Jake Allen had another game stopping over 90% of the shots. It's nice to have that again.

Did you see that pass???? He may have cheated just a bit but wow severe over statement. He has very quick reflexes. He could be really good one day if he gets a shot at the right time. He seems to read the plays well. He's not too far away. He's better than Elliott.
- BluemanGuruu

1. Cheated a bit? He was so completely out of position, Sedin could (did?) practically skate the puck into the net. He sold out on the pass over to Burrows so badly, when the pass went back across all he could do was turn around and watch. Sliding over a bit? OK, fine - necessary ... but practically outside the post? Um ... no.

2. My 9-year old girls are better than Elliott right now. That kind of comparison is hardly a ringing endorsement.

And yes, I know - he got the win again and stopped both shots in the shootout. I'll have time tomorrow at work to look at the game more, but his shootout stops were completely routine; stand there, let the puck hit you. I'm shocked that the Canucks didn't at least try to deke, knowing that he bites hook, line and sinker and leaves the upper part of the net wide open, so that they could easily flip it over him and in.

"Kekalainen is known more for being an excellent player evaluator from his previous NHL stops in Ottawa and St. Louis, where he was largely responsible for the Blues' drafting David Backes, David Perron, T.J. Oshie, Patrick Berglund and Alex Pietrangelo as well as trading for Keith Tkachuk, Doug Weight and Scott Mellanby."

he also helped the sens draft Spezza, Hossa and Havlat

there's your list

pretty impressive list
- Habitants98

I would think so, but there are Blues fans (not at HB ... well, maybe a couple at HB) who are completely unimpressed with anything JK did drafting for the Blues. They don't look at the hits, they look at "well, _____ got drafted in the 3rd/4th/5th/Xth round, why didn't we get him?" or "well, he didn't get a Datsyuk or a Zetterberg in the late rounds - where's that genius of his?" (Because we all know all superstar players come out of the 6th and 7th round.)

Great game, close as usual with these two teams. Jake Allen looks like a great young goalie.

I would think so, but there are Blues fans (not at HB ... well, maybe a couple at HB) who are completely unimpressed with anything JK did drafting for the Blues. They don't look at the hits, they look at "well, _____ got drafted in the 3rd/4th/5th/Xth round, why didn't we get him?" or "well, he didn't get a Datsyuk or a Zetterberg in the late rounds - where's that genius of his?" (Because we all know all superstar players come out of the 6th and 7th round.)
- Chip McCleary

I also think his evaluations played into certain prospects we traded away. For instance, getting Tarasenko for David Runblad. Jarmo did great work for the Blues, was a solid choice for the Blue Jackets.

Jake Allen had another game stopping over 90% of the shots. It's nice to have that again.
- BluemanGuruu

Yeah when you allow the fewest shots in the league, you only need your goalie to stop a little over 90% and you're going to have a chance to win most games. Allen has impressed me so far. Originally I just wanted him in there so we could sit Elliott but the kid's got some talent. You can tell he's a rookie but he's got good reflexes and good hands. Clearly he is way better at handling the puck than anyone else the blues have. All he really needs to work on is staying a little tighter on the posts and being ready for those second and third shots after making the initial save.

Jake Allen had another game stopping over 90% of the shots. It's nice to have that again.
- BluemanGuruu

Against Detroit he was just good. Really, good enough to stop the bleeding. Which is all anyone was looking for.

But in the last two games he's been terrific. Very solid. Better than I expected to see.

You still see the opponents getting behind the defense, there are still breakdowns - there always will be. (When they happen in your favor they are called "scoring chances".) And you need a goalie to stop a few of those and Allen has done that very well.

He deserves some credit for helping the Blues get back on a better track.

1. Cheated a bit? He was so completely out of position, Sedin could (did?) practically skate the puck into the net. He sold out on the pass over to Burrows so badly, when the pass went back across all he could do was turn around and watch. Sliding over a bit? OK, fine - necessary ... but practically outside the post? Um ... no.

2. My 9-year old girls are better than Elliott right now. That kind of comparison is hardly a ringing endorsement.

And yes, I know - he got the win again and stopped both shots in the shootout. I'll have time tomorrow at work to look at the game more, but his shootout stops were completely routine; stand there, let the puck hit you. I'm shocked that the Canucks didn't at least try to deke, knowing that he bites hook, line and sinker and leaves the upper part of the net wide open, so that they could easily flip it over him and in.
- Chip McCleary

YOu know I know when to admit I am or was wrong. You are wrong twice in this response.


One that the play that caused the goal was easy or that the pass was easy to detect. From our vantage point on the television you could see it but that is the EXACT opposite view from the defense and goaltender. I guess all those other saves in the third were just luck.

