GDT #73: 3/27/14 > Blues vs Wild > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

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GDT #73: 3/27/14 > Blues vs Wild > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Post by dmiles2186 »

1 win away from 50. Back home. Miller starting. Looking forward to this one.

I'll go out on a limb and say Backes gets another hat trick tonight. Back-to-Backes, yo.
WILD (37-25-11) at BLUES (49-16-7)

TV: FS-N, FS-WI, FS-MW

Last 10: Minnesota 3-3-4; St. Louis 7-2-1

Season series: The St. Louis Blues have won the first three games against the Minnesota Wild, including a 3-2 shootout victory March 9. They will play one more time this season, on April 10 in Minnesota.

Big story: St. Louis enters with a six-point lead over the Chicago Blackhawks for first place in the Central Division and a two-point lead over the San Jose Sharks for the top spot in the Western Conference in the race to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Minnesota is three points ahead of the Phoenix Coyotes for the top Western Conference wild-card spot; the Wild are six points clear of the Dallas Stars, who have the most points of any current non-qualifier.

Team Scope:

Wild: Minnesota failed to extend its lead over Phoenix in the wild-card race Wednesday, losing 5-2 at home to the Vancouver Canucks despite outshooting Vancouver 31-19.

"Weird game, weird game, that's for sure," coach Mike Yeo said. "It was weird in the sense that we were getting chances, we're outshooting them by a fairly large margin, but it still didn't feel right."

The Wild's penalty kill surrendered another goal. It is ranked 27th (79.4 percent) in the NHL.

Goalie Darcy Kuemper was pulled after he allowed three goals on 12 shots. Ilya Bryzgalov, who had started three of the previous four games, made five saves in relief.

Blues: David Backes scored three goals Tuesday in a 5-3 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The victory allowed St. Louis to wrap up a four-game road trip at 2-2-0 after it lost the first two games.

After scoring a career-worst six goals in 48 games last season, Backes has 27 goals, four off his career-high of 31, which he reached twice, in 2008-09 and 2010-11.

"He's not just a checker; he's a guy that can play in both ends of the rink. He's very good offensively. He's underrated offensively," coach Ken Hitchcock said. "I think people are starting to see that."

The Blues boast top-10 ranks from each of its special-teams units. Their penalty kill is ranked third (85.6 percent) in the NHL, and the power play is ninth (20.1 percent) in the League.

Who's hot: Wild center Charlie Coyle has a goal in three straight games. Defenseman Jared Spurgeon has at least a point in four of five games. He has one goal and four assists over that span. … Blues left wing Alexander Steen has four points (one goal) in the past two games. He was a plus-4 against Toronto.

Injury report: Minnesota defensemen Clayton Stoner (knee) and Keith Ballard (groin) are day-to-day. Goalie Niklas Backstrom (core muscle) and forward Jason Zucker (left quadriceps) each had surgery Tuesday and are out for the rest of the season. Goalie Josh Harding (multiple sclerosis) is on injured reserve. … St. Louis defenseman Jordan Leopold (ankle) and forward Derek Roy (lower body) are day-to-day. Forward Vladimir Tarasenko (hand) will miss the rest of the regular season.
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Re: GDT #73: 3/27/14 > Blues vs Wild > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Post by STLADOGG »

Will be a tough game, I predict a high scoring game...maybe 5-4 Blues
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Re: GDT #73: 3/27/14 > Blues vs Wild > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Post by not_a_wings_fan »

Anyone want to weigh in on Miller these last few games?

I have noticed some pretty serious hate scrolling by on FB comments related to our new goalie.

I know he's given up some goals in the last few games, but I haven't seen any of the recent games so I can't make any evaluation of his play in general.

OT: I think we win this game in a close, defensive game. If we can take the early rush from them without blowing up, we will wear them out and win late.
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Re: GDT #73: 3/27/14 > Blues vs Wild > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Post by drwoland »

I didn't think any of the goals I've seen him give up during the recent stretch have been "soft." He has also made some amazing saves. Also, we have won quite a few games since he's been here. I feel much more comfortable with him in net than I did with Halak.

I went to the Avs game in Denver, which was Miller's 4th game as a Blue. We were sitting next to a bunch of other Blues fans and everyone kept saying "Man, that last 2 on 1 they had, I had just assumed it was going to be a goal, because it would have been with Halak in net" - Miller just kept making the saves, making it look kinda routine.

