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Olive Branch To Wings Fans
 Ahhh...another season series vs. the Detroit Red Wings comes to an end.
And this time, I'm writing to congratulate the Wings. Because I believe we should give credit where credit is due. There will be no bashing. There will be no insulting. We here at LGB are good sports and we want to show good sportsmanship towards fellow hockey fans, even though some may root for different teams.
So here we go...
Dear Red Wings fans:
We would like to congratulate you and the Red Wings on the super-impressive 4 wins and 4 losses vs. the "pathetic" team from St. Louis. (Some of the letsgowings.com members were calling the Blues "pathetic", so I just wanted to clarify that I was referring to the same team they were talking about...so there is no confusion.)
That is truly a record to be proud of. Four wins and four losses. Wow...someday we hope to have a non-pathetic team here in St. Louis that will be good enough to go 4-4 vs. the 4th worst team in the NHL. We bow to your superior hockey playing abilities and vast knowledges. We are truly in awe.
One can only hope and dream to achieve such a stunning .500 record vs. a team that has only won 3 of it's last 18 games as I write this. But by golly, the Wings pulled if off. I am sure hockey fans around the globe would want to give you guys a big pat on the back for your crowning achievement in support of such hockey mastery.
Things weren't always rosy though, they looked bad for a while in the final game (#8) vs. the Blues, but I'll be darned if the Wings didn't fight, claw and scratch their way to an impressive overtime loss (moral victories always go down as wins in my book!!!). GOOD JOB!! WE KNEW YOU COULD DO IT!! Detroit fans everywhere seemed to unanimously chant their victory slogan:
"At least we got a point."
It's like the hockey Gods were with you in that final game...nobody was taking that point away from you Wings fans...nobody.
And since we are all friends now, I think I speak for all Blues fans when I say that I would really appreciate it if someone would post a photo of the trophy that is awarded for dominating your way to ONLY 4 losses in 8 games vs. the Blues this year. And, not to mention, to only lose two of the four games in Detroit, now that is impressive....two losses is only one more than one, which is right next to none. How do you guys do it? That has to be a record.
And didn't the Red Wings do the same thing last year vs. the Blues too? Yup, I think they did. Back to back years? IT'S A REPEAT!! Do you know how hard it is to repeat in today's NHL? It's near impossible. This kind of thing may need some recognition in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Detroit truly is "Hockeytown".
Ok Blues fans, everyone knows that Wings fans pop up everywhere when times are good, so when you see one...extend the hand of friendship and congratulate them on their impressive .500 record vs. the Blues this year (yeah, I know the Wings finished 4-3-1 vs. St. Louis this year, but saying ".500" sounds so much better...it's halfway to 1000...and that's really good, and let's get real...it's four wins and four losses...enough said).
The Wings no longer suck. After all, they owned us all the way to a whopping 4 wins in only 8 games this year. We should show them the respect they deserve.
Good luck in the playoffs fellow Wings fans. Maybe next year we'll be the team playing .500 hockey and getting single points in overtime losses (MORAL VICTORIES!!) against the cellar dwellers.
One can only dream.
<< Discuss this story in the LGB Forums >>
PERRON SHOULD PLAY...AND HERE'S WHY
Blues radio analyst, Kelly Chase, mentioned that Blues forward, David Perron, is not doing everything Murray tells him to do and is ignoring some of his duties.
This was the reason given as to why Perron hasn't been playing a lot this season. Perron has been a healthy scratch for 4 games straight now, and has only played in 43 of the team's 63 games.
Chase went on to say that Perron’s attitude towards his defensive responsibilities is not only ticking off the coaching staff, but veteran players as well.
Ok. Fair enough. This is the explanation fans have been looking for. This clears the fog as to why Murray has treated Perron the way he has, right?
Maybe not.
If Perron is missing defensive responsibilities, hurting the team, ticking off veterans, etc., etc...then surely the numbers will back that up, right? Perron's +/- is surely awful and the team is probably allowing a significant number of goals when he is on the ice. That has to be the case.
So let's look at some numbers...
DAVID PERRON - LW
GAMES: 43
GOALS: 11
ASSISTS: 10
+/-: 10 (best on the team)
RECORD WITH PERRON IN THE LINEUP: 19-17-7
RECORD WITHOUT PERRON IN THE LINEUP: 7-11-3
GOALS ALLOWED PER 60 MINUTES OF ICE TIME: 1.66 (3rd best on the team, 41st best in the NHL)
SHOOTING %: .239 (best on the team)
Hmmm, so, based on the numbers above...the Blues win more when Perron is in the lineup, they don't allow many goals when he is on the ice as they do when other players are on the ice, and Perron scores once every 4 shots or so.
