The Blues have enough forward depth with enough of a career history that I don't worry too much about their lack of scoring in smaller samples like this. And I'm not really concerned with their goaltending at this point.

The Blues will rack up lots of points and compete for a top spot in the Western Conference, this issue again will be who will show up in the playoffs.

The glaring deficiency is on defense. The last four cup winners, Chicago, LA, Chicago, LA were stacked on defense and got solid, consistent scoring from their back line, all three pairings. Blues don't come close to that. They have no one that's comparable to Duncan Keith and Drew Doughty that can carry the physical play as well as score consistently.

A third pairing that's never going to score, a really good second pairing and a very poor top pairing. That's what I see currently. AP is incredibly soft and every team's game plan is to knock the crap out of him and he's become a guy with a bag case of the yips.

He makes glaring turnovers seemingly every night and Bouwmeester has lost his ability to score goals.

The Blues have enough forward depth with enough of a career history that I don't worry too much about their lack of scoring in smaller samples like this. And I'm not really concerned with their goaltending at this point.

The Blues will rack up lots of points and compete for a top spot in the Western Conference, this issue again will be who will show up in the playoffs.

The glaring deficiency is on defense. The last four cup winners, Chicago, LA, Chicago, LA were stacked on defense and got solid, consistent scoring from their back line, all three pairings. Blues don't come close to that. They have no one that's comparable to Duncan Keith and Drew Doughty that can carry the physical play as well as score consistently.

A third pairing that's never going to score, a really good second pairing and a very poor top pairing. That's what I see currently. AP is incredibly soft and every team's game plan is to knock the crap out of him and he's become a guy with a bag case of the yips.

He makes glaring turnovers seemingly every night and Bouwmeester has lost his ability to score goals.
- bcallaway

Petro makes some turnovers sure. But look at the goals the other night. Many occurred from not getting the puck deep and making a change leading to guys scrambling to catch up to great stretch passes. The coverage is miserable.

The only match up on the road that should concern Hitch is his fourth line. Which in my mind is negated because the. Blues have three great lines full of players who can play twenty plus minutes a night. So what happens is there is a message being conveyed to dump the puck and change which is essentially a turnover. Against some teams that is less of a problem. Against a team like the Canadiens it is a HUGE problem. They are all about speed and long passes for transition. This means you have to give up the Blue line a bit and not get caught smushed up in the neutral zone facing the play with a Canadien even with you on the blue line. Those passes were able to get through because of line changes.

I do not blame Allen for the game for sure. It was not his best, he was nervous but left out to dry. I was sick hearing Pang blame him for Shattenkirk's mistake. Shatty has been great and bad plays will happen when you play against the talent level in the NHL.

My concern is the Blues get attached to the wrong focus in a game and that is a coach's problem.

I agree that Stas, Osh and Steen are great defensively and could make a hell of a line. I think Backes, Oshie and Steen are a proven force in this league. Stastny is a great player and he will find his way. I think having someone like Magnus playing with him will work as he has done great in the past with speedy wingers.

I do not blame Allen for the game for sure. It was not his best, he was nervous but left out to dry. I was sick hearing Pang blame him for Shattenkirk's mistake. Shatty has been great and bad plays will happen when you play against the talent level in the NHL.

My concern is the Blues get attached to the wrong focus in a game and that is a coach's problem.
- BluemanGuruu

Wait, Panger blamed Allen for the goal that Shatty had two assists on - one for the pass to the the Hab and the second from erasing any chance Allen had at making a save?

As to the last part, i couldn't agree more. I worry about where the focus and detailed attention is sometimes.

Starting to agree on this one. I can not, for the life of me, figure out why he likes Ott so damn much. Running pairs is fine but don't throw a pylon out with your offensive guys and take away your offensive options.
- Jester11

Was it not Hitch that helped last year's squad statistically have the best season in Blues history?

The glaring deficiency is on defense.
- bcallaway

I feel like I'm starting to sound like a homer here, but something isn't adding up with all the defense bashing. While I agree that this isn't the defense we've seen in years past, the Blues are currently still #1 in the league for Goals Against and Shots Against. I don't feel the defense has been up to snuff this year, but for the past few years, it has not been about scoring goals or being physical, it has been about playing sound defense for this team. Pietrangelo and Bouwmeester were so effective last year because they were always in the right place at the right time. Now they're having a rough start to the year and everyone seems to be complaining that they're not running people over and scoring goals. They'll find their way.

The team as a whole needs a direction though, because it looks like each line is playing a different style of hockey altogether. The STL line is having success making the cute, fancy plays, but it seems like some of the other lines are trying to copy that instead of barring down and playing hard-nosed, physical hockey.

They've lost the physical dominance. Backes hasn't looked the same since he came back from the Seabrook hit and I don't think Stastny is 100% yet. I'm giving Oshie the benefit of the doubt since he's only been back a few games, but Steen has been unnoticeable. I kind of like Ott, but I see no use for him on this team. Furthermore, if they're not going to utilize Paajarvi, might as well get something for him instead of not resigning him in the off season. It's time to start trimming the fat off this team.

