If the Blues lose this series it is just another let down to me. I don't care about getting this far blah, blah, blah this teams window is closing. And I don't care about participation trophies. This will go down as just another playoff failure. Sorry hate on me if you want. It is cup or bust in my eyes

Wow just wow. This teams window is just opening. Schwartz, Fabbri, Tarasenko, Parayko, Edmundson, Allen are only going to get better. I understand being passionate and overreacting, but I am proud of this team and think that even if they loose tonight (which they will not) it has been a damn good run.

The Blues will win tonight! The Moose is loose and Tarasenko is due for a couple goals! Let's Go Blues!

Wow just wow. This teams window is just opening. Schwartz, Fabbri, Tarasenko, Parayko, Edmundson, Allen are only going to get better. I understand being passionate and overreacting, but I am proud of this team and think that even if they loose tonight (which they will not) it has been a damn good run.
- cuethenoise

I agree with you. The Blues have a BRIGHT future. If anyone's window is closing from this series, it's the Sharks. We're one of the older teams in the league, with most of our top players being over 30 (Thornton, Marleau, Pavelski, Burns, Martin, Ward). Vlasic is 29, so he's close as well. If not this year, next year may be the Sharks only real chance left to win a Cup with this group of players.

I'm "that guy."

And for a team who puts Steve Ott on the ice, that's essentially the same thing given the stuff he pulls....

And again, Shattenkirk LEVELED Wingels last game, you would have thought that would have pacified you (I thought that leveled the playing field), but the guy's a 4th liner, plays with grit, scores some goal (yes he does have some skill - he wouldn't be in the NHL if he didn't) and gets the job done. Are you saying you'd hate to have him on your team?

As far as the dangerous checks, they happen every game, there were non-calls both ways in that regard.
- Team_Teal

The nhl is moving towards a more skill game

Hence why Ott and Reaves are out and Jaskin and Paajarvi are in

Sharks have nonone that can play hence Wingels is in the game

I hate Steve Ott and think he is a waste of salary but Hitch loves him for some reason

Go ahead and defend Wingels but he is nothing more than a glorified goon

Shattenkirk should have leveled him

Refs missed the Wingels hit and it burnt the blues when Shattenkirk retaliated.

The NHL is a joke with discipline and the refs are jokes when they don't throw guys out for hits like Wingels puts on and the jumping of Jaskin by Polak. There are four officials on the ice? THey miss more calls now than they did when there was only one ref

Polak should have been kicked out too

Why is it so hard for you to admit Wingels is beyond the line of what is ok?

I agree with you. The Blues have a BRIGHT future. If anyone's window is closing from this series, it's the Sharks. We're one of the older teams in the league, with most of our top players being over 30 (Thornton, Marleau, Pavelski, Burns, Martin, Ward). Vlasic is 29, so he's close as well. If not this year, next year may be the Sharks only real chance left to win a Cup with this group of players.
- WaterVsAnchor

Blues will be much better next year IMO

THis year has been awesome and I hope it doesn't end in this round but with the YOuth the blues have plus a few kids in the minors blues will be fine.

Sharks like you said are old

They are all still really good except maybe Marleau. What is your opinion of his play thus far in the series?

The nhl is moving towards a more skill game

Hence why Ott and Reaves are out and Jaskin and Paajarvi are in

Sharks have nonone that can play hence Wingels is in the game

I hate Steve Ott and think he is a waste of salary but Hitch loves him for some reason

Go ahead and defend Wingels but he is nothing more than a glorified goon

Shattenkirk should have leveled him

Refs missed the Wingels hit and it burnt the blues when Shattenkirk retaliated.

The NHL is a joke with discipline and the refs are jokes when they don't throw guys out for hits like Wingels puts on and the jumping of Jaskin by Polak. There are four officials on the ice? THey miss more calls now than they did when there was only one ref

Polak should have been kicked out too

Why is it so hard for you to admit Wingels is beyond the line of what is ok?
- sycsam

Missed calls happen all the time. Shatty should be benched for retaliating. Polak should have got the instigator no question there. That guy doesn't have much going on between his ears.

I agree with you. The Blues have a BRIGHT future. If anyone's window is closing from this series, it's the Sharks. We're one of the older teams in the league, with most of our top players being over 30 (Thornton, Marleau, Pavelski, Burns, Martin, Ward). Vlasic is 29, so he's close as well. If not this year, next year may be the Sharks only real chance left to win a Cup with this group of players.
- WaterVsAnchor

Whomever loses this series is going to look back on it and lament the missed opportunity. Because it's there for them right now.

Once the season ends, you're faced with the reality that all the dragons that were slain (slayed?) to get to this point will be back next year. Chicago, LA, Anaheim, Dallas, Nashville......they'll all be back.

It's a hard road and both teams have accomplished a great deal to get to this point. Especially in the Western Conference.

I'm "that guy."

And for a team who puts Steve Ott on the ice, that's essentially the same thing given the stuff he pulls....

And again, Shattenkirk LEVELED Wingels last game, you would have thought that would have pacified you (I thought that leveled the playing field), but the guy's a 4th liner, plays with grit, scores some goal (yes he does have some skill - he wouldn't be in the NHL if he didn't) and gets the job done. Are you saying you'd hate to have him on your team?

As far as the dangerous checks, they happen every game, there were non-calls both ways in that regard.
- Team_Teal

Think it was me that said Wingels is the new Ott. Also, notice that Ott hasn't been on the ice much. 2 games each of the last 2 series, averaging less than 7 minutes of ice time per game.

Lehtera had a suprising non-call at the end of the game with a pretty big chop in the defensive zone.

