Blues Keep Chicago Slumping

by gallagher on Mar 30, 2010 10:18 PM CDT

During a season such as this, it's easy to forget how fun it is to be in the building when the Blues win. Especially when they beat a hated rival like the Blackhawks. And while the Blues controlled the pace through much of the latter half of the game, we've all been fooled before this season: even with two minutes to play and a two goal lead, I was worried.

Although the Blues were unable to get the always fun empty net goal and were unsuccessful in feeding Alex Steen for the empty net hat trick, they did what they have had a hard time doing all year at home and closed out a good team. The best part was giving us the opportunity to wish the red-clad departing sad faces, "a nice trip back to Schaumburg."

Good times.

Quick hits for your discussion:

The Blues are now six points out of the playoffs with six games to go, so that was a big win. Not that I really believe they can pull off the miracle run, but it is still possible, especially with the Avalanche going suddenly cold. Are you a believer or is your playoff money still in your bank account?
Chris Mason had as solid a game in net as he has had all season (although I wasn't in the building yet for the first goal, so I don't know if that was his the one that hit his softie quota for the night). That said, I'm not about to be tricked into switching my stance from "We need a legitimate starting goalie" to "Maybe we should bring back Mason." What camp are you in?
This rivalry is always fun. I saw a guy in the stands just razzing the shit out of some Blackhawks fans and then take it like a man when they celebrated in his face after their goals. He got the last laugh, of course, which he celebrated with a far-too-graphic depiction of himself jacking it to completion and then steering the product onto the Hawk fans. Too their credit, they just laughed and tipped their beers to him. Points for creativity, I suppose. Is this your favorite fan rivalry or do you like Red Wings games more?
Alexander Steen has gone white hot and should be a no-brainer re-signing. Disagree with me at your own peril.
T.J. Oshie and David Backes on a line has been great to watch. Tonight it was Steen on the other wing, but they were great with Paul Kariya there too. I can't think of a single question to posit to you here other than, how badass is that combination?
Erik Johnson's decision to break in from the point, resulting in the last goal was exactly why he was drafted first overall. So, you all done saying the Blues should have drafted Kessel or Backstrom or Toews instead, or will it take more from him?

Add your own observations in the comments and feel free to bask in the knowledge that some douche is driving home right now with a headdress crumpled up in his passanger seat.

Nashville up next on Thursday and they've had the Blues' number all year, just like the Hawks. Can they keep the streak going?

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One by One again

I think the only way I can answer the “Are you a believer” question is: Do I think they’ll do it? No. Would it surprise me more then what we pulled off to get into the playoffs last year? Hell no. Our fortunes rest in Colorado’s (and I guess Calgary to some extent) hands. All we can is keep winning. And this team seems to work best when all the pressure is off them, and I think there isn’t much pressure because we don’t expect them to make it now.

Mason… only way I see him coming back is a one year contract as a place holder for Allen, Bishop, or Fallon. Don’t see us going about it any other way.

Haven’t gotten to attend any Blackhawks or Redwings games since the 90’s (yeeeeep…) so I’ll abstain

There are very reasons I can see us not bringing back Steen, and all of them involve some other team grossly overpaying him, which I am not expecting. The only way I can possibly see Steen not coming back is if someone basically hands over a top 5 pick for him, and that just isn’t going to happen.

Honestly, I think Steen-Backes-Oshie needs to be our “top line” going into next season. Nuff said.

And I never was one of those who thought we shouldn’t have taken EJ first, and I’m more then willing to be patient with him. This team is still a couple years away from peaking: And when Johnson, Polak, Pietrangelo, and whoever the fuck else is manning the best blueline in the NHL, we can be f’n pleased.

Breaking News: I'm currently in the process of writing "I will not say and/or type "that word" 1,000 times.

by Novacain on Mar 30, 2010 10:38 PM CDT reply actions

Juan Mallagher has said this before

The only fans who consistently buy the Game Time paper and who genuinely get it and us are the Hawks fans. There are douches on each side of the fence, pricks that take it more serious than an adult rec league playoff game. But Hawks fans generally have a sense of humor and see the rivalry as a two-way street.

