Chip McCleary: 3/12, Blues vs. Sharks - Recap Could it really be? A 2-game winning streak at home?

Big win. Need to stack up some wins at home.

With Steen, Tarasenko and McDonald all back soon (Steen is probably going to be in Friday night), things are starting to look up once again.

Thought Oshie getting injured tonight puts a damper on things as well.

Good game blues.....just wanted to share seeing the pic on this blog.....stewart is a chub!

Anyone see the Corey Perry hit tonight? Looked very similiar to the hit Tarasenko took, but this time everyone around the league seems to be calling for MAJOR suspensions.

Blindside hit where the head wasn't the principle point of contact but still was contacted and the player was without the puck. Only this time it wasn't "Mr. 5 minutes of ice time a night" taking out a star prospect/player, it was the other way around.

Anyone see the Corey Perry hit tonight? Looked very similiar to the hit Tarasenko took, but this time everyone around the league seems to be calling for MAJOR suspensions.

Blindside hit where the head wasn't the principle point of contact but still was contacted and the player was without the puck. Only this time it wasn't "Mr. 5 minutes of ice time a night" taking out a star prospect/player, it was the other way around.
- Blueshockey47

The only thing making Perry's hit worse was that it happened longer after the puck was dished. Olver should have had 2-3 games, Perry should be getting 4-5. The talent level of the guys involved shouldn't matter.

They had to lean heavily on Allen last night. They got outshot like crazy. They really seemed to turn it around and come on towards the end.

Am I the only one who thinks Backes flat out sucks this year?

Defense rounding into shape? Yikes.

Blues spent the entire seccond period chasing the puck and more specifically, chasing a Shark with the puck.

Jake Allen stole that game flat out. Blues were dominated.

Did the Sharks have a ton of shots? Sure they did - but how many of them were even moderately difficult? Very few of them. We've seen this defense limit shots in the last several games - but the shots they didn't limit were the high-quality ones. I'm less concerned with # of shots allowed as I am where those shots are coming from - and in that respect, the defense has been improving.

It's not perfect, they've still got work to do, but they look leaps and bounds better than they have much of the year.

I agree, Chip. At the game, I could feel the pressure that Sharks were putting on, but the only time I thought they might get back into it was right after the first goal (and the PP at the end of the game). I thought after the first goal, Allen kept his cool and the defense rallied around him. The "Here we go again..." feeling lasted only a couple seconds, for me anyway.

Also, if you noticed, Allen stopped a ton of shots that were from the half boards and going wide of the net or over the top. So yeah, the quantity of shots was there, but not the quality. Definitely an improvement.

Did the Sharks have a ton of shots? Sure they did - but how many of them were even moderately difficult? Very few of them. We've seen this defense limit shots in the last several games - but the shots they didn't limit were the high-quality ones. I'm less concerned with # of shots allowed as I am where those shots are coming from - and in that respect, the defense has been improving.

It's not perfect, they've still got work to do, but they look leaps and bounds better than they have much of the year.
- Chip McCleary

They couldn't have played much worse there for a stretch. What's showing up as improvement I think is simply the coach isn't playing musical chairs anymore. He's sticking with the same six guys every night so they're getting a little continuity.

For now, I'll take it.

Allen was great! I don't care if he really sucked because for whatever reason this team plays harder when he's in the goal. I know the reason and it's simple--he battles back and respects his teammates. We saw it last year when Eliott played well the team worked harder in front of them. That's because Halak always starts slow and seems to need competition and constantly proves he's the number one. But may I suggest that this game is wearing old and a young guy looking better and better with each game is now being groomed for the number one. You won't hear it said out loud but you will hear the hints and the hints will be directed towards Halak. Consequently Halak's focus will sharpen.


Jackman had a great game. Discipline after he took that vicious hit that hsould have put the SHarks in the box for five or at least two. No meatballs from him and little icing.

