Thursday links: One goal? On nearly 40 shots? Seriously? edition

by averagejoe on Dec 2, 2010 5:00 AM CST

Stupid cheap-ass sticks. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

Not a fun loss.

Blues news

We're going streaking? The Blues have lost four in a row. Where have you gone T.J. Oshie? [St. Louis Post-Dispatch]
In case you missed all the roster moves, JR has a breakdown. Moving David Perron to the IR was just to free up a roster spot, he can return at any time. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch]
Cam Janssen and D.J. King didn't get a chance to fight Wednesday. Shame. I didn't get enough of watching Cam get punched in the face on Tuesday. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch]
Jake Allen is dominating the AHL. Trade bait? Trade bait. [NHL]
The Blues annual rink tours is set for Dec. 12. [Blues]

Hockey news

Puck Daddy doesn't buy that the NBA is better than the NHL. [Puck Daddy]
The Sabres have a new ownership group that is raising eyebrows. [Die By the Blade]
Carolina is rebuilding. Maybe. And they may be doing it the right way. Maybe. [Canes Country]
Dany Heatley is returning to Ottawa tonight. You think they'll boo? (They will.) [TSN]
The Edmonton Oilers are staying in Edmonton. [TSN]
The Leafs, or part of them, may be for sale. [TSN]

Other links

A search engine devoted to finding movie quotes. I have a feeling this will make Randy Moller's job a lot easier. [Subzin]
I had a fun email exchange with Mr. Gallagher and friend Nate about this yesterday: A minor league baseball team has chosen to go by the name Skeeters. Seriously. [Deadspin]
From NatetheGreat: Remember when it was OK to be sexist? Those were the days. (Kidding.) [I Can Has Internets]

Video

I need some videos. Until then, get to know the newest Blue, Stefan Della Rovere in a poorly-lit interview. He's friends with Petro!

gametlmelinks(at)gmail.com

Tweet Comment 31 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Long-time reader, first-time poster

Hey all, new to the boards…I guess I’m starting off with a rant…

I’m getting so sick and tired of these fluky-ass goals. Am I the only one that notices that we haven’t been getting the same bounces as other teams?

Halak tries to bat the puck out of the air and it goes in.

Halak tries to glove the puck, it bounces off Brewer and in.

I know stuff happens from time to time, but I’m gonna have a goddamn spaz-out if it keeps happening.

Also, on a more rational note…it just seems we’re not talented enough to compete with better teams. I love Oshie, Perron, Johnson, Backes, etc…but it seems like we don’t have one of those players (like Crosby, Stamkos, Ovi). We don’t have someone who can just dominate a game all by themselves.

Sorry, it’s just maddening watching this team night after night get victimized by bad bounces and an offense that ranges from dead to slightly alive.

by You Just Got Oshie'd on Dec 2, 2010 6:02 AM CST reply actions

Welcome aboard

And welcome to our frustration

Baltimore Blast - 6-time MISL/NISL Champions
Let's go Blues!

by UIWWildthing on Dec 2, 2010 6:39 AM CST up reply actions

Carolina's rebuilding eh?

How about plucking Staal from their Stall?

by I_AM_SPARTACUS on Dec 2, 2010 6:13 AM CST reply actions

Hes who they are rebuilding around I think.

He raged at the world, at his family, at his life. But mostly he just raged.
Jay McClement for Selke in 2011. Justice will be served. Penalties will be killed.

by Icion on Dec 2, 2010 6:15 AM CST up reply actions

Blues played a pretty damn good game last night, especially coming on the back-half of a back-to-back.

McClement did a really nice job checking the Ovechkin/Backstrom/Knuble line and the Blues forced half-again as many offensive zone starts as defensive zone starts. Less a lights-out Varlamov, my Caps are probably skating out of there without a point.

I really believe that if Perron and Oshie are healthy, the Blues will make some noise in the playoffs. The style I saw last night grinds opponents down over the course of a playoff series, especially when the team is smaller than the Blues (which is almost all of them).

"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box

by Knee high to a duck on Dec 2, 2010 6:41 AM CST reply actions

The Only Good game is a Win.

Thats a fact

by Both Hawks Suck! on Dec 2, 2010 3:11 PM CST up reply actions

Two bad games in a row, and both on national television. (For the most part national television anyway).

The Once and Future King

by FlaGators on Dec 2, 2010 7:13 AM CST reply actions

A loss is a loss, but I don’t think we played bad last night. We pretty much played right with the Caps, and we might have won if it weren’t for the puck rolling off of Boyes’ stick more than once, Varly making some incredible saves, and a Brewbot unlucky positioned in the wrong place.

Still a loss is a loss and it stings.

by NaJaKwa on Dec 2, 2010 8:37 AM CST up reply actions

Yeah. Good point. I just still can’t believe that only one puck found its way into the net. The hockey Gods owe the Blues a couple.

