Randall Ritchey: Tarasenko's Hat-Trick Gives Blues a 4-3 Overtime Victory Vladimir Tarasenko's hat-trick tonight helped the Blues beat the Stars 4-3 in overtime tonight. Tarasenko registered four points in the win, Lehtera notched three points as well. Despite the victory, the Blues suffered a big loss as Blues captain, David Backes, left the game in the first period with an apparent head injury.

Have to respectfully disagree with you on the Backes hit. He was looking to his right at Oshie and skated right into Daley. Can't really call interference on that.

When is Stastny back? Heard he was returning to practice??

hmmm... This information sounds like a recap of a recap. Did you actually watch the game?

I would mention the terrible officiating and use as an example when Jackman crossed checked a player something crazy like eight times in a row and then another player just comes in and crushes Jackman who never had the puck.

In a strange night in the NHL Quick brings the puck into his net and the ref is waving it off. Contrast that with the first goal on Elliott wherein Benn takes both the goaltender and defender out and it is called a goal without a thought.

There were some obvious non calls like when Oshie beats two players and just as he is coming on the goaltender both defenders shove him into the post and goaltender. Might have been a penalty shot.

There were others going both ways that were not normal for their obviousness and not being called.

Ian Cole had a strong game, saved a goal. Faltered a bit on one shift in the third. But otherwise was making better decisions.

Elliott played great though I think he would love the third goal back.

Kudos to the Blues who on the first two goals scored them right back.

Shattenkirk's defensive play is much improved.

Gunnerson is an amazing player. Jackman made a few plays that were impressive.

I thought Daley went a bit overboard on Backes as he saw him coming and Backes never saw him.

The Stars defense has some potential but they push the edge too far too often and that is going to cost the Stars at some crucial times.

Benn and Senguin have amazing chemistry. Benn's ability to fake shots and make beautiful passes in the manner he does is some of the best passing I have ever seen. But seriously look at the player's chest and put him down. One player should just be Senguin's shadow whenever he is on the ice.

Ott playing on a line with Oshie and Schwartz was terrible although he made two good passes. He took one terrible penalty.

Lappy's play this season versus last season is night and day different. He is earning his keep this season.

The problem with someone hitting their head like Backes did is that it causes multiple contusions upon the brain as it bounces around the skull. The contrecoup can often be the biggest damage than the initial area of impact.

Tarasenko is fire

Have to respectfully disagree with you on the Backes hit. He was looking to his right at Oshie and skated right into Daley. Can't really call interference on that.


- BluesFan44

I do not know about interference but Daley was a bit over the top hitting him instead of dealing with the collision of a fellow player obviously looking the other way.

I do not know that it is a penalty except it should be reviewed by the league. The players after all claim to have mutual respect for each other and all.

Tarasenko was UNREAL tonight, jeez that kid literally has it all. Was a delight to watch him tonight, when he's on and all over the place like he was man that's a scary player to play against.

I do not know about interference but Daley was a bit over the top hitting him instead of dealing with the collision of a fellow player obviously looking the other way.

I do not know that it is a penalty except it should be reviewed by the league. The players after all claim to have mutual respect for each other and all.
- BluemanGuruu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF-e6tckLDw#t=19

I think asking for league review is a little much, watching this replay the hit isn't malicious, Daley isn't hoping to injure him, he doesn't light him up or target the head. What we don't see in the video is how soon Daley saw this coming and even if he saw it coming you can't ask a Dman to let someone go by because they aren't looking.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=736582
This replay I think shows Daley with more of a stop and shove watching the play not going for a malicious hit.

I have to think the main cause for injury is the unfortunate way he hit the ice. Backes isn't a small guy at 6'3" you have to think most of the time he's going to get the better of these collisions.

There is no doubt about Tarasenko, that guy looks great, I believe the 2nd goal, high slot, lightening release...thing of beauty. Stars TV said he shoots like Hull, and that looked like it.

hmmm... This information sounds like a recap of a recap. Did you actually watch the game?
- BluemanGuruu

A game recap - Yay!!


Tarasenko is a sick freak, isn't he? Wow, he might turn out to be pretty good.

Gunnerson did good, after the little episode where he sat on his goalie on the first goal.

I think Petro may have screened Elliot on the third goal.

Guru made a good point yesterday about Cole. When he just has to react, he can make a good play, when he has time to think he screws up.

