Some From Last Year, Some From This Year: Blues Look Great, Then Shaky In Win In LA.

by gallagher on Jan 10, 2010 12:26 AM CST

Now I remember what's been missing this year.

Big hits and smart play from Cam Janssen.
David Perron scoring on a play that suggests wizardry was involved (love the post-goal stare down of the King that tried to hit him).
Brad Winchester and B.J. Crombeen involved in the game in whatever way is necessary, whether it be hitting, fighting or picking up the odd goalie-chasing score. In fact, both guys were but one assist away from completing the Gordie Howe Hat-Trick.
T.J. Oshie being T.J. Oshie with a frantic game, a sweet bar-ringer goal after a sweet goalie-demolishing move and several other great chances on the night.
The Blues did everything we've all been asking of them tonight, plus some. Hell, Brad Boyes took a big hit that he knew was coming to make the outlet pass that resulted in Perron's beautiful snap shot.

And then they went all 2009 St. Louis Blues Third Period on us.

With the game virtually sewn up at 4-1 and the ice tilted towards the net that Jonathan Quick had bequeathed to Erik Ersberg, the Blues allowed a goal by Dustin Brown that probably should have been stopped and a nice power play goal from the recently-cold Anze Kopitar (whose name I like to pronounce "Usual Suspects"-style as Kaiser Soze). At that point the Blues went into their standard protect the lead shell and opened the door for the Kings to pull off the improbable nine minute comeback that thankfully was not completed.

Davis Payne has been slowly tweaking this team into his own and some of the skill and creativity is creeping back into the game of the younger players, but how does he counteract this new trend of folding late in the third period? It's a matter of confidence and patience, but how do you teach that?

But before you all get all analytical in the comments, your Jon Stewart-like Moment Of Zen:

Tweet Comment 16 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I hate to say it

But a lot of the reason we lose late is because Mason goes soft in the third. Every big meltdown weve had this year has been after Mason started letting in softies. I hope he can turn it around and start playing like he did at the start of the year.

by Icion on Jan 10, 2010 12:42 AM CST reply actions

This is one of the reasons that Mason has always been a backup.

Backup goalies let in soft goals in the NHL. They can usually make some great saves and get most of the easy shots, but they’re prone to giving up shitty goals. Conklin does it too. So did Legace.

When was the last game that the Blues didn’t give up a soft goal?

SWYD

by gallagher on Jan 10, 2010 12:51 AM CST up reply actions

When was the last time the Blues had a No. 1 goalie?

Grant Fuhr? Curtis Joseph?

by averagejoe on Jan 10, 2010 12:58 AM CST up reply actions

Hall? Plante?

PTMFUS!

by LosBri on Jan 10, 2010 1:36 AM CST up reply actions

fuhr for sure, but the sad thing is

that somewhere in there, we had a guy go 42-15-9 with a 1.95 GAA, .921 sv% and 7 shuttys who couldnt be called anywhere near a no. 1.

roman “(sob) i only played hockey to make my dad proud” turek.

fuck that guy.

Paul Kariya's hips don't lie and he's starting to feel it's right.

by NateTheGreat. on Jan 10, 2010 1:37 AM CST up reply actions

LosBri has it right, I think...

I’m hopeful that one of Allen, Bishop, Karpowich, and/or Toivonen can finally be that guy.

Wouldn’t mind seeing Jack Campbell drafted by the ’Note, either.

"If we do not prepare for ourselves the role of the hammer, there will be nothing left but that of the anvil."

-- Otto von Bismarck, 1851

http://futurenotes.blogspot.com

by Tomorrows Blues on Jan 10, 2010 3:07 AM CST up reply actions

I'd say Fuhr

we would have to give up alot for a number 1 goalie, but its worth it. You can’t put a pricetag on a guy that can steal you 15 games a year. Im just wondering what goalies are out there that we could make a play for? Personally I like Varlomov. He’s a young guy that could be our number 1 for a while.

you smell that? that's what a winner smells like....

by stonewall jackson on Jan 10, 2010 12:28 PM CST up reply actions

but

why does the same thing happen with conk then?

mason needs to be better later, to be sure, but as far as i can tell its a team mentality because even soft, mason wouldnt give up 2 and 3 softies a game if the blues didnt give up more chances, with less clears in the third.

games have been late so i’ve not watched at the computer, but i would have made the observation on line, had i been on line, in all these west coast games about the blues seem struggling to clear the puck the later the game gets.

the blues are NEVER great clearing their zone, something that payne has a new system for, so maybe they get better, but in the third, with a lead, the blues game plan seems to be : when in danger there is nothing wrong with a half speed backhand clear attempt to the point position. yikes!

maybe mason seems that “clear attempt” and thinks bad things and is already back in the net and down before we officially lose possession.

when the blues, under the siege of a team needing a goal late int eh game, can still break out and get the puck deep, i think then we will have something to build on during all parts of the game

A strong anvil fears no hammer

by Childhood Trauma on Jan 10, 2010 7:30 AM CST up reply actions

i was totally thinking the same thing

every game there is at least one goal where I’m left thinking ‘how the fuck did that even go in?’

Look I'm sure youre a nice person and everything but that Redwings jersey you're wearing makes me want to cave your face in with my fist...it's not you it's me and the fact that you're a fucking Redwings fan

by RFJCC on Jan 10, 2010 11:22 AM CST up reply actions

Maybe this is my hockey ignorance speaking...

