Randall Ritchey: Shorthanded Blues Win Big Over Capitals The Blues pull off a big win in the nation's capital today, beating the Washington Capitals despite being shorthanded the majority of the game.

I wish we would know more of a time table on Lehtera and Bergy. Yeah that hit by Backes was kind of bad, but I'm with you. I don't think he will get any games for it. It really looked worse than it was because Alzner's face got cut by his mask.

Great game by the Blues.

Very impressive to be that short handed and still win that game. Oshie & Steen really had great games. Elliott as well.

Ian Cole had probably the best game I have ever saw from him. Really stepped up with Shattenkirk going down early.

Ian Cole had probably the best game I have ever saw from him. Really stepped up with Shattenkirk going down early.
- carcus

+1 I also though Ott stood out today and has played his best hockey as a Blue since the trade for Goc. The fourth line is really playing well right now.

+1 I also though Ott stood out today and has played his best hockey as a Blue since the trade for Goc. The fourth line is really playing well right now.
- bcallaway

Yes, Ott was very good as well as that entire line. Big fan of those three together. Goc has seemed to really elevate that line.

Great game by the Blues. I am not sure why Lindstrom is even playing. He does not win puck battles. I wonder if it has to do with the cap otherwise throw him down and bring up either Magnus or McRae. Magnus never looked as bad Lindstrom.

Arttie looks a bit nervous on the ice. Do you really want players coming onto your team playing afraid? So without a proper centerman for the supposed third line it really hurts his chance to play a regular shift. I think Goc can move up to the third line and Ott can center the fourth. I know the fourth line looks great now after the defensively challenged Lappy has been moved but playing so many games in a short period of time and short handed hurts the team.


Backes hit was a bad hit. He was caught cheating on the play. A lot of these hits are happening because of players putting themselves in poor position and one player cheating to the cut off point. The game is so fast it is a split second to change things and that does not happen.

In the spirit of the rule to reduce concussions I worry more about hits like Tarasenko making a behind the back pass getting caught watching the pass and getting hit. The hit there itself is fine but the player hitting Tarasenko does not drop the shoulder and go down to hit him square in the body with plenty of time to take aim. No his shoulder flies high to the head. That is the problem. That is more desrving of a five minute major than Backes hit. I am not saying that as a Blues fan but a hockey fan. Your top players must be orotected. I am also not excusing Backes hit which in my opinion desreved four minutes and maybe a ten minute misconduct but not a game misconduct. But soon as blood showed you knew it was going to come. Better to be on the safe side and make the call than not. That will help players think a bit more.

All things equal I also saw repeat offender Ovechkin leave his feet early in the game on a hit on Petro. I mean really? You are lower to the ice drive through him and it will hurt more than leaving your feet and throwing yourself high on a guy that has inches on you. The last part is maybe a bit homer.


Great battle, fun game. When the officials start calling the righht stuff tight early in the game then maybe you do not get Backes tqking liberties. I mean what happened to ashattenkirk was a bit more than dirty. Barely caught in in the corner of the camera frame. A very late hit and a dangerous one at that.

If the Blues are ging to have injuries now is the time. Btter now than right at the end of the season and in the play offs.

Ian Cole had probably the best game I have ever saw from him. Really stepped up with Shattenkirk going down early.
- carcus

Honestly this is not much different than many of his showings this season. He simplified some of his chocies moving the puck and opted for the safer plays and tha is his growth coming on finally getting ice time.

+1 I also though Ott stood out today and has played his best hockey as a Blue since the trade for Goc. The fourth line is really playing well right now.
- bcallaway

I said it early on in the season Lappy is a defensive liability. He made that line bad and Reaves was not skating as well. No cohesion. That is why against San Jose they played seven dmen and sat Lappy.

Why I was saying bring up McRae and dump Lappy. I have always loved Goc's game. So similar to Sobotka just a tad less offensive. But a very smart, strong player. Lappy loses board battles and Goc wins them. Conteol the puck and you control the play.

Captain douchebag better get suspended. He deserves at least a game. He's among the dirtiest players in the league, and it's time he paid for it.

