Blues Suck At Shootout

I’d be interested to see how many breakaway goals the Blues have this season (maybe last season too). I know they’re not the same as shootouts, but it’s the closest thing.

Also, there was a recent shootout loss I saw where all 3 of the Blues shooters used the exact same move and failed. Was the goalie that good at making it look like something was there, or was there some sort of coaching direction given? I wonder.

What are the league-wide numbers and averages for shootouts? Are other teams approaching our level of futility when it comes to shootouts?

Just looked up this delicious nugget: 8.3% That’s the percent of our shootout shots we convert. Boy oh Boy(es). Our closest competition for the basement: The 14.3% Boston Bruins.

I think we need more European forwards for this. If we had just one guy named Mikko or Henrik, we would probably actually score a shootout goal once in awhile.

I’m curious about the statement: “They have enough talent, in our opinion” in regards to the shootout. I believe it with the power play, because we have guys who can park at the doorstep and deflect, we are developing patient passers, and we have halfway decent guys who can clean up rebounds and put them in net.

But, as a hockey idiot, it still seems to me that different skills would be required to fool a goalie one on one. The one SO goal that Boyes scored, he deked the goalie halfway out of the net and then just parked it behind him. It seems that you either need: (a) a wicked quick wrist shot with deadly accuracy, (b) super fancy foot/stick work, or © some sprinkling of magic fairy dust or something.

It doesn’t seem like the Blues have that “creative” guy, who can be Michael Jordan (or Gilbert Arenas) with the puck.

If I’m wrong and an idiot, please tell me so. And remember to show your work.

they way us fans can help the blues on teh shoot out is to yell PASS as loud as possible.

When you can field a lineup of Kariya, Boyes, McDonald, Stempniak and Perron, the Blues should be able to convert at least one out of every three chances. Unfortunately, the Blues don’t have a guy like Jussi Jokinen who is known as a shootout specialist in Dallas.

Since this isn’t working, I wouldn’t mind Murray mixing things up. Give Backman a try or Backes. Something needs to be done different. McClement scored on a penalty shot not too long ago.

ah, i see where you’re going with that, trauma. a little reverse psychology. when everyone yells SHOOT on the power play, they pass. it’s genius.

i have been meaning to bring up part of the chat that JD did with jeremy rutherford over at stltoday.com. a question was asked about the blues wearing their white jerseys at home instead of the dark jerseys they currently wear. JD said: “I wouldn’t mind seeing them alternate a little more often. If Montreal came in, maybe we should wear our whites. I think it’s a good idea to change once in a while. Plus, who knows . . . maybe a third jersey sometime next season would be cool.”

JD’s a smart man. i highly doubt he would pull the third jersey idea out of nowhere, so it leads me to believe that it is under discussion, at least. now, i realize that, as a woman, i’m supposed to be excited at any opportunity to buy new clothes, but i’ve never been a big fan of the third jersey concept. they always seem to end up in an ugly jersey design and the vague feeling that it’s all just a ploy to sell more merchandise.

Ok, 8.3%. Can’t get much worse, so let’s go crazy. I have 2 proposals.

Proposal A (not too crazy):
1) Perron
2) Stempniak
3) Kariya or Boyes

Have you watched Perron during pre-game warmups? He practices all kinds of crazy moves. Give him a chance to try them when it counts, but let him go first so there’s less pressure.

Proposal B (so crazy it has to work, right?):
1) Legace or Ears
2) Walker
3) King

This is a shootout lineup that will get noticed, and if they score it’ll be “holy sh**, they scored!” as opposed to what we say now: “why can’t these guys score?” Plus it’s PR genius (at least as good as the taco nugget).

Think about it.

Apparently being a good player doesn’t guarantee you’re good in the shootout. Evgeni Malkin in Pittsburgh for his career is 3-17.

http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/01/13/evgeni-malkin-shootout-suck/

No kidding. Gaborik was a lifetime 0 fer 10 in the shootout until he beat the Wings the other day.

Mr. Particle is on the right track. Send King or Walker out there first, and just have ’em run through the other goalie. Then put the real shooters out there against the cold backup.

the dj move: back into the goal crease with the puck. back in some more, back in a little more. when you feel the boards squishing the goalies mask between your buttocks- stop.

does anyone know the punishment for punching the goalie on a shootout attempt? would you forfeit the shot or the whole game? i’m thinking dwayne comes in, dekes to the right and catches the goalie right in the gut with a quick left. it may not do any real damage, but it would definitely freak out any goalie who sees the video and has to face the blues in a shootout.

I love advocating senseless violence as a legit tactic.

If this were the early 90s and the Blues were in a shootout with Eddie the Eagle, the Blues would have definitely tried the punch to the head strategy.

I say let Backman give it a shot. He had a pretty sweet move on Roberto the other night (that’s one baby!) and he’s Swedish. I could be wrong, but it seems like Swedish and Finnish guys are fucking money in shootouts.

Also, I think that Kariya is around .500 lifetime in shootouts, which is pretty good. I guess he’s on a shootout cold streak that just happens to coincide with joining the Blues.

Seems EVERY cold streaks coincides with playing with the Blues, ALWAYS. Or maybe that’s just me still being bitter since we lost against Vancouver…

Getting shutout by Luongo isn’t a sign that the Blues can’t shoot. He’s a damn good goalie. Mike Smith got lucky in Dallas (one post, one awesome-even he doesn’t know how he got to the puck-save), and I don’t know what the hell happened against Edmonton apparently Garon has a five-hole problem?

I know that Smith (the Dallas backup) does-you beat him five hole by moving the puck from side-to-side across the net because he strides across the crease instead of sliding. Michael Leighton (Carolina) has the same problem, and it hasn’t gotten any better since he left the Blackhawks.

Something else to consider: perhaps too much emphasis is put on slick dekes and fancy play. How about a wicked-hard slapper? If it is accurate and came from a guy more known for puck handling, it could work. I seem to recall this being tried last year in the Eastern Conference, with success. Even if the they make the save, it’ll put the fear of God in them.