Blues Falter At Anaheim

by Brad Lee on Nov 6, 2008 12:58 AM CST

By Brad Lee

Who knew Paul Kariya was the key to the Blues being a potent offensive team?

His absence on the ice more than half the game was glaring in a 5-2 loss at Anaheim Wednesday night. He suffered an undisclosed lower body injury after the Blues tied the game 2-2 on another power play for the No. 1 unit that features five forwards on the ice. That goal happened a little more than four minutes into the second period and Kariya wasn't seen on the ice after the goal. And it showed with the Blues being held scoreless the rest of the game.

On subsequent power plays, the performance of Eric Brewer and Barret Jackman on the point was definitely a step down. Yes, Jackman was on the power play. It was that bad.

He doesn't look hurt to me. Unlike the other four losses in six games for St. Louis, the Blues played hard much of this game. They did have a hard time controlling the best line for the Ducks. Ryan Getzlaf scored two goals and an assist, Corey Perry had a goal and an assist and Chris Kunitz had two assists. For the non math majors, that's seven points scored by one line. In other words, the Blues ran into a buzz saw. The Ducks are 8-01 in their last nine games. Getzlaf's three points pulls him into a tie with Evgeni Malkin for the league lead in scoring.

The Blues were resilient early. After Rob Niedermayer scored in the first minute of the game, Patrik Berglund netted the third of his career less than three minutes later. When Teemu Selanne scored about two minutes into the second, Andy McDonald scored on his old team less than a minute later. And then Kariya left and it was all downhill from there. Lines were juggled, the power play was patched as best they could and the Blues couldn't keep the score close.

After the game, Andy Murray spoke to Jim Hayes with FSN. He talked about his team registering 32 shots on net.

"We had a good compete level. We had good energy tonight. We made some mistakes defensively in our zone that we have to clean up," Murray said. "Sometimes a game like this where you have energy, you compete and you don't get the result you want because you make some individual mistakes, it's kind of a turning point. And that's what we talked about."

Defenseman Jay McKee said the Blues were more focused on what they need to do to win.

He doesn't look hurt here either. "We're back to the drawing board. We know what we can accomplish in our dressing room. I think we got away from our game for a couple games," McKee told Hayes on FSN. "Tonight was a little bit different story. We worked harder than we had in previous games. We got back to the basics and fired a lot of shots. We made some mistakes that cost us.

"We've really got to put some wins together in a hurry."

You're not kidding, Fragile Jay. After a 4-1-0 start, the Blues stand at 5-6-0. That kind of pace will land a team a good draft pick instead of a ticket to the playoffs. The Blues have a chance to redeem themselves tonight in San Jose with back-to-back games. No big deal. The Sharks have the most wins and most points in the entire NHL.

"We're going into San Jose tomorrow night playing a team that has yet to lose at home," Murray said with a wry smile. "As we talked about, why can't we be the first team?"

Bartender, cut that man off!

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mason sucks!

rest of the team showed up for 37 minutes

by Childhood Trauma on Nov 6, 2008 9:56 AM CST reply actions

I agree Childhood. The biggest glaring aspect from the story of the game is the weakness of Mason. I only got to see the first period(had to go work out by playing some hockey myself), but what I saw was a weak ass goal that Mason gave up. His first game the shot beachballs at him but the rest of team also played poorly so people didn’t want to blame the new goalie. His second game he looked strong against Carolina. Since then it’s back to the question—if the puck were the size of a beachball would Mason be capable of stopping it? I’m thinking no. I’d actually rather see Ears in goal than Mason. How he wasn’t pulled after some of the other goals is amazing. When the players started standing in front of the net to make the saves themselves it becomes clear that this team is not playing with confidence in their goaltender.

Why Murray wouldn’t pull him and put Bishop in is hard to understand. Mason has had four chances to win a game and has not done it. While Ben has been basically given one, you could argue two chances and he has one. The Blues should consider dropping Mason now. But if history provides any answers to the Blues they will hang on to him and hope he re-finds himself. I know we have seen it with Eric Brewer. So if Mason can string some games together he could end up staying here longer.

I don’t know what else I can say. After watching the highlights I don’t know how it’s possible to be a NHL goaltender and give a short side goal when you have position. You could say it was a great shot but Mason is huge and he was right there watching the shooter. That’s some b hockey league shit. There was maybe one goal he shouldn’t have given up but that’s it.

