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GDT #5: 1/26/13 > Blues @ Stars > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 7:23 am
by dmiles2186
BLUES (3-1-0) at STARS (2-1-1)

TV: FS-MW, FS-SW

Season series: First of three meetings. Dallas won the opening matchup on the 2011-12 slate, but St. Louis took the next three. Blues forward Chris Stewart scored three goals, the only player in the series on other side to have more than one.

Big story: Two of the NHL's better defensive teams in the early-going square off. The Blues were tied for the League's best goal differential (plus-9) entering Friday night's action. The Stars have opened the season by playing four consecutive one-goal games, and taken five of a possible eight points.

Team Scope:

Blues: The defending Central Division champions are currently chasing a red-hot rival in Chicago, but the returns from the season's first week suggest St. Louis will be competing not only for the division title, but the Western Conference crown and Presidents' Trophy once again. The Blues displayed all the elements of their well-rounded game in a 3-0 win Thursday over the Predators. T.J. Oshie scored on a power play, Patrik Berglund on a penalty shot, and rookie Vladimir Tarasenko continued his torrid pace with another goal. The defense was also sound in front of Jaroslav Halak, who needed to make just 13 saves for his second shutout already this season and the 24th of his career.

"Tonight we were trying to get a bounce-back game after a tough loss against Chicago (3-2 on Tuesday)," Oshie said. "Guys are just playing well, goaltending's great obviously. Everyone's just been good at home."

Stars: The big news in Dallas on Thursday came prior to the game, when restricted free agent Jamie Benn signed a new five-year contract. Benn probably won't be ready to play until Monday in Columbus, but his return comes at a good time for the Stars, who scored four goals in their season opener and just four more in the three games since. They led the Blackhawks 2-0 on Thursday thanks to a shorthanded tally by Loui Eriksson and a goal by Ray Whitney, but would eventually drop a 3-2 overtime decision despite 38 saves from Kari Lehtonen.

"The only reason we got a point was because of him," coach Glen Gulutzan said. "Got outplayed all night but our goalie was real good."

Who's hot: Halak has the early League lead in shutouts, while Tarasenko's four goals and Kevin Shattenkirk's five assists also place them among the game's best. … Cody Eakin, acquired by the Stars in the Mike Ribeiro trade, has three assists in the last two games since being placed on a line with Whitney and Michael Ryder.

Injury report: Dallas forward Jaromir Jagr and defenseman Aaron Rome are battling lower-body injuries and their statuses are day-to-day.
I know Dallas isn't West Texas but I'm going to post this song anyway because Explosions in the Sky is a great band.

[youtube][/youtube]

Re: GDT #5: 1/26/13 > Blues @ Stars > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 7:48 am
by gaijin
It's strange not to live in Stars Country anymore. It is also strange to play against Jaromir Jagr.

2 points, please. :letsgoblues:

Re: GDT #5: 1/26/13 > Blues @ Stars > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 8:48 am
by glen a richter
Blues 4
Stars 2

Tarasenko, Oshie, Shattenkirk, Stewart

1 PPG, 1 ENG

Re: GDT #5: 1/26/13 > Blues @ Stars > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 8:55 am
by SamJunior
gaijin wrote:It's strange not to live in Stars Country anymore. It is also strange to play against Jaromir Jagr.

2 points, please. :letsgoblues:
No Jagr tonight. And their back up will be in goal.

Re: GDT #5: 1/26/13 > Blues @ Stars > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 10:24 am
by STLADOGG
And no Benn(who recently re-signed with the Stars) in the linup.

Re: GDT #5: 1/26/13 > Blues @ Stars > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 10:56 am
by philco_3
Blues 8 - Southern Stars 2

Re: GDT #5: 1/26/13 > Blues @ Stars > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 1:15 pm
by glen a richter
No Benn, no Jagr, and the backup goalie? That's a recipe for a disappointing letdown. Hope they don't spend too much time thinking about tomorrow's game against the North Stars and focus 100% on the South Stars.

Re: GDT #5: 1/26/13 > Blues @ Stars > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 5:02 pm
by sseagle
IS IT (Franking) GAME TIME YET? IM READY FOR SOME FUCKIN HOCKEY!