Let’s put it this way, there’s only one other blog where the guys who run the damn thing came to St. Louis and we drank beer with them. And they ain’t from fucking Detroit.

www.stlouisgametime.com

by Brad Lee on Mar 30, 2010 10:44 PM CDT reply actions

San Jose?

___________________________________________________
St. Louis Game Time

by averagejoe on Mar 30, 2010 10:58 PM CDT up reply actions

That was one writer and one commenter.

Sam and Matt from Second City came down. You will join us when we reciprocate next season, yes?

You should come down for last home game next Friday.

www.stlouisgametime.com

by Brad Lee on Mar 30, 2010 11:10 PM CDT up reply actions

My thoughts exactly

Chicago is a cool city, hell I have more friends in Chicago at this point than I do in St. Louis. It’s a rivalry between two teams who’ve both struggled to really achieve in the past 20 years or so, among fans with a deep appreciation of the game itself (as is necessary to stick with it for those down seasons when the Chicago Wolves were probably filling as many seats as the Hawks). Maybe this will turn in the near future, given their newfound success – but I certainly hope not.

Detroit has that smirk of entitlement, an air of self-perceived superiority. I guess when nothing else in your city is worth boasting about, you have to latch on to what you got (see also: Pittsburgh Steelers fans).

by Perrowned on Mar 30, 2010 11:23 PM CDT up reply actions

I haven't been around much lately, which makes me sad

but I will say that I enjoy the Blues-hawks rivalry more…but I enjoy hating the fuck out of the wings every chance I get. So, whatever that means.

I am The One Who Shall Remain Avatar-less.

by Classic17 on Mar 30, 2010 11:31 PM CDT reply actions

Hatin' is fun

One of the nice things about the Red Wings rivalry is that the Pens fans here also hate the Wings, so when I’m watching hockey at the bar we can bond over rooting against them

by Perrowned on Mar 30, 2010 11:47 PM CDT up reply actions

The first Blues game I ever went to...

Was Blues/Hawks. I don’t remember much of it, but somebody (was it Bob Bassen?) scored on a penalty shot against Belfour.

The chants of Beeellllfoooour resonate in my bones to this day.

by haveblue on Mar 30, 2010 11:59 PM CDT reply actions

steen etc..

thats a lot of questions. (new here, had to barge in) Sign Steen? hellya. Was EJ a great pick? Double hellya. He is a different player since the Olympic experience. That is obvious to me. Is Mason the guy? As far as where they need to put the money, yes. Need goals more than big a $$ stopper. He and Conk and are good tandem. 2.64 combined. Being a fan since 68, (yes…old) I still really like where this team is headed. Perron is a question mark to me. Finding a captain that can “captain” is another. They do have some money to spend now. Go Blues.

by lifdcup on Mar 31, 2010 12:07 AM CDT reply actions

That is an interesting debate to have:

which is the more pressing need: a top-notch sniper or a top-notch goalie? (Hildy, you listening?)

Assumming they address one or both of them through FA (a big assumption, true), I don’t think there are any snipers likely to be available in the Blues price range (aka, not named Kovalchuck). On the other hand, both Harding and Price intrest me in goal. Personally, I’d lean more on the Price side of the argument, since A) getting him out of the Montreal pressure cooker would do wonders for him, B) he might come cheaper since he’s publicly seen as an underachiever (despite being only, what, 21?), C) Harding’s now out for the year, and D) we could only give him (or for that matter, anyone we’d sign) a shorter term, 2-3 year deal, so if he works out, that’s great, but if not, hopefully Allen or Bishop would be ready by then.

As for forwards, I say we let PK walk and bring up Eller to start next year. We could then see what we have in him and go from there. Plus, he’d be a lot cheaper, giving us the cap freedom to not only extend EJ, Frenchie, Teej and Berglund (hoping this year was a fluke), but also to deal for that top-flight sniper to complete the ensemble should one become available mid-season.

