Chip McCleary: 2/15, Blues at Flames: GDT Game 14 of 48, in a place where the Blues have been hot and cold over the years.

Up at 3 AM in Deutshland for this one. LGB!

Schwartz with an early one! Good to see him take advantage of an early Calgary mistake.

Chip, looking forward to the read on Kekalainen. Thought he did fairly well in his time with the Blues organization.

Players I'm watching:
Jake Allen
Ex Blues Wideman and Stempniak

Schwartz and Berglund hook up for another early goal. 2-0 note.

4-0 blues through one. Allen makes one of the best saves of the year!

Maybe Blues should petition to play all their games on the road...

I really think that game in Detroit gave everyone confidence. This is the best game they've played in about 8 games.

I had to break down and go buy a new desktop computer - partially because we've been down one a while and the kids and I can't share my laptop so they can do homework and I can do my stuff, but also because the laptop is going to have to go into the shop before too long to get the monitor fixed.

So that goal that Calgary just scored? Sorry, that's my fault, I'll take the blame for it.

Please tell me Jake Allen has looked better than what I've seen in the last 3-5 minutes - because he had no idea where Wideman's shot was, and he's really damn lucky the pass from Glencross didn't get deflected behind him.

-- ADD: and yes, I went back and saw his stick save from the 1st period. I think he just happened to have his stick hanging in the right spot, that was not a, "I know where the puck is going and the only thing I can do is get my stick out there" kind of save.

Please tell me Jake Allen has looked better than what I've seen in the last 3-5 minutes - because he had no idea where Wideman's shot was, and he's really damn lucky the pass from Glencross didn't get deflected behind him.
- Chip McCleary

Not sure how Allen could have seen the one that went in. And he had a highlight reel save early in the game, along with some other solid saves.

Please tell me Jake Allen has looked better than what I've seen in the last 3-5 minutes - because he had no idea where Wideman's shot was, and he's really damn lucky the pass from Glencross didn't get deflected behind him.

-- ADD: and yes, I went back and saw his stick save from the 1st period. I think he just happened to have his stick hanging in the right spot, that was not a, "I know where the puck is going and the only thing I can do is get my stick out there" kind of save.
- Chip McCleary

Most stick saves of that ilk are lucky, but regardless they look damn fine!

Up at 3 AM in Deutshland for this one. LGB!

Schwartz with an early one! Good to see him take advantage of an early Calgary mistake.

Chip, looking forward to the read on Kekalainen. Thought he did fairly well in his time with the Blues organization.

Players I'm watching:
Jake Allen
Ex Blues Wideman and Stempniak

Schwartz and Berglund hook up for another early goal. 2-0 note.
- BleedingBlue77

What are you doing in Germany?

Most stick saves of that ilk are lucky, but regardless they look damn fine!
- BerglundsGrundle

I would normally agree but that one was pretty good.

Only the second time of the season the Blues gave up a goal and had a goaltender with .900+ save percentage.


That kid doesn't look weak any more. Seems to me he's got some confidence. He got stuck in a butt whipping and gave up a softie. He started his first game against Detroit and Datysuk is just smart as heck with those plays making goaltenders look bad. Despite that he stayed mentally tough.

Tonight he looked like he felt he belonged. I am impressed because Calgary while they suck defensively, not the best goaltending are very good offensively. There weren't a lot of weak sister shots or chances by Cal.

The Blues have got to learn discipline. Discipline in positioning and taking stupid penalties like right after a penatly kill a too many men on the ice. They need to be aware of who they are playing as well. Calgary has got nothing to lose really at this point they go down and they are going to gamble for the goal with some good offensive talent(too bad you have to play at both ends and have some decent goaltending).

That's what I'm talking about in the goal though. The goalie might be facing high quality chances but you need him to stop one or two of those.

This is what we need to see though. Confidence in scoring(on the television last night or NHL Tonight I can't remember where I heard but they were quizzing guys about best power play and the guy guessed wrong and then said the Blues can't score five on five but on the power play--which is incorrect.

First Blues goaltender to register 30 saves this season as well.

4 points on the road.

I see a couple of weaknesses as for players but not much other than discipline as a whole. It sure helps I am sure to have a netminder make saves.

Got lucky the refs blew a lot of calls that were obvious and would have put the FLames on the power play, especially not to long before that save.

Please tell me Jake Allen has looked better than what I've seen in the last 3-5 minutes - because he had no idea where Wideman's shot was, and he's really damn lucky the pass from Glencross didn't get deflected behind him.

-- ADD: and yes, I went back and saw his stick save from the 1st period. I think he just happened to have his stick hanging in the right spot, that was not a, "I know where the puck is going and the only thing I can do is get my stick out there" kind of save.
- Chip McCleary

SERIOUSLY!!!!!!!!!!!! Go back and watch that save again. He stuck the stick out there with his eyes on the shooter. He didn't wave it out there in desperation. Yeah I watched it five times just after it happened because I was curious to know if it was all luck or not. The only lucky thing is the shooter didn't use the post either in the upper ninety or the inside post so he had a chance.