Easily the most entertaining game of the year to date.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF-e6tckLDw#t=19

I think asking for league review is a little much, watching this replay the hit isn't malicious, Daley isn't hoping to injure him, he doesn't light him up or target the head. What we don't see in the video is how soon Daley saw this coming and even if he saw it coming you can't ask a Dman to let someone go by because they aren't looking.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=736582
This replay I think shows Daley with more of a stop and shove watching the play not going for a malicious hit.

I have to think the main cause for injury is the unfortunate way he hit the ice. Backes isn't a small guy at 6'3" you have to think most of the time he's going to get the better of these collisions.

There is no doubt about Tarasenko, that guy looks great, I believe the 2nd goal, high slot, lightening release...thing of beauty. Stars TV said he shoots like Hull, and that looked like it.
- tootooisapunk

You do let someone go by when they don't have the puck. If not, that is called interference.

A game recap - Yay!!


Tarasenko is a sick freak, isn't he? Wow, he might turn out to be pretty good.

Gunnerson did good, after the little episode where he sat on his goalie on the first goal.

I think Petro may have screened Elliot on the third goal.

Guru made a good point yesterday about Cole. When he just has to react, he can make a good play, when he has time to think he screws up.

Easily the most entertaining game of the year to date.
- bcallaway

Yes, if he doesn't have to use his brain he does a good job.

Problem is that you have to use it often while playing.

Yes, if he doesn't have to use his brain he does a good job.

Problem is that you have to use it often while playing.
- carcus

Should have made him a goalie.


BAZINGA!!!!

Should have made him a goalie.


BAZINGA!!!!
- bcallaway

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF-e6tckLDw#t=19

I think asking for league review is a little much, watching this replay the hit isn't malicious, Daley isn't hoping to injure him, he doesn't light him up or target the head. What we don't see in the video is how soon Daley saw this coming and even if he saw it coming you can't ask a Dman to let someone go by because they aren't looking.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=736582
This replay I think shows Daley with more of a stop and shove watching the play not going for a malicious hit.

I have to think the main cause for injury is the unfortunate way he hit the ice. Backes isn't a small guy at 6'3" you have to think most of the time he's going to get the better of these collisions.

There is no doubt about Tarasenko, that guy looks great, I believe the 2nd goal, high slot, lightening release...thing of beauty. Stars TV said he shoots like Hull, and that looked like it.
- tootooisapunk

The bolded statment, . You rarely get the better of a collision when the other person knows you are going to collide and you have no clue. The NHL feed looks worse to me as it makes it look like he extends an elbow to the chest.

I don't see the league reviewing it though I still think most times that draws an interference call, especially because he extends the arm suggesting he made a hit which would be interference.

The NHL is a beer league when it comes to protecting it's own players and the players' association is worse. Simple example, the NHLPA defends, sends a rep, etc. a player who gets suspended for hurting another player (think Torres). The NHLPA is choosing to represent the offender and not the victim in the hearing(think Hossa). Where is the NHLPA help/representation for the injured player? It's all about the money of course. The injured player still gets paid and doesn't face fines, etc. so they chose to protect the offender more.

I hope that eventually the NHL and the NHLPA will really work together to fix player safety issues. Look at the NFL, which has a rule that states: It is a foul if a player initiates unnecessary contact against a player who is in a defenseless posture. Would this rule be applicable in the Daley/Backes situation? Maybe, depends on if you think the contact was unavoidable.

Could Daley have held him up rather than putting the forearm through his chest? You bet. I have seen that happen at least 5 times in beer league hockey in the last two months. Is he required to right now? Nope. Did he think he could get away with taking Backes out of the play even though the puck was nowhere near him? I would wager so. Did he imagine the consequences of the hit would be what they were? I seriously doubt it. Would he have done it if he thought he could knock the Blues captain out of the game? We'll never know but given his history in the league, I'd like to believe not.

