Jeff Quirin: Blues & Blue Jackets Quick Hits: Chippy Rivals and IR Activations Thoughts on the Blues win in the first leg of the back to back, home and home set and the second round Sunday afternoon in Columbus.

its a log jam when steen and d'ags come back. langenbrunner on the 4th line could be a decent scoring threat

Halak.

Halak.
- carcus

You can say that again. Holy moly.

Halak.
- carcus

Fully agree this is the Halak I saw in World Juniors and in Montreal.

Halak.
- carcus

UN(frank)INGBELIEVEABLE! 2 on 1, 2 on 0, it doesn't matter.

UN(frank)INGBELIEVEABLE! 2 on 1, 2 on 0, it doesn't matter.
- eggsegan

The only thing a Blues fan has to complain about right now is the fact that Steen is still out. It's been a long time since everything clicked like this. Judas Priest, Halak stood on his head!

UN(frank)INGBELIEVEABLE! 2 on 1, 2 on 0, it doesn't matter.
- eggsegan

That's gotta be frustrating to go in alone on a goalie, slide the puck over to your teammate for what should be an open shot only to see Halak already sitting over there eating a sammich!

He was reading the Blue Jackets like a book last night.

That's gotta be frustrating to go in alone on a goalie, slide the puck over to your teammate for what should be an open shot only to see Halak already sitting over there eating a sammich!

He was reading the Blue Jackets like a book last night.
- bcallaway

When you are playing the BJ's you can afford to have nights like that. Against better teams not so much. Get these guys some rest fer chrissakes!

BTW- When does the roster expand for the playoffs? Is it at the end of the regular season?

Trying to gauge the potential of Schwartz joining the big club...

That's gotta be frustrating to go in alone on a goalie, slide the puck over to your teammate for what should be an open shot only to see Halak already sitting over there eating a sammich!

He was reading the Blue Jackets like a book last night.
- bcallaway

I really liked the play that Petro made on the two on one. There was no hesitation as to his role. Take the pass away and let the goalie play the shot.

On a different note, on one of the BJ powerplays, I noticed Jackman go down to one knee to try and block a shot coming from behind Halak to his right. Generally, I have no problem with this, except that he was in the Halak's crease. Shouldn't he at least be outside the crease/ foot outside the post?

I really liked the play that Petro made on the two on one. There was no hesitation as to his role. Take the pass away and let the goalie play the shot.

On a different note, on one of the BJ powerplays, I noticed Jackman go down to one knee to try and block a shot coming from behind Halak to his right. Generally, I have no problem with this, except that he was in the Halak's crease. Shouldn't he at least be outside the crease/ foot outside the post?
- eggsegan

Spot on, on the first part. I thought the same thing at the time. Great job to just completely make sure the pass is no option and let Halak focus completely on the shooter.

And Yes, on the second point. When saw Jackman do that, I was envisioning the puck deflecting in off of his skate.

Colaiacovo is another guy that backs too far in at times.

The other guy that would constantly do that - or stand in the blue paint and try to play goalie was 'you-know-who'. Used to drive me crazy.


For the first time this season - as I was looking at Columbus and remembering the days of Curtis Sandford - I was thinking to myself "I have no problem if this games goes to a shootout."

Spot on, on the first part. I thought the same thing at the time. Great job to just completely make sure the pass is no option and let Halak focus completely on the shooter.

And Yes, on the second point. When saw Jackman do that, I was envisioning the puck deflecting in off of his skate.

Colaiacovo is another guy that backs too far in at times.

The other guy that would constantly do that - or stand in the blue paint and try to play goalie was 'you-know-who'. Used to drive me crazy.


For the first time this season - as I was looking at Columbus and remembering the days of Curtis Sandford - I was thinking to myself "I have no problem if this games goes to a shootout."
- bcallaway

BCal, bringing over a conversation from the other site... What do you think about the notion that Petro aught to play a little meaner for no other reason than making players feel a little more leery of trying to run him?

BCal, bringing over a conversation from the other site... What do you think about the notion that Petro aught to play a little meaner for no other reason than making players feel a little more leery of trying to run him?
- eggsegan

It's an interesting question. It's hard for a guy to play a style that simply just isn't who he is and Petro is not a physical presence. A lot of people compare his game to Nik Lidstrom and Lidstrom is not a physical presense yet you don't see him getting run.

He's learned over the years how to position himself and avoid big hits and play smart. Petro will need to adapt his game that way.

I do like the point, (I think you made, perhaps it was someone else) that it might behoove him to maybe get that stick up from time to time and possibly remove a few chicklets from an oncoming player looking to lay him out.

If I'm a teammate, I'd gladly work a little harder to kill off the double minor penalty he might get in process.

Your point is well taken, come playoff time, you can't have someone jump a guy everytime they look crosseyed at him. I thought the hit where Shattenkirk jumped in was just a good solid hockey hit and Petro jumped right up and didn't seemed phased.

BCal, bringing over a conversation from the other site... What do you think about the notion that Petro aught to play a little meaner for no other reason than making players feel a little more leery of trying to run him?
- eggsegan

I don't think it will make a difference. Lets be honest, most NHL'ers aren't going to back down and not hit someone because they are a little meaner. Things that will keep them from running your big players are things like a great PP. Has Detroit had a huge issue with their stars getting run? Not really, because they make you pay on the scoreboard.

Oh yeah, did I mention Halak?