The Once and Future King

by FlaGators on Dec 2, 2010 8:44 AM CST up reply actions

I think the biggest problem with this losing streak is the way we’ve lost the past four games…the 2 Dallas ones we’ve led for a while and then lose it late…the Chicago game we just got smoked in the first 30 minutes before deciding to make it interesting, only to give it up again…and then we skated with the Caps, only to run into Varly the Wall.

I know that losing happens, but the way we’ve lost the last four is cause for concern.

by You Just Got Oshie'd on Dec 2, 2010 9:13 AM CST up reply actions

You know, the Blues could expand their rink tour to Springfield...

People here keep thinking this is a Blackhawks town all of a sudden…

by Paperwork Ninja on Dec 2, 2010 8:39 AM CST reply actions

Sorry but.....

Allen is NOT trade bait…..hes younger than Bishop……if Bishop is playing well I say trade him……..I might get srguements but Im sorry….I just have a feeling that Allen will be the better of the 2 come their day……

I still maintain Vladimir Konstantinov got what he deserved...If you can't handle that then kiss my ass......

"I've got a bad feeling about this..."

by dablues7 on Dec 2, 2010 8:44 AM CST reply actions

the difference

is that Allen has MUCH higher trade value. I mean, if you could get similar returns on them, obviously Bishop is the one you’d dangle.

But I mean, I’d obviously rather trade Brad Winchester than David Backes, too.

Next in the Nate the Great mystery series: Nate the Great searches for a free-agent forward who doesn't blow dicks.

by NateTheGreat. on Dec 2, 2010 8:59 AM CST up reply actions

there only one net

and halak has a four-year contract. in all honesty, bishop and allen dont really fit into the blues plans—neither really has much value as a backup.

trade ’em both, get some damn offense.

St. Louis Game Time Fact: Morning links are part of a well-balanced meal.

SBNSTL Writing about the Blues in more than one line is tough.

by averagejoe on Dec 2, 2010 9:21 AM CST up reply actions 2 recs

rec'd like, well ...

our offense.

Next in the Nate the Great mystery series: Nate the Great searches for a free-agent forward who doesn't blow dicks.

by NateTheGreat. on Dec 2, 2010 9:25 AM CST up reply actions

And If Halak gets hurt.....

Or goes all Roman turek on us????……..I want a better insurance policy than ConkBlock…….

Bishop and Allen are just that…….and besides……at the end of Halaks contract Allen will be what……24 or 25??…just about right……..give him another year in the AHL before you decide to flip him or keep him……

I still maintain Vladimir Konstantinov got what he deserved...If you can't handle that then kiss my ass......

"I've got a bad feeling about this..."

by dablues7 on Dec 2, 2010 12:35 PM CST up reply actions

Or if once our defense comes back, Halak keeps playing like this

I say if allen keeps playing like he is, and Halak keeps playing like he is, then maybe its time to call up Jake and pressure Halak a little bit.
He thrived in the pressure cooker of Montreal, maybe he’s getting too relaxed.
And if that fails, Allen’s up with us to tend the goal.

Regardless of how long we have Halak, the best goalie should play. It doesnt matter how it would make management look if they admit they messed up on Halak’s value.

Bishop and Allen are just coming into their own, and we sign a goalie who chokes at the first sign of weak defense. I’m not going to lie. When I was called and told we traded for his rights, I was so excited I was screaming and actually ran a few circles. I’ve folowed the guy since two years ago, and loved him. But now he’s not what I saw then.

"What's the use of being Irish if you can't be thick?" Billy Conn

Sextus: You can break a man's skull, you can arrest him, you can throw him into a dungeon. But how do you control what's up here?
[taps his head]
How do you fight an idea?

by Crapchesterian on Dec 2, 2010 1:23 PM CST up reply actions

Hes fine, your over reacting. He gave up 2 legit goals last night and in the end it would have been a 2-1 loss against the highest scoring team in the league.

He raged at the world, at his family, at his life. But mostly he just raged.
Jay McClement for Selke in 2011. Justice will be served. Penalties will be killed.

by Icion on Dec 2, 2010 1:39 PM CST up reply actions

yea, I am overreacting

but. other games havent been so nice. And our defense can certainly help more than they are, but in the end, he has the chance to save every shot.

I’m just worried because when I heard we traded for his rights, I was so excited, I ran circles and screamed.

And now I’m remembering how excited I was when we signed Legace.
and then I remembered how excited I was when Mason took the starting job.
I dont want Halak to continue that tradition..

"What's the use of being Irish if you can't be thick?" Billy Conn

Sextus: You can break a man's skull, you can arrest him, you can throw him into a dungeon. But how do you control what's up here?
[taps his head]
How do you fight an idea?

by Crapchesterian on Dec 2, 2010 11:45 PM CST up reply actions

If Halak gets things together and plateaus...

Then He’ll be fine in net for the term of his contract. At which point Allen will be 24 and the team can evaluate whether to resign Halak or bring up Allen, presuming they don’t trade him. But its too early to be thinking about throwing Halak to the Lions. He may return to form and justify the faith we had in him, or he could de-evolve into Legace. If the former happens, so much the better, if the latter, that’s what Bishop is for.

by Both Hawks Suck! on Dec 2, 2010 3:20 PM CST up reply actions

Completely disagree.

in all honesty, bishop and allen dont really fit into the blues plans—neither really has much value as a backup.