I can understand that the coaches are upset he isn't doing everything they ask. But correct me if I am wrong here, isn't Perron a rookie? Doesn't this come with the territory of being a rookie? Isn't he supposed to make mistakes? He's only 19 years old. Shouldn't he get better with more playing time so he can learn from his mistakes? Besides, it's not like Murray's system is anything to brag about on most nights on the offensive side of the ice...it's actually been awful, so why would anyone want to buy into that?
Now, I'm not at liberty to comment on his attitude in the locker room, or during practice, etc...because I don't know what his attitude is like at those times. However, Blues head coach, Andy Murray, has said many times he is a great kid...so his attitude can't be too bad outside NHL games, unless Murray is lying. But if Perron constantly shows up late for practice and badmouths the coaches...then discipline is obviously necessary.
If what Murray says is true, and Perron is missing defensive responsibilities and hurting the team...then why does Perron have the best +/- on the team? Why does Perron have the 4th best goals allowed per 60 minutes of ice time on the team? Why do they have a winning record with him in the lineup and a losing record when he is out of the lineup? Perron's disregard for certain responsibilities that Murray wants him doing, is obviously NOT hurting the team. What's hurting the team is Murray keeping him out of the lineup.
But hey, it's Murray's team and he is the boss. What he says goes. And discipline can be a good thing. The problem with this whole discipline situation between Perron and Murray, is that it's not consistent with the rest of the team. Other players are not disciplined for their screw ups. If Perron is being benched for not doing the little things and hurting the team on some level, then shouldn't other players on the team be be held to the same standards?
Why isn't Tkachuk being benched for routinely making bad passes or missing open nets in tight? Why wasn't Brewer benched for making horrible mistakes that were costing us at least a goal a game every game for the first half of the season? Why hasn't Stempniak been benched for being completely ineffective most of the season? Why hasn't Kariya been benched now and then for looking completely invisible at times? What's the difference between missing a defensive assignment or missing an open net? Both will cost your team a goal. Both are hurting the team. So shouldn't both result in discipline if they become a recurring problem?
And like I mentioned earlier, the veterans on the team apparently are a bit upset at Perron's lack of respect for his responsibilities on the ice. Well, to be honest, Perron is one of the few guys this season who has excelled while on the ice. Maybe those veterans who are upset at Perron, should concentrate on putting the puck in the net and winning some games. We have the worst offense in the NHL. That's not Perron's fault. I'd say the players that play every day are more to blame for that...or maybe it's Murray's system that they have bought into. It's hard to say.
I really don't have a problem with Murray benching Perron if he feels it is in the team's best interest. But that same philosophy needs to be applied to every player on the team when they screw up or are ineffective to the point of it becoming a problem where it is costing us games. And we all know that the lack of offense has cost us plenty of games this season. Maybe we need to acquire some more offensive minded players who will actually make a difference on the scoreboard. I know of a guy who is sitting in the pressbox and is almost good for a goal every four shots on net.
It all comes down to putting the players on the ice that will give you the best chance to win.
Play Perron.
NO CLASS...CHEERING FOR AN INJURY?
Recently, letsgoblues.com was called out on KuklasKorner.com.
Here is the direct link:
http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/A2Y/comments/take_a_seat_manny/
The Wings happened to beat the Blues in a regular season game, and the Blues fans at letsgoblues.com were obviously bitter about the loss, like any team's fans would be who had just lost to a team full of fancy-pantsed-pansies.
KuklasKorner.com ripped Legace for his performance...which was bad. But I didn't see anything in his blog about how Legace has been nothing short of outstanding this season. He happened to have an off night vs. the Wings...just like Hasek had an off night vs. the Blues earlier in the year when the Blues lit him up for four goals in the 2nd period en route to a Blues victory. One of the goals hasek allowed was a horrible angle long shot from the far boards by Jamal Mayers (yes, Jamal Mayers) that whizzed over Hasek's shoulder and under the crossbar, ala Yzerman's goal against Casey in 2OT.
But I digress...
One thing mentioned on KuklasKorner.com about the fine members of letsgoblues.com was this:
"It still amazes me how such a large group of people are all joined by a single common characteristic: bitter, paranoid, absolutely unequivocal hatred for the Detroit Red Wings."
He is amazed by this? This is shocking to him?
