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GDT #81: 4/11/14 > Blues @ Stars > 7:30 PM > FSMW+/Y98

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 6:44 am
by dmiles2186
I don't even have a clever retort to put up here....just do anything besides lose, please?

If we lose in regulation and Colorado wins tonight, they clinch the division if I'm not mistaken.
BLUES (52-21-7) at STARS (39-30-11)

TV: FS-MW, FS-SW

Last 10: St. Louis 5-5-0; Dallas 6-4-0

Season series: The Dallas Stars have won the past two games against the St. Louis Blues after losing the first two by a combined score of 9-3. Each team has won once in overtime.

Big story: Dallas can clinch its first Stanley Cup Playoff berth since 2008 with a win. It's possible because the Phoenix Coyotes lost their sixth in a row Thursday, 2-0 at the Nashville Predators.

St. Louis has lost five of seven to fall out of first place in the Central Division. The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 on Thursday to give the Avalanche 111 points, same as the Blues, with two games to go, but Colorado has more regulation and overtime wins (47-43).

Team Scope:

Blues: On March 28, St. Louis led the Central by eight points over the Chicago Blackhawks and nine over Colorado. The Blues held a one-point lead for the Presidents' Trophy over the Boston Bruins, who now lead them by four.

"It's not fun losing," forward Jaden Schwartz told the Blues website Thursday. "These are big, important games for us, and it's a big time of the year. We're confident in here that we can turn this around, and we have two more games to do that."

Forward T.J. Oshie was injured in the second period and did not return to the game, and forward David Backes (lower-body) might not play again in the regular season.

"[Oshie is] such an important player to our team," Schwartz said. "At this time of the year, you don't want to see injuries like that. You just hope that he's ready to go soon and he's feeling better."

Stars: Twelve Dallas players have never participated in the NHL postseason, and four others haven't in at least five years.

"A lot of players like myself, first time in key games like this, there are learning points and learning curves to everything, and I think it's just how you come back and how you play the next game," defenseman Brenden Dillon told the Dallas Morning News after a 3-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday.

Dallas had 12 giveaways Wednesday after 21 in a 3-2 shootout win against Nashville on Tuesday. This will be the Stars' fifth game in seven days.

"There's two things [the giveaways tell me]: There's some fatigue in our game, and some guys are feeling the pressure," coach Lindy Ruff said. "I've already talked to several guys about the fact that we need to make plays and trust that the guy is going to be there. If the opposition makes a great play defending us, I can live with that. I don't want the turnovers where we throw it at the wall or into the middle of the ice. That's something I've got to work and get these guys over."

Dallas would secure the second wild card in the Western Conference with a win Friday or Sunday against Phoenix.

Goalie Kari Lehtonen will start after Tim Thomas lost to Columbus.

Who's hot: Blues forward Alexander Steen had two assists Thursday and has nine points in his past seven games. Schwartz has two goals in three games, 25 this season. … Stars forward Tyler Seguin has seven points in his past six games and with 83 points is third in the NHL in scoring, behind Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins (103) and Ryan Getzlaf of the Anaheim Ducks (87). Forward Jamie Benn has six points in a four-game streak.

Injury report: Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko (hand) is out and Backes is out. … Stars forward Ray Whitney (lower body) and defenseman Aaron Rome (lower body) are day-to-day.

Re: GDT #81: 4/11/14 > Blues @ Stars > 7:30 PM > FSMW/Y98

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 7:35 am
by Krigloch the Furious
Blues have a hard time containing the speed of Dallas. Tonight will be no different.

Am I mad at this team right now? Yes.
Does their crap play surprise me? Not at all. I'm a Blues fan.

Re: GDT #81: 4/11/14 > Blues @ Stars > 7:30 PM > FSMW/Y98

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 7:46 am
by STLADOGG
This losing streak a wake up call for us? Good for us?
We will see. I would start Elliott in net.

Re: GDT #81: 4/11/14 > Blues @ Stars > 7:30 PM > FSMW/Y98

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 8:07 am
by cprice12
If they get good goaltending from Elliott tonight and play like they did last night, they should win.

It's killing me that we won't hear any more news on Backes or Oshie until they are actually cleared to play in the playoffs, whenever that may be.
Until then, it's Day to Day for both.

I guess if Backes' foot was really bad, they'd say so.
But Oshie had a weird look in his eyes when he was skating off last night...which had me worried. But when Kerbs tweeted that the Blues said he MAY return to the game last night, that makes me think it might not be too bad and they are holding him out to be safe.

Re: GDT #81: 4/11/14 > Blues @ Stars > 7:30 PM > FSMW/Y98

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 8:18 am
by STLADOGG
Todays game is on FSMW Plus and Y98.
http://blues.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=713964

Re: GDT #81: 4/11/14 > Blues @ Stars > 7:30 PM > FSMW/Y98

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 8:26 am
by dmiles2186
STLADOGG wrote:Todays game is on FSMW Plus and Y98.
http://blues.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=713964
Thanks for the heads up. Changed in the header.

