Chip McCleary: 3/14, Blues vs. Coyotes - Open Recap It's your turn to analyze the team.

If I'm the Blues I am not trading any forwards from the current roster. Add help on the d w/ picks and prospects.

Dominant performance. Nothing weak other than not capitalizing on the power play. Much more disciplined in not going into the box though I saw Jackman get away with a few.

Stewart is the player we all thought he was before he disappeared for over a season. Imagine getting into shape and playing to win the puck battles helps a power forward. Getting away from the perimeter and driving to the net.

Didn't even notice Oshie wasn't on the ice. Cracknell again strong. They clogged the middle of the ice and the penalty kill has been rounding into shape now for a few games. Helps not having Elliott in net in such circumstances.

Russell continues to play great which is almost shocking. When he battles with a purpose and drive he can actually win them. Using his speed to escape pressure amazing how not playing afraid doesn't cause problems.

The break out/transition game was much crisper. The back check was where it was at last season.

I guess Allen was just lucky and didn't face any tough shots or chances so he ended up with a shut out only due to play around him. He seemed to be giving up the posts a bit but then when Sullivan got the puck down low on the side of the net after a lucky bounce Allen seemed to seal of the post but that was probably a trick of the camera angle. Number one star pffff.... That should have been Stewart as Stewart created his own luck.

Welcome back Steen. After he found his legs he was tenacious and his back check I think inspired others.

Best game by Porter so far.

Note: sarcasm concerning Allen's play was used.

If I'm the Blues I am not trading any forwards from the current roster. Add help on the d w/ picks and prospects.
- gobluenotes

What about say McDOnald who they don't seem to miss?

Jaskin and VIlleux would fit right in on the wings. Yet more big, quick wingers that can at both ends and have good hands.

The left side Dmen have stepped their game up and it has a rippling affect on the team. Yeah they could use the piece but then again...if they play like this you can afford the patience and this draft can provide the relief at left D but maybe not next season depending on where the Blues pick from.


I think we may have found the true number one goaltender I felt we needed. With Halak he has time to not carry the mantle.

What about say McDOnald who they don't seem to miss?

Jaskin and VIlleux would fit right in on the wings. Yet more big, quick wingers that can at both ends and have good hands.

The left side Dmen have stepped their game up and it has a rippling affect on the team. Yeah they could use the piece but then again...if they play like this you can afford the patience and this draft can provide the relief at left D but maybe not next season depending on where the Blues pick from.


I think we may have found the true number one goaltender I felt we needed. With Halak he has time to not carry the mantle.
- BluemanGuruu

Left side d man for the top pairing is essential. Can be done with out losing a top 6-9 forward. I'd be ok with losing McDonald. Would make sense to move an ufa. He served his purpose and Blues are deep on the wings.

The Blues won't move McDonald, esp since he's been a maj part of the team through the rebuild years & he makes the team better when in the lineup. Yes, they moved Weight & Tkachuk (2x) & brought them back the following summer, but that was when the cupboards were bare.

I was at the game. Jake played well. Except he was sloppy at times, and didn't do much post hugging.

If I'm the Blues I am not trading any forwards from the current roster. Add help on the d w/ picks and prospects.
- gobluenotes

I'm fine with trading, say, D'agostini. If we are healthy, we just have too many guys:

Schwartz/Backes/Oshie
McDonald/Steen/Tarasenko
Perron/Berglund/Stewart
Sobotka/Nichol/Reaves

Porter, Cracknell


When injuries happen, Sobotka is totally capable of moving up the line up, with Porter on the bottom line. More than one injury, and Porter hasn't looked out of place on the third line either. Just need to add some depth at Peoria if we move Dags.


As for the left side... even when they are playing well, I just don't know if Jax can handle top minutes with Petro when we get to playoffs. I'm even less certain of Cole or Redden. Russel has been looking solid lately. But his size works against him. He isn't what we need playing against top lines with Petro. Russel + Shatty is two smaller guys, no one to clear the front of the net. Meaning Russel is nothing but a third pairing D, even when he plays well. As I have said elsewhere, the Blues need to trade Dags, Russel & 1st round pick or mid-level prospect for a LHD who can handle top minutes. It doesn't have to be JBo, though that would be great. Just someone from the Jackman mold who is a bit more skilled with the puck, a bit better skater. Make our lines:

LHD/Petro
Cole/Shatty
Jax/Polak

then switch Redden (or Russel if he's kept) in with Polak and move Jax up if Cole struggles. But give Cole the chance to play his way into that spot. We all know Jax/Polak was a great shutdown pairing.

