GDT #75: 3/28/15 | 7:00PM CST | v Blue Jackets | FSMW/KMOX

[Oaklandblue]

Pathetic, Pathetic game. We got enough firepower and D to be able to win -despite- not having Oshie and a newly returned Shatt. This team is not a one-trick pony and I absolutely do not blame the loss on the loss of our guys from the lineup. This team needs a serious conscience check; they lack resolve and heart, both things Hitch can't beat into them, they either got it or they don't. That's whats going to make the difference come playoff time, nothing else. They have to want it, and they've been playing like they could care less. Frustrating.

[theohall]

Bad ice destroyed numerous offensive zone opportunities along with the unexpected exit of Steen. Fix that f'in ice. NHL players don't intentionally make the puck bounce horribly all night. They are usually skilled enough to settle and flatten it. Both teams had problems with this, which makes it crappy ice. I saw plenty of effort ruined by the crappiness of the facility.

Sent from my KFSOWI using Tapatalk

[cardsfan04]

I think losing Oshie and Steen, effectively eliminating one of our top lines, was the biggest issue.

But, bottom line, beat the Blue Jackets. Period. Don't screw up the easy ones.

[cprice12]

I think losing Oshie and Steen, effectively eliminating one of our top lines, was the biggest issue.

But, bottom line, beat the Blue Jackets. Period. Don't screw up the easy ones.

I wouldn't call Columbus an easy one right now.
They are playing very well...and for whatever reason, very well on the road right now.
Columbus played a real good game.

Not having Oshie or Steen only hurt us as well.

Hopefully Steen isn't out for long. That would be a huge loss.

[theohall]

I think losing Oshie and Steen, effectively eliminating one of our top lines, was the biggest issue.

But, bottom line, beat the Blue Jackets. Period. Don't screw up the easy ones.

I wouldn't call Columbus an easy one right now.
They are playing very well...and for whatever reason, very well on the road right now.
Columbus played a real good game.

Not having Oshie or Steen only hurt us as well.

Hopefully Steen isn't out for long. That would be a huge loss.

The whatever reason... Columbus finally is healthy. As mentioned during the game last night, no team lost more man games to injury this season than Columbus. They get healthy and win 8 straight on the road against mostly playoff teams. Not an "easy" one.

[Kerfuffle]

Columbus is 9-1-1 and have won their last 8 road games. Unfortunately they tanked the rest of the season so playing well now gets them nowhere. But clearly they are not an easy out as they rolled past the Hawks and Blues this week. A lot of times it's the teams that are out of the playoffs that are the most dangerous.

[drwoland]

They say teams out of the playoffs can be the most dangeous and it looks like that's what happened here.

A lot of times it's the teams that are out of the playoffs that are the most dangerous.

[Portland Blues]

They say teams out of the playoffs can be the most dangeous and it looks like that's what happened here.

A lot of times it's the teams that are out of the playoffs that are the most dangerous.

Kerfuffle...NEVERexisted?

[ViPeRx007]

So this is where we start our losing streak heading into the playoffs right? So we can follow it up with winning the first two games in the first round and losing out the rest?

....

Well, at least they're consistent.

[not_a_wings_fan]

Columbus is 9-1-1 and have won their last 8 road games. Unfortunately they tanked the rest of the season so playing well now gets them nowhere. But clearly they are not an easy out as they rolled past the Hawks and Blues AND DUCKS this week. A lot of times it's the teams that are out of the playoffs that are the most dangerous.

Fixed

[JesusNEVERexisted]

Bad ice destroyed numerous offensive zone opportunities along with the unexpected exit of Steen. Fix that f'in ice. NHL players don't intentionally make the puck bounce horribly all night. They are usually skilled enough to settle and flatten it. Both teams had problems with this, which makes it crappy ice. I saw plenty of effort ruined by the crappiness of the facility.

Sent from my KFSOWI using Tapatalk

LOL..Columbus played on the same ice and scored twice as many goals as the Blues. If the Blues won you wouldn't be complaining.

[theohall]

Bad ice destroyed numerous offensive zone opportunities along with the unexpected exit of Steen. Fix that f'in ice. NHL players don't intentionally make the puck bounce horribly all night. They are usually skilled enough to settle and flatten it. Both teams had problems with this, which makes it crappy ice. I saw plenty of effort ruined by the crappiness of the facility.

