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The Blues played the Vancouver Canucks tonight with a chance to officially punch their playoff ticket. In goal tonight for the Blues would be Brian Elliott. On the other side, Eddie Lack would start for the Canucks. T.J. Oshie would return to the lineup tonight after battling the flu, or flu like symptoms or whatever. Olli Jokinen would also make a return to the lineup tonight as he saw top line minutes with David Backes and Oshie. Alexander Steen would not play tonight after suffering the leg/lower body injury in the last game.
First Period:
Nothing to see here. Again. No, really. The Blues haven't scored in 10 straight first periods. 10. That's about 205 minutes for those of you scoring at home. The few high points in the period were early on in the first when the Blues looked like they gave a shit. No better example than this wonderful save by Zbynek Michalek. Yes, you read that right.
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Ells would see his first of many breakaway chances the Canucks had tonight here. He denies Derek Dorsett.
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The Blues would go on to keep the Canucks scoreless after one.
Second Period:
Nope. Nope. Nope. I don't wanna. Just make it go away.
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By it I mean, the HORRIBLE line change that lead to that goal. Elliott can only stop so many breakaways boys and that was not going to be one of them. The Blues have given up way too many of those this year (thanks Captain Obvious) and this one bit them in the ass. But all was not lost just yet. Number 6 would get his first as a Blue from Jokinen and Oshie:
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Celebrate good times..C'mon! Seems like Nick Bonino didn't get that memo. Fucker.
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Wide open net. WIDE OPEN. I could have made that shot it was so open. On a positive note, the fourth line had some really good looks tonight. This chance from Reaves being one of them:
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Lack wouldn't budge though, as of course after the Blues scored, he turned in to the Great Wall of China. I found his lack of giving up another goal disturbing. (Couldn't help myself.) Blues despite their game taking a turn for the worst, were lucky to only be down 2-1 at the end of the second.
Third Period:
Now, at some point something has to give of, "hey guys we're playing like shit, maybe we should start playing better" Apparently, that didn't happen. The third period was as uninspired as the second was. And the Canucks would of course take advantage here as Vrbata got one past Elliott.
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More line juggling in the third from Hitch as well. At one point there was a line of Berglund/Stastny/Ott. Ouch. I'm sorry Paul. Surprisingly enough that wouldn't help the Blues in the third as the Canucks would add an empty netter and go on to win 4-1. As if that weren't bad enough, our Russian phenom Vladimir Tarasenko would be tripped up and would hobble off. He would try to skate it off, but wouldn't be able to continue. He was off to the locker room. No update of his condition, but he was seen walking with a limp after the game. Not good. Olli did play decently tonight. Didn't do anything dumbfounded to warrant him getting kicked off the Backes/Oshie line.
The type of uninspired hockey late in the season from the Blues is not something the fans want to see, but has almost become the norm. Hopefully something gets this team ready to go for the playoffs. Oh wait, they play the Flames on Thursday. That usually helps....Or will it?