Jason Millen: Blues fail to to do enough, yet again Blues fail to to do enough, yet again

Isn't it ironic that Minnesota outplayed us and they thought they were the better team. Based on the stats from last game I guess the Blues are the better team. Sadly when you are down 3-1 you are not the better team.

If our coach doesn't scratch a few of our second liners to send them a message, what about stapling them to the end of the bench for half a period. Although I'm not a big Jori L. fan, in the limited minutes he's been getting, at least he's produced something.

It's obvious David P. spent too many years in Edmonton and forgot what playoff hockey was all about. And, well Patrick B. was recently rewarded with a nice contract...what's left to play for?

And number 91, if you want to get paid like an elite player, you need to act and play like one on the ice night in and night out. And that includes the playoffs.

My back went out today, so I'm feeling particularly cranky.

NBC coverage makes me ill. The lack of respect to the midwest and the Blues. For the 2nd night in a row, my wife and I watch NHL overtime. For the 2nd night in a row, 3 series are covered. Blues/Nashville is not.

When it comes to scheduling games, NBC makes sure they slot the coast's games, and then fill in with the podunk midwest.

When Blues score a goal in last game, all they can talk about is Mike Yeo, and the interview mcguire had with him from the bench.

Tired of nbc and the way they cover the games. Every year, same garbage. Blues could win the Cup, and they'd talk about how tough chicago played them.....

End cranky rant (yes I know these are not huge issues, but it still is obviousbias).

I have a good feeling about tomorrow. Let's win this one.

Another great write up Jammer. I completely agree with everything you wrote.

As you all know I am big Perron fan but while he was tasked with shutting teams down and all this performance is junk.

I also want to make a statement about statement hockey. I thought in game three at one point the Blues should have started going after Nashville players the way some of have attempted to injure Blues players. Sticking legs out and not just that once and leaving your feet is a joke. I don't know you get away with such obvious trash. Subban doesn't check he throws a forearm at the opposition's head and when he is checked legally grabs ahold of the player and takes him to the ice. Only once has any of that been called.

So like you said Jammer I think you need to see the Blues adapt and do the same things. Just grab the guy when he hits you and mug him on the ice, it's all good. Just do not use your stick other than cross checking. Players come to the net grab'em, it's all good.

Despite all of this these games minus the third and even a lot of that has been close. What has truly killed the Blues is taking a bunch of penalties in a row in the second. This tires the team and often leads to a pp goal especially when 5-3.

Just take the body and throw pucks on net. Cross corner dumps otherwise more than half the time you are giving the puck away.

PP when things are struggling then you need to shoot more. They have made some nice adjustments but a combination of shot placement and one too many passes is killing them. When Rinne is on his game teams want to make him over commit with horizontal passes but the Preds just collapse. This means throw pucks at the net quicker.

I still believe this team can do it. But one has to see the issues with some players. Barbs looked good. I would be playing him and at center. If Jaskin is good then play him over Perron or Reaves. Reaves just isn't good enough and with the way the game is now, no one is fighting him.

If Reaves plays then maybe he should go all Geoff Courtnall on Rinne.

Isn't it ironic that Minnesota outplayed us and they thought they were the better team. Based on the stats from last game I guess the Blues are the better team. Sadly when you are down 3-1 you are not the better team.

If our coach doesn't scratch a few of our second liners to send them a message, what about stapling them to the end of the bench for half a period. Although I'm not a big Jori L. fan, in the limited minutes he's been getting, at least he's produced something.

It's obvious David P. spent too many years in Edmonton and forgot what playoff hockey was all about. And, well Patrick B. was recently rewarded with a nice contract...what's left to play for?

And number 91, if you want to get paid like an elite player, you need to act and play like one on the ice night in and night out. And that includes the playoffs.
- JJC65

It would be but I don't think Nashville has been outplayed. I think it has been stretches both ways. More shots always come when teams get desparate and the other team focuses on defense. That is where the game has gone. No one wants to be the player making a mistake on the offensive side that leads to a goal against. I would argue that is the exact time to gamble more. It seems either way has a chance of leading to a goal against but one way gives you a chance to put a nail in the coffin.

Love this line "It’s hard to win when the two guys on your “second line” aren’t producing anything. It’s a great day for hockey."

I think we'll finally get some offense going tonight. Blues win 4-1. LGB!

