Elliott has been good. But with our current roster I think it would be really hard for us to win without an elite goaltender. I agree with Allen suffering some growing pains. I think Allen will be a really good goaltender, I just hope he realizes some more of that potential by playoff time this year.

If we are to make it out of the first round, I think winning the division is key. If we don't win we will probably play NSH or CHI in the WCQF. I think we are 50/50 to advance against NSH and slight underdogs against CHI. Against a wild card team(LA being the current exception), I think we are favorites against anyone.
- Yeah Boyes

i don't fear nashville at all, rinne may steal a game or two but we would win that series. hawks, now thats just a different animal. they've been there done that and could beat us again in 4 straight games, after we steal a few. we could win the series, but after 2 straight years of being up 2-0 and losing in 6 i am worried. we could beat any team in the league in a series but will we. i like elliot in net he has shown more poise and has looked better than ever . he was not the reason the last 2 years. if the blues could hit an empty net then those series go our way.

That comes from a lack of sleep. I gave up staying up to watch 9:30 starts. I'm too old, need a good night's sleep.

On night like last, it would take me another good hour or two to get to sleep rehashing a bad loss.

I'm a much happier person now. And doing a lot better than most Blues' fans today from what I can read.
- bcallaway

i got pissed off and then continued to drink, still up. you are much better off for having slept

i don't fear nashville at all, rinne may steal a game or two but we would win that series. hawks, now thats just a different animal. they've been there done that and could beat us again in 4 straight games, after we steal a few. we could win the series, but after 2 straight years of being up 2-0 and losing in 6 i am worried. we could beat any team in the league in a series but will we. i like elliot in net he has shown more poise and has looked better than ever . he was not the reason the last 2 years. if the blues could hit an empty net then those series go our way.
- BluesDroogie

I hope you are right. Maybe someone can upset CHI this year and the stars could align for a trip to the WCF

I hope you are right. Maybe someone can upset CHI this year and the stars could align for a trip to the WCF
- Yeah Boyes

In order for the Blues to win a TRUE cup, i want us to go through the hawks, la, and anaheim, or at least the best of the best in the west. the east we can handle. Lets get through the best so there is NO doubt we are the CHAMPS

In order for the Blues to win a TRUE cup, i want us to go through the hawks, la, and anaheim, or at least the best of the best in the west. the east we can handle. Lets get through the best so there is NO doubt we are the CHAMPS
- BluesDroogie

I think we would have to go through at least 2 of those 3 teams to win. I think ANH and LA will both finish in the top 3 so we would probably only play 1 of those 2 teams. This would certainly be more satisfying than an "easy" path to the finals, but I wouldn't be angry if one or more of those teams got upset by someone we can beat.

I think we would have to go through at least 2 of those 3 teams to win. I think ANH and LA will both finish in the top 3 so we would probably only play 1 of those 2 teams. This would certainly be more satisfying than an "easy" path to the finals, but I wouldn't be angry if one or more of those teams got upset by someone we can beat.
- Yeah Boyes

san jose, la or anaheim, 1 of those 3 is going to be knocked out in the 1st round, as they should be the top 3 in the pacific, i would not worry about being in any position, lets just get into the playoffs which we should. don't really care about home ice cause its served us no good the last 3 years. just get in and see what happens. i have full faith in Elliot, our defense is something else this year though, that has to be solved come playoff time. those blue line turnovers are costing us games now. cannot happen later on

san jose, la or anaheim, 1 of those 3 is going to be knocked out in the 1st round, as they should be the top 3 in the pacific, i would not worry about being in any position, lets just get into the playoffs which we should. don't really care about home ice cause its served us no good the last 3 years. just get in and see what happens. i have full faith in Elliot, our defense is something else this year though, that has to be solved come playoff time. those blue line turnovers are costing us games now. cannot happen later on
- BluesDroogie

In our last three playoff series we have won four games. Zero have been on the road. Home ice could be the deciding factor for us in a 7 game series.

Has anybody heard any truth to the rumors of oshie and berglund to Boston? i know they are scouting the Blues but anything more than just scouting? are Oshie and Bergy connected at the hip?

In our last three playoff series we have won four games. Zero have been on the road. Home ice could be the deciding factor for us in a 7 game series.
- Yeah Boyes

we started off at home against the kings and the hawks and won 2 at home then went to their arena and lost 2 and then lost 2 at home. home ice has not made a difference cause we squandered away a 2-0 series lead. when was the last Blues road playoff victory? 2004? hell really has it been that long?

we started off at home against the kings and the hawks and won 2 at home then went to their arena and lost 2 and then lost 2 at home. home ice has not made a difference cause we squandered away a 2-0 series lead. when was the last Blues road playoff victory? 2004? hell really has it been that long?
- BluesDroogie

Three years ago against SJ we lost game one then took 4 straight. But interestingly..... in the last 4 playoff series that we have played in and LOST, we have lost four straight games to lose the series.

2009 swept by VAN in round 1
2011 swept by LA in round 2 (down 1-0 to SJ, win 4-1 in round 1)
2012 up 2-0, lose 4-2 against LA in round 1
2013 up 2-0, lose 4-2 against CHI in round 1

So technically, our last 5 playoff series have been decided by 4 straight wins or losses. I don't know if that means much, but its interesting.

