Post-Game Reaction To Game 1.

by gallagher on Apr 16, 2009 12:28 AM CDT

Well, that's about what we expected. Take away empty-net goals and I would not be surprised one bit if every game in this series is decided by one goal.

Credit to the Canucks:

Roberto Luongo was every bit an all-world goalie. The lone goal he did give up he nearly got his stick on, too.
They played a more physical game. Every player in the corporate logo was hitting. While there weren't any devastating checks, the repetition is what wears teams down and reduces their will to absorb hits to make plays.
They stayed on the attack even with a one goal lead. That disrupted every counter-attack the Blues tried to mount. At the very least it's a more entertaining brand of hockey than going into a shell to protect a lead.

Good news for the Blues:

There's nothing to worry about here. They were not out-classed and they never looked like they were in awe of their opponent, which are sure signs of a quick exit.
They didn't play their game and still stayed close. When they match the physicality and get the power play working the way they have all year, it changes the game.
The rule for playoff hockey is to get the split on the road. If the Blues can address their issues they'll have a good opportunity to grab a win in Vancouver and come home to a DrinkScotch crowd that will be ready to blow the roof off the joint.
So, all of you who wanted Paul Kariya to stay in the pressbox... any change of opinion?

It's a long series and if anyone on either side expected this thing to be over in four, they were/are seriously deluded. The good news for the victor is that they'll go into the second round with some serious playoff scars on their resumes.

Tweet Comment 15 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

So, all of you who wanted Paul Kariya to stay in the pressbox… any change of opinion?

above all else, he doesn’t join us until he is cleared to play, and can fall right back into the chemistry.

if these two things are met, I think we can do without Steen. move Oshie to his spot, and Kariya to Oshie’s spot

"I'm sorry we hurt their feelings"
-Barret Jackman

by Dooks on Apr 16, 2009 12:42 AM CDT reply actions

Thumbing through the mental notes

THE BAD

I don’t think we test Lu that hard. More traffic, better shots, less looking for the perfect one timer. Lu is beatable, the Ducks did it already, I don’t by the worship of him.

We owned them physically until about the third when the ice tilted the other way. We gotta mash them all game.

DP was ugly. If PK is ready we might plug him in there to see what happens. DP either steps it up and knocks off the goofy penalties when he gets frustrated or he warms the pine.

Our D looked gassed at the end, flat footed and confused. WTH over?

The PP, what, 0 for 7? Slow passes are death. Not sure what to do here, we just suck all around. Where is the PP magic from early in the season? Can we get that bottled and delivered to Vancouver?

THE GOOD

No rust, we came out flying and hitting. No idol watching or Norman New Guy jitters.

The well endowed woman behind the bench. Lord have mercy.

Ah,,,,

Dum spiramus tuebimur

by spectr17 on Apr 16, 2009 12:54 AM CDT reply actions

I think the power play magic from the early part of the season

is still on a rehab stint in Colorado. I’m looking in your general direction Paul Kariya.

How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are? - Satchel Paige

by Dan. on Apr 16, 2009 5:51 PM CDT up reply actions

We have to match their intensity.

Their puck defense was great, and we have to do a better job of grinding in the offensive zone.

Our defense got the job done, we just have to stay out of the box.

Steen made some plays tonight, McDonald was all over the ice, Walt’s physical presence was crucial, and Berglund generated opportunities. We need more out of DP and Backes.

I’m looking forward to Friday.

by BoylenOver on Apr 16, 2009 1:45 AM CDT reply actions

The intensity comment is a good one.

www.stlouisgametime.com

by Brad Lee on Apr 16, 2009 1:55 AM CDT up reply actions

Our defense was weak

3 or 4 posts plus Mason made a couple great saves to keep it close. The game easily could have been a rout. Our D plays like that again and they’ll be golfing in 4 or 5.

Dum spiramus tuebimur

by spectr17 on Apr 16, 2009 3:23 AM CDT up reply actions

Aside from the lack of power on the the PP

I feel overall we played a good game, but as has been pointed out there is definatly room for improvement. I noticed alot of time when we setting up the passing was slow the and the shooting delayed, lots of half second waits instead of either moving the puck all the way around or letting a quick one through if the lane was there.

I had almost forgot how good playoff games are, gotta keep up the intensity, we gotta be the ones wearing them down. Should have kept up the snow showers on Bobby Lou, seemed to agitate his teamate plenty, and what was up with only getting 2min on one guy there at the end of the first, RJ ought to make a move to the WWF with those kinds of moves. I felt for Carlo when he missed that pass there in the last seconds, you could see his frustration when he belfour’d his stick.

by TLMotorsport on Apr 16, 2009 2:07 AM CDT reply actions

I wasn't disheartened by this performance...

…it was good to see Boyes get the goal. We can build from this.

by Rich of GASL on Apr 16, 2009 7:55 AM CDT reply actions

That's actually what I expected from game 1.

Not outclassed, not drastically outplayed – getting the feel for what playoff hockey’s all about for the young kids. We weren’t embarrassed like the other losing teams, and honestly, other than a little softness around the D, I didn’t see a huge problem. Vancouver has a different goalie, we could have won that game.

I think we’re playing well enough to take round two.

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 Apr 16, 2009 7:58 AM CDT reply actions

You said it exactly like I would

Thanks for saving me time hildy

by luvhockey on Apr 16, 2009 8:17 AM CDT up reply actions

I do what I can. :D

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 Apr 16, 2009 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions

Ditto

Except I didn’t read this until after I wrote my comment (below), so you didn’t save me any time. Thanks for nothin.

by BlueMonday on Apr 16, 2009 2:35 PM CDT up reply actions

I hate the Canucks already

Bunch of whiners and divers..

http://www.stlouisgametime.com/

by cold on Apr 16, 2009 12:31 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Not that worried

Sure, I would have liked a win, but I’m not freaking. If we’d gone down more after it was 2-0, that would have been bad. We got one back and kept it close. Get the split and come on home.

by BlueMonday on Apr 16, 2009 2:22 PM CDT reply actions

Late to the party (fucking stupid day at work today) . . .

As long as the Note can steal either Game 2 or 5, this series can still be won. I don’t see this club beating us in our building.

Boyes didn’t shoot 500 fucking feet wide of the net with that opening . . . we certainly need more of that when it presents itself. It hadn’t been happening lately.

Hinote just needs to keep agitating. Eventually he’s gonna get RJ to just go fucking ballistic and start crying or something.

All in all . . . still confident. But as I’ve said before, while it’s OK to be greedy . . . anything the Blues can accomplish from here on out is just straight-up gravy. (No BTT jokes!)

"The world is getting to be such a dangerous place, a man is lucky to get out of it alive." -- W.C. Fields

by Donut King on Apr 16, 2009 9:24 PM CDT reply actions