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?
- BluemanGuruu

Terrible? Oh dear.. Well, even if you're right I'd say you need to break them in at some point. Early in the season, with 44 points in 32 gp, I don't see the problem. I'd say this is just part of the process. It may pay dividends later this season.

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.
- Antilles

yeah you're right, not sure what i was thinking, but it still did not help us 3 years in a row.

I agree with just about everything in the blog except Brodeur being at fault for Carter's goal. One of the best snipers in the league roofed it on a perfect cross-ice pass from one of the best overall players in the league. I don't care who is in net, that shot after that pass is going to beat any goalie 9 times out of 10.

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.
- Gerk

Excellent point. This has been my fear about him since his first year in the league.

I wonder if the Blues aren't seriously thinking about shipping him to Boston for say Loui Eriksson? A couple years ago, no way would they consider dealing Osh but now that Tarasenko has become the face of the franchise, I think it's possible.

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

Almost every coach in the league implements a style that can be successful. It comes down to does he have the player personnel to pull it off, and can he keep the players motivated to sustain it. If we had Darryl Sutter as a coach, we would not be playing the same was as the Kings because our D is not built the same way theirs is. All our top D men simply don't play a physical game they way guys like Regehr, Doughty, and Greene do. However, the Blues D is still highly effective at limiting shots and goals from the crease by playing with a puck first mentality.

Go to http://war-on-ice.com/hexteams.html and look up STL. We give up a very low shot rate and goal rate in the crease area, but our weak spot is in the high slot, an area where you're generally depending more on your forwards. I think they will tighten that up as the season goes along and especially in the playoffs. The Kings on the other hand give up slightly less shots from the paint but when they do they have a much higher chance of going in. I think the Blues might be onto something there.

Looking at the Kings offense, all their D do is take shots from the point. Save for Doughty who has the license to occasionally pinch in.

Also, I'm surprised no one else is talking about Jaskin. He played a hell of a game. I hope he did enough to earn a spot on that line. Didn't like seeing Ott with Lehtera and Tarasenko either but unless you're going to double shift Steen all game long, I don't know who else you can put there. Paajarvi can skate yeah, but I dont think he would have ended up doing anything more than Ott.

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.
- bluenoter

So Berglund does not go to the net? That sweet tip he had a few games ago happened by the side boards? That sweet set up to Oshie and the one to either Schwartz or Steen occurred where?

I think by all means that you play a fourth liner on the second line. He looked decent on one of the power plays. But he should not be playing in the top six.

Reaves and Lappy both took penalties that led to goals against and it was Lappy's failure to clear the puck that led to an important goal against.

That is not emotional it is fact. You do not put players out there that tilts the ice against the strngest when you need to score goals. We know very well that plus/minus is a misleading stat that will not tell you the entire truth about whether or no a player is costing their team more than helping them.

Just like ignoring the fact that Lindbohm was makin a lot of mistakes and took a terrible penalty. It will haopen he is a rookie by why does his status not matter but you cannot dare play Allen too much because that is dangerous and youc certainly cannot play a goaltender like Binnington because god forbid he would get some experience you might need later. But hey Broduer's won 690 games and that means what? The statistical data suggests for a very exceptions that goaltenders regress after the age of 34. The graph does not improve with age..

So if you know some of these facts do you ignore statistics because of your gut and when your gut is wrong you are free from criticism?

Stastny must have thought he was dreaming last night playing with a skilled player like Jaskin. Cant help but wonder if he signs here last summer had he known he'd be stuck on the third line with Steve -hands of stone- Ott, and Patrik Fing Berglund. What an absolute WASTE of talent. Almost every point he has this year came on the powerplay-WITH SKILLED PLAYERS.

Almost every coach in the league implements a style that can be successful. It comes down to does he have the player personnel to pull it off, and can he keep the players motivated to sustain it. If we had Darryl Sutter as a coach, we would not be playing the same was as the Kings because our D is not built the same way theirs is. All our top D men simply don't play a physical game they way guys like Regehr, Doughty, and Greene do. However, the Blues D is still highly effective at limiting shots and goals from the crease by playing with a puck first mentality.

Go to http://war-on-ice.com/hexteams.html and look up STL. We give up a very low shot rate and goal rate in the crease area, but our weak spot is in the high slot, an area where you're generally depending more on your forwards. I think they will tighten that up as the season goes along and especially in the playoffs. The Kings on the other hand give up slightly less shots from the paint but when they do they have a much higher chance of going in. I think the Blues might be onto something there.

Looking at the Kings offense, all their D do is take shots from the point. Save for Doughty who has the license to occasionally pinch in.

Also, I'm surprised no one else is talking about Jaskin. He played a hell of a game. I hope he did enough to earn a spot on that line. Didn't like seeing Ott with Lehtera and Tarasenko either but unless you're going to double shift Steen all game long, I don't know who else you can put there. Paajarvi can skate yeah, but I dont think he would have ended up doing anything more than Ott.
- fattyboubatty

Correct and what high lights what am talking about is Richards raising his stick up to take a slap shot just inside the blue line and costing like that into the high slot area.

