Corey Harvey: Hawks @ Blues--Who Wants It More? The Blues look to lock down home ice and possibly the Central Division tonight at home against the Blackhawks.

Great write up and LETS GO BLUES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good Blog, but that D.B. should be suspended...

Good Blog, but that D.B. should be suspended...
- Byfuglien Ate Me

I saw the play. Never would happened if they had blown it down for either of the two time Stuart covered his hand on the puck. It was no where near what Byfuglien did. The game was handed to you. Get over it. We are.

I saw the play. Never would happened if they had blown it down for either of the two time Stuart covered his hand on the puck. It was no where near what Byfuglien did. The game was handed to you. Get over it. We are.
- Corey Harvey

Wow. OK then.

Good Blog, but that D.B. should be suspended...
- Byfuglien Ate Me

Are jets fans going to be as annoying and hypocritical as Hawks and Wild fans now?

Good luck in the playoffs

Wow. OK then.
- Byfuglien Ate Me

Nothing against you. Just sick of hearing Backes is the dirtiest player to ever play the game. He plays on the edge and rarely crosses the line.

Are jets fans going to be as annoying and hypocritical as Hawks and Wild fans now?

Good luck in the playoffs
- sycsam

No, it was just an opinion.

Good luck to the Blues as well.

Wow. OK then.
- Byfuglien Ate Me

Also thanks for reading.

Also thanks for reading.
- Corey Harvey

I look forward to more, the Blues are tough as nails and Id really like to see them square off with Peg City, in the WCF...

I look forward to more, the Blues are tough as nails and Id really like to see them square off with Peg City, in the WCF...
- Byfuglien Ate Me

That would be a great battle. Winnipeg is built for the playoffs if you can keep getting great goaltending. The could make some noise out west if the finish 8th.

I look forward to more, the Blues are tough as nails and Id really like to see them square off with Peg City, in the WCF...
- Byfuglien Ate Me

Probably the toughest team that will be in the Pacific playoffs

Anaheim got destroyed by Dallas last night

Vancouver is tough and Calgary is playing over their head

not out of the question that Winnipeg can get to the WCF

Probably the toughest team that will be in the Pacific playoffs

Anaheim got destroyed by Dallas last night

Vancouver is tough and Calgary is playing over their head

not out of the question that Winnipeg can get to the WCF
- sycsam

Agreed. D.B. vs. D.B. would have some great puck battles in front of the net.

Who do you guys not want to play in round one?

Agreed. D.B. vs. D.B. would have some great puck battles in front of the net.

Who do you guys not want to play in round one?
- Byfuglien Ate Me

We will take whomever we get

Its going to be a battle no matter who it is.

Chicago is still really really good

Minny is really good and Dubnyk is playing out of his mind

Winnipeg is a big tough team to play against

Nashville has rinne and they have timely scoring

Are jets fans going to be as annoying and hypocritical as Hawks and Wild fans now?

Good luck in the playoffs
- sycsam

Are Blues fans the voice of reason in the NHL? Everyone loves their team and it's hard to be unbiased. It's ALL fans. You just don't like our team because of the rivalry and that's understandable. I don't like yours either haha.

Backes does play on the line. The play was not nearly as bad as Byfuglien's. However, how many times do you need to cross check someone in the back while you're on top of him so he can't get off the ice and defend himself? One for good measure...fine. Two because it's heated...fine. Three is over the line, especially since he can't defend himself. Kick the man when he's down.

Backes is a guy that you hate when he's not on your team. However, he was over the line on that one. Not suspension worthy or anything, just a 2:00. The guy definitely sets a tone and his team steps up to it...

How sad is it for some us we say lets just get thru round one? Right now I don't care who we play, there is not an easy opponent other than say Calgary.... I only say that due to STL success this year so far. However you play the games on the ice now and not in the past!

Every team can beat anyone. Be careful for what you wish!

If LA doesn't make it, never ever count out the Hawks. When this season comes on they step up. Can we say that for the Blues? Nope!

Good luck to all! Should be who is Left standing out of the West.....depth matters!

Probably the toughest team that will be in the Pacific playoffs

Anaheim got destroyed by Dallas last night

Vancouver is tough and Calgary is playing over their head

not out of the question that Winnipeg can get to the WCF
- sycsam

They've been my dark horse all season. The team that gets them in round 1 might advance—but will be beaten to a pulp

[quoteThe Blues need to play another full sixty minute game against the Hawks. It is clear that team does not like being hit and I would expect the Blues to want to do a lot of that. If Chicago wants to have home ice in the first round, they have to win tonight.

This.

The formula is to hit and deny them time and space as a result... Be opportunistic and score.

The hawks are beatable and if you beat them in regulation and the Mild win two games, you might be able to help push the hawks into the wild card spot. The Avs do their part and win in regulation and its done. Unlikely scenario, but one I'd like to see to keep things interesting.

They've been my dark horse all season. The team that gets them in round 1 might advance—but will be beaten to a pulp
- John Jaeckel

True. They play very physical. Their Achilles heel is their goaltending when it's off. If they get solid goaltending, they'll be a hard out.