I feel like I'm starting to sound like a homer here, but something isn't adding up with all the defense bashing. While I agree that this isn't the defense we've seen in years past, the Blues are currently still #1 in the league for Goals Against and Shots Against. I don't feel the defense has been up to snuff this year, but for the past few years, it has not been about scoring goals or being physical, it has been about playing sound defense for this team. Pietrangelo and Bouwmeester were so effective last year because they were always in the right place at the right time. Now they're having a rough start to the year and everyone seems to be complaining that they're not running people over and scoring goals. They'll find their way.

The team as a whole needs a direction though, because it looks like each line is playing a different style of hockey altogether. The STL line is having success making the cute, fancy plays, but it seems like some of the other lines are trying to copy that instead of barring down and playing hard-nosed, physical hockey.

They've lost the physical dominance. Backes hasn't looked the same since he came back from the Seabrook hit and I don't think Stastny is 100% yet. I'm giving Oshie the benefit of the doubt since he's only been back a few games, but Steen has been unnoticeable. I kind of like Ott, but I see no use for him on this team. Furthermore, if they're not going to utilize Paajarvi, might as well get something for him instead of not resigning him in the off season. It's time to start trimming the fat off this team.
- RobShouts

I'll say this, they brought in Lehtera and Stastny none too soon because watching Backes play this season, he looks like a third line center/power play specialist more than anything. Last game he actually finished third amongst the centers in ice time for probably the first time in the last few years.

I think he should be getting reduced minutes anyway just because of the style of game he plays. You dont want to wear him out 20 minutes a game for 82 games. The best hockey I ever saw him play was during the olympics, right when he was in mid season form but still fresh.

Scoring is a bit of an issue. Too much of the offense is driven by Tarasenko, not just now but going back to last season including the playoffs. If Backes really has taken a step back, it is even more imperative that Steen and Oshie prove that last year was not just an aberration.

Afternoon delight!

I'll say this, they brought in Lehtera and Stastny none too soon because watching Backes play this season, he looks like a third line center/power play specialist more than anything. Last game he actually finished third amongst the centers in ice time for probably the first time in the last few years.

I think he should be getting reduced minutes anyway just because of the style of game he plays. You dont want to wear him out 20 minutes a game for 82 games. The best hockey I ever saw him play was during the olympics, right when he was in mid season form but still fresh.

Scoring is a bit of an issue. Too much of the offense is driven by Tarasenko, not just now but going back to last season including the playoffs. If Backes really has taken a step back, it is even more imperative that Steen and Oshie prove that last year was not just an aberration.
- fattyboubatty

I think Backes is starting to look a lot better and more like himself. He is a bit slower than normal yet.

Oshie has looked great since he has come back. But other than the STL line there has been little creativity in the offensive zone as far as getting second chance scoring opportunities. That is the killer. That is what I mean by the other team swarming and the Blues having defensive gaps. They dominate in a lot of ways but often times they fail to get some good rebounds or connect with east to west passing through the slot. Yes very difficult in this league but the best teams seem to manage to do it.

After the STL there has been a disconnect in chemistry. Sometimes. I too think they try to emulate what Tarasenko and LEhtera are doing on the other lines.

Stastny has not gotten back into form yet and that hurts. Berglund is stuck with the same play over and over and the video makes you wonder why he still seemingly gets away with it. I wish instead of turning away from the net he used a similar move and I do not know, tried driving to the net. People have criticized Magnus for wrap arounds and the reason you have to like those are he is driving to the net and creating havoc. The problem for a while has been the Blues not getting a second chance when havoc ensues. They score mostly from the STL line or the power play. Not horrible but not good enough for a team with this kind of depth.

They ought to crush Ottawa.

I think Backes is starting to look a lot better and more like himself. He is a bit slower than normal yet.

Oshie has looked great since he has come back. But other than the STL line there has been little creativity in the offensive zone as far as getting second chance scoring opportunities. That is the killer. That is what I mean by the other team swarming and the Blues having defensive gaps. They dominate in a lot of ways but often times they fail to get some good rebounds or connect with east to west passing through the slot. Yes very difficult in this league but the best teams seem to manage to do it.

After the STL there has been a disconnect in chemistry. Sometimes. I too think they try to emulate what Tarasenko and LEhtera are doing on the other lines.

Stastny has not gotten back into form yet and that hurts. Berglund is stuck with the same play over and over and the video makes you wonder why he still seemingly gets away with it. I wish instead of turning away from the net he used a similar move and I do not know, tried driving to the net. People have criticized Magnus for wrap arounds and the reason you have to like those are he is driving to the net and creating havoc. The problem for a while has been the Blues not getting a second chance when havoc ensues. They score mostly from the STL line or the power play. Not horrible but not good enough for a team with this kind of depth.

They ought to crush Ottawa.
- BluemanGuruu

- TheCalSen

They are crushing Ottawa. It's the refs playing against them that's causing the Blues problems.

