Scoreboard Watching

[cprice12]

It's that time of year where interest in the results of other games in the West become more and more important.

The Hawks lost in OT again last night....so our lead over them is currently 4 pts and we have a game in hand.

Going into tonight's games...
We're 1 point behind the Ducks and 4 pts. behind Nashville.

Tonight...2/12/15:
Ducks @ Hurricanes
Hurricanes, without Murphy, host Ducks
[nhlvideo]/videocenter/embed?playlist=750016[/nhlvideo]

Jets @ Predators
Jets visit Predators in first game after major trade
[nhlvideo]/videocenter/embed?playlist=750020[/nhlvideo]

[JesusNEVERexisted]

True the Hawks haven't played that well lately but the history of Blues/Hawks in the playoffs tell us ANYTHING can happen regardless of who has home ice. The way things are shaping up that looks to be the 1st round matchup.

[cprice12]

Both Nashville and Anaheim won. Thanks for nothing Carolina and Winnipeg.

[ecbm]

Both Nashville and Anaheim won. Thanks for nothing Carolina and Winnipeg.

Yep. Still would face the Blackhawks if the playoffs started today. I don't care how they've played lately, don't want that. At all.

[cprice12]

Both Nashville and Anaheim won. Thanks for nothing Carolina and Winnipeg.

Yep. Still would face the Blackhawks if the playoffs started today. I don't care how they've played lately, don't want that. At all.

I dunno.
I really do want to face the Hawks...so we can beat them.
I get that we have a hard time beating them, and they are playoff tested...but still. I want to beat them in the playoffs so bad.

[cardsfan04]

Both Nashville and Anaheim won. Thanks for nothing Carolina and Winnipeg.

Yep. Still would face the Blackhawks if the playoffs started today. I don't care how they've played lately, don't want that. At all.

I dunno.
I really do want to face the Hawks...so we can beat them.
I get that we have a hard time beating them, and they are playoff tested...but still. I want to beat them in the playoffs so bad.

I kinda feel the same way. I've been thinking of what the ideal Cup run would be. The most satisfying Cup 4 rounds in a Cup win would be LA>CHI>ANA>DET. That's not an easy run at all. But, how great would it feel to knock all of them off?

[ecbm]

Both Nashville and Anaheim won. Thanks for nothing Carolina and Winnipeg.

Yep. Still would face the Blackhawks if the playoffs started today. I don't care how they've played lately, don't want that. At all.

I dunno.
I really do want to face the Hawks...so we can beat them.
I get that we have a hard time beating them, and they are playoff tested...but still. I want to beat them in the playoffs so bad.

I kinda feel the same way. I've been thinking of what the ideal Cup run would be. The most satisfying Cup 4 rounds in a Cup win would be LA>CHI>ANA>DET. That's not an easy run at all. But, how great would it feel to knock all of them off?

Understood. The Blues are good enough to do it. But damn, that's a slog.

[Kerfuffle]

I dunno.
I really do want to face the Hawks...so we can beat them.
I get that we have a hard time beating them, and they are playoff tested...but still. I want to beat them in the playoffs so bad.

Why? Who cares who you face - the goal is to win it all. Last year was the only time we've faced each other in the playoffs since 2002 so it's not like there is some hump you need to get over with us. We had this same discussion back in 2010 on the Hawks board just before the playoffs started. There were several fans that felt we had to play Detroit and beat them otherwise it would diminish a cup win. Personally I could care less who I face in the playoffs - as long as my team advances I'm happy. We got our 'revenge' for those Detroit obsessed fans in 2013 by knocking them out of the playoffs but I would have been just as happy if we beat Buffalo and moved on.

[cardsfan04]

I dunno.
I really do want to face the Hawks...so we can beat them.
I get that we have a hard time beating them, and they are playoff tested...but still. I want to beat them in the playoffs so bad.

Why? Who cares who you face - the goal is to win it all. Last year was the only time we've faced each other in the playoffs since 2002 so it's not like there is some hump you need to get over with us. We had this same discussion back in 2010 on the Hawks board just before the playoffs started. There were several fans that felt we had to play Detroit and beat them otherwise it would diminish a cup win. Personally I could care less who I face in the playoffs - as long as my team advances I'm happy. We got our 'revenge' for those Detroit obsessed fans in 2013 by knocking them out of the playoffs but I would have been just as happy if we beat Buffalo and moved on.

