Well the only thing that kept it from being tied 2-2 was a slash that broke Scandella's stick, which is an automatic penalty, when he was staring at an open net... which wasn't even called. So I'd say it was a lot closer than the score. If anything I'd say Dubs was the main reason the Wild lost that game. Took a terrible angle on the Tarasenko PP goal and let the soft 3rd goal in when he was squared to the shooter. The two teams have been about dead even as all the stats show, but Allen has been better thus far.
- mnhockeyguy

The only thing that kept it from a shut out was a fluke bounce going the Wild's way. Broken stick on the shot, got deflected by a rut in the ice up over Allen's pad.

If Wild had more of the bounces go their way, they easily could have won. At the same time, if Blues had some of the bounces go their way, it could have been 6-0.

I'd like to see Yeo hold him accountable. He can't be playing top line minutes and coasting. poop ain't right. If anything, this is a great opportunity for Coyle to step up and show the Wild he's ready to play with the big boys. Coyle, Granlund, & Parise is a pimp line in my book. Speed to burn. Coyle has to have a big edge to his game though...

I know that puts you in a bind at center. This may sound crazy, but I actually like what Brodziak brings. I'd love to see him as a #3 center and move guys up...
- eggsegan

Brodizak might be one of the best 4th line centers in the league. That might not be saying a ton, but his two way play is very solid. Great PK guy as well and good at the dot.

Only problem with moving Coyle at this juncture is I think Yeo and most Wild fans like the way the 3rd line is competing. Another reason why it's unlikely Stewart will move. The 4th line is reunited tonight with Bergenheim and Fontaine. If the bottom 3 lines can duplicate their play from game one, I don't see much line shuffling at all.

I love how DD said he heard Ott scream in pain like he had his leg broken after thos e completely unnecessary slashes the other night.

Ott clearly is in the head of the Wild
- sycsam

So I'm just curious. Dubnyks slashes to Ott were "unnecessary" but Ott's several slashes to Wild players were necessary?

Whatever, I guess I dont' disagree with you for the most part, I'd rather Wild players not retaliate and risk taking stupid penalties, but when you have a player like Ott on your team, seems reasonable to expect he's going to be retaliated against. I mean isn't that his sole purpose? To illicit a response from his opponent by being an agitator in hopes of drawing a penalty?

Like I said yesterday in the Wild thread, Ott is a relic in the NHL. The only purpose he serves with the Blues is to disrupt and agitate. At this point of his career he has no real value outside of that.

I don't mind guys mixing things up a bit and getting physical in the playoffs, even getting away with a few indiscretions at times especially in the playoffs. But Otts role in the NHL is rapidly vanishing. IMO, most NHL fans want to see skill against skill honest hockey now days.

Anyway, my original point was that if you have a player like Ott in your line up, seems a little misguided to insinuate that his opponents are somehow unjustified in retaliation.

Yup, pretty much what I've been preaching all along. The series really comes down to how the Blues choose to play.

DD has had a tremendous run, but I've seen nothing from him that tells me he's the second coming of Patrick Waa and will steal this series.

After two games, he's the second best goalie in this series.

Tonight, IMO, is more of a must-win game for MN than for the Blues. If the Blues win game 3 the pressure begins to mount on the Wild.

I feel an OT game coming soon.
- bcallaway

Well said. So sick of the Dubnyk hype. He makes all the saves a goalie is supposed to make, and plays behind a defensively sound team that keeps the majority of the shots outside and around the circles. His play at the end of the season and through 2 playoff games has been solid, but nowhere near spectacular.
In order for the Wild to win this series I belive Doobs will have to steal at least one game, like he did in StL a couple of weeks ago.

What realistically do you guys want for Ty Rattie from Vancouver.

So I'm just curious. Dubnyks slashes to Ott were "unnecessary" but Ott's several slashes to Wild players were necessary?

Whatever, I guess I dont' disagree with you for the most part, I'd rather Wild players not retaliate and risk taking stupid penalties, but when you have a player like Ott on your team, seems reasonable to expect he's going to be retaliated against. I mean isn't that his sole purpose? To illicit a response from his opponent by being an agitator in hopes of drawing a penalty?

