Jason Millen: A goalie change awakens the Blues in Game 4 A goalie change awakens the Blues in Game 4

The Jammer keys strike again!

What an amazing ride this has been, we are guaranteed at least 20 Blues playoff games this post season. I'm thinking this must either be the most or be tied for the most in franchise history?

The officials were garbage in this one as you clearly pointed out. A lot of cheap and dirty play by the Sharks in this one, sore losers I guess. The Blues did have a play or two that one could consider dirty, particularly Brouwers hit on Hertl, but over all it was SJ that gooned it up. The most frustrating thing about the officiating is when they let some blatant stuff go only to call a very minor infraction minutes later. Like you pointed out on the Polak vs Lehtera slashes.
The good news is the Blues found away to get pucks to quality scoring areas and finish. Seemed like they were incapable of doing so in games 2&3. Hopefully they can carry over what worked in game 4 into game 5. It's been awhile since they have had a really good effort at home. It seems like it's about time to go ahead and do that and go up in this series again. Interested to hear what the status of Backes and Fabbri are for game 5. We need at least one of them to be able to suit up and play at near full efficiency. The Backes injury situation is a weird one. I don't recall ever seeing a guy sit on the bench like that and never even attempt a shift.

I would probably be upset as a player for the sharks if I was scored on by Brodziak twice.

I really hope DA resigns him and upshall.

Sharks have to be upset with losing that game with the Blues basically playing with 10 forwards for almost the entire game.

Long way to go

Huge Game tonight

The officials were garbage in this one as you clearly pointed out. A lot of cheap and dirty play by the Sharks in this one, sore losers I guess. The Blues did have a play or two that one could consider dirty, particularly Brouwers hit on Hertl, but over all it was SJ that gooned it up. The most frustrating thing about the officiating is when they let some blatant stuff go only to call a very minor infraction minutes later. Like you pointed out on the Polak vs Lehtera slashes.
The good news is the Blues found away to get pucks to quality scoring areas and finish. Seemed like they were incapable of doing so in games 2&3. Hopefully they can carry over what worked in game 4 into game 5. It's been awhile since they have had a really good effort at home. It seems like it's about time to go ahead and do that and go up in this series again. Interested to hear what the status of Backes and Fabbri are for game 5. We need at least one of them to be able to suit up and play at near full efficiency. The Backes injury situation is a weird one. I don't recall ever seeing a guy sit on the bench like that and never even attempt a shift.
- Hull16

Backes was a bit weird but he wanted to be out there as a leader for his guys. I am sure the coaching staff consulted the trainers and they said his treatment could wait until after the game.

I for one was glad to see him out there. If he had gone back to the room and gotten treatment he would not have been able to be a cheerleader.

Just hope he isn't dinged up too badly and can play tonight

Your guess is as good as mine as to whether we will see Robert Bortuzzo or Joel Edmundson.
- Jason Millen

A poster in the PD forum posted the overall stats when it comes to Bortuzzo versus Edmundson so far this post season and I think you have to stick with Edmundson.

Dressing Bortuzzo forces Shattenkirk to the left side and he's been a disaster over there.

I like Joel Edmundson, but there's no denying he's made some terribly disastrous boneheaded rookie mistakes. But I think he's your better option.

I will eat a little crow here

Paajarvi was really good on Saturday Night

He and Jaskin both stepped up big when Backes went out

Less than 12 hours!

Less than 12 hours!


- carcus

One Shift at a time

One period at a time

One game at a time

I am interested to see who Hitch plays tonight

One Shift at a time

One period at a time

One game at a time

I am interested to see who Hitch plays tonight
- sycsam

Fizbo says the Blues have lost four straight playoff game fives on home ice.

Can we call on the "due" factor?



Speaking of "due" factor - how many of you were sure the offsides video review was going to bite the Blues again on Brouwer's first goal?

I was waiting for that shoe to drop.

Fizbo says the Blues have lost four straight playoff game fives on home ice.

Can we call on the "due" factor?



Speaking of "due" factor - how many of you were sure the offsides video review was going to bite the Blues again on Brouwer's first goal?