Both players did deke Allen. Kesler tried to deke him twice: once before he he took his attempt and then while was coming in on him. He was trying to get a young goaltender to over commit. That is the only hole in the kid's game a see is some over commitment. Some. The last goal was goaltender interference. The bump caused him to twist his skate to regain balance and that split second took away his recovery.

He more than once stopped what were sure things. You wonder why people have thought so highly of this kid and yet it's as you didn't ever look at his resume.

Both attempts in the shoot outs by the Canucks were dekes. A deke doesn't mean mean you don't shoot the puck at all. It is merely making a move that if you sell will cause the opposition to be out of position and usually in a manner where they cannot recover to stop you.

Some might say Oshie just shot the puck. He began his whole routine that leaves the viewer dizzy but shot early because Luongo was cheating.

The second save in the shoot out on Allen like I said was luck. He got Allen to open his pads and just missed putting the puck between them. You create your own luck in this world and definitely in hockey.

His reaction speed is incredible. I had seen him play some in Peoria but the feed is never that great to notice the finer details. Last night many of the angles for the camera were amazing like I was sitting in my old season tickets.

He's still young the same way Schwartz is young, Petro, Shattenkirk and Tarasenko are young and prone to mistakes from inexperience. As long as the mistakes don't come as readily as their good play and they learn so be it.

What impressed me though was how he stayed square to puck as he moved laterally. What I think happens when you watch a game is that it is easy to misread what the players see on the ice mostly because of the angle you see most of the power play from. Team have learned how to create great traffic in front of netminders. Traffic has always been part of the game but it used to be you could score fairly often with fifteen-twenty foot shots with a clear view for the goaltender. Now that is a rare sight(I have seen Sobotka do this twice with a slap shot which is immensely impressive). So traffic has evolved and the players ability to cause certain purposeful tips and shots that are only meant to really be passes for tips.

The Sedins are such good passers they do what any athlete or human that is great at something does---makes something difficult look easy.

I've got nothing else. The crayola style isn't meant to offend it is he product of wanting to meet on the same page and a gross lack of editing.

Maybe its just me but Allen looks very quick with his legs. Chip as far a letting the puck hit you, isnt that a GOOD thing? the Burrows Shot in the shootout look VERY awkward, but he stopped the puck. I am not cofusing Allen with ROY, but right now he is the BEST alternative to Halak being injured or not 100%. I really like Elliott as a player and I think he will come back, its just his confidence is seemingly gone. Do we risk sending him down a few to get his confidence back.

If you remember last year didnt the pre season come down to him and Allen then? he came out smokin then. it worked before..... just sayin..

and FINALLY, congrats to Oakville HS own Pat Maroon on his first NHL goal in his game vs Pekka Rinne....

I would think so, but there are Blues fans (not at HB ... well, maybe a couple at HB) who are completely unimpressed with anything JK did drafting for the Blues. They don't look at the hits, they look at "well, _____ got drafted in the 3rd/4th/5th/Xth round, why didn't we get him?" or "well, he didn't get a Datsyuk or a Zetterberg in the late rounds - where's that genius of his?" (Because we all know all superstar players come out of the 6th and 7th round.)
- Chip McCleary

Some of the picks that impressed me have been Oshie and Berglund. But mostly Oshie because he went way off the board to get him and that is shrewd.

He does understand talent and more than talent but the kind of players that have a winning attitude. Talent is one thing but some rely too hard on that alone. His pick of Cole was good as well. He was slated for the second round and there were murmurs Detroit would take him right after we picked him. The kid has a couple of flaws but he's getting better and better.

Where I get a bit distracted is with the second round. After the fact it is always easy to say well why not him or that? But I do use games played and success as a grade. He's done pretty damn good though. I think St. Louis often took the high risk high reward picks in the second with fewer paying off thus far.

There were times where they could have picked a better player say Pat Maroon instead of Peluso but I believe they were filling organizational needs. And being he wasn't the GM who's to truly say if he had the last word on all picks.

He passed on a chance to get Pickard(Nashville took), and instead picked Allen. And that was before Allen really began to take off in his career. The numbers he put up in junior are outstanding when you consider how much under siege those guys often are.

One last thing about Allen, okay two. His play off stats aren't that great. My only concern about goaltenders other than having ability is their mental strengths. He bombed in the WJC final for Canada. I was thinking great another crappy goaltender drafted. Then he just played better and better. He has shown in this little time the ability to battle. Look at Elliott. A lot of the goal he recently gave up weren't exactly his fault. But you need him to take some of those away. More importantly he has shown problems with his ability to mentally wash away a soft goal or bad play. Last year he seemed to have it mastered for much of the season. That is why he isn't a starter in the league.

