Michael Stuart: St. Louis Notches 900th Career Point as Lightning Squeak by Senators

purcell stamkos st. louis
malone lecavalier killorn
connolly johnson pouliot
crombeen thompson panik


hedman salo
carle gudas
brewer aulie
barberio

bishop
lindback


should be the lineup for next season. that is a playoff team. with a training camp and a full season under cooper they should earn at least a wild card spot but i think they earn the 3rd seed in their conference.

purcell stamkos st. louis
malone lecavalier killorn
connolly johnson pouliot
crombeen thompson panik


hedman salo
carle gudas
brewer aulie
barberio

bishop
lindback


should be the lineup for next season. that is a playoff team. with a training camp and a full season under cooper they should earn at least a wild card spot but i think they earn the 3rd seed in their conference.
- boltsfan48

Based on comments of the coach after Pouliot was a healthy scratch tonight, doesn't sound like #67 will be coming back. I could be wrong, but Erlendsson made the same analysis I did.

Based on comments of the coach after Pouliot was a healthy scratch tonight, doesn't sound like #67 will be coming back. I could be wrong, but Erlendsson made the same analysis I did.
- Michael_Stuart

I think you're right in your earlier assessment that Killorn is pretty much a replacement for Pouliot and a much cheaper one at that. That kid is so strong on the puck, he plays like he's Vinny's size as hard as it is to take it from him. all the broadcasters talk about how deceptively fast he is. I think he is going to have a HUGE year next year. having said that, I hope Connolly improves. as good as he's been in the AHL, he's practically invisible during his ice time.

Based on comments of the coach after Pouliot was a healthy scratch tonight, doesn't sound like #67 will be coming back. I could be wrong, but Erlendsson made the same analysis I did.
- Michael_Stuart

I rather have Pouliot over Malone though, but that just might be me. JT Brown or Namestikov should get a look too.

I think you're right in your earlier assessment that Killorn is pretty much a replacement for Pouliot and a much cheaper one at that. That kid is so strong on the puck, he plays like he's Vinny's size as hard as it is to take it from him. all the broadcasters talk about how deceptively fast he is. I think he is going to have a HUGE year next year. having said that, I hope Connolly improves. as good as he's been in the AHL, he's practically invisible during his ice time.
- Boltdolt84

Agreed on Killorn; I believe he's the Pouliot replacement. I completely disagree re: Connolly though. He has been absolutely fantastic since coming up from Syracuse. His speed is apparent, he's always first in on the forecheck, and he is never afraid to shoot. He's been generating top notch scoring chances that, at some point, will start going in for him. It's night and day when comparing him last year to this year.

I rather have Pouliot over Malone though, but that just might be me. JT Brown or Namestikov should get a look too.
- norbs

If Malone could stay healthy, his presence is enough to keep him around. Unfortunately he's seemingly made of glass.

If Malone could stay healthy, his presence is enough to keep him around. Unfortunately he's seemingly made of glass.
- Michael_Stuart

Not for that money. That and as you mentioned, very injury prone.

Nate Thompson impressed me tonight.

As did Ben Bishop. I kind of don't see how Lindback really beats him for a starting job next year, but he's a very quality back-up at any rate. Nice little tandem.

Just have to shore up the blue-line.

Nate Thompson impressed me tonight.

As did Ben Bishop. I kind of don't see how Lindback really beats him for a starting job next year, but he's a very quality back-up at any rate. Nice little tandem.

Just have to shore up the blue-line.
- Travis Yost

Nate's been a really solid player since being picked off waivers back in 2010. All hustle. Hard not to like

Nate Thompson impressed me tonight.

As did Ben Bishop. I kind of don't see how Lindback really beats him for a starting job next year, but he's a very quality back-up at any rate. Nice little tandem.

Just have to shore up the blue-line.
- Travis Yost

He's quietly had a very good season. It really came as no shock to me that there was reported interest for him as the deadline neared. He's a pretty good checking line center with decent offensive instincts.

Bishop has certainly looked like a number one guy during his short time here, but Lindback looked really good right before being injured too. His five games before going down were some of his best hockey all season. Next year will be interesting.

I think a lot of our defensive woes stem from Boucher's coaching system (that's where the reported disagreement between Yzerman and Boucher stemmed from). As Cooper's systems begin to take hold, I think a lot of the issues will be resolved.

Nate's been a really solid player since being picked off waivers back in 2010. All hustle. Hard not to like
- norbs

Yep.

Guys like that can find time in this league, especially if they excel in goal prevention. I'm not sure if he's to that level, but Erik Condra's kind of a similar player. Not a great scorer, but does everything else really well. There's value in that.

I think a lot of our defensive woes stem from Boucher's coaching system (that's where the reported disagreement between Yzerman and Boucher stemmed from). As Cooper's systems begin to take hold, I think a lot of the issues will be resolved.
- Michael_Stuart

I think you should look into it further. Probably a very good story there as to how/why this team is completely incapable of driving possession #s w/ such quality forwards.