I don't think it would diminish it if we don't play certain teams as much as it would enhance it if we do.

[cardsfan04]

Both Nashville and Anaheim won. Thanks for nothing Carolina and Winnipeg.

Yep. Still would face the Blackhawks if the playoffs started today. I don't care how they've played lately, don't want that. At all.

I dunno.
I really do want to face the Hawks...so we can beat them.
I get that we have a hard time beating them, and they are playoff tested...but still. I want to beat them in the playoffs so bad.

I kinda feel the same way. I've been thinking of what the ideal Cup run would be. The most satisfying Cup 4 rounds in a Cup win would be LA>CHI>ANA>DET. That's not an easy run at all. But, how great would it feel to knock all of them off?

Understood. The Blues are good enough to do it. But damn, that's a slog.

Yeah. I'm not even sure I'm hoping for it (knowing that we could lose along that path too). But, it would feel so good to end some of their seasons.

[dmiles2186]

I dunno.
I really do want to face the Hawks...so we can beat them.
I get that we have a hard time beating them, and they are playoff tested...but still. I want to beat them in the playoffs so bad.

Why? Who cares who you face - the goal is to win it all. Last year was the only time we've faced each other in the playoffs since 2002 so it's not like there is some hump you need to get over with us. We had this same discussion back in 2010 on the Hawks board just before the playoffs started. There were several fans that felt we had to play Detroit and beat them otherwise it would diminish a cup win. Personally I could care less who I face in the playoffs - as long as my team advances I'm happy. We got our 'revenge' for those Detroit obsessed fans in 2013 by knocking them out of the playoffs but I would have been just as happy if we beat Buffalo and moved on.

It would just make it even more satisfying. We're a fan base that is crapped on constantly because we can't win in the playoffs. We can't beat anyone, let alone our biggest rivals. Personally, I don't care who we beat...if we won a Cup, nothing else matters to me. But...to win and shut up the Hawks fan base (at least for a year)? That would be beyond satisfying.

It would be Steve Young-esque: "Someone take this monkey off my back!"

That said, just like last year, a long, drawn out series against the Hawks would probably come close to killing me.

[cprice12]

I dunno.
I really do want to face the Hawks...so we can beat them.
I get that we have a hard time beating them, and they are playoff tested...but still. I want to beat them in the playoffs so bad.

Why? Who cares who you face - the goal is to win it all. Last year was the only time we've faced each other in the playoffs since 2002 so it's not like there is some hump you need to get over with us. We had this same discussion back in 2010 on the Hawks board just before the playoffs started. There were several fans that felt we had to play Detroit and beat them otherwise it would diminish a cup win. Personally I could care less who I face in the playoffs - as long as my team advances I'm happy. We got our 'revenge' for those Detroit obsessed fans in 2013 by knocking them out of the playoffs but I would have been just as happy if we beat Buffalo and moved on.

I seriously need to answer this question?
Because it's always more fun to beat a hated rival in the playoffs than to beat someone like, say...Arizona.

I get that the goal is to win it all. That's obviously not in question. And I'll take any series win we can get, because we haven't had a lot of them lately. But if you were to ask me to pick the path the Blues would go en route to their first cup victory, I'd choose to go through Chicago, LA and Nashville...and then Detroit in the finals.
It would just make it more epic, that's all. Not that winning a cup wouldn't be epic in itself...because it would be, but if you are going to win a cup and you can pick the teams you play, you might as well win it in style by knocking off your hated rivals in the process.

I didn't think I'd have to explain this.

[cprice12]

That said, just like last year, a long, drawn out series against the Hawks would probably come close to killing me.

Last year's series seriously drained me. Each of the first 5 games were a coin toss and a slugfest between two powerhouse teams...scoring some dramatic goals seemingly every game. And even game #6, was tied going into the 3rd period before the wheels fell off the cart.

