The One Period Blues

by gallagher on Nov 23, 2009 10:42 PM CST

First period shots for the Blues: 16. Second period shots for the Blues: 3. Third period shots for the Blues: 12.

And the Blues actually played better in the second period than they did in the third, which was sloppy, slow-footed and off-target. If the homestand told us anything about this team it's that they are an incredibly inconsistent bunch. No idea what makes them think that 20 minutes of effort is enough for this team, but it isn't the attitude they had at the end of last year. Plenty to pick on tonight:

The Bruins did a great job of clogging the middle of the ice in their own zone. This allowed the Blues to do a good job of firing shots right into them which were quickly turned into a breakout.
That shorthanded goal was a back-breaker. Fans started pouring out of their seats with over 8 minutes to play and for once I didn't blame them. Mistakes happen, but that was a catastrophic breakdown.
T.J. Oshie was great last year because he was in constant motion. He was barreling up and down the ice and showing little hestiation at any point. He has lost that running motor. He had some moments, but he also had plenty of moments tonight where he was flat-footed or not moving towards the puck-carrier who was his responsibility. He's not a premier offensive talent at this level; his heart is what makes him different. He's not showing enough heart lately.
Patrik Berglund is invisible out there. His ice time slipped to less than nine minutes tonight and it looked like he played even less than that. Let's hope this is a sophomore slump and not the norm for what we should expect from him.
David Backes was trying to use his size and physicality tonight, but he's being paid to be a scorer. In over 17 minutes of ice time, he registered one shot on net.
Hit the net. I don't know how many shots missed the net completely tonight and then self-cleared by wrapping around the glass and going out of the zone far side, but it was a lot. Andy McDonald, Brad Boyes, Erik Johnson and others all did it. I understand that at the NHL level you have to make perfect shots to beat good goalies, but sometimes just making the goalie make a save turns into a rebound. Sometimes there's no rebound, but at least the face-off is in the offensive zone. Sometimes those shots even go in. I swear. Try it sometime.
One positive: The trend started with Erik Johnson, but a bunch of the defensemen are jumping up into the play more now. I like it. As long as they're getting back or getting covered by a forward, I think it adds an element of danger and makes the team harder to defend. Worked pretty well for Carlo Colaiacovo tonight.

Games in Dallas Wednesday and against the Predators Friday. Guarantee they'll need to play hard for more than one period if they want to win either of those games.

Tweet Comment 25 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I don't know about you all . . .

but I am not a fan of having Oshie and Kariya on a line together. Though on paper it looks like it should work, they do not seem to be clicking at all. I was shocked watching Osh tonight, cause he did not look like himself at all.

by breibird on Nov 23, 2009 10:59 PM CST reply actions

"I don't know about you all ...

but I am not a fan of having … Kariya on a line … at all."

by Washoo on Nov 23, 2009 11:05 PM CST up reply actions

lol

hmmm the opening. now what should i do with it..

eh just join in

phrases that currently don’t make me happy like i expect them tooooooooooooo

“the blues are on a power play!”

“Paul kariya shoots”

“tonight’s scratch: Cam Janssen”

“mason stopped 35 of 37 tonight”

brad shaw’s between period quote of “If the blues continue doing that in the third period everything will be ok”

A strong anvil fears no hammer

by Childhood Trauma on Nov 24, 2009 9:55 AM CST up reply actions

Here Here

I honestly almost groan when we get a power play because all it has been for us lately is giving the other team a chance to gain some momentum we’ve looked so bad lately

The term "in my humble opinion", which they think adds weight to their statements rather than indicating , in reality, "these are the mean little views of someone with the social grace of duckweed"

by Maverides on Nov 25, 2009 3:58 AM CST up reply actions

Wow

Didn’t take long for the air to be let out of the win streak party balloon.

Someone get a snow shovel and get this Stanley Steamer of a game out of here.

Some days its just not worth chewing through the restraints

by spectr17 on Nov 23, 2009 11:01 PM CST reply actions

this is not a new feeling

I have been disappointed with that line for several games (even when we won).

by breibird on Nov 23, 2009 11:30 PM CST up reply actions

Sorry I missed the GDT....

although I was watching the game. I’ve picked up this excessively time consuming hobby of cake decorating…and well, I had one to complete tonite for a thing at work tomorrow and another to start so I can take it with us for Thanksgiving. The cake for tomorrow worked…but the Thanksgiving cake is going to have to have a good old fashioned do-over. We’ll see if I can get it to work tomorrow!!