Oh, and the Blues Blackhawks rivalry is fun – especially with my Blackhawk fan friends – but there are few words to describe how much I hate the Redwings. Let’s just say if Adolph Hitler, Osama Bin Laden, Joseph Stalin, Fidel Castro, Ghengis Khan, and Paulie Shore were all on the same hockey team, and they played the Redwings, I would root for them to beat the Wings so hard, I’d buy a Hitler #1 jersey.

…okay, I wouldn’t pay full price for it, but still…

I know it's time for hockey because I've started singing "Don't Stop Believing" with the words "...born and raised in FUCK DETRIOT!!!"

by J-Mill on Mar 31, 2010 12:34 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Rec'd like Brad Lee at a wine tasting.

SWYD

by gallagher on Mar 31, 2010 12:37 AM CDT up reply actions

Ha.

www.stlouisgametime.com

by Brad Lee on Mar 31, 2010 12:39 AM CDT up reply actions

steen?!?

meh.

lol ok if we don’t make the playoffs steen is the blues mvp, but the blues have no idea if steen is a top line player, and to sign him to that kind of money, then give him top line ice time is something we have seen too much of. HOWEVER the blues have dramatically increadsed steen’s ice time of late and the decrease seems to have been dumped on boyes. payne’s got no choice and must play to win until its said and done, but IF it is said and done, steen needs 22 minutes of ice per game….

ej has like 12 points in the last 18 games and is a +2. again, he has done excellant in PARTS of this season. but he is still a learning sophmore basically. next season he will be a well payed vet. not sure what will change between today and the 2011 puck drop for ej other than his wallet size. I too, was impressed with ej’s international play and role. if ej has a hot netminder and a solid team around him he can, and was, counted on to be a top class two-way defensemen.

A strong anvil fears no hammer

by Childhood Trauma on Mar 31, 2010 10:01 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm probably too drunk to answer all those questions...

but I do know one thing – ‘steering the product’ has instantly become my new favorite phrase

www.stlouisgametime.com

by Angst vorm Nichts on Mar 31, 2010 12:46 AM CDT reply actions

I think we were all pretty pumped

about Mason coming back for this season at the end of our playoff run last year and the goaltending has been subpar all year. Getting a solid #1 would be great, not just as a stopgap for the next few seasons, but to allow the Blues to ease Allen/Bishop into the pros when the time comes

about Kariya…. the only reason I changed my mind and wanted him back was to possibly keep together the chemistry on the Oshie-Backes line. But if Steen-Oshie-Backes works well, let Kariya walk, Tkachuck retire and work on bringing in a consistent, scary offensive threat to take PK’s place

Oh, and do the right thing and put the C on David Backes’ jersey…thanks

You do that... you go to the box, you know. Two minutes, by yourself, you know and..... you feel shame, you know. And then you get freed.

by medel19 on Mar 31, 2010 1:21 AM CDT reply actions

Cam used a new jersey slip technique to get the left arm free in his 2nd fight tonight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6P2Brr3R04

Several others have gone to this new way to swing freely recently. Dorsett vs. Burish http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDcb5hf_wXs

and Konopka vs Blunden tonight. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBaxgJ8rrBs

Sort of a new Rob Ray technique?

Pulled the arm from the bottom of the jersey they did.

Could this be the reason for Cam’s Gamer?

Just a chew toy for the hockey gods

by spectr17 on Mar 31, 2010 1:31 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

VERY NICE

I might have to write something about this new technique.

www.stlouisgametime.com

by Brad Lee on Mar 31, 2010 9:20 AM CDT up reply actions

Playoffs? Playoffs. Playoffs?!

No.

Last year, the Blues crept into the #6 seed with 92 points. This year, with six games remaining, seventh-place LA already matches that 92-point total. It’s mathematically possible (though highly unlikely) that all 8 of the Western Conference playoff teams break the 100-point plateau.