Captain douchebag better get suspended. He deserves at least a game. He's among the dirtiest players in the league, and it's time he paid for it.
- Ogilthorpe2

How did I know some Hawks fan would come here and run his mouth?

How did I know some Hawks fan would come here and run his mouth?
- RobShouts

Because you know that defending Backes on this one is asinine, and that doing so would demand a less intellectually challenged fan to call bullpoop? Who better to call bullpoop on the idiocy of Blues nation than a Blackhawk fan? It's really not rocket science.

Captain douchebag better get suspended. He deserves at least a game. He's among the dirtiest players in the league, and it's time he paid for it.
- Ogilthorpe2

Blackhawk suspensions the last 5 seasons:
Boyton
Hjalmarsson
Carcillo
Carcillo
Keith
Shaw
Keith
Seabrook
Bollig
Carcillo

Blues suspensions the last 5 seasons:
Stewart
Cole
Lapierre


That's right, Blackhawks throw really dirty hits over 3 times as often as Blues players do. One of the dirtiest teams in the league, and yet their fans complain about other teams constantly. Are they hypocrites or ignorant?

Blackhawk suspensions the last 5 seasons:
Boyton
Hjalmarsson
Carcillo
Carcillo
Keith
Shaw
Keith
Seabrook
Bollig
Carcillo

Blues suspensions the last 5 seasons:
Stewart
Cole
Lapierre


That's right, Blackhawks throw really dirty hits over 3 times as often as Blues players do. One of the dirtiest teams in the league, and yet their fans complain about other teams constantly. Are they hypocrites or ignorant?
- Antilles

Is this coming from a guy referencing the movie Slap Shot in his name?

That's right, Blackhawks throw really dirty hits over 3 times as often as Blues players do. One of the dirtiest teams in the league, and yet their fans complain about other teams constantly. Are they hypocrites or ignorant?
- Antilles

I was going to counter his arrogance, but you just summed it up perfectly.

Blackhawk suspensions the last 5 seasons:
Boyton
Hjalmarsson
Carcillo
Carcillo
Keith
Shaw
Keith
Seabrook
Bollig
Carcillo

Blues suspensions the last 5 seasons:
Stewart
Cole
Lapierre


That's right, Blackhawks throw really dirty hits over 3 times as often as Blues players do. One of the dirtiest teams in the league, and yet their fans complain about other teams constantly. Are they hypocrites or ignorant?
- Antilles

Hawk players have been suspended in the last few years for hits that are not nearly as egregious as the Backes hit in question...yet no Blue fan seems to think this hit is suspension worthy. If that hit isn't worthy of a suspension, then half of the Hawk suspensions, including Seabrook's hit on Backes last year, are a joke. That hit was worse (in terms of intent) than Seabrook on Backes.

Hawk players have been suspended in the last few years for hits that are not nearly as egregious as the Backes hit in question...yet no Blue fan seems to think this hit is suspension worthy. If that hit isn't worthy of a suspension, then half of the Hawk suspensions, including Seabrook's hit on Backes last year, are a joke. That hit was worse (in terms of intent) than Seabrook on Backes.
- Ogilthorpe2

Got it, ignorant, thanks for answering that question.

Great game by the Blues. I am not sure why Lindstrom is even playing. He does not win puck battles. I wonder if it has to do with the cap otherwise throw him down and bring up either Magnus or McRae. Magnus never looked as bad Lindstrom.

Arttie looks a bit nervous on the ice. Do you really want players coming onto your team playing afraid? So without a proper centerman for the supposed third line it really hurts his chance to play a regular shift. I think Goc can move up to the third line and Ott can center the fourth. I know the fourth line looks great now after the defensively challenged Lappy has been moved but playing so many games in a short period of time and short handed hurts the team.


Backes hit was a bad hit. He was caught cheating on the play. A lot of these hits are happening because of players putting themselves in poor position and one player cheating to the cut off point. The game is so fast it is a split second to change things and that does not happen.