It's obvious he hasn't been paying attention to past events that have triggered the hate. The hate that exists is certainly justified. And the fact that this guy doesn't understand why Blues fans hate the Wings and their fans, is yet another reason why the hate exists.
Anyway, since a Red Wings site has chosen to attack a Blues site, I think it's only fair to return the favor. (Blues fans probably know where I am going with this)
I'll tell you what I am amazed at...I'm amazed at the lack of class over at letsgowings.com. Recently, Wings forward, Johan Franzen, dished out a questionable check along the boards to the back of Blues defenseman Barret Jackman that left Jackman with a concussion. Jackman turned towards the boards to play the puck just before Franzen hit him hard from behind and put him face first into the glass. Jackman crumpled to the ice.
Blues defenseman, Matt Walker, took exception to the hit and went after Franzen. Long story short, Walker easily won the fight (even though some posters at letsgowings.com ridiculously think otherwise) as Franzen just tried to hold on and not get hit. Franzen did the equivalent of turtling while still on your skates. Note to Franzen: If you are going to dish out hits from behind like that, you might want to learn how to fight.
Upon learning of Jackman's concussion, the posters over at letsgowings.com had some interesting reactions. Here are a few:
esteef:
"Good! That's right, I'm cheering an injury. Serves his cheap ass right!"
Grittzkey:
"...i realized it was jackman, then i just clapped my hands and yelled HAIIIILL YUUUHHZZZ NUKKKKA...he is still a D-Bag and anytime you see him fall limp you cant help but cheer."
Mors:
"YES!!!!!!!!!
I don't really care if it's inappropriate to be happy about an injury to another player. Fuck Jackman, he wouldn't care if it was one of our guys..."
grimace1970:
"Freaking goon. Serves 'im right."
Sepster:
"Don't anyone cry for this guy, he's one of the dirtiest SOB's in the league, what goes around comes around.
Good riddance."
heretic69:
"Dear Santa:
Thank you."
GMRwings1983:
"Jackman is a spotpicker that deserves to be injured, so I'm going to get more sleep now knowing that this happened to him."
HockeyCrazy3033:
"the punk had it coming"
Draperfan:
"it couldnt happen to a better guy...ha ha Jackman"
Add this to the long list of reasons why Blues fans hate the Wings and their fans. LGW's reaction to the hit on Jackman can be summed up in two words... NO CLASS.
25% Of The Season, In The Books
We all know the Blues have done quite well so far, going 13-8-0 in their first 21 games which is good for 2nd place in the division and 4th in the conference. But where do they stand in the various other categories?
Team Stats:
Wins - 13 (tied for 3rd)
Losses - 8 (tied for 2nd)
OT Losses - 0 (tied for 1st)
Except for a three game losing streak and an awful performance vs. the Detroit Red Wings, the Blues have been quite good.
Goals For Per Game - 2.47 (23rd)
Goals Against Per Game - 2.18 (3rd)
Save % - 92.8% (4th)
Shutouts - 1 (tied for 5th)
Goaltending as a whole has been stellar and is the primary reason the Blues are dong as well as they are.
Power Play - 14.6% (22nd)
Penalty Kill - 91.0% (1st)
PK has been as good as it ever has, but the power play is inconsistent and needs work. You can't win in the NHL if you have a poor PK and PP. Luckily the Blues have the best PK in the league right now.
Faceoff % - 49.9% (13th)
Penalties In Minutes - 287 (24th)
Short Handed Goals - 1 (tied for 6th)
Short Handed Goals Against - 3 (14th)
If it wasn't for Chicago, the Blues wouldn't have any short handed goals against. They have allowed three shorties to the Hawks in the last two games.
Shots Allowed - 576 (4th)
Shots on Goal - 519 (30th)
Shooting % - 10% (8th)
We are getting routinely outshot, but Legace and Toivonen have been very good, so it hasn't been a problem...yet.
Individual Stats:
GAA:
Legace - 2.13 (8th)
Toivonen - 1.99 (4th)
Save %
Legace - .922 (10th)
Toivonen - .927 (7th)
Record:
Legace - 10-6-0
Toivonen - 3-2-0
Goals:
Boyes - 13 (8th)
Assists:
Kariya - 16 (17th)
Points:
Kariya - 22 (32nd)
PPG:
Boyes - 4 (21st)
GWG:
Mayers / Boyes - 3 (5th)
Shooting %:
Boyes - .255 (3rd)
+/-:
Salvador - +11 (6th)
PIM:
King - 33 (43rd)
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