They are crushing Ottawa. It's the refs playing against them that's causing the Blues problems.
- Antilles

You're out of your mind. The Blues are dirty and incredibly overrated.

You're out of your mind. The Blues are dirty and incredibly overrated.
- TheCalSen

lol. Sen's, just like last year, were clearly the team initiating the cheap shots. Just like last year, they went for the head on our top goal scorer. Only reason Sens aren't known for how dirty of a team they are is because nobody real cares about teams who struggle to make the playoffs when they play in the easy east.

Blues 3; phantom calls 2; Sens 0.

lol. Sen's, just like last year, were clearly the team initiating the cheap shots. Just like last year, they went for the head on our top goal scorer. Only reason Sens aren't known for how dirty of a team they are is because nobody real cares about teams who struggle to make the playoffs when they play in the easy east.

Blues 3; phantom calls 2; Sens 0.
- Antilles

Loved how Steen interfered with Lehner and no call was given. This was easily a winnable game for the Sens against one of the laughing stocks of the West.

Loved how Steen interfered with Lehner and no call was given. This was easily a winnable game for the Sens against one of the laughing stocks of the West.
- TheCalSen

If it was so easily winnable, Sens must be pretty bad to still have lost. Especially when the refs were making phantom calls, but only against the Blues. And if you think the Blues are a laughing stock, it must really suck having just watched them demolish the Sens. You guys couldn't even get possession long enough to pull your goalie at the end. Epic fail.

If it was so easily winnable, Sens must be pretty bad to still have lost. Especially when the refs were making phantom calls, but only against the Blues. And if you think the Blues are a laughing stock, it must really suck having just watched them demolish the Sens. You guys couldn't even get possession long enough to pull your goalie at the end. Epic fail.
- Antilles

Epic fail? Blues fans should be very well acquainted with epic fails.

Epic fail? Blues fans should be very well acquainted with epic fails.
- TheCalSen

Do the sens in this incarnation have a cup either?

You're out of your mind. The Blues are dirty and incredibly overrated.
- TheCalSen

last year your team was giving the dirty hits just like so far this year. Blues may be overrated but we are still better than your team.

If it was so easily winnable, Sens must be pretty bad to still have lost. Especially when the refs were making phantom calls, but only against the Blues. And if you think the Blues are a laughing stock, it must really suck having just watched them demolish the Sens. You guys couldn't even get possession long enough to pull your goalie at the end. Epic fail.
- Antilles

i guss the sens fan did not watch most of the 1st period where the sens got away with everything. i called a couple of trips and some interference calls. the same guy that hit reaves and got called for it hit lappy on the next shift and got away with it.

I think Backes is starting to look a lot better and more like himself. He is a bit slower than normal yet.

Oshie has looked great since he has come back. But other than the STL line there has been little creativity in the offensive zone as far as getting second chance scoring opportunities. That is the killer. That is what I mean by the other team swarming and the Blues having defensive gaps. They dominate in a lot of ways but often times they fail to get some good rebounds or connect with east to west passing through the slot. Yes very difficult in this league but the best teams seem to manage to do it.

After the STL there has been a disconnect in chemistry. Sometimes. I too think they try to emulate what Tarasenko and LEhtera are doing on the other lines.

Stastny has not gotten back into form yet and that hurts. Berglund is stuck with the same play over and over and the video makes you wonder why he still seemingly gets away with it. I wish instead of turning away from the net he used a similar move and I do not know, tried driving to the net. People have criticized Magnus for wrap arounds and the reason you have to like those are he is driving to the net and creating havoc. The problem for a while has been the Blues not getting a second chance when havoc ensues. They score mostly from the STL line or the power play. Not horrible but not good enough for a team with this kind of depth.

They ought to crush Ottawa.
- BluemanGuruu

backes is not healthy yet i think. bergy is a joke as his move keeps halting forward progress in the offensive zone. oshie has yet to find his stride but is getting better, same with stastny. backes paajarvi and bergy is a joke of a line. we can expect nothing good to come from that line. paajarvi needs to go along with bergy at this point. i am done making excuses for a big body that does not hit or score(we know how it went with stewart) just because he can play center does not mean we should keep him on the team. some other sucker team might take him off our hands for something. maybe at the least to open up cap room to resign tarasenko, lehtera, or schwartz. we have jaskin who could probably do just about as much as berglund and he is younger.

Back to back afternoon delights!

Back to back afternoon delights!


- carcus

damn cant it just be hockey time already. still feeling the effects of a late night. is the room spinning still or is it just me.

that interview segment with Panger and Berglund was creepy weird

Back to back afternoon delights!


- carcus

Should I do a game recap?

Strange two afternoon games and the Blues played well in both.

Clutching and grabbing in this league is back in a big way. Another thing the league tried to get rid--head hits-- also not called so much.

Should I do a game recap?

Strange two afternoon games and the Blues played well in both.

Clutching and grabbing in this league is back in a big way. Another thing the league tried to get rid--head hits-- also not called so much.
- BluemanGuruu

Might as well. Didn't look like anything else is going on...