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GDT #32: 3/26/13 > Blues vs Oilers > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 5:57 am
by dmiles2186
OILERS (11-13-7) at BLUES (17-12-2)

TV: SNET-EDM, FS-MW

Last 10: Edmonton 3-4-3; St. Louis 6-4-0

Season series: This is the third and final meeting. St. Louis has won both previous matchups, including 4-2 on March 1 and 3-0 at Edmonton’s Rexall Place on Saturday.

Big story: On Monday, Edmonton lost its third in a row (0-2-1), 3-2 to Nashville, and fell five points out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs race. The Blues, meanwhile, stand in seventh in the Western Conference, with only two points separating them from eighth place.

Team Scope:

Oilers: After a 3-0 loss at home on Saturday to St. Louis in which the Rexall Place fans voiced their displeasure with the home team, Edmonton coach Ralph Krueger expected his team to come out strong against Nashville in the next game. It didn’t happen.

“I don’t know what it was early,” center Shawn Horcoff said. “We weren’t playing the way we needed to do and all the sudden we responded in the third and came out the way we wanted to at the start and controlled the whole period. It’s just not enough. Twenty minutes against good teams just aren’t enough.”

Among the positives for Edmonton was its performance on the power play. It went 1-for-4 and on one of its unsuccessful power plays, kept the puck in the Predators’ zone for 1:53.

The big issue, however, is even-strength play for Edmonton. Nashville scored all three of its goals at 5-on-5.

“We just made it pretty easy on their skilled guys and didn’t play on their end enough,” said Edmonton center Sam Gagner, whose team was outshot 22-14 in the first two periods. “We kind of allowed them to get what they wanted and it’s unfortunate because it’s a team we are trying to catch and we’re right there and we’ve got to find a way to turn it up tomorrow and get a win.”

Blues: St. Louis at least had a day off on Monday as it awaits the Oilers. In their 3-2 loss at Calgary on Sunday, the Blues badly outshot the Flames, 38-17. They fell behind 2-0, tied it up, but gave up a late goal to Jarome Iginla to suffer the loss.

A major concern for the Blues is their power play. They have scored only one power-play goal in their last six games, making them 1-for-20 in the process. The Blues will be looking for their first power-play goal in four games on Tuesday.

“We played hard and competed, but for us to get moving ahead, our power play has to become a force again,” Blues coach Ken Hitchcock told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch after the game. “We’re giving up too many opportunities that we work to earn. It’s something we want to address. If we continue to play good 5-on-5 hockey, we’ll be all right.”

Who’s hot: Horcoff has two goals in his past three games and five points in his past seven. Edmonton left wing Taylor Hall has eight points in his past seven contests. ... The Blues activated right wing T.J. Oshie off injured reserve on Saturday after he missed three games and in his two games since, he has had two goals and an assist. Blues goalie Jaroslav Halak shut out Edmonton on Saturday.

Injury report: Oilers center Eric Belanger suffered a groin injury on Monday and did not return. … For St. Louis, Jamie Langenbrunner is out for the season with a hip injury.

Re: GDT #32: 3/26/13 > Blues vs Oilers > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 7:13 am
by fargoblues
Blues: 4 (Frank, Stewart, Perr-uh, Cap'n Amurica)
Oil: 1 (Horcoff)
Detroit: sucks

Re: GDT #32: 3/26/13 > Blues vs Oilers > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 7:47 am
by DaDitka
fargoblues wrote:Cap'n Amuricas
He still plays for the Blues? I've haven't seen him in quite some time.

Re: GDT #32: 3/26/13 > Blues vs Oilers > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 10:33 am
by dmiles2186
Allen betwixt the pipes tonight.

Re: GDT #32: 3/26/13 > Blues vs Oilers > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 10:44 am
by DaDitka
dmiles2186 wrote:Allen betwixt the pipes tonight.
We have three back to backs in April. I will only tolerate three more starts by anyone but Allen.

Unless we get somewhere around 8 points ahead of 8th, we can't risk it.

