Meh, Blues deserved to win tonight; but Wild deserved game 1; so series is where it should be. Expect Blues to come out a little stronger, play all three periods like they did the last 2 next game.
- Antilles

omg you're pathetic! But entertaining!

Cmon Anthill, I know you're dying to rip the officiating but have to some how hide your hypocritical ways and save face! What a dilemma!

Cmon Anthill, I know you're dying to rip the officiating but have to some how hide your hypocritical ways and save face! What a dilemma!
- MnGump

Oh no They won a game and thinkst they are champions all of a sudden. still 3 games left for you to go home for the summer.

Oh no They won a game and thinkst they are champions all of a sudden. still 3 games left for you to go home for the summer.
- BluesDroogie

No, not champions..... Yet.... We'll settle for the "narrative" for the time being....

cant wait to hear what the excuses are going to be! I'm certain the officiating is going to be ridiculed greatly! Because everyone knows the blues only lose because of bad officiating! Right Anthill!
- MnGump

First goal should have been an icing and never happened. Oh well. Stuff happens. There are going to be bad penalties, bad calls, etc. Good teams win regardless of, if not in spite of, poor officiating. The reality is it's sometimes going to be poor for you and sometimes poor against you. Need to suck it up and deal with it and win regardless of it.

The two things that drove me nuts last night about the zebras were 1) the inconsistent standard on icing (bad both ways - it was so bad that the linesmen got bronx cheers on a couple of icing calls, something I have never seen and 2) the face-offs. I've never seen that much instruction given to players (almost always the wild centers) and that many do-overs, especially without a player being thrown out. Had to easily be over 20 times and was completely annoying because it slowed the game down a lot and it never improved through the game. At some point, assuming it is the players causing it, it should be penalty worthy or at least throwing that center out of the draw. If it's linesmen driven, I'd argue their incompetent and shouldn't work any more playoff games. It was like having an extra 20 tv timeouts. Probably was worse for you since it likely meant Pierre got to talk more

First goal should have been an icing and never happened. Oh well. Stuff happens. There are going to be bad penalties, bad calls, etc. Good teams win regardless of, if not in spite of, poor officiating. The reality is it's sometimes going to be poor for you and sometimes poor against you. Need to suck it up and deal with it and win regardless of it.

The two things that drove me nuts last night about the zebras were 1) the inconsistent standard on icing (bad both ways - it was so bad that the linesmen got bronx cheers on a couple of icing calls, something I have never seen and 2) the face-offs. I've never seen that much instruction given to players (almost always the wild centers) and that many do-overs, especially without a player being thrown out. Had to easily be over 20 times and was completely annoying because it slowed the game down a lot and it never improved through the game. At some point, assuming it is the players causing it, it should be penalty worthy or at least throwing that center out of the draw. If it's linesmen driven, I'd argue their incompetent and shouldn't work any more playoff games. It was like having an extra 20 tv timeouts. Probably was worse for you since it likely meant Pierre got to talk more
- Jason Millen

Blues got outplayed badly last night. Officiating was poor, but it was poor both ways. Minnesota disrupted the Blues passing around the perimeter in the offensive zone. Inexplicably, the Blues made bad passes in their own end and left guys behind the d. No problem if your passes aren't telegraphed...

Minny wanted it more last night.

Blues got outplayed badly last night. Officiating was poor, but it was poor both ways. Minnesota disrupted the Blues passing around the perimeter in the offensive zone. Inexplicably, the Blues made bad passes in their own end and left guys behind the d. No problem if your passes aren't telegraphed...

Minny wanted it more last night.
- eggsegan

I think the Blues outplayed the Wild for more actual minutes of the game but the Blues gaffes were worse (Petro giveaway, Allen giveaway, Parayko getting beat on the outside a couple of times, etc).

Definitely poor both ways.

great blog...

Thanks guys now if you can throw one more...

Thanks guys now if you can throw one more...
- pred_26

I certainly hope not.

Another Wild win suddenly makes them think the impossible is now possible. And the Blues will have to expend too much energy dispatching them.

As I have mentioned numerous times throughout the season the narrative is most important to the players' self-perception.

we only need to look at game four to see how it plays out. For the first time the Wild had the lead. Besides being hosed on some calls and only bc they are not made both ways, the Blues dominated the game. Posts and mere inches led to a shutout and a loss.

But the Wild know this. Now is where it gets mildly dangerous. The Wild must expend far more energy to win three more in a row than the Blues. They have to be perfect, the Blues do not. But, with each passing game the Wild can start believing in the narrative that they have been the dominate force. It is not true bc the Blues changed their style with the leads. I argue there are some holes to falling back but they guard against the cherry picking the Wild like to engage in.

The Blues will win one of the next two. I'll put money on it.

