Chip McCleary: Game 4: Blues/Kings - Recap: School Was In Session We now head back to St. Louis tied 2-2.

Maybe they just want to win when I am in the building?

Great article, I think you summed it up pretty good. Definitely give credit to the Kings for taking it to another gear as Hitch said. I completely agree with you that the Blues have yet to ever hit that gear in recent memory. The Kings are showing the Blues what they need to do in order to win.

Also agree on #91. You might say this was his "introduction" to playoff hockey, but I think it was a wasted roster space as well. I use Schwartz as my example. When he was on the 4th line, he didn't do much. But put him with skilled players and look what happens. #91 is a skilled player and he needs to play with skilled players. Also, your McDonald assessment. He has passed up many chances to make a hit and goes out of his way while losing the puck to avoid a hit. The guy just doesn't look the same. The more ice time #91 sees in this playoff series, the better he will do in future playoffs.

We all knew this would be a tough playoff series, even Kings fans admit that. I had Blues in 6, but I have a feeling this may go 7. Game 5 will tell the tale.

Maybe they just want to win when I am in the building?
- carcus

If so, find a way to get to LA for Friday night's game.

Chip McCleary: Game 4: Blues/Kings - Recap: School Was In Session
We now head back to St. Louis tied 2-2.
- Chip McCleary

Great arcticle. Blues were so close to having the Kings pinned to the mat and on assisted breathing and now somehow the champs have new life and are on even terms. I'm cheering for the Blues but it ain't going to be easy taking 2 of the next 3.

1. You cannot sit on a lead and try to protect it and expect good things to happen - especially in the playoffs when the defending champions are on the other bench.

You would hope that they'd learn that.. but that has been their problem most of this season.

And I stand by my comment in the other thread. The move by hitch to replace Crack with Tank has a rippling effect through the entire team. Hitch essentially eliminated one of our lines from the game before they took a shift (by putting Tank in, and as usual not playing him or his line), put extra pressure on 3 other forward lines, and put added pressure on our D by not having 'that line' that can sit there and cycle the puck down low for the full shift letting our D sit back and rest.

Maybe it's not the only reason we lost, but it certainly did not help. The fact that we only lost by a goal makes me think the result is different if CPR line is together and eating minutes.

So much respect for both teams. Tight checking defense and hard hitting plays. This is the first time I haven't hated a rival team because man they are the same exact Kings team that we had last year. Perfect pickup of Bouwmeester/Leopold at the deadline.

You would hope that they'd learn that.. but that has been their problem most of this season.

And I stand by my comment in the other thread. The move by hitch to replace Crack with Tank has a rippling effect through the entire team. Hitch essentially eliminated one of our lines from the game before they took a shift (by putting Tank in, and as usual not playing him or his line), put extra pressure on 3 other forward lines, and put added pressure on our D by not having 'that line' that can sit there and cycle the puck down low for the full shift letting our D sit back and rest.

Maybe it's not the only reason we lost, but it certainly did not help. The fact that we only lost by a goal makes me think the result is different if CPR line is together and eating minutes.
- BleedBlueSTL

Actually I think it was the complete opposite of sitting on the lead on the 1st two goals because it looked like the defense was trying to take advantage of a 50/50 puck and guessed incorrectly. The defense is so quick that Leopold didn't need to gamble on that play and it cost them.

Great write up and a very fun game to watch. I still think the Blues win the series, the home crowd will push them to a game five win.

So much respect for both teams. Tight checking defense and hard hitting plays. This is the first time I haven't hated a rival team because man they are the same exact Kings team that we had last year. Perfect pickup of Bouwmeester/Leopold at the deadline.
- LAKingsfan626

Pretty much sums it up. I'm pulling for the winner of this series to take the cup. A repeat would be nice of course though...

So much respect for both teams. Tight checking defense and hard hitting plays. This is the first time I haven't hated a rival team because man they are the same exact Kings team that we had last year. Perfect pickup of Bouwmeester/Leopold at the deadline.
- LAKingsfan626

It's pretty evident that their similar in style and talent. I will pull for the winner of this series as well. I have pulled for the Rams for years and now that they play in St Louis hasn't changed that.

Actually I think it was the complete opposite of sitting on the lead on the 1st two goals because it looked like the defense was trying to take advantage of a 50/50 puck and guessed incorrectly. The defense is so quick that Leopold didn't need to gamble on that play and it cost them.
- LAKingsfan626

I wasn't actually concerned with that lead, it was too early. When we got the third goal though, I immediately told my wife we were going to lose the game. We had not looked good enough, and had the dreaded lead way too early.

It's pretty evident that their similar in style and talent. I will pull for the winner of this series as well. I have pulled for the Rams for years and now that they play in St Louis hasn't changed that.
- arh777

Agreed... If the Blues can't make it past the Kings, I'd prefer to see the Kings at least go to the Finals. Depending on the east team there will depend on who I end up rooting for.

I'm pulling for the winner of this series to take the cup. A first cup would be nice of course though...
- cryptical77

Ditto for me with my slight correction. Of course, I rooted for the Kings last year too (after they beat the Blues).

If so, find a way to get to LA for Friday night's game.
- Chip McCleary

Ok, collection plate is going around.