In order for the Blues to win a TRUE cup, i want us to go through the hawks, la, and anaheim, or at least the best of the best in the west. the east we can handle. Lets get through the best so there is NO doubt we are the CHAMPS
- BluesDroogie

Nonsense.

You play who you match up against. If you are the last team standing, you are the champs.

This kind of talk should be reserved for after they have won a cup or two. Until then, I don't care if half the league comes down with the mumps during the playoffs and then the Blues win.

If the Blues win the Cup, they are the champs. Who cares if other fans from Chicago or whatever team want to say you didn't beat so and so. It is a dumb argument anyway. It would be the other teams fault if they lose before facing the Blues. You play who wins the series and is your matchup, doesn't matter if it is an upset or not.

we started off at home against the kings and the hawks and won 2 at home then went to their arena and lost 2 and then lost 2 at home. home ice has not made a difference cause we squandered away a 2-0 series lead. when was the last Blues road playoff victory? 2004? hell really has it been that long?
- BluesDroogie

We are 4-2 at home in the playoffs the last 2 years, and 0-6 on the road. If you can'can't see the difference right there, I'm not sure anyone is going to be able to help you understand why getting home ice matters.

We are 4-2 at home in the playoffs the last 2 years, and 0-6 on the road. If you can'can't see the difference right there, I'm not sure anyone is going to be able to help you understand why getting home ice matters.
- Antilles

weren't we the home team to start both last series? i thought we were so we would be 4-4
we were the higher seed both years

We are 4-2 at home in the playoffs the last 2 years, and 0-6 on the road. If you can'can't see the difference right there, I'm not sure anyone is going to be able to help you understand why getting home ice matters.
- Antilles

0-4 on the road

Three years ago against SJ we lost game one then took 4 straight. But interestingly..... in the last 4 playoff series that we have played in and LOST, we have lost four straight games to lose the series.

2009 swept by VAN in round 1
2011 swept by LA in round 2 (down 1-0 to SJ, win 4-1 in round 1)
2012 up 2-0, lose 4-2 against LA in round 1
2013 up 2-0, lose 4-2 against CHI in round 1

So technically, our last 5 playoff series have been decided by 4 straight wins or losses. I don't know if that means much, but its interesting.
- Yeah Boyes

i forgot about san jose, thats when jackman injured halaks ankle and elliot stepped in in game 2

Nonsense.

You play who you match up against. If you are the last team standing, you are the champs.

This kind of talk should be reserved for after they have won a cup or two. Until then, I don't care if half the league comes down with the mumps during the playoffs and then the Blues win.

If the Blues win the Cup, they are the champs. Who cares if other fans from Chicago or whatever team want to say you didn't beat so and so. It is a dumb argument anyway. It would be the other teams fault if they lose before facing the Blues. You play who wins the series and is your matchup, doesn't matter if it is an upset or not.
- carcus

i get that if a team loses then they lost but i still want the Blues to go through the Best. it would not make a cup victory any less satisfying if we did not, but i still want it that way. maybe just me. but i want that parade down market regardless

Lindbohm played terrible last night. Another over rated kid being teumped up because he olays physical because when he took the heavy forecheck he coughed up pucks and put his passes on the Kings' tape. The sweet oenalties he took as well. That beautiful trip behind the net what in the hell was he thinking?

Since 1994 you are saying the Blues have been inconsistent and frankly that is a load of garbage. They had some consistent teams. Shoot the Ducks got smoked by Toronto and then came out and won the next game. They have been olaying well without Perry and the Blues are only missing Schwartz but the replacement factor that ott is essentially in his spot is disgusting.


You forgot the most important thing the Blues took at least six penalties I counted and what did they accomplish? They talk about being disciplined and not seeking revenge and the Kings just continued to make late or dirty hits along with their legal ones and what happened? Petro and others minus JayBo were afraid of the forecheck. No protection. But hey Reaves is the guy to have on the ice with less than five minutes left down by two goals.

Shoot the game is tied with 12 minutes left and Reaves is on the ice why? So he can take a penalty?

Three fourth liners, one pretending to be in the top six like he was last year on the worst team in the league, took penalties that led to goals. Another fourth liner failed to clear the puck and that led to a goal. Yet Hitch continues to play the fourth liners who cannot keep well at that level. Meanwhile you have players who can actually skate sitting out.

But hey Reaves is really able to stop players from crossing the line or liberties with players like say Tarasenko??? Nope he can't do that anymore? The refs won't let him fight if he can even get the olayer on the other team to fight. So why is he in the line up so often?

The only thing truly inconsistent about this team is the head coach and the players who continue to get ice time and those who do not.

Everyone in the world has noticed what Hitchcock has failed to notice; that having the D back in and not stand up on the blue line they get smoked. Not since Andy Murray have I seen a team go up by a few goals in the first and then try to play a prevent game because that works in hockey.

Want a happy thought?

18 years ago today - Mike Keenan fired by the Blues.
- bcallaway

Is it wrong I would rather have him coach the Blues than Hitch at this moment in time?