In the spirit of the rule to reduce concussions I worry more about hits like Tarasenko making a behind the back pass getting caught watching the pass and getting hit. The hit there itself is fine but the player hitting Tarasenko does not drop the shoulder and go down to hit him square in the body with plenty of time to take aim. No his shoulder flies high to the head. That is the problem. That is more desrving of a five minute major than Backes hit. I am not saying that as a Blues fan but a hockey fan. Your top players must be orotected. I am also not excusing Backes hit which in my opinion desreved four minutes and maybe a ten minute misconduct but not a game misconduct. But soon as blood showed you knew it was going to come. Better to be on the safe side and make the call than not. That will help players think a bit more.

All things equal I also saw repeat offender Ovechkin leave his feet early in the game on a hit on Petro. I mean really? You are lower to the ice drive through him and it will hurt more than leaving your feet and throwing yourself high on a guy that has inches on you. The last part is maybe a bit homer.


Great battle, fun game. When the officials start calling the righht stuff tight early in the game then maybe you do not get Backes tqking liberties. I mean what happened to ashattenkirk was a bit more than dirty. Barely caught in in the corner of the camera frame. A very late hit and a dangerous one at that.

If the Blues are ging to have injuries now is the time. Btter now than right at the end of the season and in the play offs.
- BluemanGuruu

Sounds like Goc has started well. It's just need v not having with the trade, Pens probably would not trade him if we had a couple of solid hard playing F like you guys have. You need his subtleties over the aggression of Lapiere?

Do you think it was a square up with the Backes hit? Didn't see it so can't comment.

Hawk players have been suspended in the last few years for hits that are not nearly as egregious as the Backes hit in question...yet no Blue fan seems to think this hit is suspension worthy. If that hit isn't worthy of a suspension, then half of the Hawk suspensions, including Seabrook's hit on Backes last year, are a joke. That hit was worse (in terms of intent) than Seabrook on Backes.
- Ogilthorpe2

I thought the hit was dirty. I would not be surprised if he were to get whacked a game or two, nor would I be shocked if the game misconduct he was imposed would be deemed enough punishment by the league. They've shown there's no real predictability when it comes to those situations.

I do know the league takes into consideration the amount the victimized player was injured on the play, like it or not. Personally, I don't. But that makes the Seabrook hit much more serious. I also thought there was more time for intent and forethought in that hit over Backes' hit yesterday.

To Guru's point, it is hilarious that someone who calls himself Ogilthorpe is such a fussbudget about hockey hits.

Perhaps you should consider Hello Kitty as an alternative. All due respect.

Hawk players have been suspended in the last few years for hits that are not nearly as egregious as the Backes hit in question...yet no Blue fan seems to think this hit is suspension worthy. If that hit isn't worthy of a suspension, then half of the Hawk suspensions, including Seabrook's hit on Backes last year, are a joke. That hit was worse (in terms of intent) than Seabrook on Backes.
- Ogilthorpe2

Ok, that was really funny.

I thought the hit was dirty. I would not be surprised if he were to get whacked a game or two, nor would I be shocked if the game misconduct he was imposed would be deemed enough punishment by the league. They've shown there's no real predictability when it comes to those situations.

I do know the league takes into consideration the amount the victimized player was injured on the play, like it or not. Personally, I don't. But that makes the Seabrook hit much more serious. I also thought there was more time for intent and forethought in that hit over Backes' hit yesterday.

To Guru's point, it is hilarious that someone who calls himself Ogilthorpe is such a fussbudget about hockey hits.

Perhaps you should consider Hello Kitty as an alternative. All due respect.
- bcallaway

Would Backes even have the balls to hit someone face-to-face? At least Seabrook and him were eye-to-eye when he made the hit. That should tell you all you need to know.

Would Backes even have the balls to hit someone face-to-face? At least Seabrook and him were eye-to-eye when he made the hit. That should tell you all you need to know.
- powerenforcer

Like Backes knew he was coming.

Like Backes knew he was coming.
- carcus

He sure did. Any player in that position knows he is going to get hit, especially when he can see him skating toward him. Remember, these guys have great vision. Give them credit.

He sure did. Any player in that position knows he is going to get hit, especially when he can see him skating toward him. Remember, these guys have great vision. Give them credit.
- powerenforcer

There was nothing eye to eye about that hit. You are being ridiculous.