Like I said yesterday in the Wild thread, Ott is a relic in the NHL. The only purpose he serves with the Blues is to disrupt and agitate. At this point of his career he has no real value outside of that.

I don't mind guys mixing things up a bit and getting physical in the playoffs, even getting away with a few indiscretions at times especially in the playoffs. But Otts role in the NHL is rapidly vanishing. IMO, most NHL fans want to see skill against skill honest hockey now days.

Anyway, my original point was that if you have a player like Ott in your line up, seems a little misguided to insinuate that his opponents are somehow unjustified in retaliation.
- MnGump

Ott was in the paint. He got what he got. Necessary or unnecessary is a moot point this time of year. Penalized or unpenalized is much more important.

If I'm Dubs, I'm trying to chop that tree down. If I'm Ott, I'm looking for an excuse to f' with Dubnyk to get him off his game.

Playoff gamesmanship. I love it.

So I'm just curious. Dubnyks slashes to Ott were "unnecessary" but Ott's several slashes to Wild players were necessary?

Whatever, I guess I dont' disagree with you for the most part, I'd rather Wild players not retaliate and risk taking stupid penalties, but when you have a player like Ott on your team, seems reasonable to expect he's going to be retaliated against. I mean isn't that his sole purpose? To illicit a response from his opponent by being an agitator in hopes of drawing a penalty?

Like I said yesterday in the Wild thread, Ott is a relic in the NHL. The only purpose he serves with the Blues is to disrupt and agitate. At this point of his career he has no real value outside of that.

I don't mind guys mixing things up a bit and getting physical in the playoffs, even getting away with a few indiscretions at times especially in the playoffs. But Otts role in the NHL is rapidly vanishing. IMO, most NHL fans want to see skill against skill honest hockey now days.

Anyway, my original point was that if you have a player like Ott in your line up, seems a little misguided to insinuate that his opponents are somehow unjustified in retaliation.
- MnGump

This.

This is his one and only job, to be a complete butt. Chirping from the bench and agitating anyone and everyone while on the ice.

He's only a relic in terms of his value during the regular season, as a fourth liner he does his job.

But come playoff time, he's a tremendous value to the Blues.

And if I were Dubnyk, I'd be doing the same thing to him. I thought it was hilarious to see DD hacking away at him.

Would have made Billy Smith and Eddie Belfour proud.

This.

This is his one and only job, to be a complete butt. Chirping from the bench and agitating anyone and everyone while on the ice.

He's only a relic in terms of his value during the regular season, as a fourth liner he does his job.

But come playoff time, he's a tremendous value to the Blues.

And if I were Dubnyk, I'd be doing the same thing to him. I thought it was hilarious to see DD hacking away at him.

Would have made Billy Smith and Eddie Belfour proud.
- bcallaway

Poor Matt Cooke. Completely neutered.

What realistically do you guys want for Ty Rattie from Vancouver.
- manvanfan

Blues don't have the cap room to add salary this offseason. So any trade of a ELC like Rattie, in a vacuum, would have to be for either someone on an ELC, or pick/prospect. I don't know Vancouver's prospects well enough to say, but our prospect pool's biggest need without Rattie would be a winger.

Poor Matt Cooke. Completely neutered.
- eggsegan

Who?

Well said. So sick of the Dubnyk hype. He makes all the saves a goalie is supposed to make, and plays behind a defensively sound team that keeps the majority of the shots outside and around the circles. His play at the end of the season and through 2 playoff games has been solid, but nowhere near spectacular.
In order for the Wild to win this series I belive Doobs will have to steal at least one game, like he did in StL a couple of weeks ago.
- SotaPopinski

Seems an indictment on Backstrom and Kuemper, at least partially.

So I'm just curious. Dubnyks slashes to Ott were "unnecessary" but Ott's several slashes to Wild players were necessary?

Whatever, I guess I dont' disagree with you for the most part, I'd rather Wild players not retaliate and risk taking stupid penalties, but when you have a player like Ott on your team, seems reasonable to expect he's going to be retaliated against. I mean isn't that his sole purpose? To illicit a response from his opponent by being an agitator in hopes of drawing a penalty?

Like I said yesterday in the Wild thread, Ott is a relic in the NHL. The only purpose he serves with the Blues is to disrupt and agitate. At this point of his career he has no real value outside of that.

