GDT: 4/19/12 > Game 4 > Blues @ Sharks > 9:30 PM

[DaDitka]

Hopefully once we get past this series the guys will loosen up a bit, after getting a little experience under their belt.

Oh, and we get back to St. Louis can someone send out a search party for David Perron? He clearly missed the team flight to San Jose.

Come to think of it, I'm not sure he played in the first two games in St. Louis.

[dmiles2186]

Oh, and we get back to St. Louis can someone send out a search party for David Perron? He clearly missed the team flight to San Jose.

2 assists = not showing up?

[DaDitka]

Oh, and we get back to St. Louis can someone send out a search party for David Perron? He clearly missed the team flight to San Jose.

2 assists = not showing up?

Details

[cardsfan04]

I thought Perron was good last night, but nonexistant in game 3.

[DaDitka]

I thought Perron was good last night, but nonexistant in game 3.

I thought he was 'better', and I'm probably being too tough on him but he was easily one of our best forward at the end of the regular season and so much was made about what a difference maker he would be in the series. I know that line hasn't been in the best situations because of the match-ups Hitch wants Backes in......he's just not 'there' right now. Hopefully last night was the start of him getting going again.

[dmiles2186]

Oh, and we get back to St. Louis can someone send out a search party for David Perron? He clearly missed the team flight to San Jose.

2 assists = not showing up?

Details

I'm not saying he's been our best player and doesn't need to step up. But he did get on the score sheet last night.

[ohio BLUES]

Oh, and we get back to St. Louis can someone send out a search party for David Perron? He clearly missed the team flight to San Jose.

2 assists = not showing up?

Yeah, what?

These were two tight games. DP didn't get a hat trick or anything, but he was visible offensively in both games, working hard in corners, staying strong on the puck, etc. I'm not sure what more you can ask from a talented forward than hard work, creating chances and a point per game.

[ohio BLUES]

And, I thought Jackman was terrible last night for the most part.

Man, I guess I'm watching a totally different game than all y'all. Jackman has looked as good in the last two months as he ever has, and I used to be what you'd call a Jackman basher. Sure, he misplayed the big rebound Elliott gave up leading to the Sharks' only goal. A forgivable offense. Jackman was fine.

You do realize that there's another team on the ice that wants to win the hockey game as well, right?

[cardsfan04]

And, I thought Jackman was terrible last night for the most part.

Man, I guess I'm watching a totally different game than all y'all. Jackman has looked as good in the last two months as he ever has, and I used to be what you'd call a Jackman basher. Sure, he misplayed the big rebound Elliott gave up leading to the Sharks' only goal. A forgivable offense. Jackman was fine.

You do realize that there's another team on the ice that wants to win the hockey game as well, right?

I thought he took a bad penalty and had a couple of bad giveaways in the defensive end. I've seen him play worse, but I wasn't very impressed last night.

[Nyghtewynd]

If we fix the late goals, we're golden. We are obviously just way better than San Jose is. These have been three dominant performances. Hopefully we can finish well on Saturday and rest up for a gigantic war vs. LA, who may be playing better than anyone else in the league right now.

And put that Bluenote up there already.

[fargoblues]

The 57-42-74 line does look invisible for stretches in this series. However, what is it that they are being asked to do? Hitch is putting them out opposite the Sharks' #1 line and they are, for the most part, shutting them down. Our #2 line (among others) is picking up the points, and that my friends is the hallmark of a successful playoff team. I say kudos to our #1s for doing what they've been asked to do.

[kodos]

That's why I think they should take Perron off that line and move him somewhere he can have an opportunity to score.

He has no business being on a shutdown line.

[goon attack]

Stewart was noticably better last night.

[gaijin]

The 57-42-74 line does look invisible for stretches in this series. However, what is it that they are being asked to do? Hitch is putting them out opposite the Sharks' #1 line and they are, for the most part, shutting them down. Our #2 line (among others) is picking up the points, and that my friends is the hallmark of a successful playoff team. I say kudos to our #1s for doing what they've been asked to do.