Darren Pang is continuing to comment and question about stepping up at the blue line and how far the Blues D having been backing up. The dude had his stick completely vertical raised behind himself and took no hit.

You can hit a olayer without destroying them.

But then again we can go back to the preseason and listen to what Hitch had to say about the way the team was going to play and that was just like the Kings and Blackhawks.

The back door is becoming more and more open and usually the gap that is created is biggest in the slot. Sticks are getting in the lane to stop passes and thenopposition is getting too much time in that area. Taking the body is not the same as saying crush them with big Ryan Reaves hits.

A couple of the goals from this area last night the Blues defenders created screens on the shot.

The Blues defense are capable of playing this way because of their great mobility.

Excellent point. This has been my fear about him since his first year in the league.

I wonder if the Blues aren't seriously thinking about shipping him to Boston for say Loui Eriksson? A couple years ago, no way would they consider dealing Osh but now that Tarasenko has become the face of the franchise, I think it's possible.
- fattyboubatty

I hope not. Not another Armstrong type player from Dallas. Erickson costs a lot and is ineffective.

Terrible? Oh dear.. Well, even if you're right I'd say you need to break them in at some point. Early in the season, with 44 points in 32 gp, I don't see the problem. I'd say this is just part of the process. It may pay dividends later this season.
- OnIceEnforcer

It may. The kid doesn't look bad but did often last night.

Just tired of inconsistencies of people complaining about one young okayer but it is okay to see it from another young player.

Stastny must have thought he was dreaming last night playing with a skilled player like Jaskin. Cant help but wonder if he signs here last summer had he known he'd be stuck on the third line with Steve -hands of stone- Ott, and Patrik Fing Berglund. What an absolute WASTE of talent. Almost every point he has this year came on the powerplay-WITH SKILLED PLAYERS.
- meyrman

Yeah I hope Stastny's not PO'd being stuck on the third line with Berglund. I'm pretty sure they told him he'd be a top line center when they signed him.

I hope not. Not another Armstrong type player from Dallas. Erickson costs a lot and is ineffective.
- BluemanGuruu

I don't know that he would make us any better than just sticking with Oshie but he is about the only guy you hear rumored from Boston. I would hope they would get either a top line winger or two solid top nine players.

Lindbohm did have a rough game at times but that was probably the hardest competition he has ever faced in his life. He still has shown that he can make the quick decisions and has plenty of time to improve, whereas Cole has been around the block enough times that he no longer has the cushion to be making so many rookie mistakes with only modest offensive upside to balance them out.

And I agree about Brodeur. Goalies do drop off in their 30's and even a guy like Marty can only defy the effects so much. I think he tends to over handle the puck too. Sometimes it works but I much prefer the way Allen plays it, only when he really needs to.

made a gif

made a gif
- cuethenoise

Where's his other brother Darryl?

yeah you're right, not sure what i was thinking, but it still did not help us 3 years in a row.
- BluesDroogie

We dressed a goalie instead of going the entire game with 6 skaters the last 3 years and it didn't help either, since we didn't win a series. I mean, that's basically the same logic you're using. Playing at home helped us win games. 4-2 versus 0-6. It didn't help enough for us to win a series. That doesn't mean you throw it away, anymore than you throw away having some one in net.

Home ice advantage helps teams win in the playoffs. The stats, both long term league wide and recently for the Blues is overwhelming. No, it doesn't guarantee winning a series.

We dressed a goalie instead of going the entire game with 6 skaters the last 3 years and it didn't help either, since we didn't win a series. I mean, that's basically the same logic you're using. Playing at home helped us win games. 4-2 versus 0-6. It didn't help enough for us to win a series. That doesn't mean you throw it away, anymore than you throw away having some one in net.

Home ice advantage helps teams win in the playoffs. The stats, both long term league wide and recently for the Blues is overwhelming. No, it doesn't guarantee winning a series.
- Antilles

Yeah, but we lost.

We dressed a goalie instead of going the entire game with 6 skaters the last 3 years and it didn't help either, since we didn't win a series. I mean, that's basically the same logic you're using. Playing at home helped us win games. 4-2 versus 0-6. It didn't help enough for us to win a series. That doesn't mean you throw it away, anymore than you throw away having some one in net.

Home ice advantage helps teams win in the playoffs. The stats, both long term league wide and recently for the Blues is overwhelming. No, it doesn't guarantee winning a series.
- Antilles

I think only one team in the last three Cups had home ice.

I don't know that he would make us any better than just sticking with Oshie but he is about the only guy you hear rumored from Boston. I would hope they would get either a top line winger or two solid top nine players.

Lindbohm did have a rough game at times but that was probably the hardest competition he has ever faced in his life. He still has shown that he can make the quick decisions and has plenty of time to improve, whereas Cole has been around the block enough times that he no longer has the cushion to be making so many rookie mistakes with only modest offensive upside to balance them out.

