And hopefully for the Blackhawks, they'll get Kane and Toews back to 100% by then, too. They've both missed all of April as a somewhat preventative measure, but they might be a bit rusty in the first few games.downtown2007 wrote:Stay optimistic. Hopefully they can regain their health by Thursday.
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My god, what an incredible couple of games.
Oh, and Seabrook should be out as long as Backes is.
Oh, and Seabrook should be out as long as Backes is.
At least, if not more. Hopefully Backes is feeling better and healthy in time for next game. Has his injury and it's severity been announced? I saw a bloody nose and noticed he had a hard time standing initially. Hopefully no concussion. :/Aesir wrote:My god, what an incredible couple of games.
Oh, and Seabrook should be out as long as Backes is.
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Thats just dumb. If Backes wasn't hurt, should Seabrook have been allowed back in the game? There should be a set penalty for hits like this. I dont like at all how the NHL has no set minimum or standard, they just kind of arbitrarily hand out suspensions.Aesir wrote:My god, what an incredible couple of games.
Oh, and Seabrook should be out as long as Backes is.
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Sweetest thing about that game is that we came out on top! Let's hope we can win 2 more and advance to the 2nd rd and get Backes back if he doesn't have a concussion. Playing the Hawks is like climbing Mt Everest if you want to win it all you have to beat the best of the best and to me Chicago is the best complete team in the league...Lets not repeat last years meltdown! Lets go Blues!
Last night's game was a pretty strong road game by the Blues. They failed to take advantage of a couple of good opportunities, Miller let in a fluke soft goal (not only was it soft, but it had to bounce perfectly to actually sneak through him—crazy), and Crawford did the thing he does where he forgets how mediocre of a goaltender he is in the playoffs.
Blues remain in good shape. A win Wednesday would be fantastic. Nobody should freak out if it doesn't happen, though. Last year has nothing to do with this year.
Blues remain in good shape. A win Wednesday would be fantastic. Nobody should freak out if it doesn't happen, though. Last year has nothing to do with this year.
jstriebel wrote:Last night's game was a pretty strong road game by the Blues. They failed to take advantage of a couple of good opportunities, Miller let in a fluke soft goal (not only was it soft, but it had to bounce perfectly to actually sneak through him—crazy), and Crawford did the thing he does where he forgets how mediocre of a goaltender he is in the playoffs.
Blues remain in good shape. A win Wednesday would be fantastic. Nobody should freak out if it doesn't happen, though. Last year has nothing to do with this year.
I missed the first five minutes but from what I saw the blues set the pace of the game, especially later in the game when they dominated. Chicago had some good chances but they were on their heels most of the time. I think the Blues outplayed them but couldn't sneak one past Crawford. I hope they get a win Wednesday, because they deserved one last night.
They certainly did deserve a win last night. They easily outplayed Chicago. A ton of times they had ridiculous chances and the only thing stopping them was incredible saves from Quick......nonononono CRAWFORD 
They play like they did last night, Chicago's luck will run out fast.
They play like they did last night, Chicago's luck will run out fast.
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Chicago is such a very cocky team i see it all on tv it's good they have swagger but i seriously hope the Blues can pull this off and burry them in the coffin.. It's weird both the Blues and Cards lost to the same identical score 0-2
You can be cocky when you've won 2 out of the last 3 Stanley Cups. I hate the Blackhawks, but they've earned the right to have a lot of swagger. Now it's the Blues job to shut them (and their fans) up.BrickCity4470 wrote:Chicago is such a very cocky team i see it all on tv it's good they have swagger but i seriously hope the Blues can pull this off and burry them in the coffin..
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So the Blues are officially the cursed team of the NHL .. I feel bad for fans that really hoped so much for the ever thirst of a cup win. Blues simply didn't address the real problem which is they need a absolutely goal scorer which i didn't realize until we traded away Stewart for Ott... Miller has been subpar and i even kind of regret saying if we got Miller we win the stanley cup well i was completely wrong so i'll eat my words ..
To put aside the disgust with the team for a moment, I worry about how this will affect the franchise from a business perspective next season. We already had some attendance issues while putting together a fantastic season. Will this make people even more wary? I feel bad for a new front office/ownership group who really seems dedicated to making this work but certainly has a challenge ahead of them.
After watching Toews and company in action, it is painfully clear that the Blues just don't have that X factor who can make things happen at will. Hitchcock seems like the type of coach that is above the hotseat, however back to back exits in that fashion raises some questions. I didn't understand their trepidation to SHOOT THE PUCK on the power play.
The way things have gone for the Blues the last few years, watch Miller go to the Ducks and absolutely stone them in the first round next season.
After watching Toews and company in action, it is painfully clear that the Blues just don't have that X factor who can make things happen at will. Hitchcock seems like the type of coach that is above the hotseat, however back to back exits in that fashion raises some questions. I didn't understand their trepidation to SHOOT THE PUCK on the power play.
