Missed Opportunities: Blues Fall in Minnesota

by gallagher on Dec 26, 2009 9:53 PM CST

Apparently, with so many Minnesota natives playing at "home" today, the Blues must have thought they were at the DrinkScotch for this game. Playing an all too familiar style of play, the Note looked just like they have in far too many home games this year. All the little Game Time elves are working on Sunday's paper for the visiting Sabres, so I'll be brief and let you all fill in the gaps I leave:

I'm not advocating Ty Conklin as starter, because he's basically a good career back-up goalie, but Chris Mason looks like a good career back-up goalie way too much for a starting netminder. He makes some incredible saves every game, but he's a lock to give up at least one soft goal a game. Today the first goal by Guillaume Latendresse was softer than a meth addict's teeth and the goal scored by Kim Johnsson, while a nice shot, made Mason look flat-out silly. Honestly, we shouldn't expect better than back-up level goaltending until the team brings in a true starter to mind the nets.
As good as Erik Johnson looked at the start of the season, and as badly as I want to gloss over it, his play of late has been skittish and unpredictable. He carries the puck too long and doesn't seem to know where he's going with it and in the defensive zone he's made too many risky plays that become turnovers or near turnovers. Until he gets that confidence and swagger back, he needs to go back to basics and make safer plays.
How badly does Brad Boyes want a do-over on that re-direction shot off of Andy McDonald's sweet pass in the first period? On the backside with a wide-open net, he put the puck right into Niklas Backstrom for an easy save. Call that one missed opportunity.
The Blues worked hard to come back a couple times, but just like recent play at home, just could not keep the Wild from answering every time. Against a team like these guys, in their building, you have to make three goals stand up. call that a couple more missed opportunities.
I'm still hesitant to say it in fear of jinxing him, but Patrik Berglund was positively TechnoViking again tonight. Keep him on a line with David Perron and keep feeding him icetime, because he's getting more confident and looking good again.
Speaking of Perron, the kid has the desire for the puck and absolutely sick hockey skills. The last thing he needs is experience, which he's getting in his third year in the NHL. He's going to be a great player sooner rather than later.
Andy McDonald is a guy who I used to always describe in the Game Night Revue as a 'waterbug'. He seems to just skip and flit around on the ice and his ability to change direction is nearly unnatural. His goal tonight was beautiful, but his 10 goals and 21 points in 35 games is pretty low for what we expect. Call me optimistic, but I just feel like he's got one of those crazy scoring streaks about to break loose.
The Blues are flying home tonight and playing tomorrow at five. I know it's cliche at this point, but couldn't they just bus them to a hotel when they get in at 2 a.m. and make them think they're on the road? It couldn't possibly hurt, right?

Sabres at five tomorrow, so we hope to see you here. You weren't going to watch the Rams anyway, were you? Let's go out on a positive note, as Andy McDonald runs a cone drill on the Minnesota Wild:

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On a good note

They didn’t quit tonight.
Yes, Mason has been looking wishy washy and fish floppy lately.
If we have 2 career back up goalies then we should not act like we have a #1 and #2.
Just play the hot goalie.

On a bad note, we didn’t break 1K comments on a Saturday night. I guess lots of people have lives.

by luvhockey on Dec 26, 2009 10:53 PM CST reply actions

So I wanted to see just how good the "4th line" has been

so I went back to look at the last 5 games played to look at the forward lines and their score percentages of the team points scored. Then when i remembered that Berglund had only been back for three games . . . I also looked at their 3 game #’s
here they are:

7, 10, 22 4+4+6 = 14 33% 2+3+4 = 9 33%
9, 42, 74 4+3+3 = 10 24% 1+0+1 = 2 7.5%
15, 18, 20 2+1+5 = 8 19% 1+1 4 = 6 22.5%
21, 26, 57 52+3 = 10 24% 5+2+3 =10 37%
Last 5 = 42 Last 3 =27

Beener and Frenchie got hot when Berg showed up, Backes has been in a slump the last few games. (as his whole line has; Beener has as many points as Kariya, Backes and Tjosh COMBINED; that is NOT ACCEPTABLE) As many people do not like Winchester, he is picking up points w/ J Mac and Steen . . . it is an interesting picture to say the least after tonights -10 performance by Kariya, Backes and Tjosh.

by breibird on Dec 27, 2009 1:08 AM CST reply actions

sorry about the numbers coming together

I put in extra spaces but they disappeared. I’ll try again

7, 10, 22 . 4+4+6 = 14 .33% . 2+3+4 = 9 .33%
9, 42, 74 .4+3+3 = 10 .24% . 1+0+1 = 2 .7.5%
15, 18, 20 .2+1+5 = 8 .19% . 1+1 4 = 6 .22.5%
21, 26, 57 .52+3 = 10 .24% . 5+2+3 =10 .37%

by breibird on Dec 27, 2009 1:12 AM CST up reply actions

As for the Steen/McClement line

Pretty much anyone could have gotten points with them. Steen and Jay were sapposed to be big scorers but they didn’t have the full on skill to stay in the top 6. Im sure you are obviously aware of this but im just pointing out they aren’t true grinders but are retrofitted scorers. Since they are up against the opponents top lines which are notoriously bad at defense they have a good chance of sneaking goals in. I do believe they need a Winchester/Crombeen type player to round out the trio though, neither of them are very big and I’m sure top lines don’t like getting worked over so they need some muscle to step in and get punched a bit for them. I’ve long considered who would be a good third person to round out that line. A little scoring ability(crom/win/cam/etc don’t really possess), some toughness and the ability to play defensively. But for the moment we can pretty much toss any tough guy in there and those 2 will cover for them, but at a future date I would really like to see that line made whole. Winchester gets to soak up free points playing with them till we do.

I feel its the same way with Crombeen. He is getting points just by being with the incredibly talented Perron/Burg line and providing a little muscle if needed. Perron was playing great before berglund showed up but didn’t have anyone to finish. Now berg sets him up and Perron finishes. At first I thought walt would be a good third man in there sending him on to the wing again but nowadays he gets his points sitting infront of the net banging rebounds home which is what Perron has been excelling at lately paired with berg. I think if Boyes could ever find the net and live up to his sniper tag that would be a great combo. Berg making plays, perron infront of the net finessing it in and if they had the ability to kick it out to Boyes for a one timer, or atleast have him force the defense to cover him properly it would be ideal. For now though its Crombeen being a bit of a tough guy once again soaking up points being with talented line mates.

Scoring wise Oshie and Backes have been pretty invisible this year. Most guys have a certain way they put up points which is why people usually tend to catagorize players like they do, but I can’t really tell you Oshie/Backes’ style other than run around and hit stuff and hopefully get shots on goal. Kariya in that line just doesn’t fit at all but I think we are sort of handicapped by the players we have available to us. I like Oshie/Backes together but which player would we add in with them to really round out that line and make it correct? I think Kariya is in there to give it some scoring power, add a little finesse but none of that line has been playing very well at all. If our forwards would show some consistency we would alteast know what we have to work with but this team is just too flaky so everything is just a guessing game about how it should fit together.

This post is a bit longer than I originally planned but you put the effort into looking at the numbers and Ive been wanting to talk about the lines for a while.

by Icion on Dec 27, 2009 4:09 AM CST up reply actions