Let's Go Blues

Yeah, we've been here before... winning the President's Trophy (2000) or being close to it (1991, 1981[no actual trophy that year])... three flameouts.

So should we be expecting the Cup finally? Will you be pleased with less?

I want the motherfranking Cup and I want it now. I will settle for nothing less.

If they make it to the Conference Final, I guess it will be some good experience for some young players, but I say frank that... WIN IT NOW GOD DAMNIT!!!!!!!!!!!

If they make it to the conference finals, I'll be satisfied, especially if they make it deep in the series. I mean, I'll be disappointed because I think we can win the cup. But, if we win 2 series, I think that's a good building block for next year. So, I can accept that.

I'm trying to decide about the second round. Like, say we lose to Rinne in 7 and he's just unbelievably zoned in. I mean, the bar clearly has to be set higher than that, but not all round 2 exits will frustrate me equally.

Advancement into round 2 and nothing more. I'm not setting my hopes up too far.

Screw the playof experience argument. Ever since the advent of the cap, the NHL has looked more and more like the nfl. No matter how the blues project for the future, who's to say they will ever go into another post-season with not one but two goalies who actually have a sack?

They have as good a chance as any Blues team I've seen to go all the way. So, screw the "get experience" argument. Win. The. Whole. Mother(franking). Thing.

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Nothing less.

Two hawt fsmw girls, one cup.

Wait, what was the question?

To me, the only concern is which Blues offense shows up. There have been several streaks this season (even recently) of particularly low goal production. As long as the guys are putting the puck in the net, I see no reason we can't beat any other team in a 7-game series.

I'm trying to temper my expectations, but I can't help get excited about the possibilities. It won't be the end of the world if they don't win the Cup, but I'm trying to just ride the wave with this team and enjoy it.

Once the first round matchups are set up, I will have more of an idea. But there are a lot of good teams in the West (duh), it will be a rough and tumble road no matter who they face.

If we do finish first overall, and we don't win it all, we'll have been knocked out by a team we were supposed to be better than. That will be a failure, IMO.

When you finish as high as the Blues are going to finish, winning the cup should be the goal.

This is the most impressive Blues team I have ever seen. Yes, we probably won't finish with quite as many points as the other President's Cup team, but this team is far superior in net, and that is our ace in the hole this year. Defense and goaltending win in the playoffs. We have the best goaltending in the NHL that is pitching shutouts seemingly every other night, and our defensive system is water tight. And add to that... as long as we don't suffer any more injuries, we should be healthy going into the playoffs.

Steen, McDonald, & Polak healthy and in the lineup AND the best goaltending in the NHL?

Forget about it. Expectations should be sky high. But I understand some fans having reservations and being cautiously optimistic with how this franchise has disappointed in the playoffs in the past. But this team is different...and really, a team's lackluster performance in the playoffs 12 years ago, has absolutely nothing to do with how this team will perform.

Most experts are probably going to pick the Rangers to win the cup...which is fine by me. I don't think we need a bunch of "experts" telling our guys they're going to win the cup. It's best to go in with a tiny chip on your shoulder.

^^

Avoid the sweep, since we couldn't do it last time.

At the beginning of the season, we would have been happy to see them just to make the playoffs or to even win a series. At this point, it has to be the cup. We don't know what will happen in the future, but I doubt that we will see a team as cup-ready as this one anytime soon. Sure, it's possible that they have a worse regular season next year and wind up winning the whole thing, but this team has to be the team. The LA Kings have given up the second fewest goals in the NHL at 165 in 77 games. The Blues have given up 147 in 77. That is just complete dominance. I'm not worried about the offense in the playoffs. They obviously aren't an offensive juggernaut, but this team has been, by far, the best defensive team in the NHL this year and that's what's going to bring them the cup.

Selective quoting follows...

cprice12 wrote:This is the most impressive Blues team I have ever seen. Defense and goaltending win in the playoffs.

I have been following the Blues since approximately 1977 when a friend of my father took me to a game. Been hooked ever since. Had season tickets from 1989-1992 - yes, the midst of the Brett Hull "area."

The key difference between what I see now and what the Blues had then - defense, goaltending, and multi-line depth. When MacDonald returns, the Blues will be capable of rolling THREE scoring lines and only one checking line while having solid defense behind them. Those Hull teams had one scoring line, three checking lines and one really good defensive pairing. While some are somewhat critical of the Blues current 3rd defensive pairing, I would take them over any of the 4 guys who were playing in the Brian Sutter coaching area.

Defense and goaltending win championships. This has been true for who knows how long? Yes, the Oilers won 5 Cups in their ridiculous offensive era, but they also lost several times purely due to teams having better goaltending and defense.

This is by far the best Blues team I have ever seen - going on 35 years of following the Blues and understanding the game.

I expect them to make the Finals. Winning the Cup?? Not so sure, because the other team is just as likely to have good goaltending and all it takes is a goalie being hot to win a series.

I think expectations were made perfectly clear as long ago as last summer:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=29081&hilit=+cloud

I want and expect to get out of the first round. Beyond that, I have no expectations. I would like to at LEAST get 6-7 games into the 2nd round. We get to that point this year I'll be happy.

</realist>

WaukeeBlues wrote:I want and expect to get out of the first round. Beyond that, I have no expectations. I would like to at LEAST get 6-7 games into the 2nd round. We get to that point this year I'll be happy.

</realist>

I'll give you a "realist" statement...
Fans of teams in contention for the President's trophy should not be happy with a 2nd round exit.

cprice12 wrote:

WaukeeBlues wrote:I want and expect to get out of the first round. Beyond that, I have no expectations. I would like to at LEAST get 6-7 games into the 2nd round. We get to that point this year I'll be happy.

</realist>

I'll give you a "realist" statement...
Fans of teams in contention for the President's trophy should not be happy with a 2nd round exit.

Yup, conference championship round should be any fan/annalist/players lowest expectations. From there out, it's a crap shoot.

DaDitka wrote:

cprice12 wrote:

WaukeeBlues wrote:I want and expect to get out of the first round. Beyond that, I have no expectations. I would like to at LEAST get 6-7 games into the 2nd round. We get to that point this year I'll be happy.

</realist>

I'll give you a "realist" statement...
Fans of teams in contention for the President's trophy should not be happy with a 2nd round exit.

Yup, conference championship round should be any fan/annalist/players lowest expectations. From there out, it's a crap shoot.

Anna list? Is that thread active again?

Theoretically, this team should be even stronger next season. Realistically, there's no way of knowing. Injuries could rear their ugly heads again, or I guess a whole host of other problems that could arise. That said, this year anything less than the cup would be a disappointment.