Re: GDT #32: 3/26/13 > Blues vs Oilers > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 11:56 am
by WaukeeBlues
Blue 3
Oil 1

TEH OSHIE SCORZ!!!

Re: GDT #32: 3/26/13 > Blues vs Oilers > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 2:09 pm
by sseagle
Busy night of international action.
Blues - Edmonton at the kielscotsavtrade 7
USA - Mexico at the estadio azteca 9:30

A night of patriotic American victories!

Re: GDT #32: 3/26/13 > Blues vs Oilers > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 3:57 pm
by gaijin
Just freaking win.

2 points, please. :letsgoblues:

Re: GDT #32: 3/26/13 > Blues vs Oilers > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 10:52 pm
by Oaklandblue
Dear Ken Hitchcock:

I am a fan of the National Hockey League's St. Louis Blues, a team that you coach, and after watching the last few games, I was wondering if you would clarify a few things.

Is your bar raised to the level of requiring your players to blindly shoot the puck at the net? 30 shots. 40 shots. I admire how you try so hard to help raise the opposition netminders average as dramatically as you have been, especially with the last two goalies reaching 40 years old (Kips 36, Khabs 40). That's really thoughtful of you. Perhaps a better idea might be to plan setups and followthru or pass our bifocal glasses to your players because beyond a few, the rest are quite blind.

I was also concerned about the whereabouts of one David Backes. Is he still playing? Is he doing ok? Is he still alive? Is he going to return the five bucks he borrowed from me back in 06? I really miss his output this year too: 32 games with 3 goals/16 assists.

On a side note, thank you for starting Jake Allen, I think that was a good move and not an act of desperation. Really. I mean you have one goaltender who players love running into, loves being injured and loves having their backups work for him. That's real dedication. Stopping those 12 shots on goal tonight really reinstilled my faith in him and I'm sure the team feels the same. Not like he was in goal for a losing game again or anything. I also admire how you're afraid to even consider giving Brian Elliott another start, even though he bailed out Halak and took his job much in the same way that rookie Jake Allen started to. Says a lot about our 4m franchise goaltender. Wait. We're paying David Backes the same too, right? Wow. What a parallel.

I was also wondering why David Perron is still playing and not been benched. Is he married to your sister? A family friend? Did you mentor him in high school/college? Because I don't know any other coach of any other caliber to let someone whose play has dramatically gone to dust to even look at ice.

To finish, I really admire your inability to set examples by benching players. That shows a level of wisdom that is totally unfathomable to me.

Respectfully,
Oaklandblue

Re: GDT #32: 3/26/13 > Blues vs Oilers > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 11:11 pm
by Nyghtewynd
We're fifteen games later, with the same terrible results and the same terrible play, and the ONLY change is that we're carrying three goalies, none of which our esteemed coach trust.

This team is lost.

Re: GDT #32: 3/26/13 > Blues vs Oilers > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 11:15 pm
by Oaklandblue
Nyghtewynd wrote:We're fifteen games later, with the same terrible results and the same terrible play, and the ONLY change is that we're carrying three goalies, none of which our esteemed coach trust.

This team is lost.
I don't believe we're lost and I will never believe we're lost. What I believe is that Ken Hitchcock is not doing his job, not demanding more out of his players beyond a glorified version of dumping the puck at the pipes and isn't reeling in his people.

Perron has needed to ride pine along with a few other players and is still playing without penalty, a decision needs to be made about Brian Elliott (As far as I'm concerned at this point I'd play him and THEN make a decision about his future) and what to do about our Captainships/Alternates. If this was me, Steen + Perron + a pick would be on way to Calgary for Iginla. We need a veteran to command the team, Backes has had his chance and he's a rugged tough player, but as a Captain, he commands absolutely nothing and that shows.

I expect after all is said and done to be left with a netminding tandem of Allen and Elliott purely because Halak's 4m contract is trade bait and that money will go towards paying for Pie and Shatt and I think THEY are more important than Montreal's former glorified backup.