Re: GDT #5: 1/26/13 > Blues @ Stars > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 6:11 pm
by stinkdified
sseagle wrote:IS IT (Frank) GAME TIME YET? IM READY FOR SOME (Frank) HOCKEY!
Arrrr
I was so ready to see some hockey...flight was supposed to land at 6:10 so I would be home just in time for to see my first game of the year.
Sitting in Washington Dulles...(Franking) UNITED :cussing:

Re: GDT #5: 1/26/13 > Blues @ Stars > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 6:23 pm
by sseagle
stinkdified wrote:
sseagle wrote:IS IT (Frank) GAME TIME YET? IM READY FOR SOME (Frank) HOCKEY!
Arrrr
I was so ready to see some hockey...flight was supposed to land at 6:10 so I would be home just in time for to see my first game of the year.
Sitting in Washington Dulles...(Frank) UNITED :cussing:
:( that SUCKS

Re: GDT #5: 1/26/13 > Blues @ Stars > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 8:43 pm
by dmiles2186
The Blues swung some serious nuts in the 2nd period. 1st was awful. 2nd was all Blues. Keep the pedal to the metal in the 3rd and we've got 2 points.

Re: GDT #5: 1/26/13 > Blues @ Stars > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 9:45 pm
by Krigloch the Furious
Lots of slop, but 2 pts is 2 pts.
Perron has a quick release :oops:

Re: GDT #5: 1/26/13 > Blues @ Stars > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 9:57 pm
by glen a richter
1st and 3rd sucked great 2nd. The boys got very fortunate there at the end. I hope everyone gets a good sleep on the flight back and they're ready to go because 2 flat periods won't fly tomorrow.

Re: GDT #5: 1/26/13 > Blues @ Stars > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 10:13 pm
by gaijin
Sloppy play resulted in the Stars' 2nd and 3rd goals. That and rebounds (which never should have happened to begin with).

If it weren't for the goalposts, we don't get 2 points out of this game.

Re: GDT #5: 1/26/13 > Blues @ Stars > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 10:15 pm
by cprice12
Not the best game we've played, but whenever you get 2 pts. on the road that's good enough for me.

Another game tomorrow.
Kinda likin' this shortened season...whole lots o' hockey. :grin:

Re: GDT #5: 1/26/13 > Blues @ Stars > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 12:16 am
by theohall
Negatives:
Halak was giving up horrendous rebounds almost every time the Stars got pucks on net. That has to stop.
Pietrangelo played his worst game of the year - yes, even in a win, #27 was particularly bad tonight, but #6 bailed him out.
1st period on the road effort - ridiculously poor. Starting the 3rd with a 2 goal lead, same ridiculously poor effort outside of a few players
2 really bad officiating calls - the trip call on Tarasenko?? WTF? His skates did not hit Whitney's skates. His leg was nowhere near being in position to trip a guy. Tarasenko's stick was more of a slash (which might have been called if he'd actually hit something with it). Horrible call, since Whitney fell down, because Tarasenko is bigger than him and knocked him down solely because of that. There was no trip. 2nd bad call - where was the interference call on Robidas when Sobotka was called for holding? Yes. The holding call was correct. The problem - Sobotka had NOT TOUCHED THE PUCK and was trying to get to it when Robidas hit him. That is the textbook definition of interference, yet it was not called.
Lastly - Blues seemed to lay down after every goal they scored. Was it Dallas getting hyped up to get back in the game or the Blues letting up? I don't know. What I did see was the Stars working one hell of allot harder after each of the Blues goals and the Blues waiting a shift to match that intensity.

Positives:
Perron is back. Whatever happened between the first three games and the last two (probably actually having a full practice), he is back on his game to the level he was when returning from his concussion.
Stewart - he did not make any of the stupid plays tonight. Actually dumped the puck deep the one time he had to beat a defenseman - whew!!!!
Shattenkirk - no need to discuss his game.
Redden - this is what the Blues were hoping Redden could be after having been playing in the minors for two years. The Blues got the 2009 Redden tonight and he bailed out Pietrangelo on at least 3 occasions, in addition to actually scoring a goal and having two other excellent scoring chances.
Tarasenko - adding another point with a great play to keep the puck in the zone. He was also again solid defensively and set up multiple scoring chances. It seems like every other shift he does something which stands out - whether it be in the offensive zone or being in the right place defensively. Again - I have never seen a more complete rookie Blues player in my 37 years (47 years old, started watching at 10 - thanks Uncle Mike) of watching the Blues.