This is Conklin’s contract year, yes? I love what he did for the Blues last year, but this year, he’s been sucking rancid canal water.

How do you figure that a 24-YO Bishop has less value as a backup to Halak than a 34-YO Conklin?

Here’s how things would be going if I were running the show at 14th and Clark:

Conklin would be moved at the deadline as a rental, for whatever the Blues could get for him. He still has some value, and they should be able to get a reasonable return from someone as a rental.

Halak and Bishop would be the goalies in St. Louis next year. Allen would be the No. 1 in Peoria, and the Blues would either sign Alaska’s Gerald Coleman to a contract in order to have him back up Jake The Snake in P-Town, or else (my preferred option) convince Paul Karpowich to forego his senior year at Clarkson next year and turn pro after this season is done.

A goalie would be drafted in June, third or fourth round, to keep the pipeline primed.

"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 Dec 2, 2010 6:56 PM CST up reply actions

what i meant was

with allen and bishops talent, wouldnt they serve more good … starting?

trade one of them for a scorer. sitting on the bench playing 20 games a year doesnt do anything for me.

St. Louis Game Time Fact: Morning links are part of a well-balanced meal.

SBNSTL Writing about the Blues in more than one line is tough.

by averagejoe on Dec 2, 2010 7:42 PM CST up reply actions

that's what i took from it

maybe just one of them, and draft a goalie in 2nd rd? just spitballin.

#SilentJay4Selke
@ProdigiousOne - twitter
Halak to Move it Move it

by ilikeboyes on Dec 2, 2010 9:29 PM CST up reply actions

OK, fair enough... but...

I’d much rather have Bishop as the Blues’ insurance policy than Conklin. No offense to Conklin, but if Halak gets hurt or goes into a slump, I’d be more confident in handing the reins over to Bishop — who’s ten years younger, and who’s been developing in this system for five-plus years.

Allen’s having a great start to his career, one of the best in goaltending history, in fact… but he knows, and the Blues know, that he’s got development to do yet, and adjustments to make to the pro game. Give him the reins in Peoria down the stretch, trade Conklin at the deadline, and call Bishop up to back Halak.

Then draft a goalie, sign Karpowich, and let Bishop come to camp next year and play his way into splitting the duties with Halak down the middle. If you want to trade on or the other of them, after developing them like Sam Jose did with their goaltending stable, that’s fine… but you have to develop them first.

San Jose didn’t trade any of their goalies until they’d gotten significant NHL time to show what they were capable of. If the Blues wish to follow in those footsteps, that’s fine… but don’t half-ass it.

"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 Dec 2, 2010 10:47 PM CST up reply actions

I would not be so down at the mouth over this one. The Blues just got a ton of bad breaks and could not buy a bounce. It happens.

I thought they played an outstanding game, though, especially considering the talent they have out due to injuries.

This team is a slam dunk to make the playoffs, and no one will want to play them. You’ve got something good cooking in St Louis, enjoy the ride up.

Patron saint of quality footwear.

by fat_daddyo on Dec 2, 2010 10:10 AM CST reply actions

Blows.

I thought the Blues outplayed the Caps for the most part. Varlamov just played on his head for a good portion.

On a side note, when are players (esp. those with big shots) going to realize that composite sticks cannot be relied upon.

Can we get rid of composite sticks and maple bats? Is it too much to ask?

Yea ≠ Yeah

by labbadabba on Dec 2, 2010 11:51 AM CST reply actions

In case you guys are interested, I collected the scoring chances for last night. You can see them here. Sorry for this next link (as it goes to my own writing), but I put up a H2H chances chart at the bottom here. I had to do it my hand, so apologies if I’m a bit off. I did defenseman to defenseman, and center vs center, just listing the most frequent wings next to the center. I’m not exactly sure who your true centers are though (I wish the Caps had some good centers…)

My blog and Twitter, featuring coverage of the most unpredictable team in the NHL and where we defend Mike Green, Alex Ovechkin, and Alexander Semin until the bitter end. That is to say, when someone tries to call BS on the Corsi numbers.
If you don't know how to use Timeonice, read this.
"Numbers don't lie, they just don't agree with you"--George E. Ays

by red army line on Dec 2, 2010 12:33 PM CST reply actions

Nice job

you put alot of work in those charts. Appreciate you sharing.

Hockey players wear numbers because you can't always identify the body with dental records.

It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all. Laura Ingalls Wilder

by luvhockey on Dec 2, 2010 4:28 PM CST up reply actions

Concur... excellent work.

"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 Dec 2, 2010 6:59 PM CST up reply actions

Luckily Vic Ferrari made a script to calculate which players are on the ice at which time. I can’t even imagine how it was before, for Dennis for the Oilers.

by red army line on Dec 2, 2010 8:06 PM CST up reply actions