Jason Millen: Blues vs Rangers game day thread Blues vs Rangers game day thread

Blues are stacked and a ,up favorite. Rangers, I think, have been underestimated all summer long. Our oldest forward is Nash at 32 and every other forward besides him is in their 20s. Should be a good test for the Rangers tonight.

Nice write up Jammer!

I had no idea Yakupov was a Muslim. I will leave that at that and move on because it is a strange ball of stuff for me, especially have fought against Chechnyians.

He has the ability. Finally a team is doing what I have been talking about since 2007 and that is ditching the fourth line. This is one of the few things I agree with James Tanner, get rid of the old model fourth line. If the Rangers had a better defense they would crush teams. Balancing out the time, especially during the regular season is important on a number of levels as well. One it means more players are exposed to different situations, and two if injuries occur you are not hurting as much nor do you have players lacking experience playing in certain situations. Plus for whatever reason, some players or lines have off nights. It also presents match up issues.

Broadziak especially needs to better in the face off dot. His corsi was terrible last year.

Allen per the new stats gives up most of his goals on the glove side. In all other areas he is above the league average. I think a lot of it has to do with his positioning and his sprawling forward making the glove big medium to low, but taking it out of the play. He has imporived in some areas though. But it seems if you float shots high to gle side from the point he does not track the puck well in that area.

Berglund might be rusty in the face off circle, thoug never great, but his play is trending in the right direction. I like that his snarl and using the body is more consistent.

Shattenkirk was having lots of problems on defense yet again. He still has htis issue with lackadasical play in his own end on a power play when he retrieves the puck. That Suter goal, I put more on him than Tarasenko or Allen. He is hesitating in his decisions leading to blocked shots, passes being covered and where he should thrown the puck in the corner, which is the simple safe play, losing an unnecessary puck battle and his balance taking him out of the play.

Blues are stacked and a ,up favorite. Rangers, I think, have been underestimated all summer long. Our oldest forward is Nash at 32 and every other forward besides him is in their 20s. Should be a good test for the Rangers tonight.
- rangerdanger94

The forwards are not all the issue with your club. It is your defense and defensive positioning. When you add one of the greatest netminders of all time being over worked and aging it creates issues.

Going to be on the power play all night if you get the puck in the right coerner of the Rangers zone. 1 out five fouls calle there so far.

Hutton looks bad so far.

The left side for the Rangers D is weak.

King Henry just hurt himself robbing Tarasenko.

He is going to have trouble moving laterally.

Yet another offensive penalty why??

Guru how did lehtera and btodziak get hurt

There's been rumours that yak wasn't well received in edmonton because he was a russian and a Muslim, which made it tough for him to fit in... strictly hearsay but his comments show that may have been the case. Let's hope that he can achieve his potential with his new team.

Guru how did lehtera and btodziak get hurt
- Jason Millen

Lehtera was hit in the corner towards the end of the period by vesey, head kinda hit the glass, i didn't see what happened to brodziak

The left side for the Rangers D is weak.
- BluemanGuruu

McDonagh and Skjei are our best 2 defensemen

Well Hutton turned around his game. I think he ahd nerves and after that softie he tightened up. His third period was tremendous and the Blues needed him.

Vesey is a cheap player no wonder Gudas went for that dirt bag.

Rangers got away with a lot of hits from behind, including goaltender interference near the end.

So how those Stastny haters out there feeling?

Lehtera was hit in the corner towards the end of the period by vesey, head kinda hit the glass, i didn't see what happened to brodziak
- .....

Yeah that was a cheap play. Fast hit Gunner from behind as well. There were at least two other plays. Lehtera did not turn his numbers were facing Vesey the entire time.

McDonagh and Skjei are our best 2 defensemen
- rangerdanger94

Skjei was getting beat there all night. The other time a penalty was called Ghiradi who was in that corner. But McDonagh's game has kind of slipped since last year.

Skjei should have went to the box a few times as he could not keep up in the corner.

There's been rumours that yak wasn't well received in edmonton because he was a russian and a Muslim, which made it tough for him to fit in... strictly hearsay but his comments show that may have been the case. Let's hope that he can achieve his potential with his new team.
- murTor

It was more him being a Muslim in a young dressing room he said. I take it some of those guys were chasing women and drinking heavy. Now if they would have been talking about goats, he would have fit right in. Just kidding.

McDonagh and Skjei are our best 2 defensemen
- rangerdanger94

Skjei is as advertised offensively.

A lot of fast forwards and when a team goes up the side boards they swarm and seem to always get the puck. A lot of teams are going to have trouble with Rangers. But the Rangers are going to be in the box a lot especially when Nash starts getting called for his hooks and holds. Everyone cheats to some point. The Rangers should do well scoring a ton of shorties this year though. The speed and agressiveness is going to catch some teams, especiallyw eaker or slower ones. Almost got the Blues in the third when they were tired and down two centers and a forward.