I don't mind guys mixing things up a bit and getting physical in the playoffs, even getting away with a few indiscretions at times especially in the playoffs. But Otts role in the NHL is rapidly vanishing. IMO, most NHL fans want to see skill against skill honest hockey now days.

Anyway, my original point was that if you have a player like Ott in your line up, seems a little misguided to insinuate that his opponents are somehow unjustified in retaliation.
- MnGump

My point was I thought they were funny taht DD was the only trying to go back at Ott.

I know Stewart tried but he got lost along the way like Stewart usually does

Ott is doing his best to agitate and it seems to be working

What realistically do you guys want for Ty Rattie from Vancouver.
- manvanfan

first round pick in 2015

Well said. So sick of the Dubnyk hype. He makes all the saves a goalie is supposed to make, and plays behind a defensively sound team that keeps the majority of the shots outside and around the circles. His play at the end of the season and through 2 playoff games has been solid, but nowhere near spectacular.
In order for the Wild to win this series I belive Doobs will have to steal at least one game, like he did in StL a couple of weeks ago.
- SotaPopinski

I agree. Not to take anything away from dub, he's been solid. But there is this misconception that he's been playing a million miles above his head, and thereby saved the wilds season, and that as soon as he "collapses" so will the team. Whereas i think they could have traded for any run of the mill goalie, that makes the saves that they should make, and had near the same result. I think it was more the mentality that the goalie wasnt going to lose games for you that made the TEAM play better. But doobs hasn't really stole many games for us this year, it's just that the team plays that much better with a capable goalie playing behind them.

Seems and indictment on Backstrom and Kuemper, at least partially.
- stljam

Absolutely. Backy isjust not the same guy and kuemper was donkey poop this year.

Poor Matt Cooke. Completely neutered.
- eggsegan

Cooke was good in his first season with the Wild, but he's been injured more than he's played this season and after injuring Barrie last post season, he's been a complete nonfactor physically.

Neutered is about as good a metaphor as any... he doesn't engage physically at all anymore. At least not to any degree of effectiveness.

Blues don't have the cap room to add salary this offseason. So any trade of a ELC like Rattie, in a vacuum, would have to be for either someone on an ELC, or pick/prospect. I don't know Vancouver's prospects well enough to say, but our prospect pool's biggest need without Rattie would be a winger.
- Antilles

Vancouver's 1st this year for Rattie + 4th rnd. Rattie's a 1st rnd talent who slipped to the top of the 2nd because if his size, & has proven he can play in the pros. He is basically the equivalent to whatever draft pick Van might choose, only advanced in his development. He's likely lost his slot w/ STL due to Fabbri anyway, & we need to add some more talent to develop for the next wave in a couple years. The 4th just sweetens the pot a lil more for Van to make up for the lost pick.

Edit: looks like sycasm beat me to it.

Where is the "ott makes stewart flinch" gif. That was the funniest thing I've seen in a while. After Ott just laughling like a mad man is hilarious.

That's it?

That's all you can come up with?

We finally get a blogger who gives us a game day blog and that's all you got.


Sissy.
- bcallaway

Give me a break. Monday mornings are tough.....

I can't wait for tonight. I just wanna see the Blues play like they did in the first two periods on Saturday. That's all I can ask for.

So I'm just curious. Dubnyks slashes to Ott were "unnecessary" but Ott's several slashes to Wild players were necessary?

Whatever, I guess I dont' disagree with you for the most part, I'd rather Wild players not retaliate and risk taking stupid penalties, but when you have a player like Ott on your team, seems reasonable to expect he's going to be retaliated against. I mean isn't that his sole purpose? To illicit a response from his opponent by being an agitator in hopes of drawing a penalty?

Like I said yesterday in the Wild thread, Ott is a relic in the NHL. The only purpose he serves with the Blues is to disrupt and agitate. At this point of his career he has no real value outside of that.

I don't mind guys mixing things up a bit and getting physical in the playoffs, even getting away with a few indiscretions at times especially in the playoffs. But Otts role in the NHL is rapidly vanishing. IMO, most NHL fans want to see skill against skill honest hockey now days.