I was waiting for that shoe to drop.
- bcallaway

I thought it was onsides until it took forever and than I started getting paranoid about I think it was Shatty, whomever passed the puck in the zone, looked to be very close to offsides

I stopped breathing for a bit

A poster in the PD forum posted the overall stats when it comes to Bortuzzo versus Edmundson so far this post season and I think you have to stick with Edmundson.

Dressing Bortuzzo forces Shattenkirk to the left side and he's been a disaster over there.

I like Joel Edmundson, but there's no denying he's made some terribly disastrous boneheaded rookie mistakes. But I think he's your better option.
- bcallaway

Hence why I have no idea what Hitch will do.

Bortuzzo's game is great than Edmundson's game right not but the negative impact it has on the Parayko/Shattenkirk shift to their non-natural side is likely greater. Having said that, Edmundson has definitely made mistakes that directly contributed to goals against.

Chris Butler is a lefty....He wouldn't go there would he?

Fizbo says the Blues have lost four straight playoff game fives on home ice.

Can we call on the "due" factor?



Speaking of "due" factor - how many of you were sure the offsides video review was going to bite the Blues again on Brouwer's first goal?

I was waiting for that shoe to drop.
- bcallaway

Pieere and Michelleti kept saying nothing to show it offsides

I was yelling at the TV there was nothing proving lehtera was offisdes vs Chicago

luckily I was home alone and did not get in trouble for yelling

Hence why I have no idea what Hitch will do.

Bortuzzo's game is great than Edmundson's game right not but the negative impact it has on the Parayko/Shattenkirk shift to their non-natural side is likely greater. Having said that, Edmundson has definitely made mistakes that directly contributed to goals against.

Chris Butler is a lefty....He wouldn't go there would he?
- Jason Millen

Please god NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

isn't PL a Lefty? I think he gets a shot before Butler at least I hope so

I will eat a little crow here

Paajarvi was really good on Saturday Night

He and Jaskin both stepped up big when Backes went out
- sycsam

Hence why I have no idea what Hitch will do.

Bortuzzo's game is great than Edmundson's game right not but the negative impact it has on the Parayko/Shattenkirk shift to their non-natural side is likely greater. Having said that, Edmundson has definitely made mistakes that directly contributed to goals against.

Chris Butler is a lefty....He wouldn't go there would he?
- Jason Millen

Lindbolm before Butler.

I doubt either of them sees ice time though without injuries.

Lindbolm before Butler.

I doubt either of them sees ice time though without injuries.
- carcus

Yep. He is a lefty too.

Please god NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

isn't PL a Lefty? I think he gets a shot before Butler at least I hope so
- sycsam

Yes PL is, was just horsing around with Butler.

Yes PL is, was just horsing around with Butler.
- Jason Millen

Too early Jammer

Too early Jammer
- sycsam

Somehow I have been pretty calm all post season and still am. No idea why but definitely calmer this year. Maybe some life events have impacted things. Who knows...

Still a lot of work to be done. Not even 2/3 of the way to the goal yet.

Somehow I have been pretty calm all post season and still am. No idea why but definitely calmer this year. Maybe some life events have impacted things. Who knows...

Still a lot of work to be done. Not even 2/3 of the way to the goal yet.
- Jason Millen

I have enjoyed the ride after the Chicago series

That series was so emotionally draining on me personally that I want to make sure I enjoy it.

Every 15 years to the conference finals is something we as blues need to enjoy

I will eat a little crow here

Paajarvi was really good on Saturday Night

He and Jaskin both stepped up big when Backes went out
- sycsam

They were both good on Thursday as well! I hope they keep them together.

updated the blog to add this -

https://twitter.com/CMS_7...status/734184261666910208

Not sure which sucker punch your are referring too as I don't have access to twitter at work

But Wingles and Burns and probably Thornton got away with a lot in that game.

I thought Edmundson interfered pretty blatantly on one play too

Refs called that cheap charging penalty on Pietro in game 3 but let a ton go in Game 4

Not sure which sucker punch your are referring too as I don't have access to twitter at work

But Wingles and Burns and probably Thornton got away with a lot in that game.

I thought Edmundson interfered pretty blatantly on one play too

Refs called that cheap charging penalty on Pietro in game 3 but let a ton go in Game 4
- sycsam

Both were literal punches - one from Burns on Tarasenko's ribs and one from Thornton on the back of Petro's head. The latter I had not seen until this am.

Edmundson's check was dumb and bad.