First goal should have been an icing and never happened. Oh well. Stuff happens. There are going to be bad penalties, bad calls, etc. Good teams win regardless of, if not in spite of, poor officiating. The reality is it's sometimes going to be poor for you and sometimes poor against you. Need to suck it up and deal with it and win regardless of it.

The two things that drove me nuts last night about the zebras were 1) the inconsistent standard on icing (bad both ways - it was so bad that the linesmen got bronx cheers on a couple of icing calls, something I have never seen and 2) the face-offs. I've never seen that much instruction given to players (almost always the wild centers) and that many do-overs, especially without a player being thrown out. Had to easily be over 20 times and was completely annoying because it slowed the game down a lot and it never improved through the game. At some point, assuming it is the players causing it, it should be penalty worthy or at least throwing that center out of the draw. If it's linesmen driven, I'd argue their incompetent and shouldn't work any more playoff games. It was like having an extra 20 tv timeouts. Probably was worse for you since it likely meant Pierre got to talk more
- Jason Millen

The face off thing was puzzling. I listened to part of the game and watched part of it on FSN. Both sets of announcers were trying to figure out what was going on with the face offs.... FSN showed a replay of one of the dozen or more redo's and it was Koivu in the defensive zone squaring up, putting his stick down first and winning the face off only to have the ref blow the whistle and kick him out. Nobody could see or tell what he was doing wrong. So I don't know what was going on there.

As far as the rest of the officiating, I thought it was pretty even both ways. Both teams were getting away with indiscretions but most were not being called.

I honestly thought the Blues played a good game last night. The difference in the game IMO was Dubnyk played the way we saw him play for most of the season when the Wild were winning. Allen looked like an average tender last night.

It would be great to get Stastny back for Saturday, who will sit in his place....Sanford?

I certainly hope not.

Another Wild win suddenly makes them think the impossible is now possible. And the Blues will have to expend too much energy dispatching them.
- bcallaway

NAAA you guys will be fine.... gotta have faith

I think the Blues outplayed the Wild for more actual minutes of the game but the Blues gaffes were worse (Petro giveaway, Allen giveaway, Parayko getting beat on the outside a couple of times, etc).

Definitely poor both ways.
- Jason Millen

I agree with this.

But if you are going to call a bunch of penalties in a row, just remeber there are two teams doing the same.

I agree with this.

But if you are going to call a bunch of penalties in a row, just remeber there are two teams doing the same.
- BluemanGuruu

At least, for the first time, NBC actually showed a few replays of missed penalties. At one point they did a montage of 4 times the Wild high stick-ed the Blues over 5 minutes of the third period. Unusual, as the national broadcast tends to avoid showing replays of missed calls. Probably because they were 0 judgement needed missed stuff.

Cmon Anthill, I know you're dying to rip the officiating but have to some how hide your hypocritical ways and save face! What a dilemma!
- MnGump

Another MnGump trolling fail attempt.

At least, for the first time, NBC actually showed a few replays of missed penalties. At one point they did a montage of 4 times the Wild high stick-ed the Blues over 5 minutes of the third period. Unusual, as the national broadcast tends to avoid showing replays of missed calls. Probably because they were 0 judgement needed missed stuff.
- Antilles

There we go Anthill! That's more like it! I knew that was the only logical reason the Blues could have lost last night.

It would be great to get Stastny back for Saturday, who will sit in his place....Sanford?
- Yeah Boyes

That kid needs to add some lower body/core strength. his hands are good but he gets knocked off the puck and rag dolled too much. If he can get stronger on the puck, he could turn into a very good player.

That kid needs to add some lower body/core strength. his hands are good but he gets knocked off the puck and rag dolled too much. If he can get stronger on the puck, he could turn into a very good player.
- Jason Millen

So the blues are sellers at the trade deadline, didn't look like they had much of a chance to make the post season, they move arguably their best D man. Somehow they not only get better defensively, but are now one win away from the 2nd round of the playoffs... How does that happen? You think it's Yeo's system? Or just getting rid of Hitchcock?

So the blues are sellers at the trade deadline, didn't look like they had much of a chance to make the post season, they move arguably their best D man. Somehow they not only get better defensively, but are now one win away from the 2nd round of the playoffs... How does that happen? You think it's Yeo's system? Or just getting rid of Hitchcock?
- MnGump

The first flaw in your thought process is the bolded part. Shattenkirk wasn't even close to their best defenseman. Sure he had the most points but his play had a number of challenges in it. Guru nailed some of it. His defensive play sometimes appeared lazy and unfocused. His play sometimes seemed more focused on getting points than on contributing to wins.

The other key is swapping Brodeur for Corsi. Allen's style of play has changed since Brodeur took over. He is more on the top of the crease vs hanging back on the goal line. He is getting more square to the shooter. He is moving around the crease with more precision and efficiency. He was moving too much, almost wildly before.

The last key is letting the guys play without fear. Yeo let's the rookies and young players play and coaches them through mistakes, allowing them to continue to get shifts even when they make mistakes. I'm not saying a player can't get benched but he uses is so much less than Hitch did. It's hard to play your best when you are playing to not make a mistake rather than playing to make a play.