So you do understand the things people don't like about Jackman has to do with him hitting the opposition's tape more often than his own teammates and when missing his teammates' tape icing the puck especially after being hemmed in their zone. But when he cleans those parts of his game up, you can forgive the icing more, doesn't take bad penalties and doesn't make bad giveaways he's pretty damn good.

Russell has got his game going. Redden looks a bit stronger and wiser but I remember what I saw in New York and probably what put him down in the minors--he's become so slow. Slow isn't bad if you position yourself well and win battles. For as well as he thinks the game and he does think it at a high level he just doesn't always place himself well. I still think Cole has a place and can be darn good in this league. His biggest need is to learn positioning and win all battles down low near the net.

Petro keeps making some slip shod plays in his zone. But he makes so many great plays and is young so it is not too frightening just yet.

Stewart has been found!!! The last week or so I have seen a player in a Blues jersey who we traded for a couple of years ago. This big man with good hands and a shot. A man who wins puck battles and creates some space and goes to net and scores. He's damn back!! Armstrong better start getting some ink on paper because decisions will need to be made soon.

The Sharks man.... It's simple and it's been well known why they have trouble--they don't have good team speed. They are a faster team this season but their biggest guns are slow as in slllooooowwww. Thorton and Marleau are so slow. You can catch them. When those two look good is when they are the power play and have more time with the puck. Then they are deadly. Early on in the season when the rust was high these guys were used to each other and on the power play a lot and they won a lot. Niemmi is great. If it weren't for him this team is look at the lottery. They have enough pieces to change it up real quick. Thorton would look good on other teams where they can watch out for him the same way Arnott was looked after on our team last season.

Marleau is just a turd in my book. Not only has he lost his speed but he now he's taking nights off in the regular season and not just the play offs. Roenick was correct when he called him out. The guy has little heart. A deadly shot but little heart.

The Blues biggest weakness and we have been seeing it for a while now is their transition from their own end.

I liked seeing Stewart, Backes and Schwartz on a line. Schwartz seemed to have far more room and was making more plays.

SO out goes Oshie and in comes Steen.

Good game blues.....just wanted to share seeing the pic on this blog.....stewart is a chub!
- seven111dman

He hasn't won any pancake eating competitions.

Anyone see the Corey Perry hit tonight? Looked very similiar to the hit Tarasenko took, but this time everyone around the league seems to be calling for MAJOR suspensions.

Blindside hit where the head wasn't the principle point of contact but still was contacted and the player was without the puck. Only this time it wasn't "Mr. 5 minutes of ice time a night" taking out a star prospect/player, it was the other way around.
- Blueshockey47

Of course. He wasn't wearing a Blues jersey. Shannahan still has a hate for screwing what's his name's wife and then being traded to Hartford.

Did the Sharks have a ton of shots? Sure they did - but how many of them were even moderately difficult? Very few of them. We've seen this defense limit shots in the last several games - but the shots they didn't limit were the high-quality ones. I'm less concerned with # of shots allowed as I am where those shots are coming from - and in that respect, the defense has been improving.

It's not perfect, they've still got work to do, but they look leaps and bounds better than they have much of the year.
- Chip McCleary

The Blues did a better job of clearing some lanes for Allen but while not a lot of quality to the shots the Sharks did get good traffic much of the time. Yeah a lot of half board board shots. Do you wonder why? What is your biggest complaint against Allen? They do have video and scouts. There was no mistake in those shots other than not seeing that Allen was tighter on the posts and then changing their game plan a bit.

Did you see the goal off of Holtby's mask last night? That shot is tough to make. You can hit the mask all ten times and never know how many times it will deflect right back into the net.

ANyway their were a lot of perimeter shots. It was a solid game for the Blues. I thought they played better against a better team in Anaheim.

Depth at forward is what is carrying this team. Cracknell on the fourth line and the fourth line is contributing. If Nichol wasn't so strong in the face off dot and if most of the other centers didn't suck so bad I would guess Nichol would be done here.