The way things have gone for the Blues the last few years, watch Miller go to the Ducks and absolutely stone them in the first round next season.
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I do not believe the franchise is cursed. I believe they have always been a player or two short. If it isn't a goalie, it is a goal scorer. they've had the pieces in place, but didn't complete their roster. It is all about having the every piece of the puzzle and the Blues were close, but not close enough.
What the Blues need to do:
Let Morrow, Roy Carlo C. and Miller walk.
Sign Ott if he comes at a good price
Trade Bergland
Renuite the CPR line as our 4th line for the entire season (Reeves, Porter & Cracknall)
Bring up Jake Allen and let him compete with Brian Elliott (sign Elliott) if he will doesn't get an offer to start elsewhere. If he signs elsewhere, sign a good vet backup goalie
Trade PaaJarvi (If he wasn't worthy of playing in the playoffs, he isn't that good)
SIGN a top-line goal scorer at any cost. I hoped for a deal to get Martin St. Louis at the deadline. A guy like that, in his prime, UFA, that is proven, can put the puck in the net and has won a CUP. I know those guys are expensive, hard to come by and who knows who is available, but that is a need.
Several years back, the Blues and Blackhawks were both awful. They drafted great, we drafted OK. Now we see the result. The Hawks have won 2 cups, while the Blues have won 8 playoff games over that same span. Over the long haul, the Blues have to build through the draft. Our ownership cannot spend with the big boys. Armstrong has taken us in a different direction, depleting the farm system to one of the NHL's worst. That has to change, going forward. I know signing a big time scorer is not along those lines, but that has to be done, as evidenced by the Blues anemic offense in the playoffs the last few years. I just hope the Blues can market the team and sell tickets after another disappointment. It will be tough for Brett Hull. The regular season was a waste. The Blues collapsed and had to face the mighty Hawks in the first round. What a terrible end to a great season. The 6 game losing streak and 1 point short of playing the Wild and winning the division, cost the Blues their season. They should have been facing the hawks or a team of that caliber, later in the playoffs. As a lifetime Blues fan, I will be there next season and as long as the franchise exists, but I will never take anything for granted or think anything is a given. Until I am standing on Market St. for that parade, I will never assume anything.
I hate to dwell on it, but it pains me to see Toews on the Hawks, when the Blues passed on him to get Johnson. That move cost the Blues dearly and in a direct way, when he kills the Blues on the ice. He was the real franchise player and we missed on him. He haunts us every season. Can you imagine him in a Blues sweater!? I can! Anyhow, it was a great regular season, but as us Blues fans have come to expect after another playoff disappointment, there's always next year!
What the Blues need to do:
Let Morrow, Roy Carlo C. and Miller walk.
Sign Ott if he comes at a good price
Trade Bergland
Renuite the CPR line as our 4th line for the entire season (Reeves, Porter & Cracknall)
Bring up Jake Allen and let him compete with Brian Elliott (sign Elliott) if he will doesn't get an offer to start elsewhere. If he signs elsewhere, sign a good vet backup goalie
Trade PaaJarvi (If he wasn't worthy of playing in the playoffs, he isn't that good)
SIGN a top-line goal scorer at any cost. I hoped for a deal to get Martin St. Louis at the deadline. A guy like that, in his prime, UFA, that is proven, can put the puck in the net and has won a CUP. I know those guys are expensive, hard to come by and who knows who is available, but that is a need.
Several years back, the Blues and Blackhawks were both awful. They drafted great, we drafted OK. Now we see the result. The Hawks have won 2 cups, while the Blues have won 8 playoff games over that same span. Over the long haul, the Blues have to build through the draft. Our ownership cannot spend with the big boys. Armstrong has taken us in a different direction, depleting the farm system to one of the NHL's worst. That has to change, going forward. I know signing a big time scorer is not along those lines, but that has to be done, as evidenced by the Blues anemic offense in the playoffs the last few years. I just hope the Blues can market the team and sell tickets after another disappointment. It will be tough for Brett Hull. The regular season was a waste. The Blues collapsed and had to face the mighty Hawks in the first round. What a terrible end to a great season. The 6 game losing streak and 1 point short of playing the Wild and winning the division, cost the Blues their season. They should have been facing the hawks or a team of that caliber, later in the playoffs. As a lifetime Blues fan, I will be there next season and as long as the franchise exists, but I will never take anything for granted or think anything is a given. Until I am standing on Market St. for that parade, I will never assume anything.
I hate to dwell on it, but it pains me to see Toews on the Hawks, when the Blues passed on him to get Johnson. That move cost the Blues dearly and in a direct way, when he kills the Blues on the ice. He was the real franchise player and we missed on him. He haunts us every season. Can you imagine him in a Blues sweater!? I can! Anyhow, it was a great regular season, but as us Blues fans have come to expect after another playoff disappointment, there's always next year!