The Blues won't move McDonald, esp since he's been a maj part of the team through the rebuild years & he makes the team better when in the lineup. Yes, they moved Weight & Tkachuk (2x) & brought them back the following summer, but that was when the cupboards were bare.
- All Blues

Yeah, I think Blues would need to be blown away by a deal to move McDonald. I'm not convinced we don't resign him. I can picture him taking a big hometown discount to remain with the Blues, be here when we finally win one. If he is willing to take a 2 year, 3 million per type contract, I don't see how the Blues can pass it up.

I was at the game. Jake played well. Except he was sloppy at times, and didn't do much post hugging.


- carcus

Man.. so I really tried to pay attention to him this game, and Chip is right.. he is down on the ice A LOT.. I can not believe the phoenix players weren't shooting through the gaping holes between him and the pipes.

What about say McDOnald who they don't seem to miss?

- BluemanGuruu

I miss him on the PP. That being said, I very much doubt he's back next year (unless he takes a serious cut in pay). He's injured way to often. He also has probably 0 trade value right now, so I doubt we can move him.

I was at the game. Jake played well. Except he was sloppy at times, and didn't do much post hugging.


- carcus

Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy. What looked like shots on goal really weren't. The Blues defensemen are so geometrically skilled they carefully calculated thier positions on the ice so that every single shot was no challenge, he could see every one, nothing near the post, nothing up high.

Jake Allen is nothing more than a figurehead.

Worst shutout EVER.

Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy. What looked like shots on goal really weren't. The Blues defensemen are so geometrically skilled they carefully calculated thier positions on the ice so that every single shot was no challenge, he could see every one, nothing near the post, nothing up high.

Jake Allen is nothing more than a figurehead.

Worst shutout EVER.
- bcallaway

If it takes getting Allen with his little experience in net out there to get the team to pull together defensively, then so be it. I'll take Allen over Elliott any day. He's going through somekind of Rick Ankiel phase, and we don't have time to nurse him through it with a condensed season.

IMO, if a shutout consisted of ZERO good scoring opportunities, wouldn't that be a GREAT shutout?

Backes had a better game but he still has totally sucked this year.

Man.. so I really tried to pay attention to him this game, and Chip is right.. he is down on the ice A LOT.. I can not believe the phoenix players weren't shooting through the gaping holes between him and the pipes.
- BleedBlueSTL

WHO CARES??!?!?!?!?!?

All of this pseudo-intelligence about goaltending technique is crap. Can he keep the puck out of the net? Is he keeping the puck out of the net?

If he were getting lit up and giving softies you can take all the time you want to critique his game. You can go all Bill Bellicheck and spend thirty hours in the film room for all I care.

He's a kid, it's a very simple game. Keep the puck out of your net. Control your rebounds.

Believe it or not, there are successful goaltenders that don't have pretty technique.

How come no one mentions he's the best of all the Blues goal tenders at getting out of his net and playing the puck?


Good grief.

The Blues won't move McDonald, esp since he's been a maj part of the team through the rebuild years & he makes the team better when in the lineup. Yes, they moved Weight & Tkachuk (2x) & brought them back the following summer, but that was when the cupboards were bare.
- All Blues

How has he been a major part when he's missed more time than he has played?

If the Blues want to make some noise they need TWO D men, not one. Cole needs more AHL seasoning (or to play 20-25 min a night SOMEWHERE). Redden is still toast and Russell is beyond useless.

Furthermore, as the Blues get healthy, at what point do they think about keeping Porter or Cracknell in the lineup and scratching lil Scottie Nichol? He's made a nice career for himself as a plumber but he's really not very good and not the type of guy who can pot a key goal now and again. He basically provides the same amount of offense as Reaves and while his defense is fine, the Backes line gets the big defensive assignments so it's not like he is a "shutdown" guy.