Another one like that would probably kill me too...but it would be worth it if we could come out on top this time. (that doesn't make any sense...but you get what I mean )

[Kerfuffle]

Lots of hockey still to play and I'm not convinced my Hawks will finish in 3rd yet in the division. We've been a 500 club since xmas so at our current rate I'm expecting us to drop into a wild card position. I'm still looking for that spark and I see it at times - we stepped up our game last Sunday when we played you guys then took the foot off the gas again for the next 2 games. It's been an odd season to say the least.

[JesusNEVERexisted]

Both Nashville and Anaheim. Thanks for nothing Carolina and Winnipeg.

Yep. Still would face the Blackhawks if the playoffs started today. I don't care how they've played lately, don't want that. At all.

I can see why. The Hawks, like the Kings, rise to the occasion during the playoffs. Kane and Toews have stated their desire for the Cup is so strong they won't let anyone get in their way.

The Kings are only 3 points out of the final spot. Both Roenick & Anson Carter on NBC said they thought the Kings would make the playoffs. If they get in Nashville might very well be knocked out as the #1 seed and maybe even the President's trophy winner!

[JesusNEVERexisted]

Lots of hockey still to play and I'm not convinced my Hawks will finish in 3rd yet in the division. We've been a 500 club since xmas so at our current rate I'm expecting us to drop into a wild card position. I'm still looking for that spark and I see it at times - we stepped up our game last Sunday when we played you guys then took the foot off the gas again for the next 2 games. It's been an odd season to say the least.

You know with that atmosphere in the locker room they have a "Cup or die" attitude. Not just Kane and Toews have that attitude but even players like Versteeg have it who publicly said he came back solely to win a Cup. All 22,000+ fans in the building expect and so do all their fans in other cities.

They are like the Dallas Cowboys of the NHL. Did you see how many Hawks fans were in Winnipeg when they played them up there? It's amazing how many fans they have all over the continent.

[cardsfan04]

Lots of hockey still to play and I'm not convinced my Hawks will finish in 3rd yet in the division. We've been a 500 club since xmas so at our current rate I'm expecting us to drop into a wild card position. I'm still looking for that spark and I see it at times - we stepped up our game last Sunday when we played you guys then took the foot off the gas again for the next 2 games. It's been an odd season to say the least.

You know with that atmosphere in the locker room they have a "Cup or die" attitude. Not just Kane and Toews have that attitude but even players like Versteeg have it who publicly said he came back solely to win a Cup. All 22,000+ fans in the building expect and so do all their fans in other cities.

They are like the Dallas Cowboys of the NHL. Did you see how many Hawks fans were in Winnipeg when they played them up there? It's amazing how many fans they have all over the continent.

If wanting to win the Cup was all it took, there would be a lot of Cups to go around.

[Kerfuffle]

This year we're being out-intensified and we only play one period. Case in point last night's game - we are dead on the ice and have 10 shots halfway through the game. Then we play the 3rd period and 'wake-up' and get 3 goals and win. The unpredictability is tough to take - I don't know which team will show up at playoff time.

[cardsfan04]

This year we're being out-intensified and we only play one period. Case in point last night's game - we are dead on the ice and have 10 shots halfway through the game. Then we play the 3rd period and 'wake-up' and get 3 goals and win. The unpredictability is tough to take - I don't know which team will show up at playoff time.

I guess I'd still prefer that to being a bad team because having hope is more fun than not having hope. But, teams that do that kind of thing are so frustrating.

[JesusNEVERexisted]

This year we're being out-intensified and we only play one period. Case in point last night's game - we are dead on the ice and have 10 shots halfway through the game. Then we play the 3rd period and 'wake-up' and get 3 goals and win. The unpredictability is tough to take - I don't know which team will show up at playoff time.

The Hawks have 2 Stanley Cups & 3 trips to the Conference finals in the past 5 years. The Blues haven't won a 2nd round playoff game since 2002! Which team do you think is more prepared for the playoffs?

Even when the Blues had Coach Q and Bill Laurie's limitless wallet and a team full of all stars they could manage just 1 trip to the Conference finals where they lost in 5 games.

After all, most of us on this board are in the Show Me state so the Blues need to show us they have changed!