Im not a stat guy. But it just seems to me that when you get into the playoffs so many teams are evenly matched up or close to it. So when one team gets an early lead score effects is going to play into a lot of these games. It's natural and unsurprising that the team ahead is going to bleed more chances because they don't have to press as much. I don't think its that complicated. Doesn't mean that the team giving up more chances is the worse team, it would likely work the other way if the scoreboard were reversed. Just my opinion.

How would Nashville perform if they had some adversity? Their play has kept them from zero adversity! Hardly ever behind in ANY playoff game nor behind or even close in the 2 series. So kudos to them .... but if someone can get them there it would be interesting to see how they perform.

Blues just have too many depth guys that don't really produce anything. Barbashev and Sanford are getting great experience. I believe they will both be better next year as a result of this.

How would Nashville perform if they had some adversity? Their play has kept them from zero adversity! Hardly ever behind in ANY playoff game nor behind or even close in the 2 series. So kudos to them .... but if someone can get them there it would be interesting to see how they perform.
- ECBloosier

I think you hit something here. Nashville has not had much adversity thus far. They have stuck to THEIR game and made key adjustments where needed (good coaching). I think that is the key with any opponent. If you can knock the other team off their game and force them to play yours, then you have a pretty good shot at winning a series. There are obviously other variables. Go Preds!

My back went out today, so I'm feeling particularly cranky.

NBC coverage makes me ill. The lack of respect to the midwest and the Blues. For the 2nd night in a row, my wife and I watch NHL overtime. For the 2nd night in a row, 3 series are covered. Blues/Nashville is not.

When it comes to scheduling games, NBC makes sure they slot the coast's games, and then fill in with the podunk midwest.

When Blues score a goal in last game, all they can talk about is Mike Yeo, and the interview mcguire had with him from the bench.

Tired of nbc and the way they cover the games. Every year, same garbage. Blues could win the Cup, and they'd talk about how tough chicago played them.....

End cranky rant (yes I know these are not huge issues, but it still is obviousbias).
- Mph6689

These interviews bother me more and more. Absolutely no point to them. It's embarrassing for the league to interview a coach, in front of his team, during play. That poop needs to be removed from the TV contract.

How would Nashville perform if they had some adversity? Their play has kept them from zero adversity! Hardly ever behind in ANY playoff game nor behind or even close in the 2 series. So kudos to them .... but if someone can get them there it would be interesting to see how they perform.
- ECBloosier

This is mostly true. The Preds did come back from a 2-0 deficit in Game 3 against Chicago. And Fiala's leg exploded.

Another great write up Jammer. I completely agree with everything you wrote.

As you all know I am big Perron fan but while he was tasked with shutting teams down and all this performance is junk.

I also want to make a statement about statement hockey. I thought in game three at one point the Blues should have started going after Nashville players the way some of have attempted to injure Blues players. Sticking legs out and not just that once and leaving your feet is a joke. I don't know you get away with such obvious trash. Subban doesn't check he throws a forearm at the opposition's head and when he is checked legally grabs ahold of the player and takes him to the ice. Only once has any of that been called.

So like you said Jammer I think you need to see the Blues adapt and do the same things. Just grab the guy when he hits you and mug him on the ice, it's all good. Just do not use your stick other than cross checking. Players come to the net grab'em, it's all good.

Despite all of this these games minus the third and even a lot of that has been close. What has truly killed the Blues is taking a bunch of penalties in a row in the second. This tires the team and often leads to a pp goal especially when 5-3.

Just take the body and throw pucks on net. Cross corner dumps otherwise more than half the time you are giving the puck away.

PP when things are struggling then you need to shoot more. They have made some nice adjustments but a combination of shot placement and one too many passes is killing them. When Rinne is on his game teams want to make him over commit with horizontal passes but the Preds just collapse. This means throw pucks at the net quicker.

I still believe this team can do it. But one has to see the issues with some players. Barbs looked good. I would be playing him and at center. If Jaskin is good then play him over Perron or Reaves. Reaves just isn't good enough and with the way the game is now, no one is fighting him.

If Reaves plays then maybe he should go all Geoff Courtnall on Rinne.
- BluemanGuruu

You are absolutely correct about the holding. A good friend is a Hawks fan (I know) he told me before this series started that Nashville got away with a ton of holding in the first round. I of course thought he was just making excuses bc they lost, and I didn't watch more than pieces of some of that series. Sure enough the Predators are getting away with a lot of holding particularly in their D-zone along the boards, Blues have a hard time winning puck battles bc they're being held just long enough to prevent them from getting to the puck with enough time and space to create something offensively. Subban is the worst at this, he's damn near tackled some people in this series. My main complaint is that the Blues haven't started to do the same thing. Clearly the refs aren't calling it. Then again they probably would start calling it at the worst time possible.