Anyone wonder if Backes will cry and dry his tears with his six million when the Bruins miss the play offs?

Well Hutton turned around his game. I think he ahd nerves and after that softie he tightened up. His third period was tremendous and the Blues needed him.

Vesey is a cheap player no wonder Gudas went for that dirt bag.

Rangers got away with a lot of hits from behind, including goaltender interference near the end.

So how those Stastny haters out there feeling?
- BluemanGuruu

Not a Stastny hater. But really happy for his play. Blues need him to play like this, especially with the veterans that left.

No shots in the third was tough. I know we we're playing shorthanded, but come on. I told my brother at the game with like 5 minutes that our first shot might be an empty net goal. Couldn't even do that though.

That 3rd period by Hutton......

Not a Stastny hater. But really happy for his play. Blues need him to play like this, especially with the veterans that left.

No shots in the third was tough. I know we we're playing shorthanded, but come on. I told my brother at the game with like 5 minutes that our first shot might be an empty net goal. Couldn't even do that though.

That 3rd period by Hutton......

- carcus

Yeah that was a tough third, but they battled through it. Everyone did their part. They were tired and kept pushing. They are winners now and you can see it, heck you can feel it.

This is hapoening without Brouwer, Backes or even Schwartz. Hell the way Hutton played in the third that was better than Elliott ever looked in St. Louis ever.

Who wants to bet the spotters forced at least either Lehtera or Gunnarsson from the game? I think these spotters are a dangerous thing. Too subject and too much influence on the game could make for some interesting outcomes.

Anyone wonder if Backes will cry and dry his tears with his six million when the Bruins miss the play offs?
- BluemanGuruu

Would you? Actually, ask Brandon Saad, he's already been down that road...the only difference is that he's already been to the promised land.

It sucks that it's all about the bucks anymore...well, for the majority of them at least. Ahhh, remember the old days when team loyalty meant something more....

Yeah that was a tough third, but they battled through it. Everyone did their part. They were tired and kept pushing. They are winners now and you can see it, heck you can feel it.

This is hapoening without Brouwer, Backes or even Schwartz. Hell the way Hutton played in the third that was better than Elliott ever looked in St. Louis ever.

Who wants to bet the spotters forced at least either Lehtera or Gunnarsson from the game? I think these spotters are a dangerous thing. Too subject and too much influence on the game could make for some interesting outcomes.
- BluemanGuruu

Yeah it's impressive that they've played so well without Schwartz. When he was injured last year they weren't the same team. Being able to put Perron on that line has been key. He's played a lot of important minutes, without him I don't think we're sitting at 3-0.

I like the makeup of the team with the fourth line they have now, or when healthy swapping out Reaves for Jaskin some nights. It's great to have a bunch of speedy puck possession type players but when you can throw a fourth line out there that will bang around I think it keeps teams on their toes. I remember the days when Detroit used to skate circles around you for five minutes then all the sudden Maltby is in your face, throwing you off your game. That's why I'm hoping Brodziak is not out too long. There is definitely still a place for guys that can go out there and kill penalties, forecheck, and get under the other teams skin.

Good point about the concussion spotters, you're probably right about that.

Would you? Actually, ask Brandon Saad, he's already been down that road...the only difference is that he's already been to the promised land.

It sucks that it's all about the bucks anymore...well, for the majority of them at least. Ahhh, remember the old days when team loyalty meant something more....
- Matt_Foleys_bro

lol

I was being sarcastic man. But I know when his team sucks and this team pushes on he will be thinking I could of.....how much does it cost to get my name on the Cup? Oh money can't buy everything.

Yeah it's impressive that they've played so well without Schwartz. When he was injured last year they weren't the same team. Being able to put Perron on that line has been key. He's played a lot of important minutes, without him I don't think we're sitting at 3-0.

I like the makeup of the team with the fourth line they have now, or when healthy swapping out Reaves for Jaskin some nights. It's great to have a bunch of speedy puck possession type players but when you can throw a fourth line out there that will bang around I think it keeps teams on their toes. I remember the days when Detroit used to skate circles around you for five minutes then all the sudden Maltby is in your face, throwing you off your game. That's why I'm hoping Brodziak is not out too long. There is definitely still a place for guys that can go out there and kill penalties, forecheck, and get under the other teams skin.

Good point about the concussion spotters, you're probably right about that.
- fattyboubatty

I think you can be physical and score. I think you can play all four lines with serious minutes if oyu have the players. Upshall is one such player. Broadziak had a terrible Corsi last year. But good at killing penalties. I think last year for sure Reaves hurt that line. Now Reaves still has issues and it showed just how slow he is against a fast team.