Might want to watch the replay of Kane's game winner again. Saad and Smith both drove the net. Saad played his best game of the series last night. And I have been all over his ass.
- Elbows15

Too many plays end with Saad and Versteeg.....Saad was better but still not what he can be. Hockey 101 on the last goal and he did the right thing but space opened because Smith drove the middle and took 2 Blues with him.

Backes probably gets less (I am assuming he has no priors) because it is Cooke. The system is a damn joke. My point was mostly that Seabs took a risk when he put the hammer on Backes, but Brookbank has had his back, imo.
- mohel

Kevin Weekes last night on the NHL Network said it best. When is enough enough with him?

Maybe Hitch can fool you, JJ, with his "Backes could be skating at another rink right now, comments, but I think they demolished the rink in La-La land.

Even if Capt. "courageous" attempts a return to lift his team, he is dumber than the stray dogs he and his wife fill collect as air fresheners.

He has very little self control when he is hit, and his style also dictates contact and more collisions. It won't take long to see him involved and re-scrambled.

If macho does dictate an unwise early return, they may be playing one short after a period if he goes looping.
Besides the league rules, I ma pretty sure the Blues have doctors who will hold him from a possible too early return for fear he does just that.

We mentioned some guys but we all overloked Kruger who has been lights out on effort, and will.

I guess some of you are watching a diffferent Versteeg than I am...juts don't see any concern or reason to play a rookie in his stea d, because he understands movement, and flow, and is pretty tough.

This is by far the best series, the one with constant ebb & flow, and one where the defenders are lights out high level NHL defenders, even after the hiys they are all taking. Those PP are not failures because of poor attempts as much as solid defensemen (and killers).

This too me is like a final series, and both teams deserve accolades for diiging in....
- wiz1901

I just want to bring up a point, Wiz, and hear your wise response. But please be under control - I know that you can be emotional if you believe someone has a ridiculous opinion or point - of - view.

Again just feeling the need to reiterate the following is just a thought, not a concrete opinion brought to the table for discussion.

Re: Versteeg inclusion in the line up

Glad you explained the value Versteeg and described his performance. I do see your point and I do understand there is value in the team's success with Versteeg remaining in the lineup.

My concern PREVIOUSLY was echoed by perhaps a larger than 50% majority here on this board. Versteeg was afraid of contact and was avoiding being checked. Now in all fairness I saw some but heard more of the play - by - play. So knowing your years of studying tape and reviewing performances, I put it this way to you: Is there reason to be concerned that we have too many players who will not compete physically in the next game?

I emphasize "next game' for a good reason. After games one and two there were as many as six players who exhibited clearly a desire to avoid contact. While not each player on any team is going to have a style of play where they muck it up along the boards, this was too many scared players for my liking. Certainly the high skill level of Hossa and Kane means they get a break from a lineup omission. But as for some others....

Some of the kids for whatever reason were not fully engaged. I sort of wondered if this long season and a lack of total proper preparedness was holding them back from best performance. Clearly Shaw and Saad have been better last two games. To be 100% clear (!) I am not barking so much about their physical play in the series as I am about the style of play from others.

In the first two games the Hjalmarsson/Oduya pair appeared scared. Someone said that both seemed scared to retrieve the puck when a Blues player strategically dumped the puck in a zone not quite all the way behind the net, so that it was difficult for our dman to retrieve the puck without being hit. It did appear they were hoping their partner would go get the puck. Last two games this has not been noticeable like it surely was in the first two games.

I have wandered a bit from my main culprit: Versteeg.

Now I want you to know one thing, I am thinking how we can make the Blues pay for their exceedingly rambunctious play. The powerplay has not been productive. Hossa and Sharp have not been scoring. Both could break out in any game, Sharp in particular.

But a late game insertion whom Q would obviously manage his minutes is.....someone whom could win a game with his shot, whom will fight through checks and administer a few licks himself...one Mr Morin.

Please disregard the I am in love with rookies line, Wiz. Because I just laid out why I suggest Morin could be in the line up at Versteeg's expense. Both Morin and Versteeg have issues worthy of concern. Yep, with Morin it is defensive play and skating. We know this.

So is Morin a possibility over Versteeg? Just asking?

Too many plays end with Saad and Versteeg.....Saad was better but still not what he can be. Hockey 101 on the last goal and he did the right thing but space opened because Smith drove the middle and took 2 Blues with him.