BTW, Frank NBC for another late start. When do we get our 5:30pm Pacific time start in LA?

#noleverageagain

Agreed... If the Blues can't make it past the Kings, I'd prefer to see the Kings at least go to the Finals. Depending on the east team there will depend on who I end up rooting for.
- BleedBlueSTL

just want to say... it SUCKS that we're seeing this series in the first round. both of these teams are good enough to go to the cup. much respect to the blues and the blues' fans for the tremendous series so far. may the better team win, then take it all the way to the cup!

Best series so far. I hope whoever wins this series (LA) is going to the cup. I gotta cheer for LA so CGY can get a better pick

just want to say... it SUCKS that we're seeing this series in the first round. both of these teams are good enough to go to the cup. much respect to the blues and the blues' fans for the tremendous series so far. may the better team win, then take it all the way to the cup!
- Poonagi

Yeah, this is why I'd really wish the playoffs were seeded more like the following:

(1E) vs. (8W)
(2W) vs. (7E)
(3E) vs. (6W)
(4W) vs. (5E)
(4E) vs. (5W)
(3W) vs. (6E)
(2E) vs. (7W)
(1W) vs. (8E)

Because then we would have seen the following:

Pittsburgh vs. Minnesota
Anaheim vs. Ottawa
Washington vs. San Jose
St. Louis vs. Toronto
Boston vs. Los Angeles
Vancouver vs. NY Rangers
Montreal vs. Detroit
Chicago vs. NY Islanders

And while the travel might have sucked for some teams, how much fun would it have been to see a rematch of the '07 Finals, a rematch of the '94 Finals, another Original Six matchup, an old Norris Division matchup, and then Bruins/Kings - which might have had even more physical play than the Blues/Kings has seen.

Yeah, this is why I'd really wish the playoffs were seeded more like the following:

(1E) vs. (8W)
(2W) vs. (7E)
(3E) vs. (6W)
(4W) vs. (5E)
(4E) vs. (5W)
(3W) vs. (6E)
(2E) vs. (7W)
(1W) vs. (8E)

Because then we would have seen the following:

Pittsburgh vs. Minnesota
Anaheim vs. Ottawa
Washington vs. San Jose
St. Louis vs. Toronto
Boston vs. Los Angeles
Vancouver vs. NY Rangers
Montreal vs. Detroit
Chicago vs. NY Islanders

And while the travel might have sucked for some teams, how much fun would it have been to see a rematch of the '07 Finals, a rematch of the '94 Finals, another Original Six matchup, an old Norris Division matchup, and then Bruins/Kings - which might have had even more physical play than the Blues/Kings has seen.
- Chip McCleary

Interesting concept (and obviously not realistic given the travel, etc) but I actually think you end up with far less interesting matchups. Sure, you get a few gems in there, but you're just not getting the same rivalries going. The bottom line is that the Blues and Kings could've both had better regular seasons... then we wouldn't be in the situation we're stuck in for the first round. Or the Kings could've lost to San Jose in the last game and drawn the Canucks instead.

Very well written article ! I wish the KINGS had a blogger like this !!!cough cough

Very well written article ! I wish the KINGS had a blogger like this !!!cough cough
- PUCKBOY25

Come on.. Barry's entertaining.. It's like watching a train wreck.. Everyone wants to see when he pushes the limit just to far and someone starts a whitehouse.gov petition to kick him off Hockeybuzz (likely the same person that started the Tebow petition)

Come on.. Barry's entertaining.. It's like watching a train wreck.. Everyone wants to see when he pushes the limit just to far and someone starts a whitehouse.gov petition to kick him off Hockeybuzz (likely the same person that started the Tebow petition)
- BleedBlueSTL

Or placing bets on how many posts it will take before we get the obligatory "Barry you're the worst blogger on...yadda yadda yadda".

Could make an interesting drinking game.

Or placing bets on how many posts it will take before we get the obligatory "Barry you're the worst blogger on...yadda yadda yadda".

Could make an interesting drinking game.
- cryptical77

Can we include references to Barry's blood pressure going up in the game as well?

I wonder who gets more more of those type of posts...Cloutier or Barry or someone else?

Yeah, this is why I'd really wish the playoffs were seeded more like the following:

(1E) vs. (8W)
(2W) vs. (7E)
(3E) vs. (6W)
(4W) vs. (5E)
(4E) vs. (5W)
(3W) vs. (6E)
(2E) vs. (7W)
(1W) vs. (8E)

Because then we would have seen the following:

Pittsburgh vs. Minnesota
Anaheim vs. Ottawa
Washington vs. San Jose
St. Louis vs. Toronto
Boston vs. Los Angeles
Vancouver vs. NY Rangers
Montreal vs. Detroit
Chicago vs. NY Islanders

And while the travel might have sucked for some teams, how much fun would it have been to see a rematch of the '07 Finals, a rematch of the '94 Finals, another Original Six matchup, an old Norris Division matchup, and then Bruins/Kings - which might have had even more physical play than the Blues/Kings has seen.
- Chip McCleary

This would potentially kill big rivalry's that come from playoff hockey, as you don't see the other conference nearly as often as your own.