You are absolutely correct about the holding. A good friend is a Hawks fan (I know) he told me before this series started that Nashville got away with a ton of holding in the first round. I of course am just making excuses bc we are loosing, and I didn't watch more than pieces of some of that series. Sure enough the Predators are getting away with a lot of holding particularly in their D-zone along the boards, Blues have a hard time winning puck battles bc they're being held just long enough to prevent them from getting to the puck with enough time and space to create something offensively. Subban is the worst at this, he's damn near tackled some people in this series. My main complaint is that the Blues haven't started to do the same thing. Clearly the refs aren't calling it. Then again they probably would start calling it at the worst time possible.
- Hull16

Corrected it for you

Another great write up Jammer. I completely agree with everything you wrote.

As you all know I am big Perron fan but while he was tasked with shutting teams down and all this performance is junk.

I also want to make a statement about statement hockey. I thought in game three at one point the Blues should have started going after Nashville players the way some of have attempted to injure Blues players. Sticking legs out and not just that once and leaving your feet is a joke. I don't know you get away with such obvious trash. Subban doesn't check he throws a forearm at the opposition's head and when he is checked legally grabs ahold of the player and takes him to the ice. Only once has any of that been called.

So like you said Jammer I think you need to see the Blues adapt and do the same things. Just grab the guy when he hits you and mug him on the ice, it's all good. Just do not use your stick other than cross checking. Players come to the net grab'em, it's all good.

Despite all of this these games minus the third and even a lot of that has been close. What has truly killed the Blues is taking a bunch of penalties in a row in the second. This tires the team and often leads to a pp goal especially when 5-3.

Just take the body and throw pucks on net. Cross corner dumps otherwise more than half the time you are giving the puck away.

PP when things are struggling then you need to shoot more. They have made some nice adjustments but a combination of shot placement and one too many passes is killing them. When Rinne is on his game teams want to make him over commit with horizontal passes but the Preds just collapse. This means throw pucks at the net quicker.

I still believe this team can do it. But one has to see the issues with some players. Barbs looked good. I would be playing him and at center. If Jaskin is good then play him over Perron or Reaves. Reaves just isn't good enough and with the way the game is now, no one is fighting him.

If Reaves plays then maybe he should go all Geoff Courtnall on Rinne.
- BluemanGuruu

This last statement is PSYCHO

Go Blues, we at least need to lose in 6 and not 5. I dont want Tanner to be right.

This last statement is PSYCHO
- expectations

Agree with that. We don't need to resort to that crap to beat this team. Just have to play like we did a month ago.

Blues just have too many depth guys that don't really produce anything. Barbashev and Sanford are getting great experience. I believe they will both be better next year as a result of this.
- Cephalopods

True. Without Fabbri and with Steen playing at about 70%, we're basically a one line team. Especially when you have Berglund with his 20 something regular season goals being pretty much invisible. Perron's made a few plays but hasn't raised his play from the regular season. Paajarvi, Lehtera. Too many guys in that category.

Steen is on the ice for warmup

Steen a late scratch. Sorry about the wrong link. Will fix later

The fix is in. what a joke. call holding to the same standard both ways.

Hallelujah and praise be. The Blues got a third period lead and didn't try to sit on it. They kept their foot on the gas.

Great all around effort.

Except when they're on the power play.

That power play mid second period was the strangest thing I've ever seen. It was like they didn't know how to get in the zone. They looked live five guy staring at their car wondering who has the key.

Hallelujah and praise be. The Blues got a third period lead and didn't try to sit on it. They kept their foot on the gas.

Great all around effort.

Except when they're on the power play.

That power play mid second period was the strangest thing I've ever seen. It was like they didn't know how to get in the zone. They looked live five guy staring at their car wondering who has the key.
- bcallaway

Gotta give them credit, they played a hard game. It's a sign of a good, veteran team to put up that kind of performance in an elimination game.

Not getting my hopes up too high but as this series goes on it seems like the Preds are getting further and further from their game and the Blues are getting closer and closer to theirs.

Strong game from Jaskin, I'm not going to hold that soft call against him.