Best Yet To Come For The Blues

this site’s analysis of our playoff run and this season have been spot on. its refreshing to hear an educated analysis of where we are. i’ve already heard way too many “fans” coming out of the game last night saying, “same old blues.” Not to mention some of the media’s analysis. Where have these people been? Did they miss the metamorphosis that has occurred? The tone that is set by SLGTs analysis is right on the money. I am so freaking pumped already for October.

The growth of this site has been insane and I have seen no shortage of people mentioning what a boon it has been to them. Part of that is on gallagher and brad (and this Juan character?) but the community here has really taken to the tools that SBN have provided like ducks to water (or Canucks to cheap-shotting). The foundation for the community here, much like the team on the ice, has been set and it’s a great one.

You guys have a lot to look forward too and having a lot of people to share the ride with is certainly not the least of them.

Congratulations!

More importantly, you could see in game four this team adapting to the pace and physicality of the playoffs. They were learning.

Yep, this was a huge step. Very lucky they got to take it considering where they were in January.

I don’t give a damn what happened (alright, yeah I really really do), the second half of the 2nd and the whole 3rd period was riveting hockey. I think Brad has been right about the “violence” of the series — all those fierce hits, which i think were finally wearing each team down by the late stages of Game 4. For a four-game sweep, this was trench warfare.

During the 3rd period it looked like both teams went into a less balls-to-the-walls and more strategic style of hockey, where they were actually conserving energy by not trying to absolutely destroy the opponent with a hit. Probing but also carefully avoiding mistakes and potential penalties. I forgot how much I loved watching the dynamics of a series evolve like that.

Or as I told my wife during OT: “Oh, god, it’s been so long since I had this knot in my stomach.”

I’m extremely happy. I raised my beer to the Blues last night and was not pissed at all. I would have rather of lost by that one overtime goal than gave up to a two to nothin spanking. I’m satidfied because there is hope. Hell ya who couldn’t be excited about next year. The only thing this team could regret is maybe a few more games of playoff experience under their belt.

I’ll lift my glass to the Blues. Its been an amazing journey watching the team grow up. It really has. I was really upset about the loss, but not at the team. Sure there was questionable officiating and all, but as was said above, the Blues have nothing to regret. The played incredible hockey through the stretch and made it to 6th in the playoffs. NO ONE predicted that. I really do hope that KT comes back. 25 goals and still hitting like that is nothing to be upset about. I just hope he really retires with the Note on. We have seen how amazing we can play, with no name guys. I say bring on the next season, and God help whoever is playing the Blues.

Here’s some slapshot to quench your thirt foos

The great thing about this game is we don’t have to wait long for another season to start. Still heartbroken…but excited and optimistic for next season. And baseball isn’t too terrible to watch.

You have to realize us old geezers have been to the big show many many times before and been rat forked every time. There was once a time when making the playoffs was not even a thought, it was who we would play. I have one buddy who was a STH who goes way back to ‘67 who’s just had his heart ripped out so many times he doesn’t really follow the Blues much anymore. I’m working on changing that and I think this season and making the playoffs will help bring him back round.

Why are we so hurt and feel let down? We’ve sniffed the cup a time or two and now 42 years later we realize there may not be many more chances for us day 1 fans to celebrate with Lord Stanley’s Magnificent vessel. Several of our gang that hung out at the old barn most games are gone and each year or two we lose another. My mom, who was a huge Blues fan, is gone and dad, who took me to my first Blues game, isn’t able to go anymore. Times is running out for us. We may react wrong to you or say the wrong thing but we all love our Blues, we just get frustrated sometimes. We may be greedy, we may be pushy but we’re just lunatic Blues fans to the core who want to touch our first cup.

The Blues losing the in the playoffs has even sparked talk among some of us about an unknown curse that may exist. The Owen Nolan goal, Hullie’s skate in the crease, the “Intent To Blow” from this last game for example. 42 years now and we’re starting to wonder if we’re gonna end up like Red Sox Fan or god forbid, Cubbie fan. So far no curse has turned up or been declared that I’ve seen.

To me this year seemed like the Blues were on a divine mission after the Jan turnaround. Long shots but hey David beat Goliath, Sea Biscuit was the butt of stable jokes, our college kids beat the Big Red Machine for the Miracle On Ice and the ‘69 Mets were the laughing stock of MLB. I didn’t see the first two in person but did watch some Mets games and they were as sorry and stinky as the Blues of Nov and Dec 08. Last place with no freakin chance was a common theme always mentioned. Sure the other teams were better but it sure seemed like we had a chance and something magic was happening.

Then, suddenly, it all came crashing down around us last night. Deju Vu all over again as Yogi would say. Be gentle with us veteran fans, we’re just a bit gun shy and vindictive sometimes from past daggers to our hearts. Getting swept again is the worst possible feeling for me but that is also mellowed a bit by the fact great daze are coming to San Louie. I see the plan in place working, I just wish we could mash that accelerator down a bit further.

/tome

LET’S GO BLUES!!

My first game was 1968. I’ve lived and died each year with the blues. While I have hopefully another 40 years in me, I’d prefer it not take that long.