GDT Game 42: 1/2/18 | 7:00 PM CT | vs Devils | FSMW/KMOX

[gaijin]

[cardsfan04]

Blues lucky, getting offside ruled on Devil's 3rd goal. But I hate that rule. It should be the plane of the line, like it always was in the past.

I don't like it either, but for a different reason. I hate that a goal can be disallowed for somebody being a hair offside after looking at it for 5 minutes.

[gaijin]

Blues lucky, getting offside ruled on Devil's 3rd goal. But I hate that rule. It should be the plane of the line, like it always was in the past.

I don't like it either, but for a different reason. I hate that a goal can be disallowed for somebody being a hair offside after looking at it for 5 minutes.

Agreed. Even though it went in our favor this time, in general it is a pain in the ass. How many of these went against the Blues in last year's playoffs? There has to be a better way to define/determine (and review) offsides than what it is currently.

[gaijin]

More thoughts (feel free to fall asleep here):

Scoring is still a problem. Looking at the games since Schwartz was injured, the Blues have scored more than 2 regulation goals exactly one time:

10 Dec: Win 3-2 (only 2 regulation goals, 3rd goal in OT)
12 Dec: Loss 3-0
14 Dec: Loss 3-1
16 Dec: Win 2-0
17 Dec: Loss 4-0
20 Dec: Loss 2-1
21 Dec: Loss 3-2
23 Dec: Win 3-1 (3rd goal was empty-netter)
27 Dec: Loss 2-1
29 Dec: Loss 4-2
30 Dec: Win 3-2
2 Jan: Win 3-2 (3rd goal was team goal for shootout win)

Technically, the 3rd goal on Dec 23rd was during regulation, but was an empty-netter after the Canucks pulled their goalie, so I am not counting that one.

One time. One time in 12 games (Dec 30 vs. Carolina) have we scored 3 or more goals. If there is an upside to that, I guess it is that our record when scoring 3 or more regulation goals is pretty good.

Also, the problems that have plagued the Blues recently were still present in last night's win. We just happened to get lucky it went to overtime as a result of the offsides review. If not, this game would have felt exactly like any of the games over the past month. That may be two wins in a row now, but I don't think this monkey's off our back yet.

Changing gears, Montreal is having a pretty rough go of it this year. Think they are going to start selling off players? Anyone you would be interested in?

[glen a richter]

I hadn't realized how bad Montreal was doing... Pacioretty may benefit from a change in scenery and his salary could come off the books in 2 years, just in time for someone cheaper and younger like Robert Thomas to slide into an NHL role. Maybe offsetting some of the salary being taken on by trading Gunnarsson's 2.9 million and sending Barbashev over as well could work.

[theohall]

Pacioretty is the reason Subban wound up in Nashville. Just say no to Pacioretty.

On to the game as I watched it.

2nd period when the Blues 2nd power play unit with Barbashev in the middle being a complete disaster - I thought - stupid question time. If Brodziak is playing well enough to be on a regular offensive line, why isn't he on the 2nd power play unit over a clearly struggling Barbashev? Well, that got answered in the 3rd when Brodziak was on that unit over Barbashev.

As regulation was winding down, thought I really don't want this to go to OT. The Devils are a younger, faster team and the Blues will struggle to maintain possession in OT thanks to the lack of skilled offensive forward depth.

Overall, the Blues did an excellent job denying the Devils opportunities. One thing NJ does exceedingly well is get guys in front, shoot towards the front, and get deflections which go in - like the Hischier goal. The Blues took this away most of the game. Devils did a good job keeping the Blues away from the front of the net also. Solidly played 3 periods by both teams.

So, OT happens and the Devils pretty much dominate OT while one of the Blues players who a) wins puck battles, b) handles the puck well c) rarely turns the puck over c) passes well and d) has an excellent shot never sees one minute of OT ice time. Why? Yeo is too concerned about having a defensive forward on the ice on almost every shift and refuses to play the rookie, no matter how skilled, in critical times. It's not like Thompson and Stastny have chemistry or anything, like we keep hearing Panger say during broadcasts. This is as bad as when Hitchcock wouldn't use Fabbri in OT. Tage Thompson is the kind of skill player who should excel in OT, if the coach would even give him one friggin' shift. Meanwhile, NJ is rolling out at least one rookie in all of their 3-man OT lines. Why? Because it's about time, space, speed, skill, and maintaining possession for the best possible shot - not playing it safe with veteran checking forwards. This almost cost the Blues the win, but Hutton saved their bacon in OT. And Kinkaid was awful in the SO, while Hutton continued his brilliant play.

Well, at least we know the Blues can beat Eastern Conference teams not from Tampa Bay.

On to the Vegas game.