Anyway, my original point was that if you have a player like Ott in your line up, seems a little misguided to insinuate that his opponents are somehow unjustified in retaliation.
- MnGump

The reason for commenting to the guy is to what insinuate that you haveba righteous view of the game? Please. Hooking and slashing goes both ways. As you move up levels there is mre and more hacking out there and you are taught how to do so so as the refs are not wise.

To say that pests will leave the game is a joke. The thing is players over all get better and better so you see more and more skilled pests. Anytime you have one of those people that just lookng at them for some unknown reason you have an urge to beat them, even if you are a peaceful person, you want them to play. Then when they know how to talk and can get under the skn all the better. Such things will never go away.

Now straight up thugs are disappearing more and more. Now you have guys who can play some hockey who also can figt if the need arises. Like Stewart on your team. The way he has played for the past few years he has become nothing more than hired muscle who has tremendous skill but no consistency to his game. When he put a big check the other night I thought to myself I have not seen him hit like that since he got suspended for laying kronwell out. If he starts hitting again it will feed his game.

But for some reason Ott gets points in the play offs and is good at winning face offs, almost as if he had smething more to offer.

Well said. So sick of the Dubnyk hype. He makes all the saves a goalie is supposed to make, and plays behind a defensively sound team that keeps the majority of the shots outside and around the circles. His play at the end of the season and through 2 playoff games has been solid, but nowhere near spectacular.
In order for the Wild to win this series I belive Doobs will have to steal at least one game, like he did in StL a couple of weeks ago.
- SotaPopinski

But the thing is a lt of goalies struggle to make those saves. Elliott used to do it and he got great numbers mostly because of the team in front of him. Halak struggled with it here. Miller was terrible with it. The goalies whine when there are too little number of shots and when there are too many shots.

I like Dub. I thought he could always be a good goaltendr. Even if he sucke this series I would not read too much into it. He is still learning, new experience dealing with it. He went from prone to beach balls going in on him to making it tough to score on him. He has been played a ton and I think it will wear on him.

I can't wait for tonight. I just wanna see the Blues play like they did in the first two periods on Saturday. That's all I can ask for.
- Yeah Boyes

I want to see the Blues playnlike they did against the Hawks. They utterly shut them down. When a few chances came Allen was there. If that team comes to play I think very few teams can compete with them if that team is also playing its best.

The reason for commenting to the guy is to what insinuate that you haveba righteous view of the game? Please. Hooking and slashing goes both ways. As you move up levels there is mre and more hacking out there and you are taught how to do so so as the refs are not wise.

To say that pests will leave the game is a joke. The thing is players over all get better and better so you see more and more skilled pests. Anytime you have one of those people that just lookng at them for some unknown reason you have an urge to beat them, even if you are a peaceful person, you want them to play. Then when they know how to talk and can get under the skn all the better. Such things will never go away.

Now straight up thugs are disappearing more and more. Now you have guys who can play some hockey who also can figt if the need arises. Like Stewart on your team. The way he has played for the past few years he has become nothing more than hired muscle who has tremendous skill but no consistency to his game. When he put a big check the other night I thought to myself I have not seen him hit like that since he got suspended for laying kronwell out. If he starts hitting again it will feed his game.

But for some reason Ott gets points in the play offs and is good at winning face offs, almost as if he had smething more to offer.
- BluemanGuruu

Ott can be effective, but he's a high risk low reward player IMO.

He was the highest PIM's player for the Blues in last years playoffs and is already the highest PIM's player in this series.... and consider that he was lucky enough to get away with several transgressions in Saturdays game that went uncalled.

IMO, It's only a matter of time before his antics start having a negative effect on his own team and Hitch will have to reel him in.

I believe the Wild will win this series in spite of his antics and quite possibly because of them.

Ott can be effective, but he's a high risk low reward player IMO.

He was the highest PIM's player for the Blues in last years playoffs and is already the highest PIM's player in this series.... and consider that he was lucky enough to get away with several transgressions in Saturdays game that went uncalled.

IMO, It's only a matter of time before his antics start having a negative effect on his own team and Hitch will have to reel him in.

I believe the Wild will win this series in spite of his antics and quite possibly because of them.
- MnGump

Steve Ott will not decide this series for either team.