Missed calls happen all the time. Shatty should be benched for retaliating. Polak should have got the instigator no question there. That guy doesn't have much going on between his ears.
- cuethenoise

Shattenkirk can't retaliate there at that stage of the game given the circumstances. That situation is the prime example of when you should get a number and tuck it away for later. Dumb, selfish penalty imho.

Shattenkirk can't retaliate there at that stage of the game given the circumstances. That situation is the prime example of when you should get a number and tuck it away for later. Dumb, selfish penalty imho.
- Jason Millen

I agree it was a selfish penalty but how did the refs miss Wingels????

I don't get it the puck is in the area

How do you miss that

Boggles my mind

He charged at Shattenkirk and did a blind side jumping shot to his head

HOW DO YOU MISS THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You guys out to check out some of Cooper's quotes....The one on Malkin's "guaranty" reminded me to look out for them .. now these

"You can sit here and say 'Giving up a goal in the last minutes is not ideal', but I just think giving up goals is not ideal."

"Whether you score them in the first minute, the last minute, doesn't matter, you're still giving up a goal."

"Pittsburgh has volleyed the ball into our court, and now it's on us to smash it back."

You guys out to check out some of Cooper's quotes....The one on Malkin's "guaranty" reminded me to look out for them .. now these

"You can sit here and say 'Giving up a goal in the last minutes is not ideal', but I just think giving up goals is not ideal."

"Whether you score them in the first minute, the last minute, doesn't matter, you're still giving up a goal."

"Pittsburgh has volleyed the ball into our court, and now it's on us to smash it back."
- Jason Millen

Cooper is very smart

I think the NHL should go to a plane based rule for offsides regarding zone entry and remove the ability to challenge. If any part of your body is over the blue line, you are considered on-side. Much easier for a linesmen to make the call.

I think the NHL should go to a plane based rule for offsides regarding zone entry and remove the ability to challenge. If any part of your body is over the blue line, you are considered on-side. Much easier for a linesmen to make the call.
- Jason Millen

Agreed

or get better equipment for them to use

Agreed

or get better equipment for them to use
- sycsam

The equipment is great for checking after the fact but I want a solution that makes the linesmen right on the current call even more of the time while adhering to the spirit of the game, whatever that means, lol.

The equipment is great for checking after the fact but I want a solution that makes the linesmen right on the current call even more of the time while adhering to the spirit of the game, whatever that means, lol.
- Jason Millen

Make the players all wear dog collars with the puck implanted with a chip that negates the electrical charge.

So if a player goes in offside, the get zapped and fall to the ice. No need for a linesman......

The equipment is great for checking after the fact but I want a solution that makes the linesmen right on the current call even more of the time while adhering to the spirit of the game, whatever that means, lol.
- Jason Millen

It appears that they are looking at replays on a 6"x8" tablet

Not sure why linesman get to review things like that but refs have to call Toronto

Make the players all wear dog collars with the puck implanted with a chip that negates the electrical charge.

So if a player goes in offside, the get zapped and fall to the ice. No need for a linesman......
- bcallaway

Hilarity would ensue with guys flopping around on the ice like a Sedin out of water

Hilarity would ensue with guys flopping around on the ice like a Sedin out of water
- sycsam

Might occasionally have to clean up a yellow puddle.

But otherwise, the plan seems solid to me.

Might occasionally have to clean up a yellow puddle.

But otherwise, the plan seems solid to me.
- bcallaway

Yellow puddle or a brown stain

Might occasionally have to clean up a yellow puddle.

But otherwise, the plan seems solid to me.
- bcallaway

Gamblers would hack the system to give strategic shocks to certain players at certain times....right before making contact with that one-timer for example, lol.

It appears that they are looking at replays on a 6"x8" tablet

Not sure why linesman get to review things like that but refs have to call Toronto
- sycsam

The current equipment stinks but I meant rather that I want something to get rid of the need for so many reviews and to keep the game fast...no need for it to turn into baseball or the nfl in the lack of actual game play

The current equipment stinks but I meant rather that I want something to get rid of the need for so many reviews and to keep the game fast...no need for it to turn into baseball or the nfl in the lack of actual game play
- Jason Millen

I hear ya that review in Game 4 took way too long

Have to have a better system or get rid of the review all together

Blues will be much better next year IMO

THis year has been awesome and I hope it doesn't end in this round but with the YOuth the blues have plus a few kids in the minors blues will be fine.

Sharks like you said are old

They are all still really good except maybe Marleau. What is your opinion of his play thus far in the series?
- sycsam

He's had some good moments, but his offensive game just hasn't been there. But honestly, a lot of that has to do with the fact that he's carrying lesser talent on his line. You stick him up with the Joes and he'll produce. Of all of our older players, he's probably the only one that I'd say is in a decline. He's still pretty fast though, he could definitely burn you if you gave him the chance. His keepaway play last game with Tierney to get that first empty netter was brilliant though. The effort those two gave for that behind the net was awesome.

I think the NHL should go to a plane based rule for offsides regarding zone entry and remove the ability to challenge. If any part of your body is over the blue line, you are considered on-side. Much easier for a linesmen to make the call.
- Jason Millen

I agree with this.

They need to update the rule, because linesmen can't get the calls correct with the speed of the game.

They could also take that call away from the linesman and have them primarily do icing and face-offs, plus police after whistles/etc. And have an off ice official that is either watching on monitors with several angles and has control to whistle the play dead/maybe a light that comes on so that the on ice officials blow the play dead.

The hardest part is keeping up and staying in a good position to make the call. And even then, it is still hard to tell a lot of the time. So a linesman skating around all game trying to keep up is going to blow more calls than one sitting there only focused on that call.