I'm extremely suspicious it's defense -- and specifically, zone exit -- related. I know the system gets dinged when you see such poor results, but I'd bet it's talent-related, too.

I think you should look into it further. Probably a very good story there as to how/why this team is completely incapable of driving possession #s w/ such quality forwards.

I'm extremely suspicious it's defense -- and specifically, zone exit -- related.
- Travis Yost

There's definitely something with the Dmen and the breakout. It's gotten better since Cooper's taken over, but even tonight at times in the first period it seemed so bland and it just didn't get the job done. Like I don't know if it was just me, but there was periods in the 1st that I thought the team was just skating pointlessly and not really achieving anything.

There's definitely something with the Dmen and the breakout. It's gotten better since Cooper's taken over, but even tonight at times in the first period it seemed so bland and it just didn't get the job done. Like I don't know if it was just me, but there was periods in the 1st that I thought the team was just skating pointlessly and not really achieving anything.
- norbs

I tracked a couple of games for Tampa Bay and the numbers were awful. I was going to do a long post as to why Tampa Bay (and Buffalo) were being absolutely crushed there, but never compiled a big enough sample. Only had I think four or five sets of data.

At any rate, both teams feel pretty fixable.

I think you should look into it further. Probably a very good story there as to how/why this team is completely incapable of driving possession #s w/ such quality forwards.

I'm extremely suspicious it's defense -- and specifically, zone exit -- related. I know the system gets dinged when you see such poor results, but I'd bet it's talent-related, too.
- Travis Yost

The breakout under Boucher was just brutal. Blue line turnovers were so common, and he didn't seem to have that much of a problem with it. Cooper's made it very clear that said turnovers won't be tolerated. I agree that it's definitely a story to look into (re: talent), but I'd like to give Cooper at least a full training camp and pre-season to implement his game before I do that.

Cooper should consider make a rule, no drop passes. Marty has caused so many turnovers trying to get cute with them but they surprise his own team. seems like we have at least one break out or odd man rush against us every game because of it

Hey Michael great write up. How did Barberio look in his debut tonight?

Cooper should consider make a rule, no drop passes. Marty has caused so many turnovers trying to get cute with them but they surprise his own team. seems like we have at least one break out or odd man rush against us every game because of it
- Boltdolt84

Ask the Canucks how the drop pass works, especially on the PP. Hint - It doesn't.

Hey Michael great write up. How did Barberio look in his debut tonight?
- vaas91

Thanks so much. I appreciate that.

I thought he looked decent in limited action. He had some good moments on the offensive side of the puck (specifically the PP), but also had some weak moments on the defensive side. His skill level is apparent, but I'm not sure he's ready for full time NHL duty quite yet. Give him some time and he'll get there though. He could easily be a #6/#7 guy next year if development goes well over the summer and into training camp/pre-season. He's a work in progress.

LABRIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

purcell stamkos st. louis
malone lecavalier killorn
connolly johnson pouliot
crombeen thompson panik


hedman salo
carle gudas
brewer aulie
barberio

bishop
lindback


should be the lineup for next season. that is a playoff team. with a training camp and a full season under cooper they should earn at least a wild card spot but i think they earn the 3rd seed in their conference.
- boltsfan48

Boston, Detroit and Montreal will battle for 1st place in our division. The wildcard will go to any of the remaining teams. I like your optimism but after this year it's going to be a million times harder to get into the playoffs thanks to realignment.

Boston, Detroit and Montreal will battle for 1st place in our division. The wildcard will go to any of the remaining teams. I like your optimism but after this year it's going to be a million times harder to get into the playoffs thanks to realignment.
- Unholy_Forward

An eighty two game schedule will be a better test next year. Montreal is cooling off a little and Detroit is playing well but not top notch.pre season the Rangers were the favorites but look where they are - fighting for a playoff position. The Leafs are playing sound hockey but better than the pre season analysis. Too much to determine next year, injuries, chemistry etc. they may look good on paper but we play on ice .players get on streaks and change a team look at OV everyone questioning if he was the same player for the first half of this season now he's carrying the Caps- add Ribero and he's a different player. Too many variables too look a year forward. No one thought Anaheim was going to do as well as they have. But they are right in the mix for Cup talk.

I think you're being a little homer-ish.... Towards the Senators there Mr. Stuart. Yes Ottawa played a good game, however so did the Lightning. At man times we had sustained attack, 2 fire checkers in on there defense and ALOT of the shots on Bishop were distance and perimeter shots. You were right about Aulie, he has improved greatly under Cooper. Brewer has played well as has Carle (other then causing the second Ottawa goal by attempting to jump for it.
The officating overall was MLB bad.

9 games left, 6 pts out of 8th...not likely but what fun is watching hockey and reading this sh*t if you got no hope?

no offense by calling it "this sh*t" michael, just how i talk lol