I was in the middle of making a post that said exactly this, but decided I hadn't worded it well enough, so I didn't post. The evidence of the effectiveness of 57-42-74 is the number of goals scored by the Thornton Marleau Pavelski line.

So,

[Kreegz2]

For the first time since the Pronger-Macinnis days, the Blues actually have my hopes up for their success in the playoffs. They are playing sound hockey and winning games convincingly. Honestly I think the best game we played was the game we lost. We should be able to lock this series up no problem with 2 games remaining at home. Hitch has been masterful in-game, even though I disagree with his line-up(Sit Stewart and play Reaves. The Reaves-Nichol-Crombeen line is perfectly suited to the blues play style, and Stewart is beyond worthless). The Sharks just have no answer for our powerplay and our forwards are doing an excellent job exploiting San Jose's lack of coverage on guys jumping off the bench, it seems to me like they have been doing this more and more every game.

I have watched almost every game of every series and I can honestly say that I think the Blues have been the best team in this years' playoffs so far(Nashville and LA with honorable mentions). My only fear would be playing the Kings and then Nashville. I think we can take either team, but handling both back-to-back would be tough. Regardless, I think the Blues can get it done. No team in the East scares me. If we do Make the SCF then I am going to be extremely confident because of our complete dominance over the eastern conference this year. To top it all off you can tell that this team has gelled together very well over the past few years and really believe in themselves. The beatdown they gave the Sharks at the end of game 2 was a HUGE confidence booster/bonding experience for them and I'm glad that it came earlier rather than later or not at all in the series, and it was inversely devastating for the Sharks and their morale. Challenging the Blues that night looks like the biggest mistake the Sharks have made in the entire series. I haven't been this excited for the team since before the lockout.

So naturally I am honestly expecting a classic second round flame-out.

[thedoc]

Perron was better last night, but he is not doing what he did at the end of the season. Stewart is moving his feet he just has no offense. With a player like him you just never know. He might flip a switch and have 3 goals in round 2 so we can only hope. Elliott is standing on his head and I really think this team could continue to make some noise. Jackman is not playing horrible by any stretch of the imagination, I just wish he would watch some of the small mental lapses I think he is having in a few of the games so far. IMO.

[cprice12]

This was San Jose's best game of the series.
I think this game was played pretty even, but the Blues just capitalized on a couple chances that the Sharks didn't.

This game came down to goaltending. Elliott is just better than Niemi.

Win this at home in 5 and get some rest for Rd. 2.

Oh...and Jackman has been fine this series. So has Perron. Despite the tight checking and fewer chances in the playoffs, Perron is generating a lot of chances and looks good.
Stewart on the other hand... not so much. He is being given the opportunity, but just isn't doing much at all. He is about as close to invisible as you can get without actually being scratched from the game.
He is a big man. It's sad when a smaller guy like Perron is all over the place but Stewart can't seem to do anything. It doesn't even look like he is trying out there. If he were truly trying as hard as he could, he'd be all over the place. He has proven he is better than he has been playing. Not sure what his deal is. Surely he is scratched from game 5?

[DaDitka]

That's why I think they should take Perron off that line and move him somewhere he can have an opportunity to score.

He has no business being on a shutdown line.

[DaDitka]

Oh...and Jackman has been fine this series. So has Perron. Despite the tight checking and fewer chances in the playoffs, Perron is generating a lot of chances and looks good.

Again, I'm not trying to say he isn't playing hard or what not.....I just thought his talents could be better utilized.

That said, I really expect him to be much more noticeable in the next round simply based on play and him probably getting more comfortable in the playoffs.

[big d note]

For those criticizing Perron, watch the first goal again. He controlled the puck for like 30 seconds, chased it down out of the zone, brought it back in onside, and set up that whole play. Without his effort there, that goal never happens.