WHO CARES??!?!?!?!?!?

All of this pseudo-intelligence about goaltending technique is crap. Can he keep the puck out of the net? Is he keeping the puck out of the net?

If he were getting lit up and giving softies you can take all the time you want to critique his game. You can go all Bill Bellicheck and spend thirty hours in the film room for all I care.

He's a kid, it's a very simple game. Keep the puck out of your net. Control your rebounds.

Believe it or not, there are successful goaltenders that don't have pretty technique.

How come no one mentions he's the best of all the Blues goal tenders at getting out of his net and playing the puck?


Good grief.
- bcallaway

I'm not saying he doesn't have skill, and he can't be successful using that form. Just that he looks very predictable out there, and teams are going to catch on.
Maybe he has the glove/blocker to keep up, maybe he doesn't. Also when he's down on the ice like that, he looks very small in net.

Unlike what seems to be the majority of Blues fans, I'm not ready to say Allen is going to be the difference maker in net. His play has been good, but no better than Halak or Elliots was last year, and we saw what can happen. The one thing Allen does seem to have is a good mature head on his shoulders, as the soft goals don't seem to affect him.

He keeps his lading pad against the post on behind the net plays. This is the same technique used by Quick. A play out front and that leg is used to push off the post and across the crease. He gets lower with the paddle down to block cross-crease passes.

I suspect many people critiquing his form are former or current forwards that clearly don't understand why he does what he does. That explains why those simple techniques tend to work on you lunkheads

I'm fine with trading, say, D'agostini. If we are healthy, we just have too many guys:

Schwartz/Backes/Oshie
McDonald/Steen/Tarasenko
Perron/Berglund/Stewart
Sobotka/Nichol/Reaves

Porter, Cracknell


When injuries happen, Sobotka is totally capable of moving up the line up, with Porter on the bottom line. More than one injury, and Porter hasn't looked out of place on the third line either. Just need to add some depth at Peoria if we move Dags.


As for the left side... even when they are playing well, I just don't know if Jax can handle top minutes with Petro when we get to playoffs. I'm even less certain of Cole or Redden. Russel has been looking solid lately. But his size works against him. He isn't what we need playing against top lines with Petro. Russel + Shatty is two smaller guys, no one to clear the front of the net. Meaning Russel is nothing but a third pairing D, even when he plays well. As I have said elsewhere, the Blues need to trade Dags, Russel & 1st round pick or mid-level prospect for a LHD who can handle top minutes. It doesn't have to be JBo, though that would be great. Just someone from the Jackman mold who is a bit more skilled with the puck, a bit better skater. Make our lines:

LHD/Petro
Cole/Shatty
Jax/Polak

then switch Redden (or Russel if he's kept) in with Polak and move Jax up if Cole struggles. But give Cole the chance to play his way into that spot. We all know Jax/Polak was a great shutdown pairing.
- Antilles

I agree with a lot of this. A lot of great points. Yes besides COle's potential all three left side Dmen are at best third pairing. Russell's biggest problem isn't that he can have a tendency to lose battles it's that starting against LA he started playing afraid. He must/needs to be skating forward to create the space and get good passes off. He's also still young. I never buy into the size thing though it did seem that way most of the season till the last four or five games. But after he was benched he's become fierce and just kept battling. Now he seems to not only be battling but winning those battles. Why? He is a great skater and when he uses his leg strength he can use his superior leg strength, balance and low center of gravity.

He has me a bit excited right now. My caveat is right now and also that when he faces a big team with a strong forecheck that he doesn't go back into the fearful shell. I like history so he has to erase that history and when evaluating the team that has to be kept in mind.

A couple things have changed with this team: They have found consistent goaltending. They have shaken off the rust and have their timing back. From the goaltending the defense isn't walking on egg shells which may have mentally contributed to some of the give aways.


Strong and deep at forward. You have to break a few eggs to make an omelet or give up something to get something. Hopefully it doesn't cost Villeux or Jaskin. Most especially Jaskin.

I wouldn't give up 3 or more pieces for a player unless they are one of the best and even then that can get hairy. I still believe Columbus killed it in the Nash trade. Now they are playing like I thought they could going into the season.