Re: GDT #81: 4/11/14 > Blues @ Stars > 7:30 PM > FSMW+/Y98

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 8:45 am
by cardsfan04
This might be the most overused phrase in sports, but tonight is a must-win. We gotta right the ship before the playoffs. Here is my hope:

It's not uncommon for streaks to follow streaks. Hopefully once we get a win under our belts again, everything will suddenly snap back into place. I think they're pressing a bit right now. But, if they win a game, score a few goals, maybe that'll relax them a little bit into their comfort zone and we'll start playing to our ability again.

We all know that the Blues are better than they are playing. Hopefully tonight they find that spark that makes everything click again.

Re: GDT #81: 4/11/14 > Blues @ Stars > 7:30 PM > FSMW+/Y98

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 9:12 am
by dmiles2186
Never fear, for reinforcements have arrived! *trumpet sound*

[tweet][/tweet]

I mean, seriously, no Rattie?

Re: GDT #81: 4/11/14 > Blues @ Stars > 7:30 PM > FSMW+/Y98

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 9:23 am
by Krigloch the Furious
Pretty funny
Does Hitch make that decision?
If so, please leave.

Re: GDT #81: 4/11/14 > Blues @ Stars > 7:30 PM > FSMW+/Y98

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 10:52 am
by cardsfan04
dmiles2186 wrote:Never fear, for reinforcements have arrived! *trumpet sound*

[tweet][/tweet]

I mean, seriously, no Rattie?
Ask and you shall receive. Sobotka and Roy are both out now. Rattie has been recalled.

Re: GDT #81: 4/11/14 > Blues @ Stars > 7:30 PM > FSMW+/Y98

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 10:55 am
by dmiles2186
cardsfan04 wrote:
dmiles2186 wrote:Never fear, for reinforcements have arrived! *trumpet sound*

[tweet][/tweet]

I mean, seriously, no Rattie?
Ask and you shall receive. Sobotka and Roy are both out now. Rattie has been recalled.
Just saw that...here's the Tweet for those who are curious..

[tweet][/tweet]

And it seems like Rattie is getting baptized by fire...he's getting thrown right in...

[tweet][/tweet]

Re: GDT #81: 4/11/14 > Blues @ Stars > 7:30 PM > FSMW+/Y98

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 11:01 am
by cardsfan04
I'm slightly in shock right now. 6 forwards missing tonight with injuries. I guess it could be a "Let's rest for playoffs" kinda deal. But, wow. I wouldn't think they would start Rattie's clock for that though. Or has that already started?

Re: GDT #81: 4/11/14 > Blues @ Stars > 7:30 PM > FSMW+/Y98

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 11:02 am
by dmiles2186
[tweet][/tweet]

:facepalm:

Re: GDT #81: 4/11/14 > Blues @ Stars > 7:30 PM > FSMW+/Y98

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 11:03 am
by Nyghtewynd
It's not just a must-win for the team. If the Blues lose the division to Colorado and Roy, I'd expect Hitch to need two series wins in the playoffs to keep his job. Anything less than that, and I get the impression that Hitch will be gone the next day. It's gotten completely brutal.

Re: GDT #81: 4/11/14 > Blues @ Stars > 7:30 PM > FSMW+/Y98

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 11:28 am
by STLADOGG
Is this bizzaro land?
What the hell is going on?

Re: GDT #81: 4/11/14 > Blues @ Stars > 7:30 PM > FSMW+/Y98

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 11:35 am
by KrustyKevo
I don't know why, but I have a good feeling about this game. I shouldn't, but I feel like we will win this.

8-1 Blues, Rattie with hat-trick on his first 3 shots

Re: GDT #81: 4/11/14 > Blues @ Stars > 7:30 PM > FSMW+/Y98

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 2:22 pm
by cprice12
Nyghtewynd wrote:It's not just a must-win for the team. If the Blues lose the division to Colorado and Roy, I'd expect Hitch to need two series wins in the playoffs to keep his job. Anything less than that, and I get the impression that Hitch will be gone the next day. It's gotten completely brutal.
I don't think that's even close to being true.
Hitch's job isn't in jeopardy at all. He helped turn this franchise around...big time.
The problem with this franchise is that they have given up on a number of key cogs far too early for one reason or another.
Firing Hitch would be a mistake IMO.

Re: GDT #81: 4/11/14 > Blues @ Stars > 7:30 PM > FSMW+/Y98

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 2:22 pm
by cprice12
KrustyKevo wrote:I don't know why, but I have a good feeling about this game. I shouldn't, but I feel like we will win this.

8-1 Blues, Rattie with hat-trick on his first 3 shots
Gotta win sometime. Tonight is as good a night as any.

Re: GDT #81: 4/11/14 > Blues @ Stars > 7:30 PM > FSMW+/Y98

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 2:23 pm
by cprice12
Hey guys... can you give the new Flashchat a real honest try tonight? Like for the entire game?
I want to see how it handles it...plus you guys might end up liking it.

Re: GDT #81: 4/11/14 > Blues @ Stars > 7:30 PM > FSMW+/Y98

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 3:10 pm
by Krigloch the Furious
Was planning on not watching, but if FC is working I'm there.