Our biggest need still remains a franchise goaltender. As it sits we have enough kids coming in from forward next season that we could finally have four lines that could threaten to score every game and lose the likes of Dan ’there’s scoring in this game’ Hinote. Once Brewer is gone we are a better team. We have some defense coming in next season. I think of Petro’s first season being next season. I see him being sent back to juniors. Jundland should be on this team now.

by Chris D. on Nov 6, 2008 10:16 AM CST reply actions

the first goal was a defensive breakdown but a goalie occasionally has to make a glove save. that jam in on the short side of the post wraparound would have been pull time for keenan.

throw the puck at the goalies leg and hit it with your stick and score? wow

kt was solid as a power forward again, the power plaqy looked (with pk in it ) like it was dangerous, but knwoing every decent scoring chance you give up = goal, and knowing you need to open the game up, wow deadly combo

mason better not start tonight!

the blues were playing on the road, yes, but vs a backup goalie and facing a tired team, one of those you wish the blues could steal from a “better team”

murray already in the paper stating his team is not that good (basically) and the 4-1 start was a fluke and how he won’t even know this team’s abilities til FEB!!

wow

by Childhood Trauma on Nov 6, 2008 10:26 AM CST reply actions

I’m seeing what I saw a lot last year when the team was losing a lot, and what I didn’t see early this year: a lot of work down low with no finish. Cycle, cycle, cycle, lose the puck. Cycle, cycle, cycle, lose the puck (odd-man rush the other way). There were a lot of times I saw all 3 forwards in the same corner, with nobody anywhere near the front of the net.

When seeing this time after time, I can’t help but think it’s a coaching thing. “Gotta work hard — cycle the puck! Show us you want to win — get into the corners!” Almost as if the “finish the play” (with a shot on net) isn’t stressed as being as important as the work done before that.

Is it just me?

by Mr. Particle on Nov 6, 2008 10:53 AM CST reply actions

good chance of Bishop starting tonight. best of luck Archie!

by Dooks on Nov 6, 2008 12:39 PM CST reply actions

They should’ve pulled Mason after the third goal. Mason looks like he couldn’t stop a beach ball. How did the puck even get in on that third goal?
The blues are starting to look just like they did last year, so no wonder they got hammered last night. Maybe Mason Is Really Toivonen in disguise.

by david on Nov 6, 2008 1:30 PM CST reply actions

It’s not all Mason—Polak had any number of awful giveaways. Perron’s head was in the clouds again (I love the kid, but trying to pull a full-speed curl-and-drag 15 feet in front of the goalie…). Jackman giving a THIRD cross-check to Getzlaf after the whistle didn’t help.

They’re a team that both can’t afford many mistakes, and one that is necessarily and youthfully mistake-prone. It’s a tough combination.

by LeNoceur on Nov 6, 2008 2:35 PM CST reply actions

Currently, I am shuddering thinking about what the San Jose offense is going to do to this team tonight….anyone with me?

by Adam on Nov 6, 2008 3:07 PM CST reply actions

when is Legace going to be back? I thought he was supposed to be back last week. Has anyone heard if he has been practicing yet or if he’s still completely out still?

by Christine on Nov 6, 2008 3:59 PM CST reply actions

why should i worry. mason can’t be in net tonight

mason 0-4 .878 save 3.59 g.a.a

all other blues goalies 5-2 .909 sqave percent 2.54 g.a.a

and it isn’t like our combined non mason goalie is an all-star this year. legace has been ok, the rookies showed some rookiness but had solid results with the same d-core (perhaps even worse) than mason has in fron t of him

while the team will have ups and downs and may still be outside looking in during playoff season, anyone not thinking the major fix that needs to happen on this road trip is mason can’t play hasn’t seen enough hockey

by Childhood Trauma on Nov 6, 2008 4:25 PM CST reply actions

Currently, I am shuddering thinking about what the San Jose offense is going to do to this team tonight….anyone with me?

That’s a tough one to call. The last two seasons, winning against tough teams seems to be all about which Blues team shows up…the one that fly’s the entire game, forechecking like mad, or the one that plays a period and a half of tough hockey and coasts the rest of the time. When the former shows up, they’ve beat the best teams in the league.

The other thing that makes that one a tough one to call is that I’ve noticed a pretty common pattern of the Blues getting their asses kicked by a team they should be very competitive with one night, and then immediately turning around the next night and pounding a team that should easily man-handle them. It’s like day sit in da penalty box for losing…an’ day feel da shame. Den day come out an’ beat da udder team down.

by Dan on Nov 6, 2008 6:10 PM CST reply actions

Childhood Trauma said: “…anyone not thinking the major fix that needs to happen on this road trip is mason can’t play hasn’t seen enough hockey”

I’m not thinking I don’t not understand what you said here.

by Mr. Particle on Nov 6, 2008 7:26 PM CST reply actions

I wholeheartedly don’t not think I definitely agree with you on that.

by Dan on Nov 6, 2008 7:31 PM CST reply actions

actually i think i got my negative right for once thank you very much. verbose maybe but right

anyone not thinking (everyone should realize) the major fix that needs to happen on this road trip is mason can’t ( bench sucky mason)play hasn’t seen (newb to the sport)enough hockey"

so pah, wait until i through no to not many negatives in no line of not words that negates not saying nothing that not needed no saying!

by Childhood Trauma on Nov 6, 2008 9:04 PM CST reply actions