Sent from my KFSOWI using Tapatalk

LOL..Columbus played on the same ice and scored twice as many goals as the Blues. If the Blues won you wouldn't be complaining.

BS. Columbus had just as many problems with the ice. Or don't you know how to read? Bolded and italicized for the literate impaired. What are you? The facility guy's son?

Difference in the game was one mistake off of a line change. Empty net goals are not difference makers and over-exaggerate goal differentials in games.

[JesusNEVERexisted]

The difference is Columbus found a way to win DESPITE the imperfect ice. Your attitude of making excuses is NOT conducive to winning a Cup.

I'll never forget what the great Scotty Bowman once said. He said Cup winning teams learn how to win WITHOUT making excuses. Just the OPPOSITE of what you're doing!

[cprice12]

The difference is Columbus found a way to win DESPITE the imperfect ice. Your attitude of making excuses is NOT conducive to winning a Cup.

I'll never forget what the great Scotty Bowman once said. He said Cup winning teams learn how to win WITHOUT making excuses. Just the OPPOSITE of what you're doing!

He doesn't play for the Blues. Bowman's comments were about the players on the ice...not the fans. So I'm not sure what you are trying to say.

Fans can talk about the real reasons why teams may lose games. And sometimes the reasons aren't excuses...they're just reasons.
I always hated the phrase, "excuses are for losers". Sometimes the f*ing "exucuse" isn't an "excuse", it's a legitimate reason as to why the game turned out the way it did.

[cardsfan04]

The difference is Columbus found a way to win DESPITE the imperfect ice. Your attitude of making excuses is NOT conducive to winning a Cup.

I'll never forget what the great Scotty Bowman once said. He said Cup winning teams learn how to win WITHOUT making excuses. Just the OPPOSITE of what you're doing!

He doesn't play for the Blues. Bowman's comments were about the players on the ice...not the fans. So I'm not sure what you are trying to say.

Fans can talk about the real reasons why teams may lose games. And sometimes the reasons aren't excuses...they're just reasons.
I always hated the phrase, "excuses are for losers". Sometimes the f*ing "exucuse" isn't an "excuse", it's a legitimate reason as to why the game turned out the way it did.

For real. I always hate when people try to say a fan should have the same attitude as a player. To be clear, I don't think theohall was even making an excuse. I think it was just an observation. But, even if it had been an excuse, it wouldn't have any bearing on the outcome of the season. Ditto looking ahead or taking it one game at a time and stuff like that. We're fans. Our thoughts and attitudes don't have an impact on results.

[not_a_wings_fan]

No one is saying this is the only reason the Blues lost.

To deny that the ice may impact one team more than the other is to be ignorant.

It happens in lots of sports where conditions tip the scales in favor of one team of the other. Like in football when a turf team like the rams of yore lost to a between the tackles smashmouth team because of rain. Shitty ice negates skill, and we have more skill than CBJ ergo we feel that more.

I love to watch games in Edmonton simply because they have stellar ice and games always look so fast. Not so much last night.

[ecbm]

The ice in that building has always at least kinda sucked. I remember it was shockingly bad when it first opened.

Turning this around, what sort of hockey fan doesn't notice the condition of the ice or thinks it doesn't matter? Keeping with comparing the mindsets of fans and players-players always notice the relative quality of ice. I doubt many blame the outcome of a game on it, everyone skates on the same stuff, but it does affect things. Obviously.

[theohall]

To be clear, I don't think theohall was even making an excuse. I think it was just an observation.

Spot on. There was a reason the Blues dominated most of the zone play in this game. Bad ice. Columbus struggled controlling the puck also. It screwed up most of their breakouts. The bad ice screwed up the Blues power plays repeatedly with pucks bouncing as point men tried to receive them.

Bad ice affected both teams, period.

Difference in the game is still the one goal which resulted when the Blues made a change, the Jackets broke up ice, and their was a communication failure between the forwards and the D leading to Columbus's third goal. Take away that mistake, the game goes to OT - mostly due to the crappy ice ruining Columbus efforts to break up ice repeatedly and the Blues inability to hold the zone thanks to bouncing pucks repeatedly.

Anyone not seeing that is not watching the game, but just looking at results and making snap judgements instead of paying attention to more than just results.

It's not like the Blues weren't trying in that game. The effort was there or you don't draw 6 penalties and almost double the opponent in shots on goal.