We are 4-2 at home in the playoffs the last 2 years, and 0-6 on the road. If you can'can't see the difference right there, I'm not sure anyone is going to be able to help you understand why getting home ice matters.
- Antilles

Droogie is right.

You win both home games and lose momentum to the team who does not home ice.

It can help but often you see the team without home ice having the best games for momentum being on their ice.

So it is not as simple as getting home ice and having it matter. It hasn't in the last what three years?

weren't we the home team to start both last series? i thought we were so we would be 4-4
we were the higher seed both years
- BluesDroogie

Higher seed is home for game 1, 2, 5, and 7. Away gets 3, 4, and 6. We won games 1 & 2, lost games 3, 4, 5, & 6; two years in a row. 4-2 at home, 0-6 on the road.

Droogie is right.

You win both home games and lose momentum to the team who does not home ice.

It can help but often you see the team without home ice having the best games for momentum being on their ice.

So it is not as simple as getting home ice and having it matter. It hasn't in the last what three years?
- BluemanGuruu

It has helped. We had all the momentum going into their building. It not helping enough for us to win a series doesn't mean it doesn't matter.

Lindbohm played terrible last night. Another over rated kid being teumped up because he olays physical because when he took the heavy forecheck he coughed up pucks and put his passes on the Kings' tape. The sweet oenalties he took as well. That beautiful trip behind the net what in the hell was he thinking?

Since 1994 you are saying the Blues have been inconsistent and frankly that is a load of garbage. They had some consistent teams. Shoot the Ducks got smoked by Toronto and then came out and won the next game. They have been olaying well without Perry and the Blues are only missing Schwartz but the replacement factor that ott is essentially in his spot is disgusting.


You forgot the most important thing the Blues took at least six penalties I counted and what did they accomplish? They talk about being disciplined and not seeking revenge and the Kings just continued to make late or dirty hits along with their legal ones and what happened? Petro and others minus JayBo were afraid of the forecheck. No protection. But hey Reaves is the guy to have on the ice with less than five minutes left down by two goals.

Shoot the game is tied with 12 minutes left and Reaves is on the ice why? So he can take a penalty?

Three fourth liners, one pretending to be in the top six like he was last year on the worst team in the league, took penalties that led to goals. Another fourth liner failed to clear the puck and that led to a goal. Yet Hitch continues to play the fourth liners who cannot keep well at that level. Meanwhile you have players who can actually skate sitting out.

But hey Reaves is really able to stop players from crossing the line or liberties with players like say Tarasenko??? Nope he can't do that anymore? The refs won't let him fight if he can even get the olayer on the other team to fight. So why is he in the line up so often?

The only thing truly inconsistent about this team is the head coach and the players who continue to get ice time and those who do not.

Everyone in the world has noticed what Hitchcock has failed to notice; that having the D back in and not stand up on the blue line they get smoked. Not since Andy Murray have I seen a team go up by a few goals in the first and then try to play a prevent game because that works in hockey.
- BluemanGuruu

I'm confused about your rant. Seems emotional and just anti-Hitchcock. Was it Reaves 6 minutes of ice time that bothered you, Porter's 7 minutes, or Lapierre's 8.5? I'm guessing it wasn't Lapierre's +1 that bothered you. Backes played 20 minutes and was -2 AND was on the ice for 2 goals as a penalty killer. Oshie got a second assist for a sweet backhand, no-looker over to Carter to start a rush.

Reaves playing with 12 minutes left wasn't an isue and never has been. Also, his shove after the dump-in wasn't a penalty all night. Your attack on the coaching staff should be changed to address the issue with the D not being able to make an outlet pass to save their lives, or b/c their gap control is awful.

Ott hasn't even looked bad with Lehtera and Tarasenko, but I suppose he's an easy target for you too since he hasn't scored a goal. The only issue I can find with playing time is that I would've increased Jaskin's as the game progressed, but I understand protecting him from D-zone faceoffs. Reaves actually did what Berglund won't (although he did play well) and that's go at the net from the wing. Then he got forced around the net and made a nice play to Porter - scoring chance. I had a lot more issues with Backes TOI then the 6 minutes Reaves played.

It has helped. We had all the momentum going into their building. It not helping enough for us to win a series doesn't mean it doesn't matter.
- Antilles

I think the question is, was it home ice that did it or do they just come out firing in games 1&2. If it's the latter, it might be beneficial to start on the road, steal a game and then come home. Rather than build a 2 game cushion, lose momentum on the road and hope you can pull it together for game 5.

It doesn't really matter because you need to be able to win both ways. When was the last time a team had home ice all the way to the finals?

Is it wrong I would rather have him coach the Blues than Hitch at this moment in time?
- BluemanGuruu

Yes

Has anybody heard any truth to the rumors of oshie and berglund to Boston? i know they are scouting the Blues but anything more than just scouting? are Oshie and Bergy connected at the hip?
- BluesDroogie

Not going to want Oshie if they watched the game last night. I'm now convinced he will never get another contract in STL. His style will only further diminish as he ages. Could easily see the Blues trading him, maybe another and the rights for Sobotka before the deadline. Or in the offseason.