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First Period
This game was fucking early for my lazy ass. The St. Louis Blues seemed to follow my sleeping style and played exhausted in the first period with out having their pre game nap. The Islanders were utterly aggressive and fast right off the hop on the first face-off. Jaroslav Halak seemed to start getting some of his magic back after being out with the flu for so long. Unfortunately the Magic could not contain Thomas Vanek. At 4:01 of the first period Vanek would take advantage of a defensive breakdown and bury the puck behind Halak. The Blues would go on to take a a tripping minor as Jaden Schwartz would trip up the Islanders’ Brock Nelson at 7:30. Jaro and the PK were able to hold off the Isles' power play unit. At 15:11 the boys in blue would take a hit to the heart as Kyle Okposo would utilize a wrap around to put Long Islanders’ up 2-0. Two minutes would pass and The Vlad From Russia would cut the Isles' lead in half. At 17:17 Vladimir Tarasenko would lay a bomb on New York’s unsuspecting goaltender, Kevin Poulin. Needless to say Poulin never saw the puck as it sped at super sonic speeds past his ear top shelf. Ending the period on a High Note for the Blues.
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Second Period
The second period, or the "wake up period" as it’s colloquially known to Blues fans, would see the Blues amp up their game, but could not match the intensity of the Islanders’ play. At 1:17 of the second period Senko would get his 17th of the year. Clearly he had a thing for the number 17 this game. Could it be because of his Love for Russian Mafia member Vladimir Sobotka… the world may never know.
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Unfortunately the tie would not last long. At 3:58 Matt Martin, would get a snap shot past Jaro. The blue and yellow would soon fall back on sloppy and undisciplined play. It was a piss poor effort that ultimately led to bad things for the Blues as a team. The Blues would end up with three penalties over the course of the second period. The last coming at 18:35 in which Maxim Lapierre would go off for the weirdest and bull shittiest too many men on the ice call I have ever seen. The Blues would some how stay in the game and keep the score close as they left the second.
Third Period
The third period would kick off with the Blues on the penalty kill. They would hold of the Islanders for the remaining 30 seconds of the period. At 3:16 Matt Carkner and Ryan Reaves would take coincidental unsportsmanlike conduct minors for some yapping and pushing/shoving. The 4 on 4 would be unsuccessful for either team. The Blues would hit post after post after post, never hitting their target. It was frustrating to watch but also had an air of drama and excitement as they got close but yet so far away on a lot of chances. It would take almost the full 20 minutes for the Blues to tie it up and kick it in to high gear. At 19:33 T.J. Oshie would tie the game up and send it into overtime.
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Overtime/Shootout
Overtime would be a full on short story version of the previous 60 minutes of play. The Blues were up, down, and all the fuck around, unfortunately not in the good way. They looked scrambled like as well as out of sync. The frequent Line changes through out the games didn’t seem to work much. During overtime it appeared the Blues had lost the game, as Vanek appeared to score. The puck would bounce of his skate and appeared inconclusive at first glance as to weather or not he had a distinct kicking motion to score the goal. The play was inevitably review and the call on the ice of good goal was over turned as Toronto seemed to see a kicking motion or intent behind Vanek’s play.
The game would take a turn and go into the shootout. It would require all three rounds with Oshie missing his attempt, Alexander Steen scoring and Kevin Shattenkirk getting the game winner right in front of his momma! It was a fun way to end a ridiculously clusterfuck of a game.
Game's Three Stars
Third
T.J. Oshie
Second
Kevin Shattenkirk
First
Vladimir Tarasenko
Bluenotes from Twitter
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Oh come on. Oshie thought Cizikas' head was a Pez dispenser.</p>— Tyler Atwood (@KingDonutI) <a href="https://twitter.com/KingDonutI/statuses/427163033199468545">January 25, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Blues penalty. 2 minutes. HE NEVER PLAYED THE PUCK GOES THE <a href="https://twitter.com/Panger40">@Panger40</a> . <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23stlblues&src=hash">#stlblues</a></p>— Justin Williams (@justin03) <a href="https://twitter.com/justin03/statuses/427163913826750464">January 25, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Stewart has a team-low 4:17 of ice time through two periods. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23stlblues&src=hash">#stlblues</a></p>— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) <a href="https://twitter.com/jprutherford/statuses/427168649913180160">January 25, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Chris Stewart with 15 goals, 10 assists, shooting at 16%, 50% corsi, PDO at 104. Yeah...go ahead and <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23tradestewart&src=hash">#tradestewart</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23morons&src=hash">#morons</a></p>— Robb (@robbtuftshockey) <a href="https://twitter.com/robbtuftshockey/statuses/427171550769725440">January 25, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>How in the royal mother of fucks did that not go in?</p>— St Bluenatic Chris (@Bluenatics) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bluenatics/statuses/427173401828945920">January 25, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The Isles don't deserve to win, purely for playing 'Get Lucky' <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23StlBlues&src=hash">#StlBlues</a></p>— Grant Sales (@grantsales) <a href="https://twitter.com/grantsales/statuses/427175687821471744">January 25, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Robbery, that's what this game has been. Robbery <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23deathtogoalposts&src=hash">#deathtogoalposts</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23stlblues&src=hash">#stlblues</a></p>— Samuel McKinney (@Samuelkent) <a href="https://twitter.com/Samuelkent/statuses/427177988661071872">January 25, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>I'm going to start giving up when the Blues concede 3. Every time we come back, flurry and ultimately lose</p>— Grant Sales (@grantsales) <a href="https://twitter.com/grantsales/statuses/427178750074454016">January 25, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>YES! PESSIMISM ROCKS!! <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23stlblues&src=hash">#stlblues</a></p>— Grant Sales (@grantsales) <a href="https://twitter.com/grantsales/statuses/427179089221672960">January 25, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>I actually changed the channel because I was so sure that was a goal.</p>— Sara Sinovich (@Sara_with_no_h) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sara_with_no_h/statuses/427182424615706624">January 25, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>THAT WAS RULED OFF?? <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23stlblues&src=hash">#stlblues</a> <a href="http://t.co/6XvREM9QM4">pic.twitter.com/6XvREM9QM4</a></p>— Grant Sales (@grantsales) <a href="https://twitter.com/grantsales/statuses/427182555344146432">January 25, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Okay boys. Let's not waste that super amazing gift from the hockey gods.... <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23shootoutscansuckit&src=hash">#shootoutscansuckit</a></p>— TruBlueGirls (@TruBlueGirls) <a href="https://twitter.com/TruBlueGirls/statuses/427182834529218561">January 25, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Shattenkirk goes top shelf where momma hides the cookies.</p>— Brad Lee (@GTBradLee) <a href="https://twitter.com/GTBradLee/statuses/427184148109721600">January 25, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Tweet of the Game
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23CzechYourselfBeforeUWreckYourself&src=hash">#CzechYourselfBeforeUWreckYourself</a></p>— the jen (@the_jen) <a href="https://twitter.com/the_jen/statuses/427161012899287040">January 25, 2014</a></blockquote>
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