Paul McCann: Locker Clean-Out - Last night's SSR and my fearless 2nd round predictions

It feels like the introspection has already began, players talking about losing sleep, still being upset, mad, pissed… how this team reacts and prepares will show its’ character. I will be very interested in what comes out of the player meetings that are taking place.

All of this should've happened in January the way the team was playing. Instead we got doublespeak, canned statements repeated ad nauseum, and no urgency whatsoever.

I really do hope the players are upset, because the fans are. And the fact that no one is really being held responsible pisses me off to no end. When there's no accountability, nothing changes.

Dallas is a good team... They were better than Nashville, but we probably shouldn't overvalue them just because they beat the Preds. St. Louis is a much bigger and physical team than the Preds, and some of those big guys have skill too. Dallas's D wont be able to push them around like the did the Predator's forwards. Look what St. Louis' D did to Winnipeg and they got guys who can score all over the place. Dallas really only has the one big line. Then again, St. Louis struggled with Dallas in the regular season all year, so who knows. I don't want to fall into the trap a lot of losing playoff teams do, and anoint the team that beat us the new favorite to win the west. Hate to say it, but I think the West is the Blues to win or lose right now.

Dallas is a good team... They were better than Nashville, but we probably shouldn't overvalue them just because they beat the Preds. St. Louis is a much bigger and physical team than the Preds, and some of those big guys have skill too. Dallas's D wont be able to push them around like the did the Predator's forwards. Look what St. Louis' D did to Winnipeg and they got guys who can score all over the place. Dallas really only has the one big line. Then again, St. Louis struggled with Dallas in the regular season all year, so who knows. I don't want to fall into the trap a lot of losing playoff teams do, and anoint the team that beat us the new favorite to win the west. Hate to say it, but I think the West is the Blues to win or lose right now.
- Squatchy

STL Dmen like Parayko and Pietrangelo should be better able to work against the Seguin/Benn/Radulov line. That line gave NSH fits all series.

Dallas is a good team... They were better than Nashville, but we probably shouldn't overvalue them just because they beat the Preds. St. Louis is a much bigger and physical team than the Preds, and some of those big guys have skill too. Dallas's D wont be able to push them around like the did the Predator's forwards. Look what St. Louis' D did to Winnipeg and they got guys who can score all over the place. Dallas really only has the one big line. Then again, St. Louis struggled with Dallas in the regular season all year, so who knows. I don't want to fall into the trap a lot of losing playoff teams do, and anoint the team that beat us the new favorite to win the west. Hate to say it, but I think the West is the Blues to win or lose right now.
- Squatchy

I think momentum is a powerful thing. The momentum and confidence the Preds got by sweeping Chicago was arguably the thing that got us in the finals. Knowing and experiencing that, I can't rule out the Sharks. That game 7 win was...something else. Could that be the momentum they need?

But, the Avs are on a roll too. They're finally playing to their potential, which we all thought would happen earlier in the season (some could argue the Preds got lucky last year and should've lost that series). I'm going to say the Avs in triple OT of game 7 (barring another major called)

I still don't believe in Dallas. Sure, they were the better team agains the Preds, but let's face it, which playoff team in the West wasn't? Maybe Winnipeg. Maybe. I wouldn't be surprised if the Blues sweep Dallas.

: NASHVILLE DUDS

VOPATSRASH

: NASHVILLE DUDS

VOPATSRASH
- BGKarras

WOW! That is really something to see. Didn't know you felt so strongly.

Paul,
I think you are just picking the Stars because they beat the Preds! You're looking through Yellow-tinted glasses. All Dallas did was spare the Preds a second round smackdown!

GO BLUES!!!