I was quite unamused with the Blues tonite…came out on fire looking fair, and fell flat and into a big stinky pile of bruin poo. But, what can we expect? We don’t know what winning more than 2 in a row feels like anyway. Its probably a very scary thought.

Oh well. Wednesday shall be interesting.

LETS GO BLUES

Put your big girl panties on and deal with it!

by BluesFanFromNE on Nov 23, 2009 11:12 PM CST reply actions

I think some of the folks feared you dead . . .

and poured out a 40 for you. Glad to know it was a false alarm.

One day, David Backes and Albert Pujols will combine forces to become the most awesome piece of violent force known to man.

by Donut King on Nov 24, 2009 9:42 AM CST up reply actions

you let cake decorating

get in the way of US? You’ve got to plan better girl

by luvhockey on Nov 24, 2009 1:44 PM CST up reply actions

I think the word for last night's performance was . . .

meh.

I’m not expecting that out of them for the rest of the year.

One day, David Backes and Albert Pujols will combine forces to become the most awesome piece of violent force known to man.

by Donut King on Nov 24, 2009 9:43 AM CST reply actions

arggh

how many of the last 10-12 goals are the result of not crashing the net with or without the puck?

like 1?

the announcer keep talking about epic scoring fail= keep it simple. how much more simple can it be to get 2 guys in front of the net when we have the puck on the other side?

while that may not be the ultimate game of pk and andymac and the like, it is WHERE ARE GOALS ARE. just do it.

d jumping up? its fine if we got two guys in the paint.

this massive 3rd man high cycle we got is reminind me of the barteko days, yea it worked half a season, then the other teams shut it down by just realizing that zus and bart and nagy were not going to score from the corner and all they needed was to make sure the puck didnt come in front.

assuming we need to

KEEP IT SIMPLE until things improve on the power play and the even strength scoring front, what exactly do you guys think the simpliest way is for the blues to consistantly at least threaten to score?

A strong anvil fears no hammer

by Childhood Trauma on Nov 24, 2009 9:51 AM CST reply actions

You know...

… it’s funny, because when I think about “how the Blues play hockey,” I think about having someone parked right in front of the crease to snag a rebound, push and prod at loose pucks, or tip in shots. I don’t think about open hockey, dump and chase, or amazing offensive speed.

Why the HELL aren’t we playing the way that God intended us to?

Reporter: There`s a "stamp out the Beatles movement" underway in Detroit. What are you going to do about it?

Paul McCartney: We`re going to start a campaign to stamp out Detroit.

by hildymac on Nov 24, 2009 9:54 AM CST up reply actions

Because God smote the Norris Division

and sent the Leafs to the Eastern Conference.

Let's go Blues!!!

by Milo. on Nov 24, 2009 5:56 PM CST up reply actions

God angers me.

Wait… are you saying that Gary Bettman’s God?

Oh, good lord.

Reporter: There`s a "stamp out the Beatles movement" underway in Detroit. What are you going to do about it?

Paul McCartney: We`re going to start a campaign to stamp out Detroit.

by hildymac on Nov 24, 2009 9:29 PM CST up reply actions

No

If anything, Gary Buttman ia only a small “g” god (and that is only true in his mind).

Let's go Blues!!!

by Milo. on Nov 25, 2009 6:14 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

I think you nailed it.

Rask was giving up rebounds like Pedobear gives out candy to little kids.

And NO ONE was there to clean it up.

On at least 2 of Boston’s 4 goals (I missed the one in the 1st period), there was a shot from the point re-directed in the crease.

It’s not that complicated. I don’t know if it’s a result of the D&C or not (which, btw, I saw YET AGAIN during our PP, just before we gave up the shorty), but it seems like we NEVER have numbers in the crease. IF we have someone there, it’s ONE guy, usually in the wrong position to make anything happen. I don’t know where the other 4 guys on the ice are, but it’s never in front of the net. Boston had 2 or 3 of their guys in good position to take a shot or clean up a rebound seemingly every time they were on offense.

If somebody other than Boyes had been in the crease on Saturday, Perron would have had about 4 assists to go along with his Felony Goal.

by Washoo on Nov 24, 2009 9:58 AM CST up reply actions

Forgot to mention.....

nice breakdown by gallagher, see, we do read the intros. The part about the D jumping up in the play is one bright spot for the Blues.