Against Detroit he was just good. Really, good enough to stop the bleeding. Which is all anyone was looking for.

But in the last two games he's been terrific. Very solid. Better than I expected to see.

You still see the opponents getting behind the defense, there are still breakdowns - there always will be. (When they happen in your favor they are called "scoring chances".) And you need a goalie to stop a few of those and Allen has done that very well.

He deserves some credit for helping the Blues get back on a better track.
- bcallaway

It's so true guys. We have talked about in the past especially with Mason that a goaltender who can't steal some games for you hurts you. Especially the guys that let in the softies at critical moments.

I couldn't agree more with both of you. He seems to be getting better with his recovery as well.

If anyone wonders if he didn't help beat Calgary then recall the ANaheim game. It should have been 3-0 after the first. When Anaheim turned it on we didn't get the important saves and we lost a point.

A WINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


WOO HOOO!!!

That's two points owed to Allen. The kid won that game.

That second one though had him beat just missed the five hole.

Kessler is a turd. What an embarrassment to Americans with the is the ice okay crap trying to get to the rookie.

Vancouver fan
- BluemanGuruu

You need to start spelling players names right

So who is going to sweep the Blues in the playoffs this year? Let's go for three playoffs in a row!

I kid I kid

YOu know I know when to admit I am or was wrong. You are wrong twice in this response.
- BluemanGuruu

- carcus

Our blogger blows.


What'll it be today, sick kids or work problems?

Our blogger blows.


What'll it be today, sick kids or work problems?
- bcallaway

No joke. How hard is it to just put something down so we can chat it up during the game? This game is nerve wrecking. Can we please score already!!!!

No joke. How hard is it to just put something down so we can chat it up during the game? This game is nerve wrecking. Can we please score already!!!!
- jgunner34

Nope but you can hit a player in the head make them bleed from a blind side looking for a hit on a guy who is facing away from you the whole time and nothing happens.

Hit a guy in the freaking chest and it's a major. Hit a guy in the head and make him bleed and it's nothing. Pathetic.

As a Blues fan what is the point of coming on this site? We never have blogs, there are never any rumors about the Blues.

I know some of you didnt like the way Jeff did things but I miss his blogs at least he followed through when he said he was going to post something.

This has been a joke so far this season.

As a Blues fan what is the point of coming on this site? We never have blogs, there are never any rumors about the Blues.

I know some of you didnt like the way Jeff did things but I miss his blogs at least he followed through when he said he was going to post something.

This has been a joke so far this season.
- sycsam

I agree although I do like coming here to read about other teams as well. I'm not really sure why Chip signed up for this when all he has really done is say postgame and other various articles are coming but they never come. Kind of fitting we are writing this on a game that wasn't even our most recent one. Anyone heard any news on Frank yet? Hope the kids alright...

I agree although I do like coming here to read about other teams as well. I'm not really sure why Chip signed up for this when all he has really done is say postgame and other various articles are coming but they never come. Kind of fitting we are writing this on a game that wasn't even our most recent one. Anyone heard any news on Frank yet? Hope the kids alright...
- jgunner34

Placed on IR, concussion symptoms.

Placed on IR, concussion symptoms.


- carcus

Are you kidding???????????????????

Are you kidding???????????????????


- sycsam

Dude was knocked out cold before he hit the ice. He was fine thursday and had headaches today.

3rd game without a new blog.


Okay here's the deal: The Blues and Blue Jackets have once this season in Coumbus and the Blues beat them silly.

It's hard to tell what I am looking at when seeing JD and Jarmo sitting together. I can't get them in my head as the enemy.

The announcers are shocked that Stewarts's blast beat the netminder. That's because he was looking to shoot to the far post as a pop(pass off pad), bu the Blue Jacket Dman's stick acted like a ramp

3rd game without a new blog.


Okay here's the deal: The Blues and Blue Jackets have once this season in Coumbus and the Blues beat them silly.

It's hard to tell what I am looking at when seeing JD and Jarmo sitting together. I can't get them in my head as the enemy.

The announcers are shocked that Stewarts's blast beat the netminder. That's because he was looking to shoot to the far post as a pop(pass off pad), bu the Blue Jacket Dman's stick acted like a ramp
- BluemanGuruu

Hate to see the injury putting Taresenko on the shelf but I would like to see a lot more of D'Agostini in the lineup.

Dude was knocked out cold before he hit the ice. He was fine thursday and had headaches today.
- BluemanGuruu

Yeah I was being kind of sarcastic as I knew he would be out a day or two but now that he is having Concussion symptoms, ruh roh.

Can we get a blog? I mean seriously, Chip were you left in Vancouver?