He keeps his lading pad against the post on behind the net plays. This is the same technique used by Quick. A play out front and that leg is used to push off the post and across the crease. He gets lower with the paddle down to block cross-crease passes.

I suspect many people critiquing his form are former or current forwards that clearly don't understand why he does what he does. That explains why those simple techniques tend to work on you lunkheads
- DeuceNine

Forward here and I do not have a problem with his style. I am loving this kid. I am harassing someone I believe has never played.

If it takes getting Allen with his little experience in net out there to get the team to pull together defensively, then so be it. I'll take Allen over Elliott any day. He's going through somekind of Rick Ankiel phase, and we don't have time to nurse him through it with a condensed season.

IMO, if a shutout consisted of ZERO good scoring opportunities, wouldn't that be a GREAT shutout?

Backes had a better game but he still has totally sucked this year.
- WhatAboutBawb

No RIck Ankiel stage. Rick started out great and stayed great until a play off game. Elliott was terrible before he got here and that's why he came on a one year two way contract. He has ability and it came together but he doesn't have the mental ability to shake off a goal. That is why Ottawa traded him in a second for Anderson and why after getting him Colorado did nothing to entice him back even for their AHL team.

I'm not saying he doesn't have skill, and he can't be successful using that form. Just that he looks very predictable out there, and teams are going to catch on.
Maybe he has the glove/blocker to keep up, maybe he doesn't. Also when he's down on the ice like that, he looks very small in net.

Unlike what seems to be the majority of Blues fans, I'm not ready to say Allen is going to be the difference maker in net. His play has been good, but no better than Halak or Elliots was last year, and we saw what can happen. The one thing Allen does seem to have is a good mature head on his shoulders, as the soft goals don't seem to affect him.
- BleedBlueSTL

Geez. Only difference is I don't remember Elliott dressing for team Canada at the WJC, or say putting up crushing numbers and being drafted fairly high.

Allen is much quicker with his reflexes and far more fluid.

I think Becall mentioned it also but his ability to play the puck changes the complexion of the team as well. Elliott or Halak and past goaltenders we have had minus Bishop always make it interesting settling the puck down or trying to play it.


Is the kid perfect? No. But he's also been nervous and just gets better and tighter with each game.

You have to understand what the butterfly style or technique is about. Because if you know how it is taught and why then you would recognize that Allen is technically proficient.

Funny thing is I was taught to study goaltenders if I wanted to beat goaltenders. The reason why the butterfly style works so well is because it covers the lower half of the net taking away many deflections, the five hole as the three and four, stops the wrap around and short plays around the net. These used to be ways to score all night and day. By being able to push off one post you can get to the other. As a forward or hockey player in general you know once you force a skate blade you can't move against with fluidity. So a lot of players have learned to shoot against the grain but in the NHL that is so much tougher.

You make yourself look bigger and try to get the puck to hit you in the chest. When you are shooting you never want to hit someone in the chest.

Why isn't it easy to just score up high all night? Well from the angles down low and being at the top of the crease you don't see the holes like you can from the television. Even when you do with usually little time you have to fire with accuracy, quickly. You aim or the inside of the post and cross bar. But it doesn't always hit right. To beat the butterfly most often you need to score off of rebounds by changing the angle get the player to over commit and go againstt he grain with a pass. a pop)pass off pad), but most of these methods mean you have to win the battles, not catch a rolling puck and hit your lanes perfectly(passing/shooting). The fact is your percentage goes down.

Deflections and traffic are the best methods. High deflections usually go in when they aren't going high or wide which they usually do.


That is why Jake Allen is proficient. But as he has shed his nervousness and settled you can see how he tries to keep the play in front of him, remain square and allows himself the ability to push, take the net away and recover. His reflexes are excellent. His stickhandling tremendous.

Some good Allen sarcasm in here. When is the lynching?

Some good Allen sarcasm in here. When is the lynching?
- gobluenotes

We would tie Allen to a post, but we all know he won't go near it.

We would tie Allen to a post, but we all know he won't go near it.
- bcallaway

OMG...LOL