GDT Game 2: 5/1/16 | 2:00PM CST | @ Stars | NBC/Y98

[cardsfan04]

I don't like the defensive shell either, especially for an entire period and only a 2-goal lead. But, at some point it's not just on the coach. The players need to execute. Hitch says he's not telling them to go into a shell. Berglund says they're not being told to do that. Maybe the criticism needs to be directed at the players more.

[fargoblues]

Thanks Roussel, you freaking sweet ass douchenoodle, you.

And apparently nothing can stop cap'n murica in a contract year :D

[theohall]

So the coach isn't telling the D to concentrate on defense vice holding the opponent's blueline with a 2 goal lead? If Hitchcock isn't, who is? Because it's clearly showing on the ice. And players in the playoffs tend to listen to coaches.

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[Portland Blues]

This was so amazing to see in person. I barely have any voice left. But I counted about 8 "(Frank) the Blues" directed at me. Lol

[Portland Blues]

Per Hitch:

"It's the score. It's a natural tendency. What do they say? The worst lead in hockey is a two-goal lead. But it's natural. You play the score. You don't want to get caught so you put a safety net up. It's been like that ever since I started coaching. The other team plays with high-risk. So they are pinching on everything and trying to join numbers on the attack. So, they are full-bore go. It's hard to play that way on your toes when everybody is behind you. So, what they did is get everybody behind us and you have a choice. You go forward and attack but you are not fore-checking anybody. You are fore-checking one player, because there are four or five hanging behind you. It's not anything that is instructed and it's not the way we want to play and not the way we should play, but it is natural tendency for any team. The thing that impressed me more than anything is the way we played in overtime. Outstanding. We went into attack mode and stayed on it the whole time. I was really impressed with the way we did OT."

[glen a richter]

Had they played the 3rd in attack mode, overtime wouldn't have been necessary. Hitch is a douche.

[Kreegz2]

I saw an interesting bit of trivia on NHL network. Other than Backes, who is the only player in Blues franchise history to score multiple OT winners in the same post-season?

[glen a richter]

I saw an interesting bit of trivia on NHL network. Other than Backes, who is the only player in Blues franchise history to score multiple OT winners in the same post-season?

Probably not an expected player... let's go with Geoff Courtnall.

[gaijin]

I saw an interesting bit of trivia on NHL network. Other than Backes, who is the only player in Blues franchise history to score multiple OT winners in the same post-season?

Turgeon?

[dmiles2186]

Obviously, I'm very happy with the win, but this team hasn't been able to hold a single lead all postseason. In fact, they hadn't held a lead this postseason (9 games) going into the 3rd period until Game 2...and they promptly throw it away. It's playing with fire, but I guess at least it's working for the time being.

It really would be nice to see them get out to a huge lead and just choke the life out of the opponent by holding onto the lead. We'll see. In the meantime, Ells continues to make saves, we've got guys stepping up all over the place, Backes with another OT winner, Brouwer with another postseason goal, and Petro turning into a defensive monster in front of our eyes.

[tjk002]

I saw an interesting bit of trivia on NHL network. Other than Backes, who is the only player in Blues franchise history to score multiple OT winners in the same post-season?

Probably not an expected player... let's go with Geoff Courtnall.

I'm going to go with Tony Hrkac (sp?)

[theohall]

Doug Wickenheiser.

[goon attack]

Turgeon

[ecbm]

Regarding the defensive shell-if Hitch doesn't want it he could have, you know, coached them out of it. I'm really not buying his protests. If, say, Vignault's Rangers or Cooper's Lightning started a period like that I have no doubt they'd call a time out and tell their players to get their heads out of their asses. The way their going into the shell-D dropping off the rush even when we have possession and constantly a gaping chasm between the D and the forwards-is exactly what we've seen from this team for the majority of Hitchcock's tenure. Coincidence?

I can understand the desire to play differently on occasion so as to stymie the aggressive forecheck on Blues' D as they exit the zone that both Chicago and Dallas have used to some effect but it can't be this crap. Find something that works, guys. You got a day to do it.

[thekortehaus]

We won. In the playoffs that's all that matters. If ugly wins gets a cup, I can deal with it.

But it seems like Hitch still thinks this is your 1990's NHL.

On a positive note, Backes is actually playing like, you know, a captain these playoffs. I'm very happy with his performance so far.


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[Kreegz2]

Yeah it was Turgeon in '99. Game 7 vs Phoenix and Game 4 vs Dallas.

[cprice12]

I don't think enough has been made of Edmundson's goal. Holy cow...he tucked that one timer from in close up under the crossbar...there are a lot of elite goal scorers who couldn't have done that.

[fargoblues]

Edmundson and Parayko have been absolutely phenomenal.

[tjk002]

.

On a positive note, Backes is actually playing like, you know, a captain these playoffs. I'm very happy with his performance so far.


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Not quite sure what this is referring to. Two years ago against the Hawks, he was playing awesome before he got KO'd by Seabrook. Backes gets blamed way to much for this teams past misfortunes.

[evil roy]

Per Hitch:

"It's the score. It's a natural tendency. What do they say? The worst lead in hockey is a two-goal lead. But it's natural. You play the score. You don't want to get caught so you put a safety net up. It's been like that ever since I started coaching. The other team plays with high-risk. So they are pinching on everything and trying to join numbers on the attack. So, they are full-bore go. It's hard to play that way on your toes when everybody is behind you. So, what they did is get everybody behind us and you have a choice. You go forward and attack but you are not fore-checking anybody. You are fore-checking one player, because there are four or five hanging behind you. It's not anything that is instructed and it's not the way we want to play and not the way we should play, but it is natural tendency for any team. The thing that impressed me more than anything is the way we played in overtime. Outstanding. We went into attack mode and stayed on it the whole time. I was really impressed with the way we did OT."

I saw that quote too and personally I thought it was ridiculous--Hitch is saying that it was the team's fault ("human nature" ) they went into a dump-and-change prevent defense? REALLY?!? Did he not notice that the players were "playing the score"? Was he somehow unable to motivate or even direct HIS players to alter their style? He's the damn COACH--isn't that the job description?? Is he honestly saying that the players took it upon themselves to play short shifts and chip the puck to the Dallas defense for the entire 3rd period and there was NOTHING HE COULD DO ABOUT IT? This is ludicrous for its obvious falsehood, insulting that he expects anyone to believe it and shameful that he would throw his own players under the bus.

Maybe the coaching staff didn't tell the players to lay back (highly doubtful) but they sure as hell didn't tell them not to.

But all that is in the past (i hope) and we've got home ice and a bit of momentum. Let's take two in the Lou and win this thing in spite of the coach.