Re: GDT #32: 3/26/13 > Blues vs Oilers > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 5:20 am
by Kreegz2
Oaklandblue wrote:
Nyghtewynd wrote:We're fifteen games later, with the same terrible results and the same terrible play, and the ONLY change is that we're carrying three goalies, none of which our esteemed coach trust.

This team is lost.
I don't believe we're lost and I will never believe we're lost. What I believe is that Ken Hitchcock is not doing his job, not demanding more out of his players beyond a glorified version of dumping the puck at the pipes and isn't reeling in his people.

Perron has needed to ride pine along with a few other players and is still playing without penalty, a decision needs to be made about Brian Elliott (As far as I'm concerned at this point I'd play him and THEN make a decision about his future) and what to do about our Captainships/Alternates. If this was me, Steen + Perron + a pick would be on way to Calgary for Iginla. We need a veteran to command the team, Backes has had his chance and he's a rugged tough player, but as a Captain, he commands absolutely nothing and that shows.

I expect after all is said and done to be left with a netminding tandem of Allen and Elliott purely because Halak's 4m contract is trade bait and that money will go towards paying for Pie and Shatt and I think THEY are more important than Montreal's former glorified backup.
Iginla has said he only will only waive his NTC for 4 teams, and we aren't on that list.

I agree with you though, package Perron+Elliot+ a pick for a proven veteran. Marty St. Louis from Tampa perhaps? They are in dire need of a goalie and their franchise is collapsing right now. Also, Marty can definitely still play despite his age(he played over 30 mins last night as a 37 y/o)

Re: GDT #32: 3/26/13 > Blues vs Oilers > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 5:57 am
by Oaklandblue
Kreegz2 wrote:
Oaklandblue wrote:
Nyghtewynd wrote:We're fifteen games later, with the same terrible results and the same terrible play, and the ONLY change is that we're carrying three goalies, none of which our esteemed coach trust.

This team is lost.
I don't believe we're lost and I will never believe we're lost. What I believe is that Ken Hitchcock is not doing his job, not demanding more out of his players beyond a glorified version of dumping the puck at the pipes and isn't reeling in his people.

Perron has needed to ride pine along with a few other players and is still playing without penalty, a decision needs to be made about Brian Elliott (As far as I'm concerned at this point I'd play him and THEN make a decision about his future) and what to do about our Captainships/Alternates. If this was me, Steen + Perron + a pick would be on way to Calgary for Iginla. We need a veteran to command the team, Backes has had his chance and he's a rugged tough player, but as a Captain, he commands absolutely nothing and that shows.

I expect after all is said and done to be left with a netminding tandem of Allen and Elliott purely because Halak's 4m contract is trade bait and that money will go towards paying for Pie and Shatt and I think THEY are more important than Montreal's former glorified backup.
Iginla has said he only will only waive his NTC for 4 teams, and we aren't on that list.

I agree with you though, package Perron+Elliot+ a pick for a proven veteran. Marty St. Louis from Tampa perhaps? They are in dire need of a goalie and their franchise is collapsing right now. Also, Marty can definitely still play despite his age(he played over 30 mins last night as a 37 y/o)
Marty St. Louis is 5'8"?! Sheesh, I know we've had problems dropping gloves before but now....

I know he's an alt Captain but the only question in my mind is, can he lead? Right now I feel our problem is lacking a leader that the team will get behind and get kicked in the rear by.

Okay, since we're playing the what if game, how about:

Elliott + Perron + Steen + AMac to TB for St. Louis and Vinny?

Re: GDT #32: 3/26/13 > Blues vs Oilers > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 6:47 am
by DaDitka
Oaklandblue wrote: Right now I feel our problem is lacking a leader that the team will get behind and get kicked in the rear by.
This couldn't be more true.

I know we hit a little bit of a (point) streak there and many tried to laugh off our earlier concerns, but guess what? The exact same concerns have reared they ugly heads once again. Lack of commitment and leadership.

I know a lot of people want to point at the goal tending, and they certainly should shoulder a share of that load, but much of the D is playing lazy and irresponsible and we're down to what....two of our top 9 forwards that actually back check?