Generalities:
Coaching - Hitchcock changing the lines and moving Sobotka up to the 3rd is a good thing IMO. Not sure what more so say about this considering the 4th line and 3rd line both generated goals tonight. Yes, Perron got an assist on that 3rd line goal, but the work that led to the goal was Berglund winning the board battle. We shall see what Schwartz brings over the season. Not sure we will see his true impact in a shortened season, but my bet is he will matter at some point. Right now, the Blues are so stacked at forward, he is lucky to be playing.

Thoughts:
Blues on the road in three games have not been as focused as they have been at home. Is that because of home team line changes or lack of focus? I don't know, yet. One thing for sure, Hitchcock is going to get on them for these three road performances, because, even though the Blues won 2 of the 3 - two of those three could have been losses. This style of road plays loses playoff games and this lack of focus is what the Kings took advantage of vs the Blues in the playoffs last season. That is the point I would be hammering home right now if I were Hitchcock.

Edit: Two notes on the opposition
1) Cody Eakins is one heck of a hockey player. He would fit on the Blues very well with the way works every shift.
2) Christopher Nilstrop is a tough mf'ing goalie playing through what looked like a groin injury as long as he could and keeping the Blues from scoring while he did so. The Blues clearly saw the injury and upped their game until he was pulled and for the first couple of minutes after he left the game. Then they kind of let up again - like they did in the 1st period and at the start of the 3rd. Ultimate point - Nilstrop is a tough SOB who did his damnedest staying in the game.

Edit x2: I forgot to write about Backes.
While some seem to think Backes is "disappearing." Yes, it looks that way on the score sheet. However, Backes is busting his ass and getting beat up for it going to the front of the net allowing his linemates the time to play around on the edges with the puck. He has not disappeared if one watches the games. He is drawing defenders to him. Hitting and getting hit. Making space for his linemates. No, it isn't pretty and rarely shows on the score sheet, but he is still doing that work.

Re: GDT #5: 1/26/13 > Blues @ Stars > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 10:27 am
by tjk002
theohall wrote:Negatives

Edit x2: I forgot to write about Backes.
While some seem to think Backes is "disappearing." Yes, it looks that way on the score sheet. However, Backes is busting his ass and getting beat up for it going to the front of the net allowing his linemates the time to play around on the edges with the puck. He has not disappeared if one watches the games. He is drawing defenders to him. Hitting and getting hit. Making space for his linemates. No, it isn't pretty and rarely shows on the score sheet, but he is still doing that work.
This x10. Backes is so undervalued. Guy battles in the crease, blocks shots. He'll get his goals. But until then he's doing what he needs to do.

Re: GDT #5: 1/26/13 > Blues @ Stars > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 11:00 am
by glen a richter
++ on Nilstrop. When he made that initial save that he got hurt on, I figured as long as he stayed in we'd be guaranteed at least one more goal before they put in Lehtonen. He toughed it out and made some good saves while hurt and definitely helped keep Dallas in the game there in the second half of the 3rd period. Again, we are damned lucky to have survived a battle against a team that was working way harder for 2/3rds of the game. To be fair though, if memory serves me, there was also a post and a puck that barely trickled wide that could have just as easily made it a 6-3 game. Both sides had a handful of close calls, not just behind Halak.

As an aside... if Skeltor was still behind the bench, this team loses that game. Hitch, I presume, will not allow an effort like that to happen tonight.

Re: GDT #5: 1/26/13 > Blues @ Stars > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 3:38 pm
by sseagle
Nilstorp just landed on IR... wow

Re: GDT #5: 1/26/13 > Blues @ Stars > 7:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 5:39 pm
by dmiles2186
sseagle wrote:Nilstorp just landed on IR... wow
Tough break. I really was impressed at how he kept playing through that injury.