The system is improved also, particularly with the D playing more agressive, especially in being more protective of the house area.

Just my worthless 2 cents.

The first flaw in your thought process is the bolded part. Shattenkirk wasn't even close to their best defenseman. Sure he had the most points but his play had a number of challenges in it. Guru nailed some of it. His defensive play sometimes appeared lazy and unfocused. His play sometimes seemed more focused on getting points than on contributing to wins.

The other key is swapping Brodeur for Corsi. Allen's style of play has changed since Brodeur took over. He is more on the top of the crease vs hanging back on the goal line. He is getting more square to the shooter. He is moving around the crease with more precision and efficiency. He was moving too much, almost wildly before.

The last key is letting the guys play without fear. Yeo let's the rookies and young players play and coaches them through mistakes, allowing them to continue to get shifts even when they make mistakes. I'm not saying a player can't get benched but he uses is so much less than Hitch did. It's hard to play your best when you are playing to not make a mistake rather than playing to make a play.

The system is improved also, particularly with the D playing more agressive, especially in being more protective of the house area.

Just my worthless 2 cents.
- Jason Millen

Allens progression in such a short time is amazing. Literally a worst to first type scenario.

I liked Yeos system. Wild were a solid team with him but went through some agonizing losing skids. Less scoring but better team defense. I really enjoyed the scoring this season but I do think the Wild are weaker defensively under Boudreau. And I think it's finally caught up to them. Which could be a good reason why Dubnyk slipped the last 2 months.

If what you say is true, biggest difference in Yeo now is that he kowtowed to the veteran players here and used the young guns as his whipping boys. Not sure how much of that was him or above him though.

Allens progression in such a short time is amazing. Literally a worst to first type scenario.

I liked Yeos system. Wild were a solid team with him but went through some agonizing losing skids. Less scoring but better team defense. I really enjoyed the scoring this season but I do think the Wild are weaker defensively under Boudreau. And I think it's finally caught up to them. Which could be a good reason why Dubnyk slipped the last 2 months.

If what you say is true, biggest difference in Yeo now is that he kowtowed to the veteran players here and used the young guns as his whipping boys. Not sure how much of that was him or above him though.
- MnGump

I'd bet Fletcher pushed Yeo's roster more than Yeo. The Blues have been reengineering their core the past two seasons.

The team was actually scoring at a good clip under Yeo. He has the team playing differently against Minnesota than they normally play.

I think the addition of Staal has been huge in Minnesota. He is a better leader than the one's they have had.

Minnesota this season relied heavily on Dub much of the season. There are some interesting numbers I was looking at back in January that showed the Wild were more successful than one might otherwise assume.

I still think the Wild is a really good team. I think they tend to get the benefit of the doubt by refs when playing them and I do not mean just this post season. I also do not think that's an acceptable excuse for winning or losing.

Soon the Blues will be a much better team. Gunnar plays way too much for instance. There are still a number of injuries. I would prefer to see Yakupov out there than Sandford for instance. Yeo has done what Hitch would have refused to do--play a kid over a veteran, no matter how slow or how much the vet struggled.

I think a healthier season, no Hitch and you would have likely seen six or seven players with 20 plus goals.

Hitch has proven over his time to be inflexible and stubborn. The year the Wild won was an exception when he rightly played Allen.

Cmon Anthill, I know you're dying to rip the officiating but have to some how hide your hypocritical ways and save face! What a dilemma!
- MnGump

Come on just leave him be.

I mean that cross check on Sobotka was brutal. It does not matter which player or team in any league makes that play and they need to get two and ten. That is if you want to keep the game safe and under some control.

I'd bet Fletcher pushed Yeo's roster more than Yeo. The Blues have been reengineering their core the past two seasons.

The team was actually scoring at a good clip under Yeo. He has the team playing differently against Minnesota than they normally play.

I think the addition of Staal has been huge in Minnesota. He is a better leader than the one's they have had.

Minnesota this season relied heavily on Dub much of the season. There are some interesting numbers I was looking at back in January that showed the Wild were more successful than one might otherwise assume.

I still think the Wild is a really good team. I think they tend to get the benefit of the doubt by refs when playing them and I do not mean just this post season. I also do not think that's an acceptable excuse for winning or losing.

Soon the Blues will be a much better team. Gunnar plays way too much for instance. There are still a number of injuries. I would prefer to see Yakupov out there than Sandford for instance. Yeo has done what Hitch would have refused to do--play a kid over a veteran, no matter how slow or how much the vet struggled.

I think a healthier season, no Hitch and you would have likely seen six or seven players with 20 plus goals.

Hitch has proven over his time to be inflexible and stubborn. The year the Wild won was an exception when he rightly played Allen.
- BluemanGuruu

Well said bluman