Yeah I don't know too many goalies in that situation are one reading shot(he had too much time and himself was not thinking shot till he saw the opening), and two the play from the face off three guys at least move across his view just as Wideman ripped a perfectly placed shot.

This is what happens when you don't know the feeling on the ice you have a tendency to misinterpret what you are seeing. I'll never say if you haven't played you have no idea because that is bunk. But there are certain things, especially small things people who don't have that feel or understanding of skate blades and ice have trouble understanding.

EDIT: I am a dumb butt. Allen admits it was a lucky save. I was hypnotized by hope and his nonchalance catching the puck out of the air. He said it was desperation. But it was exactly what the Blues players needed to see.

I saw that Hitch is trying to play Jedi games again by saying they will practice fully on Saturdaay and hope to get Halak back and going against Vancouver.

First thought: go with the hot guy. Always go with the hot guy. Never trust a goalie unless of course they are Brodeur or Roy...heck even Price. WHy couldn't the Canadiens despite all the other idiotic moves the GM made have gone with Halak and traded us Price?
Second thought: Okay he did well against Detroit in Detroit in his first start. Looked a little more composed against Calgary who has an awesome offense since that is all they seem to play. Vancouver is full of creative wily guys like those twins and Kesler's back and he likes to hit those bad angle shots and make them. So...his confidence is really high probably better to start Halak let the kid take it back to Peoria with himself and get ready to take Elliott's place next year after Elliott straightens himself out enough to get a decent return when he is traded. Allows Binnington to take complete control in net down on the farm. Meanwhile only a few interesting goalies in this draft. My preference is Marcus Hogberg and I also like Tristan Jarry. Eric Comrie might be a nice swing for the fences if he slides into the sixth onwards. If I am the Blues I think I draft Macus Hogberg for sure. COuld mybe even snatch him with the pick they got from Bishop. Suddenly that second rounder looks like it could end up climbing to a better position once you subtract Ottawa's two best players from the line up.

I really think that game in Detroit gave everyone confidence. This is the best game they've played in about 8 games.
- jpl0219

Most assuredly that's exactly what happened. A team when they were playing great last season they seemed not able to beat. Who beat them a couple of times and then to go there on the road, go down and battle back. Have a goaltender make a few critical saves is also importantly psychologically.

I'm glad that Perron is healthy and playing well.

Up at 3 AM in Deutshland for this one. LGB!

Schwartz with an early one! Good to see him take advantage of an early Calgary mistake.

Chip, looking forward to the read on Kekalainen. Thought he did fairly well in his time with the Blues organization.

Players I'm watching:
Jake Allen
Ex Blues Wideman and Stempniak

Schwartz and Berglund hook up for another early goal. 2-0 note.
- BleedingBlue77

The reason I'm asking is because my better half is from there. I was just there ... okay well it was seven months ago.

The reason I'm asking is because my better half is from there. I was just there ... okay well it was seven months ago.
- BluemanGuruu

I'm originally from the St. Louis area (Belleville, IL) but my family and I have been stationed near Ramstein air base for the last two years. Where is your wife from in Germany?

It is an awesome country. Especially if you're into the beer. I swear some of the world's best brew comes from here (Sorry St. Lou).

I'm originally from the St. Louis area (Belleville, IL) but my family and I have been stationed near Ramstein air base for the last two years. Where is your wife from in Germany?

It is an awesome country. Especially if you're into the beer. I swear some of the world's best brew comes from here (Sorry St. Lou).
- BleedingBlue77

It sure does. She's from Idar-Obestein area. Which is near a base that I am brain farting right now. And they have great wine. She grew up near the Mosel River Valley which is beautiful.

So are you air force? I am retired army(due to injury).

It sure does. She's from Idar-Obestein area. Which is near a base that I am brain farting right now. And they have great wine. She grew up near the Mosel River Valley which is beautiful.

So are you air force? I am retired army(due to injury).
- BluemanGuruu

We have friends that live in Birkenfeld which is near Idar-Oberstein. I'm actually active army. There's a army garrison in Baumholder which is 30 mins from Ramstein.

The wine is good, too good if you ask me. I went to wine fest in Bad Durkheim last year and had somewhere around 2 liters of straight wine. Great time, but an awful experience after. The Mosel river valley is beautiful, or I might say, "Es ist schönes".

Congrats on whipping the Flames last night Blues fans!

And absolutely wicked stick save by Allen! It was a hell of a fluke the way it happened, but he sure made it look routine. Glorious stuff.

We have friends that live in Birkenfeld which is near Idar-Oberstein. I'm actually active army. There's a army garrison in Baumholder which is 30 mins from Ramstein.

The wine is good, too good if you ask me. I went to wine fest in Bad Durkheim last year and had somewhere around 2 liters of straight wine. Great time, but an awful experience after. The Mosel river valley is beautiful, or I might say, "Es ist schönes".
- BleedingBlue77

I was an 11 bang bang and then became a 68whiskey. What's you MOS brother?

I was an 11 bang bang and then became a 68whiskey. What's you MOS brother?
- BluemanGuruu

Right now I'm a 14E which is just a patriot air defense system operator. I am transitioning to a 35 series MI job. I initially wanted to be a 68w but was talked out of it.