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Crazy end of years for the Billikens and Blues.... I rather would have had slow starts and build momentum at the end rather than hit the skids.
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I agree... At least SLU won their conference.
If the Blues had won their division, they'd likely still be playing or waiting for their second round opponent. The Blues were picked by many to win the Cup, Billikens to be a top 15, sweet 16 team and many have picked the Cardinals to win the World Series. The Cardinals are off to a slow start, so maybe they will break the cycle. Let's hope they do not disappoint and make the "experts" look dumb, like the Blues did.
If the Blues had won their division, they'd likely still be playing or waiting for their second round opponent. The Blues were picked by many to win the Cup, Billikens to be a top 15, sweet 16 team and many have picked the Cardinals to win the World Series. The Cardinals are off to a slow start, so maybe they will break the cycle. Let's hope they do not disappoint and make the "experts" look dumb, like the Blues did.
So another rebuilding phase: great.DogtownBnR wrote:I do not believe the franchise is cursed. I believe they have always been a player or two short. If it isn't a goalie, it is a goal scorer. they've had the pieces in place, but didn't complete their roster. It is all about having the every piece of the puzzle and the Blues were close, but not close enough.
What the Blues need to do: ...
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Good point... even though it was regular season, they still get to hang a banner. And they did get a dramatic first round March Madness win.... that will be something they'll remember the rest of their lives, and if they had lost that it would have been one of the most disappointing folds seniors could have gone through.DogtownBnR wrote:I agree... At least SLU won their conference.
What can you really say? Team needs a new direction. We have sacrificed and shied away from going full in on skill and offense for..........god knows how long. The Toews example is a perfect example of that. At the end of the day you have to score goals. The Blues only have 1 guy that can do that. You need a lot more than that.
My expectations for this franchise took a big, big hit. The thing this series did was make our flaws stark. I'm not confident at all with where we are heading, with our strategy, and with our management. Honestly, no team has won the cup following the strategy we are. SAve for the Kings getting hotter than the sun at the perfect time.
Hitch won 1 cup in Dallas because he had one of the greatest scorers of all time to overpower the sh*tty offensive strategies of his system. Even then it took a bogus goal. Armstrong has been making the same moves here, as the ones that he made that started the Stars down the path of irrelevancy in the mid 2000's. The reflections are errie.
I hope Stillman sees this. We aren't going to win anything with this group of "hard workers". Most likely not with this management team either.
Just ugly. Just very ugly.
My expectations for this franchise took a big, big hit. The thing this series did was make our flaws stark. I'm not confident at all with where we are heading, with our strategy, and with our management. Honestly, no team has won the cup following the strategy we are. SAve for the Kings getting hotter than the sun at the perfect time.
Hitch won 1 cup in Dallas because he had one of the greatest scorers of all time to overpower the sh*tty offensive strategies of his system. Even then it took a bogus goal. Armstrong has been making the same moves here, as the ones that he made that started the Stars down the path of irrelevancy in the mid 2000's. The reflections are errie.
I hope Stillman sees this. We aren't going to win anything with this group of "hard workers". Most likely not with this management team either.
Just ugly. Just very ugly.
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That 6 game losing streak really hurt. The Blues drew a tough first round matchup and it's unfortunate they couldn't pull it off. The series could have easily gone the other way.
Wondering if sending 9 to the Olympics hurt us - also Miller is not the answer -
these last 12 games were a kick in the crotch - but this team is close - Continue to groom Tarasenko and while I appreciate building the team for toughness - something the good teams of the late 90's early 2000's lacked - they should have picked up a goal scorer late - Martin St. Louis was a good pick-up for a lackluster Rangers team - wish we could have got him
these last 12 games were a kick in the crotch - but this team is close - Continue to groom Tarasenko and while I appreciate building the team for toughness - something the good teams of the late 90's early 2000's lacked - they should have picked up a goal scorer late - Martin St. Louis was a good pick-up for a lackluster Rangers team - wish we could have got him
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^ Agree on Martin St. Louis. He is the type of player they needed. Most fans liked or loved the Miller trade. I thought it was a big upgrade. I think Miller is a better goalie than Halak, but he didn't play like it for some reason. Maybe not having any pressure in Buffalo, then going to a team that put the hopes of 47 disappointing seasons, on his shoulders, finally got to him. Being the 'experts' pick, put a lot of pressure on him to perform. He also had to perform, to maximize his value in free agency. Maybe Miller proved to be mentally weak. He played well, minus the devastating soft goals he let up. Those might cost him some money. If Hiller wills the Cup or goes deep for the Ducks, they might not want Miller. That was a prime destination for him, according to 'sources', due to his wife being an actor.
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Chicago sent 10beer city wrote:Wondering if sending 9 to the Olympics hurt us