Now about that pekid power play. Anemic isn’t even close, it’s the hunchback of the league. Blow it up and start over, it’s not fucking working.

Teeeej, he’s just no the same bull in the china shop like last year. Hurt maybe? Not one whooo hit yet this year that I can recall

Goalies handling the puck, Mason showed why this is not advisable most times. Stay the fuck in the net where you belong goalies. One bad bounce and you’re hung out to dry every time.

Bergland, this is a no brainer. Feed the machine. He’s got the one time shot to give goalies nightmares.

I can’t tell if the players just go into a shell or MUR pulls them back but Jesus H Christ be aggressive the whole freaking game. Crash the net, finish checks. Make the other team uncomfortable and the turnovers will come.

Some days its just not worth chewing through the restraints

by spectr17 on Nov 24, 2009 10:32 AM CST reply actions

is it am or shaw

doing the power play now? i know they are practicing it (unlike keenan) but what i see on the ice from all that practice is complicated side to side passes through tiny seems that never work.

again. i’m not in charge of the team, but if we simplified —what do we do?

i’d suggest a reverse umbrella. pretty much one point man (ej). a wing and a d at the dots and two forwards on the goal posts. force the other team to cover the two low forwards with one man (a triangle) or two men (a really really tight box). triangle send puck to foward on post they are two v one down there. tight box? shot from either dot or the point depending on which one is open. shoot every single time your open with the puck. ever time. simple = don’t think. don’t over pass. see open. shoot it.

yea im fustrated but i’m about ready to do the ultimate sin and start yelling “shoot it” during our power plays. i’ll be so embarassed, but it is now to the point is has to be done!!!

and on sean’s “hit the net” it is why i made the “tipped just wide= inconceivable” gdt comment. umm it is not “just” wide whent eh puck is 3 feet wide. maybe more tip drills will help?

A strong anvil fears no hammer

by Childhood Trauma on Nov 24, 2009 10:43 AM CST up reply actions

They practiced those

in Sweden BIG TIME… they spent about 15 minutes with most of the players. Shot from the point with one man in front of the goalie… tip time…. I don’t know if they still practice it, but they did in Sweden.. and I distinctly remember GW (KT) scoring a tip exactly the way they practiced it the day before….

Sigh…

You can't call me a fair weather Blues fan.

by DanGNR on Nov 24, 2009 12:05 PM CST up reply actions

What about Cam?

Does it make sense to dress a guy to have him play for 4 minutes (or whatever it was)? I like Cam’s energy, but why wasn’t he on the ice when the Blues needed some energy?

by Mr. Particle on Nov 24, 2009 12:46 PM CST reply actions

I concur

He needs to play if he is dressed. You mights as well put a 6th defender, the defense seems like our only bright spot. Weird considering the names on our team. Oh and who again is the leader (Captain) of this team, and how did he become captain and why is he still captain cause he sure doesn’t look like he is leading on the ice. Who really should be captain? Maybe that guy is currently playing for another team. Go out and get a leader!!!!

by Blue Note on Nov 24, 2009 1:05 PM CST up reply actions

Missing the net that much is inexcusable

It’s like dropping easy catchs in Football or missing free throws in Basketball. It’s the simplest concept. If you are having issues scoring stop trying to pick the corner (especially when you are no where near hitting it) and just get the puck on the net

The term "in my humble opinion", which they think adds weight to their statements rather than indicating , in reality, "these are the mean little views of someone with the social grace of duckweed"

by Maverides on Nov 25, 2009 4:02 AM CST reply actions

Jamal Mayers anyone?

You can't call me a fair weather Blues fan.

by DanGNR on Nov 25, 2009 10:46 AM CST up reply actions

missing?

pah hitting aint so good either

Player S%
Yan Stastny 20
Lars Eller 20
Carlo Colaiacovo 20
David Perron 17
Alex Pietrangelo 14.3
Keith Tkachuk 14.3
Jay McClement 12.1
Andy McDonald 11.3
T.J. Oshie 8.8
Patrik Berglund 8.3
Paul Kariya 7.8
Brad Boyes 7
Alex Steen 6.3
Eric Brewer 5.3
Erik Johnson 4.3
Roman Polak 4.3
Brandon Crombeen 3.2
David Backes 2.1
Tyson Strachan 0
D.J. King 0
Cam Janssen 0
Barret Jackman 0
Brad Winchester 0
Mike Weaver 0
Darryl Sydor 0