And I agree about Brodeur. Goalies do drop off in their 30's and even a guy like Marty can only defy the effects so much. I think he tends to over handle the puck too. Sometimes it works but I much prefer the way Allen plays it, only when he really needs to.
- fattyboubatty

I doubt he could. This is the same logic of many people who make rumors where you toss of your garbage to get another team's gold. Erikson is getting oaid well and not delivering anything worthwhile since he got hit last year. Before that I would say sure. But three things do not make any sense for such a deal: 1) you get no cap relief 2) you get no production 3)you get older.

Oshie hasn't been all that terrible this year considering. The other night was not a great game by him. He made one terrible pass that ended up in the back of the net. But he also was hitting which other than his line and the fourth line you could not really say all that much. Though it is nice to see Lehtera get angry and bang through some hits. The late hits on Tarasenko were gross.

Lindbohm could be good no denying it. But I think if you say you are outting him against the Kings because he is ohysical and sitting Cole then that is absolutely ridiculous. Cole plays a big man's game. He hits hard and does not back down. He has done nothing but get better and then he sits?

Look I have liked Butler's game since he came into the league and even more so because he went to my highschool. He is olaying steady but he offers more than that.

But what I am getting at is I am tired of watching a coach play favorites when it means you are not icing the best possible team. It does not make sense and it just the same as Andy Murray and his demeanor towards us fans when he would suggest that we know nothing of hockey.

Was Ott's game terrible? No. Is Ott the best player to put on the second line or third line? No. I would rather see Lindstrom there but more so against a big team Paajarvi.

Then Hitch makes a comment about why he is playing Jaskin and what the chance means he says we'll see if he olays a 200 ft. game unlike the others who do some things well. He gives Lindstrom games and games to prove he is not looking that good and who else gets that chance? Porter has played a 200ft. game and gets two points and sits the next game. He scored a goal and Ott is nearing a full 82 games played for the Blues without tickling the twine.

In all honesty who out there thinks that right at this moment Ott is better than Porter? Who thinks Lappirre is better than Porter? Who thinks Ott is better than Lapierre? I think Ott is better all around than Lappierre and I think Porter offers more than both. I do not know what Reaves offers other than ounishing checks if you can get him on a sustained forecheck. Otherwise as the puck comes out of the offensive zone and he goes to make a big check and pulls himself out of the defensive okay with a defense that is backing in but is not getting backward pressure from the forwards nothing good will come of it.

I think only one team in the last three Cups had home ice.
- BluemanGuruu

How many road playoff games have the Blues won with current players on the roster?

Home ice is important for the Blues.

I think only one team in the last three Cups had home ice.
- BluemanGuruu

2 of the last 3 had home ice advantage in the finals.

Since the lockout, series for Cup winners:
Kings, 1 home, 3 away; home for finals
Chicago, 4 home; home for finals
Kings, 4 away
Boston, 2 home, 2 away
Chicago, 3 home, 1 away; home for finals
Pittsburgh, 2 home, 2 away
Detroit, 4 home; home for finals
Anaheim, 3 home, 1 away; home for finals
Carolina, 4 home; home for finals

Cup winners overall won 23 of their series at home, 13 of their series on the road. 6 of the teams had home ice advantage for the Cup, 3 did not. Playing at home is a major advantage.

How many road playoff games have the Blues won with current players on the roster?

Home ice is important for the Blues.
- carcus

That argument only works if the Blues play every playoff game at home. By your definition home ice was not important for the Blues as they had the home ice advantage in each of their last two series and lost them.

What matters is how well you're playing. If you're on, it doesn't matter the venue.

If you're a really good team like Chicago and LA, I think there's a benefit to opening on the road.

That argument only works if the Blues play every playoff game at home. By your definition home ice was not important for the Blues as they had the home ice advantage in each of their last two series and lost them.

What matters is how well you're playing. If you're on, it doesn't matter the venue.

If you're a really good team like Chicago and LA, I think there's a benefit to opening on the road.
- bcallaway

How many Cups has Chicago won without home ice advantage again?

How many Cups has Chicago won without home ice advantage again?
- Antilles

Oh I get what you're saying and you're not wrong.

I just look at it more as teams that win with home ice earned home ice because they were the better team. Hence, the better team wins. I think those Chicago teams would have won regardless of the home ice breakdown. They were the superior team.

But to your point, you are correct. If you want to win a title, you want every advantage. I just don't see home ice as a decisive advantage in hockey as it might be in other sports.

I think the more telling stat is who wins game sevens. And isn't recent game seven history in hockey nearly 50-50?

Oh I get what you're saying and you're not wrong.

I just look at it more as teams that win with home ice earned home ice because they were the better team. Hence, the better team wins. I think those Chicago teams would have won regardless of the home ice breakdown. They were the superior team.

But to your point, you are correct. If you want to win a title, you want every advantage. I just don't see home ice as a decisive advantage in hockey as it might be in other sports.

I think the more telling stat is who wins game sevens. And isn't recent game seven history in hockey nearly 50-50?
- bcallaway

I think it was swayed in favor of the away team if you just look at last year, but if you look at it since the lockout, it's again 2 out of 3 in favor of the home team.

Home ice advantage isn't everything, obviously. But it's still an advantage.

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

Yes.