can also fight well doesn't mean he has to play on the edge.
The coach is being politically correct with his statements. And unless he has had a change of heart with age. I stand by my opinion that his coached teams have no issue with borderline "goon" play.

David Backes will return to the lineup tonight vs. Colorado after missing one game with a concussion
- blues facebook

It seems a little rushed to return after 1 game when you've been diagnosed with a concussion.

How about a recap/game day preview???


- carcus

Our blogger sucks.

Our blogger sucks.
- bcallaway

i would love to see a scoreboard added to the main page, connected to game threads.

Hockey is a game of collisions. Lets look at this 180degrees. If it had been Backes whomw hit Daley? Do you honestly think he would have let up? Not used an unsuspecting players vulnerability as a chance to teach them to keep their heads up?


Ya I thought so!
- camfor

Actually. I would have had a major problem with Backes if he did what Daley did to him.

As a combat veteran who suffered a couple of concussions in combat I cannot find it acceptable to try to do harm to another player unless they first did harm to you. So if Backes would have got up and punched him in the face, i would be fine with that. If he swung his stick at his face I would have a problem with that level of an extreme in a GAME.

It seems a little rushed to return after 1 game when you've been diagnosed with a concussion.
- Blue Clam

I agree. Remember Steen rushing back and then sitting even longer? Not worth risking your quality of life unless you are actually okay. But he did it last spring as well.

The Blues are being irresponsible for letting him play.

I agree. Remember Steen rushing back and then sitting even longer? Not worth risking your quality of life unless you are actually okay. But he did it last spring as well.

The Blues are being irresponsible for letting him play.
- BluemanGuruu

Not if he is fine.

How do you keep out your captain if he passes all the tests, skates, and says he is fine?