- Al

Like I said Al. It was his best game last night. He was very ineffective up until then and playing scared. He had 4-5 hits last night.

Kevin Weekes last night on the NHL Network said it best. When is enough enough with him?
- Elbows15

Cooke?

Some interesting stuff here from Blues chat with Rutherford...


http://live.stltoday.com/...remy_Rutherford_37?Page=0

"I'd venture to say that while many GMs might take Toews over Backes in a fantasy draft, some would take Backes and the ones who don't would probably have to think about it for a while."

Cooke?
- BlazinMike

Yes. Weekes wanted him suspended for longer.

Pinches recklessly? Seabs just does it to get even with Keith. Yea yeah, I know I have a man crush on Seabs but its because he is so (frank)ing good. He has the best offensive instincts of any D-man on this team in the O-zone.
- Elbows15

Seabs can pinch at will because Keith can cover him most times. Which is fine with me

"I'd venture to say that while many GMs might take Toews over Backes in a fantasy draft, some would take Backes and the ones who don't would probably have to think about it for a while."


- Sconnie

Im not back reading , who the PHUCK said that ??????

Too many plays end with Saad and Versteeg.....Saad was better but still not what he can be. Hockey 101 on the last goal and he did the right thing but space opened because Smith drove the middle and took 2 Blues with him.


- Al

Its like every time Versteeg touches the puck in the offensive zone the play dies.

Plenty of face value tickets for tomorrow's game available on the St. Louis Blues website.

Interesting chat, didn't realize Miller was such a whiny female dog. Goalies generally don't throw their defenseman's names out when asked about a goal but he seems to think the blame lies with Shattenkirk.

Yes. Weekes wanted him suspended for longer.
- Elbows15

probably should have been. Does it carry over to the regular season if they get knocked out of the playoffs? (Just a general suspension question)

Im not back reading , who the PHUCK said that ??????
- mrpaulish

Blues Beat Guy - Jeremy Rutherford. Same moron who was insisting that Backes was going to play last night.

Im not back reading , who the PHUCK said that ??????
- mrpaulish

Rutherford, Blues beat reporter in this STL chat...

http://live.stltoday.com/...remy_Rutherford_37?Page=1

I mostly agree with you, Phil. My point would be that Seabs put himself in the position to be placed on the Wheel of Justice. I won't hang him for that, but he did cross a line and took a risk in doing so.
- mohel

He did and his penalty is just about served.

Seabs can pinch at will because Keith can cover him most times. Which is fine with me
- mrpaulish

Except its usually the other way around Paulish. Seabs allows Keith to force the play on his side of the ice which is pretty much the Hawks game plan. Oduya will do it too.

probably should have been. Does it carry over to the regular season if they get knocked out of the playoffs? (Just a general suspension question)
- BlazinMike

Yes it does.

"I'd venture to say that while many GMs might take Toews over Backes in a fantasy draft, some would take Backes and the ones who don't would probably have to think about it for a while."


- Sconnie

Quite possibly the most wrong comment I've ever read about anything. There isn't one thing outside of hitting that David Backes does better than Toews and he's 4 years older. Who on earth would take him. He know GMs just voted Toews the third best player in the world right?

He did and his penalty is just about served.
- philco28

Its easy to say after all the slow motion replays we have seen. However, in real time it happened in a split second. Anyway.

Pinches recklessly? Seabs just does it to get even with Keith. Yea yeah, I know I have a man crush on Seabs but its because he is so (frank)ing good. He has the best offensive instincts of any D-man on this team in the O-zone.
- Elbows15

Seabs is deffo one of my faves too. He's a warrior, a leader and he's CLUTCH.

Were you watching a game 3 replay? Hawks easily owned Game 4 for the majority of the time. Boys played their asses off.
- Assman22

Exactly, just remove that awfully bad 1st half of the 3rd

Quite possibly the most wrong comment I've ever read about anything. There isn't one thing outside of hitting that David Backes does better than Toews and he's 4 years older. Who on earth would take him. He know GMs just voted Toews the third best player in the world right?
- rollpards19

Oh boy. Probably the same GM who would take Bouwmeester over Seabrook.

"I'd venture to say that every GM would take Toews over Backes in a fantasy draft.

- Sconnie

Fixed it for him..