The Blues have a decent shot at improving on last year’s 92-point finish, and simultaneously booking tee times.

by BleedBlue42 on Mar 31, 2010 2:47 AM CDT reply actions

Definitely Hawks over Wings for rivalry

There are usually more people in the building wearing red for the Hawks games than the DeadThings, and they are better sports about it, win or lose. I have yet to be in seats near a Detroit supporter who wasn’t obnoxious. That didn’t stop me from announcing in a loud voice at the last stoppage in play, “Why are all the people wearing red leaving already??”

Great great win last night. THAT’s how you protect a 3rd period lead gentlemen.

The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong. But that's the way to bet. - Damon Runyon

by baroose on Mar 31, 2010 8:14 AM CDT reply actions

p.s.

not mentioned before by anyone because it isn’t a pro-blues thing, its an anti-hawk thing.

but something has got to be up with q and the net. i mean seriously. we know what happened here. but that also happened to him in colorado, and now he’s got a good team in chicago and his net is an issue. once or twice, ok fate, or just the blues organization, but the last 10 years in 3 different organizations?!?

q is definately trying to push his team’s speed and youth/legs advantage with outpacing many teams, especailly the blues, is he going to be able to get away with that in the playoffs, especiually trading fast breaks with his netminders?

just curious..

hell if the blues are 3-2 vs. the hawks. payne is 2-2 against them with one game to play.if they can’t consistantly out pace the blues what long term chances do they really have this season?

A strong anvil fears no hammer

by Childhood Trauma on Mar 31, 2010 10:11 AM CDT reply actions

My thoughts...

1) No, we will finish strong avoiding a high draft pick. Likely 2 pts out of the final playoff spot.
2) I agree with Novacain, they sign Mase to one year as a stopgap until we either trade for or otherwise bring up our goalies. (Hopefully a Number one for more than one year in a row).
3) I wasn’t around for the older rivalry you older fans refer to. But it is there with the hawks (suck). But I hate fuck detroit so much more it boils my blood. I can’t believe how much I hate them….fuckers. (I hate the headdressed ass hats too mind you. But it just doesn’t compare to the pure hatred I have of the red w’s up north. (No, we don’t even say the word in our house…. my 8 yo knows not to say the teams name in our house).
4) I can’t help but wonder if this season with Steen is an anomaly and he will go cold next year. It worries me. But he has shown he CAN do it. Will he do so next year too? Resign him, but don’t overpay.
5) No comment, as it is an awesome line.
6) No, I was never in the camp of not drafting the #1 rated player named Erik Johnson. He will ONLY improve over the next few years. This is soo cool watching him develop game after game.
7) I don’t mind hawks fans as much as wings fans. I hate em both. But I can’t put my finger on why the hawks fans are better than wings fans. Oh well, fuck em both. Better yet, fuck each other, reds.

What a fun game. and on national TV too…. (yeah, Dish didn’t blackout the game, fuckin Fox Midwest and dish fiasco.)

That is all….

PC Load Letter? What the fuck does that mean?

by DanGNR on Mar 31, 2010 10:34 AM CDT reply actions

By far prefer the Hawks/Blues rivalry.

More history and hatred there, and I’ve been conditioned to hate the hell out of the Blackhawks since childhood (thanks, Mom!). But, on the flip side, their fans are pretty ok folks save for the bandwagon ones, and every team has issues with those. They know hockey, their team’s been through a down period so they’re not holier than thou, and they’re not raging humorless douchespouts.

I know folks on Twitter that tease me and I tease them when the two teams get together, but we’re cool any other time. For some weird reason, I have a lot of Hawks fans that follow me, and they’ve always been nice.

I am disappointed that work’s filter stopped recognizing Second City as a weapons site.

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 Mar 31, 2010 12:04 PM CDT reply actions

All I will say

is that if Kariya’s lower body injury is revealed to be “groin”….don’t blame me….

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by drfrankentweed on Mar 31, 2010 2:44 PM CDT reply actions