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David Backes is a slow starter, right?
Honestly I think Captain America is really sick and fucking tired of hearing that, and he is proving it out on the ice. The appropriately nicknamed "SOB" Line has skated, hit, scrapped, scrummed, and for god sake scored. Backes, along with Alexander Steen, and T.J. Oshie have combined for a total of 18 points in 4 games. EIGHT FUCKING TEEN! This team is certainly not your 2013 St. Louis Blues.
Last year the SOB line combined for 11 Points, most of those coming from Assists. Now the lockout does skew those stats, But I do think its worth noting that this year the boys have a majority of those 18 points as goals. This is the biggest difference I have seen on the ice this year, the team is not only capitalizing on their scoring chances but creating good ones. The Blues are "Digging in" if you will. they are playing a stronger style of hockey and there are a lot of points to go around. Who knew, Scoring by committee actually works!
Star scorer? Psht we don't need one. Suck it, Asylum!
Tonight's game was a big old jumble of weird. It started off in a similar fashion to the Hawks game, the Blues looked a little off but still scored first. At 5:38 of the first period Alexander Steen struck first with a nifty little drop pass to Oshie, who's shot on net Steen rocketed the puck passed Martin Biron to take the lead.
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After a round of weird penalties, landing Backes, Oshie, and Defenseman Barret Jackman all in the box for an equally weird mix of boarding, roughing and charging, the Rangers' captain Ryan Callahan tied it by poking the puck past Jaro Halak at 19:54 of the first. With in this play there was nothing Halak could do to prevent the goal. Callahan was planted in the crease, obstructing Jaro from even shifting towards the post to keep it out.
The second period is where things get weird. After Jaro skated off to allow for an extra man for a delayed call on Derek Dorsett, the Blues took a team minor for to many men on the ice making this the weirdest and the most head scratching penalty I have ever seen. The referee's tried to explain it away as Premature Substitution, but fellas you need to double check those rule books a little bit closely. NHL Rule #71 -- Premature Substitutions.
The tie stood till 5:11 of the second period when David Backes unloaded his first of the night. Cappy took a nice pass from Steener and just blasted that mother fucker 5 hole. It was very reminiscent of Steen's game winner against Shitcago the other night.
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Things got cooking from there.
The Blues went on the powerplay after the Rangers Justin Falk took an interference penelty. Derek Roy carried the puck blue line to blue line and smashed it past Biron at 12:44 of the second. For those playing at home, #RoyWatch now stands at 4.*
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Brad Richards would later capitalize on an ill advised play by Roy to bring the Rangers closer on the scoreboard 2-3. The goal gave the Rangers some new found life and seemingly new legs. But Backes was there again to take the wind right out of their sales at 18:27 of the second he deflected a TJ Oshie shot into the back of the Rangers net making it 4-2 going into the third.
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The third period saw a goaltender change to Henrik Lundqvist, and a Callahan goal right off the bat on the power play, but the momentum was all Blue and Yellow. Vladimir Tarasenko hit the last nail into New York's Coffin right on the head with a gorgeous corner snipe on the power play at 10:42.
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The game finished out with another W in the books, giving the Blues a history setting 4-0-0 start. I enjoyed every bit of the game but the end of the third was in fact the most exciting. The Blue's last minute surge seemed to last forever and resulted in some very creative chances that led up to Senko's goal. I am liking what I am seeing out there these last few games, now on to the next one Boys!
Those are my thoughts, what are your's tell me in the comments!
*UPDATE: #RoyWatch Stands at 5. He assisted on the Tarasenko goal.