We may keep shots 'down' but we give up way too many quality scoring chances.

Re: GDT #32: 3/26/13 > Blues vs Oilers > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 8:44 am
by theohall
The difference was not terrible play.

The difference the past two games is pretty simple. The Blues played a better overall game on both occasions. The Blues made very few mistakes. The problem - it seems every mistake turns into a goal against. Meanwhile, the Blues are mostly controlling the flow of the game, not finishing, and also not converting when the opponent makes the same types of mistakes that lead to GAs for the Blues.

If someone wonders where Backes was, did they watch the game last night? It's not like he had a breakaway and at least two other good scoring chances.

Yes, Perron needs to sit or be on the 4th line. I still do not understand why Perron continually gets 4-on-4 time while Tarasenko, who clearly has better chemistry with Sobotka, rides the pine. I still do not understand why Perron keeps getting power play time when he takes forever to make a damn decision with the puck.

Am I disappointed with the losses? Yes. Am I disappointed with the effort? No. It's not like the Blues are not actually working. There were several times last night the Blues just missed on rebound opportunities. Those will go in as long as the Blues keep working.

Re: GDT #32: 3/26/13 > Blues vs Oilers > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 8:56 am
by dmiles2186
Didn't get to see much of the game last night. I got home with about 14 minutes left in the 3rd. Down 3-0 to the Oilers was bad enough, to have completely out shot them by a large margin and be down 3 was gut wrenching. Either way, we're still in the thick of things. This team is not lost. They were better than Calgary and came up short. They were better than Vancouver, just had one bad period, and came up short. Every loss does not mean the end of the friggin' season. Every loss does not mean everyone and their mother in the front office needs to be fired. Every loss does not mean that we have to ship half the team away to fix our problems. It's a short season, compacted schedule. Teams are playing 3-4 games a week. Only a few teams in the entire league have risen above that. Everyone else is bunched together and we are in that group. I'm not happy that the Blues can't distance themselves from everyone else, but as of right now the Blues are a playoff team and I'm fine with that.

Re: GDT #32: 3/26/13 > Blues vs Oilers > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 10:08 am
by DaDitka
theohall wrote: Am I disappointed with the losses? Yes. Am I disappointed with the effort? No. It's not like the Blues are not actually working. There were several times last night the Blues just missed on rebound opportunities. Those will go in as long as the Blues keep working.
Then I ask....why does Hitch clearly disagree.

He had a closed door meeting with the team leaders.

He said they weren't working hard enough.

He said they weren't willing to pay the price.

He said that not everyone is 'all in'.

This isn't a matter of fans 'over-reacting' to some bad luck. The HC is clearly concerned and thus I think its' only fair if some fans chose to share those some worries. You certainly have the right to not be concerned, I have no problem at all with that.

It's as Hitch said last night though...when you're not all in all the time, a hot goaltender can beat you. You have to not allow that to happen. You need to make your own 'luck'.

As for Backes....I completely understand him squeezing his stick to saw dust and have no problems with that. What I find extremely frustrating is his complete ineffectiveness defensively in his own end. Sure, he's had some moments here and there...go back and look at how many goals have come in the last couple of months while he's indecisive in his own end. I'm in no way questioning his effort....not in the least.....but he's clearly struggling mentally. For the most part, he's been invisible this season, and I'm saying that more-so in him defensive play then offensively. He's brought some physicality to his forecheck......but nothing else.

All that said....at least he's in his own end. I believe I've counted at least three goals in the last few games when Perron wasn't even on his side of the ice when a goal was scored against.

IMO, the biggest problem is that I don't see this team playing for eachother. This is not an over-reaction, I was saying the same things during the 6-1 opening streak. This isn't the 'team' we saw last year. I think they are more talented and more dangerous, which is what has masked most of these flaws. But I don't think it's just hot goal-tending on one side and poor goal-tending on the other...I think it's more then that.

Remember....we are sub 500 since the PP cooled down. That must be a lot of 'bad luck'.