The question is, does the league and nhlpa want to try to end the mentality of players taking advantage of a situation to deliver physicality. If so, how? Will they ever? Some say no, but i think they are wrong. Brian Burke's bear hug proposal was one of the first glimmers into this kind of thinking. There are other things they can do such as (note i am not advocating any or all of these):

1) Hit to the head is 1)4 minutes or 2)5 minutes and a game misconduct... Getting crazy, the four minutes could be served as a 5 on 3 with the offender being the second guy out of the box. A full 2 minutes of 5 vs 3 with losing an extra player seems a much bigger deterent than 4 minutes of 5 v 4.
2) Hits to the head carry automatic type suspensions with severe games missed with not much latitude at all to knock them down. The idea is sorry boys, you need to figure it out and if you don't you have to sit.
3) Other significant infractions could be moved so they are only 4 or 5 minute penalties - boarding, spearing, kneeing, etc.
4) You could separate slashing into slashing the stick - 2 minutes and slashing (a player) - 4 or 5 minute penalty.
5) Automatic big money fines for hits to the head with little latitude. Note that this could be done by the NHLPA itself without the NHL with all of the money going into a defined contribution plan (retirement plan) for all of the NHLPA. Essentially you would be moving money around the NHLPA for infractions. Hurts the bad offender, and helps every other member of the NHLPA.

There are a lot more that i have in mind as possibilities but those are just a few.

I do not know about interference but Daley was a bit over the top hitting him instead of dealing with the collision of a fellow player obviously looking the other way.
- BluemanGuruu

Competitive advantage trumps respecting your opponent 99% of the time in the NHL right now and the NHL and NHLPA don't seem to care to really do anything about it.

Should have made him a goalie.


BAZINGA!!!!
- bcallaway

But against that top quality competition Cole was very good. Many players were looking like they never played professional hockey against those guys they are that good. But Cole you could see caught himself before putting himself out of position. There was a puck in the corner near the net and he was in front and he started to go to the play which is his normal mistake. But he stopped and then looked around.

He is so strong on the puck though. I would rate him with forechecking pressure as high versus good, versus average versus bad. There was one play where he was being checked by one Stars player and another Stars player attacking the puck. He came out of it never losing the puck and makes a good outlet pass.

He made two bad passes. That is improvement. His positioning was much better. The two bad passes came on one shift. But this has been a team problem. I just have not seen this team in years make so many bad passes. Too many passes being made with their heads down or taking too long to decide on a play with a puck.


Dallas would be super scary if their defense was better and they spread their talent out a bit. Three number one centers on one line seems like a waste even when they are that dominant.

Ruff team's are taught to be cheap. I mean the play on Oshie was disgusting. I still do not understand how there is no call on that play. If the dmen do not push Oshie(they obviously did), then Oshie interfers with the goaltender.

I still do not know how Jackman got away with his tommy gun cross checks on autofire. Then the other Stars player coming in and checking him when he did not have the puck.

The level of terribleness of officiating this season is a new high in lows. I do not expect the officiating to be all that great as the way the game is called has always been mystifying at every level. The let them play mantra would be like well let that guy rob that house but not this one. I do not want to blame a game on the refs as officiating is just always strange. But at the same time the main reason for officials is to keep players from being injured and in a number of games we have seen this year hits targeting the head going uncalled specifically against Schwartz. Like Daley hitting Backes. He did not need to hit him there. He could have stood still or caught him. No one will call him for such a penalty.

What scares me though is the Blues refusal to then target the other teams' players. Reaves is a useless deterrent.

The bolded statment, . You rarely get the better of a collision when the other person knows you are going to collide and you have no clue. The NHL feed looks worse to me as it makes it look like he extends an elbow to the chest.

I don't see the league reviewing it though I still think most times that draws an interference call, especially because he extends the arm suggesting he made a hit which would be interference.

The NHL is a beer league when it comes to protecting it's own players and the players' association is worse. Simple example, the NHLPA defends, sends a rep, etc. a player who gets suspended for hurting another player (think Torres). The NHLPA is choosing to represent the offender and not the victim in the hearing(think Hossa). Where is the NHLPA help/representation for the injured player? It's all about the money of course. The injured player still gets paid and doesn't face fines, etc. so they chose to protect the offender more.

I hope that eventually the NHL and the NHLPA will really work together to fix player safety issues. Look at the NFL, which has a rule that states: It is a foul if a player initiates unnecessary contact against a player who is in a defenseless posture. Would this rule be applicable in the Daley/Backes situation? Maybe, depends on if you think the contact was unavoidable.