I think the big issue is that we have the likes of Carlo Colaiacovo actually playing defense on this team right now. Also Tank is gone, and he breaks up quite a few plays on the back check. Oh also, I believe Miller is 8-2-1 since coming over. So that's 17 points in 11 games. I think he'll do just fine ;)
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Re: GDT #73: 3/27/14 > Blues vs Wild > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Post by cardsfan04 »

Yeah, I think his recent high GAA is a product of the team in front of him, not Miller.
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Re: GDT #73: 3/27/14 > Blues vs Wild > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Post by not_a_wings_fan »

Okay, that's what I suspected, but I haven't seen his play.

It's hard to have good SV% on this team because they give up so few shots. I would love to see some kind of adjusted goalie metrics in these cases... things like separating odd man rushes, shots from low angles, high quality scoring chances on L-R and R-L movement, etc. Sort of like what they do for hitters in baseball. Would really help. Separating out deflections etc.

It's hard to just read a stat line and know what a goalie did or didn't do and what the team in front of him did or didn't do.
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Re: GDT #73: 3/27/14 > Blues vs Wild > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Post by dmiles2186 »

Blues fans can be pretty annoying when it comes to goalies. This guys is in his first couple handfuls of games in our uniform. New teammates. New system in front of him. Not to mention the personal stuff--the move, finding a new place, getting your family with you. For God's sake, the guy is one of the best goalies in the league since he's become a full time starter. I'm not saying this about anyone here.

But good God, Elliott has ONE shutout and the questions start popping up, "Hey, maybe he should be starting now over Miller, right?" Miller > Elliott....by far. BY FAR.

This should not be a question, ever. Elliott is the perfect backup for us right now.

But to speak to the original question, I think the defense has been off in some of those games in front of Miller, especially the back to back games when they gave up 4 goals. Multiple times, our D was focused on the puck carrier, 2/3 guys at a time staring at him, leaving the backdoor feed (and Miller) completely exposed.

This is hockey. Goalies aren't going to get a shutout every single game. Some goals are bad, but like it was mentioned above, Miller has such a command in the net. He can make big saves when needed. And he looks so calm with his glove hand. It's a welcome sight.
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Re: GDT #73: 3/27/14 > Blues vs Wild > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Post by WaukeeBlues »

TEH HOCKIES!!

Blues 4

Wild 1
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Re: GDT #73: 3/27/14 > Blues vs Wild > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Post by STLADOGG »

I'm not worried about our goal tending at all.
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Re: GDT #73: 3/27/14 > Blues vs Wild > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Post by cardsfan04 »

I'm feeling a shutout from Miller tonight.
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Re: GDT #73: 3/27/14 > Blues vs Wild > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Post by STLADOGG »

Hawks lose and Blues win, good shit.
Blues have 1 point lead over Boston for Presidents Trophy.
A 8 point lead over shithawks with a game in hand(Hawks have 8 games to play, Blues have 9).
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Re: GDT #73: 3/27/14 > Blues vs Wild > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Post by cardsfan04 »

That Oshie kid just might make it after all.
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Re: GDT #73: 3/27/14 > Blues vs Wild > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Post by gaijin »

In 1999-2000, we won the President's Trophy with 51 wins. Today, we already have 50 wins, with 9 games to play.
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Re: GDT #73: 3/27/14 > Blues vs Wild > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Post by dmiles2186 »

Miller gave up a goal. Gotta start Elliott next game.
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Re: GDT #73: 3/27/14 > Blues vs Wild > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Post by STLADOGG »

gaijin wrote:In 1999-2000, we won the President's Trophy with 51 wins. Today, we already have 50 wins, with 9 games to play.
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Well they had 114 points too, we wil se if we can pass that mark as well.
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Re: GDT #73: 3/27/14 > Blues vs Wild > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Post by WaukeeBlues »

Surprised by the blowout, wasn't expecting that. Man... this is for real guys. FRONT-runner for the Stanley Cup?

How many times have we been able to say that the last 30 years? Geeking out. :grin: :P :okman:
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Re: GDT #73: 3/27/14 > Blues vs Wild > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Post by cardsfan04 »

WaukeeBlues wrote:Surprised by the blowout, wasn't expecting that. Man... this is for real guys. FRONT-runner for the Stanley Cup?

How many times have we been able to say that the last 30 years? Geeking out. :grin: :P :okman:
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Re: GDT #73: 3/27/14 > Blues vs Wild > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Post by glen a richter »

Regarding the chase for the Presidents Trophy (aka NOT the one we should be aiming for), Shitcago lost 5-3 to Ottawa, so now it's 8 points with 2 games in hand. Thanks for the help, Senators.
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