Are Blues fans the voice of reason in the NHL? Everyone loves their team and it's hard to be unbiased. It's ALL fans. You just don't like our team because of the rivalry and that's understandable. I don't like yours either haha.

Backes does play on the line. The play was not nearly as bad as Byfuglien's. However, how many times do you need to cross check someone in the back while you're on top of him so he can't get off the ice and defend himself? One for good measure...fine. Two because it's heated...fine. Three is over the line, especially since he can't defend himself. Kick the man when he's down.

Backes is a guy that you hate when he's not on your team. However, he was over the line on that one. Not suspension worthy or anything, just a 2:00. The guy definitely sets a tone and his team steps up to it...
- pspork

This.

Backes is a (very) good player and I totally agree, he falls into that category of a guy you love on your team and hate as an opponent.

That said, is he good captain? Good captains win the big games and lead and help their coach get the most out of their team. I think on that score, thus far he 's failed, in part because he loses it and resorts to dirty after the whistle stuff and sets a poor example for the rest of his team.

Much was made of Toews losing it in round 2 in 2013—but he reined it in and the rest is history.

Compare the Skins on the wall of two captains—both who've played on very talented teams at eveyr leavel. Toews has them. backes doesn't. maybe this is his year. Honestly, i don't think it is for Toews.

Backes does WAY too much after the whistle crap. Doesn't matter who you're a fan of. Maybe this is the year he takes his leadership to another level.

A Blues-Jets first round will put that to the test, because guys like Byfuglien and Ladd know how to press Backes' buttons. and they will.

This.

The formula is to hit and deny them time and space as a result... Be opportunistic and score.

The hawks are beatable and if you beat them in regulation and the Mild win two games, you might be able to help push the hawks into the wild card spot. The Avs do their part and win in regulation and its done. Unlikely scenario, but one I'd like to see to keep things interesting.
- kaptaan

Forecheck them, deny them the center of the ice, horizontally and vertically. Oh, and pray Kane doesn't come back soon.

This.

Backes is a (very) good player and I totally agree, he falls into that category of a guy you love on your team and hate as an opponent.

That said, is he good captain? Good captains win the big games and lead and help their coach get the most out of their team. I think on that score, thus far he 's failed, in part because he loses it and resorts to dirty after the whistle stuff and sets a poor example for the rest of his team.

Much was made of Toews losing it in round 2 in 2013—but he reined it in and the rest is history.

Compare the Skins on the wall of two captains—both who've played on very talented teams at eveyr leavel. Toews has them. backes doesn't. maybe this is his year. Honestly, i don't think it is for Toews.

Backes does WAY too much after the whistle crap. Doesn't matter who you're a fan of. Maybe this is the year he takes his leadership to another level.

A Blues-Jets first round will put that to the test, because guys like Byfuglien and Ladd know how to press Backes' buttons. and they will.
- John Jaeckel

So if you remove backes as Captain who would be your choice for Captain of the Blues?

Schwartz? Steen?

No real good options other than Backes at this point IMO

Forecheck them, deny them the center of the ice, horizontally and vertically. Oh, and pray Kane doesn't come back soon.
- John Jaeckel

Kane is the wild card. The first round is going to be a beatch for the Hawks without him. If you get the blues it'll be a whole lot of physical play including these two late season games on the body.

Even if you get out the first round it'll be hard to move on after the physical pounding.

This.

Backes is a (very) good player and I totally agree, he falls into that category of a guy you love on your team and hate as an opponent.

That said, is he good captain? Good captains win the big games and lead and help their coach get the most out of their team. I think on that score, thus far he 's failed, in part because he loses it and resorts to dirty after the whistle stuff and sets a poor example for the rest of his team.

Much was made of Toews losing it in round 2 in 2013—but he reined it in and the rest is history.

Compare the Skins on the wall of two captains—both who've played on very talented teams at eveyr leavel. Toews has them. backes doesn't. maybe this is his year. Honestly, i don't think it is for Toews.

Backes does WAY too much after the whistle crap. Doesn't matter who you're a fan of. Maybe this is the year he takes his leadership to another level.

A Blues-Jets first round will put that to the test, because guys like Byfuglien and Ladd know how to press Backes' buttons. and they will.
- John Jaeckel

I agree with this. Sometimes he does a little too much after the whistle but most of those times are protecting the net or standing up for a teammate. I think he is a great captain. He leads by example when the team isn't playing well and holds players accountable. He hasn't had the supporting cast Toews has had for those two cups. He also started great in the playoffs last season, until we all know what happened. Is he better than Toews? No.But they play different styles and both have a ton of heart. He's still been a captain of every team he's played on, besides the Olympics,even then I still think he was the captain. Just didn't wear the C. I think that proves he does a fine job wearing the C here.

Forecheck them, deny them the center of the ice, horizontally and vertically. Oh, and pray Kane doesn't come back soon.
- John Jaeckel

We are doing it without Steen AND Tarasenko.

Is Kane practicing or anything yet?