Could Daley have held him up rather than putting the forearm through his chest? You bet. I have seen that happen at least 5 times in beer league hockey in the last two months. Is he required to right now? Nope. Did he think he could get away with taking Backes out of the play even though the puck was nowhere near him? I would wager so. Did he imagine the consequences of the hit would be what they were? I seriously doubt it. Would he have done it if he thought he could knock the Blues captain out of the game? We'll never know but given his history in the league, I'd like to believe not.

The question is, does the league and nhlpa want to try to end the mentality of players taking advantage of a situation to deliver physicality. If so, how? Will they ever? Some say no, but i think they are wrong. Brian Burke's bear hug proposal was one of the first glimmers into this kind of thinking. There are other things they can do such as (note i am not advocating any or all of these):

1) Hit to the head is 1)4 minutes or 2)5 minutes and a game misconduct... Getting crazy, the four minutes could be served as a 5 on 3 with the offender being the second guy out of the box. A full 2 minutes of 5 vs 3 with losing an extra player seems a much bigger deterent than 4 minutes of 5 v 4.
2) Hits to the head carry automatic type suspensions with severe games missed with not much latitude at all to knock them down. The idea is sorry boys, you need to figure it out and if you don't you have to sit.
3) Other significant infractions could be moved so they are only 4 or 5 minute penalties - boarding, spearing, kneeing, etc.
4) You could separate slashing into slashing the stick - 2 minutes and slashing (a player) - 4 or 5 minute penalty.
5) Automatic big money fines for hits to the head with little latitude. Note that this could be done by the NHLPA itself without the NHL with all of the money going into a defined contribution plan (retirement plan) for all of the NHLPA. Essentially you would be moving money around the NHLPA for infractions. Hurts the bad offender, and helps every other member of the NHLPA.

There are a lot more that i have in mind as possibilities but those are just a few.
- stljam

I really appreciate this entire thought process. I also agree that the hit wasn't over the top at all, it was just unnecessary. As for your proposals, I would like to offer a bigger challenge to the competition committee, similar to your proposal #5. How does the NHL instill player respect without reducing the 5-on-5 time on the ice? Going directly to a 5-on-3 could be one solution. NHLPA doing their job and protecting ALL players, could be another. I really feel like the NHLPA needs an annual conference of their own, including a golf scramble or something. If you know each other and actually like each other, you won't try to hurt each other. The bottom line is the NHLPA needs to do more to garner comraderie and less to fight the NHL.

When is Stastny back? Heard he was returning to practice??
- flyerdude17

Hopefully soon. He has skated the last couple of practices, but no contact yet. Maybe next week???

******Trade Offer**********
Entire Grand Rapids organization for Tarasenko

******Trade Offer**********
Entire Grand Rapids organization for Tarasenko
- Feds91Stammer

******Trade Offer**********
Entire Grand Rapids organization for Tarasenko
- Feds91Stammer

Ummmm

The bolded statment, . You rarely get the better of a collision when the other person knows you are going to collide and you have no clue. The NHL feed looks worse to me as it makes it look like he extends an elbow to the chest.

I don't see the league reviewing it though I still think most times that draws an interference call, especially because he extends the arm suggesting he made a hit which would be interference.

The question is, does the league and nhlpa want to try to end the mentality of players taking advantage of a situation to deliver physicality. If so, how? Will they ever? Some say no, but i think they are wrong. Brian Burke's bear hug proposal was one of the first glimmers into this kind of thinking. There are other things they can do such as (note i am not advocating any or all of these):


- stljam

The crazy thing?! Jackman did exactly that (let up) on a guy along the boards. He pushed him from the lower back into the boards gently and held him there until the play completed. This was before his multiple crosschecks to the back followed by an interference by the Stars player, but...

Still don't know what to think of Cole. I know what most of you think. I say he's still young/rusty and needs more ice time. He has all of the tools to be great. Taking a shot into a Dallas forwards' shin pads while high in the zone was pretty dumb. Collapsing too low & out of position on the Stahlberg goal vs Chicago was pretty dumb too. I'm hoping this gets ironed out.

Ummmm
- sycsam

But Weiss is there at the moment so you get him too

Still don't know what to think of Cole. I know what most of you think. I say he's still young/rusty and needs more ice time. He has all of the tools to be great. Taking a shot into a Dallas forwards' shin pads while high in the zone was pretty dumb. Collapsing too low & out of position on the Stahlberg goal vs Chicago was pretty dumb too. I'm hoping this gets ironed out.
- All Blues

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