The Blues did a better job of clearing some lanes for Allen but while not a lot of quality to the shots the Sharks did get good traffic much of the time. Yeah a lot of half board board shots. Do you wonder why? What is your biggest complaint against Allen? They do have video and scouts. There was no mistake in those shots other than not seeing that Allen was tighter on the posts and then changing their game plan a bit.
- BluemanGuruu

Make no mistake, Allen was still sloppy technically - way too many posts not hugged, still playing down low way too often - but the Blues limited the number of shots that would be troublesome, and Allen made the stops he needed to make.

Was that a conscious decision by the Blues (the adjustment to compensate for Allen's style of play)? I don't know that I'm willing to go that far, but certainly the defense clogged things up in the high-traffic areas and forced shots further out and at bad angles - and that's something they should be doing no matter who is in net.

They couldn't have played much worse there for a stretch. What's showing up as improvement I think is simply the coach isn't playing musical chairs anymore. He's sticking with the same six guys every night so they're getting a little continuity.

For now, I'll take it.
- bcallaway

Continuity is great, and Jackman playing well is too - but Russell has got to go. Just brutal. He occasionally makes the slick pass, but holy moly he hasn't won a board battle all year.

Continuity is great, and Jackman playing well is too - but Russell has got to go. Just brutal. He occasionally makes the slick pass, but holy moly he hasn't won a board battle all year.
- BerglundsGrundle

I know he has been sucking but he has actually been doing just that.

Make no mistake, Allen was still sloppy technically - way too many posts not hugged, still playing down low way too often - but the Blues limited the number of shots that would be troublesome, and Allen made the stops he needed to make.

Was that a conscious decision by the Blues (the adjustment to compensate for Allen's style of play)? I don't know that I'm willing to go that far, but certainly the defense clogged things up in the high-traffic areas and forced shots further out and at bad angles - and that's something they should be doing no matter who is in net.
- Chip McCleary

I disagree. He's down low because he's a butter fly goalie. Sometimes I think he is too low but he makes the save. Yet he did have the one squeak low between the pads.

I don't know why you are so hard on this kid. This is his third pro season and he's not doing too bad. Like most young players there is room for improvement. He doesn't quite look like Tuuku Rask or anything but Rask struggled some in his earlier years.

Make no mistake, Allen was still sloppy technically - way too many posts not hugged, still playing down low way too often - but the Blues limited the number of shots that would be troublesome, and Allen made the stops he needed to make.

- Chip McCleary

This is freaking hysterical.

If the guy were to win the Vezina it would only be because every other goal tender on the planet had bad years. Still way too sloppy. Still not post-huggy enough for me........

This blogger is worth every penny he's paid to do this gig.

Hilarious.

This is freaking hysterical.

If the guy were to win the Vezina it would only be because every other goal tender on the planet had bad years. Still way too sloppy. Still not post-huggy enough for me........

This blogger is worth every penny he's paid to do this gig.

Hilarious.
- bcallaway

How many rookie goalies have gone 6-1 for the Blues------Cujo. I don't think anyone needs to say more.

This is freaking hysterical.

If the guy were to win the Vezina it would only be because every other goal tender on the planet had bad years. Still way too sloppy. Still not post-huggy enough for me........

This blogger is worth every penny he's paid to do this gig.

Hilarious.
- bcallaway

Allen is doing a good job.

Sloppy, but good. Meh, he stinks.

Jake Allen: Coach, I stopped 39 of 41 shots. Not bad, eh?


Coach Blogger: Yes, but you didn't hug your posts once!!! Posts are people too. They need a hug from time to time. Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy........

Jake Allen: Coach, I stopped 39 of 41 shots. Not bad, eh?


Coach Blogger: Yes, but you didn't hug your posts once!!! Posts are people too. They need a hug from time to time. Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy........
- bcallaway

Its ok, Jake. We will give you a hug, even if you are uncomfortable hugging the post.