But if I’m gonna sell the barn to get somebody, I’d rather it be a bona fide scoring monster than a #1 goalie. Mason & Conks are both serviceable, IMO, and I feel like we wouldn’t have lost many of the games we have if we were scoring more goals.

Just think about this team if we had somebody like Kovalchuk. Nobody would be bitching about Mason letting in a softy every now & then.

Plus, again IMO, getting a true goal-scoring monster in here would put more butts in seats, sell more merch, etc.

Just my $0.02.

by Washoo on Jan 10, 2010 1:26 PM CST up reply actions

getting a true goal-scoring monster in here would put more butts in seats, sell more merch, etc.

But we already have Kariya under contract.

Let's go Blues!!!

by Milo. on Jan 10, 2010 1:28 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

a monster goalie means the

second tier stuff we got looks better and our d go up and score.

in the heyday of hasek in sabreland, the team played an odd man rush exchange game ON PURPOSE. yea sabres give up 5 odd man rushes to get 4 and then end up ith the win :), wouldnt mind seeing that here.

the more i watch fringe starters play, especailly in buttman’s nhl, the more i am convinced that the single biggest change a team can make OFFESNVIELY is to have a great netminder. also remember the goalies have slowly gotten better over my hockey watching career, and numbers that rocked in the 70’s as a save percentage would now suck.

keep in mind a great netminder makes all 4 lines better, where a top scorer makes 1 and a half lines better at most (the second line being improved by the team taking the first line player they just replaced with a stud and moved him to the second line, if a team upgrades via trade or realease and sign, it is only one line made better!)

and occasionally that sniper needs a set up man to be brought in anyway…

that isnt to say mason is not a starter. but i think the jury is out a bit. he needs to do it consistantly for a few seasons. and this season, and last, he has been inconsistant. mason is a 913 save over his career, unfortunately he is well under that as the “number one” goalie. needs to swap that around. needs to be higher than 913 as a number one….

A strong anvil fears no hammer

by Childhood Trauma on Jan 10, 2010 1:55 PM CST up reply actions

Kovalchuk would be awesome, but thats not likely

and I agree with you, I think that Mason and Conk are serviceable. They are both very streaky, which can be a problem for any goaltender. It could be worse, look at Steve Mason and JS Giguere. They are losing games for their teams. I think Mason could be that # 1 guy, but you really have to build a solid defensive foundation in front of him. Or you could stack the chips like the Capitals do.

you smell that? that's what a winner smells like....

by stonewall jackson on Jan 10, 2010 2:05 PM CST up reply actions

Bringin home a winnah baby!

Broke that losing streak and Payne gets his first W. Doc got to see her first Blues win also.

Strong effort from the lads tonight, everyone was skating and banging hard. Saturday night was alright for fighting.

Announcer say what? Saw a penalty called tonight I’ve never seen in almost 50 years of watching hockey. Had to thumb through the rule book for that one. Does anyone really care who freaking starts the game compared to what a piece of paper says? I don’t.

The NHL (No Hit League). Saw 3 hits, 2 Blues and 1 Kings that were called for boarding, roughing that were just plain ole good hard hits. This nancing around shit is ruining the game. It’s high time to get rid of Buttman or whoever is pushing that nonsense.

Staples center vs Honda Center. Staples more comfortable seats with fucking leg room for a 6 footer. Ducks rink did have drink holders but it was like a sardine can in those dayum seats. Honda Center no problem with my LGBs sign, Staples tried to confiscate it and then said I couldn’t wave it. After Poutine’s goal I got warned and then with 3 minutes left in our ritual 3rd period implosion they tried to take it. Told the pimply faced usher dude to worry more about the folks he’s letting walk in with food while the play was in progress.

Staples moves more like the old barn in STL when the crowd gets stomping. Ducks had better music. The Kings rink is very loud after a goal, one of the loudest venues I’ve seen after a score. $10.25 for Sierra Ale or a Heine in a large cup. Parking $4 about 8 blocks from the rink.

JAX sure seemed to eat a puck like Walt but it turned out okay. Almost a fight over the clown shoes dman who shot it out at JAX but I think the defense dude just thought the puck never went in and he was clearing it. Oshie’s goal was sweeter than ice wine, he held on so long he was pert near into our corner when he fired that laser.

Frenchie could draw a penalty in a monestary, the kid is a brilliant antagonizer.

Technoviking and Johnson had a little tête-à-tête going for a couple shifts. Bergie didn’t back away from Johnson’s taunts and pokes and even showed some snarl back. Good to see.

The annoying Bailey (Lion?) and his drum are on par with the towel man.

While waiting for the Blues to skate warmups there was a group of Blues fans around their tunnel heckling a lone Blackhawks fan in a jersey so I pitched in to help. Turned out they knew SLGT when they saw the decal on my sign. The Hawk fan returned our pleasantries with the finger. LOLZ. Took him about 5 minutes to figure out the heckling though.

The first goal on Mason was a rocket. Always a joy to see a first goal for a player and Segal sure enjoyed the moment.

Saw a lot of Blues fans at this game, It seems we’re either gaining Blues fans in SoCal or more are showing up out here. 2 Blues fans I talked to flew out for just the Kings game.

Met this dude coming in, yes, that’s 2 Blues monkeys on his back.