Page 1 of 2

GDT #15: 2/17/13 > Blues @ Canucks > 8:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 7:33 am
by dmiles2186
BLUES (8-5-1) at CANUCKS (8-3-2)

TV: FS-Midwest, Sportsnet-Pacific

Last 10: St. Louis 5-4-1, Vancouver 7-2-1

Season series: First of three, two at Rogers Arena. The teams split at each venue last season and the previous three, the last outright series win going to the Vancouver Canucks in 2007-08.

Big story: Though only a point separates these teams in the Western Conference standings, the St. Louis Blues have the dubious honor of sharing a division with the rampaging Chicago Blackhawks. The result is the Canucks lead the Northwest, while the Blues sit third in the Central, eight points back.

Team scope:

Blues: Sometimes a change of venue can do some good. Clearly it's what the Blues needed as they left for Detroit on Monday. Losers of five straight, including all four games of a homestand, they got another crack at the Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena, where the slide began two weeks prior. Alex Steen ended a five-game losing streak in the Motor City with an overtime goal, giving the Blues a 4-3 win.

Then it was off to western Canada and Scotiabank Saddledome. A four-goal first period and a 5-2 win over the Calgary Flames made the mood giddy -- for everyone except maybe coach Ken Hitchcock.

"For us to get to the next level, we have to collectively enjoy the competition and not want it to be something different," Hitchcock said to NHL.com. "For me, we need to find 60 minutes in our game. We've been playing 40 minutes but we've had our foot off the accelerator. We're making some strides but we aren't there yet."

Canucks: Friday should have been a night for celebration. Alex Burrows made the most of a perfect cross-ice pass and buried it past Dallas Stars goalie RIchard Bachman. It gave the Canucks a 3-1 lead well into the second period, and gave Henrik Sedin career point 757, passing Markus Naslund as the all-time top scorer in Canucks history.

The festive atmosphere didn't last, though; the Stars came back with three unanswered goals for a 4-3 win.

"Very disappointing," Henrik told the Vancouver Sun. "I don't really know what happened. I thought we played a good game up to the halfway point and then they took over. Giving up four goals 5-on-5, that never happens with this team."

The crowd's response to the record-setting point was a long standing ovation among video tributes from Naslund and Canucks great Trevor Linden.

"It was very special," Henrik said. "To be a part of something like that and getting a chance to get the record on home ice in front of our fans was an honor and a great feeling out there. It means a lot to me."

Who's hot: Steen followed his game-winner in Detroit with a goal and two assists in Calgary, adding to his five-game points streak and four-game goal-scoring streak. Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk has points in four of his past five games. David Perron scored twice at Calgary. … Henrik may have the all-time accolades, but twin brother Daniel has the edge in goals and points this season (four goals, eight assists vs. zero goals and 10 assists).

Injury report: Blues goalie Jaroslav Halak (groin) skipped Friday's game but may be available to start Sunday. Forward Jamie Langenbrunner (hip) had surgery and likely is out for the season. … Canucks forward Manny Malhotra was placed on injured reserve Thursday because he has not adapted sufficiently after his eye injury in March 2011 and was deemed vulnerable to serious injury. Forward David Booth (groin) has been making progress but no return date has been set.

Re: GDT #15: 2/17/13 > Blues @ Canucks > 8:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 8:43 am
by STLADOGG
Come on boys, the Canucks crowd is terrible. Let's make sure we have them sitting on their hands the whole game.

Re: GDT #15: 2/17/13 > Blues @ Canucks > 8:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 11:11 am
by gaijin
True dat. Silence the crowd early and keep them that way for 60 minutes.

2 points, please. :letsgoblues:

Re: GDT #15: 2/17/13 > Blues @ Canucks > 8:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 11:48 am
by glen a richter
Canucks 6
Blues 1

Re: GDT #15: 2/17/13 > Blues @ Canucks > 8:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 1:40 pm
by dr313
As much as I want a Blues victory tonight, I think I much rather see the Sedin sisters get beaten and broken

Re: GDT #15: 2/17/13 > Blues @ Canucks > 8:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 2:10 pm
by sseagle
I like pie.

Re: GDT #15: 2/17/13 > Blues @ Canucks > 8:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 2:48 pm
by Shanahan19
Could be good or bad...

Nucks - 4
Note - 3

Re: GDT #15: 2/17/13 > Blues @ Canucks > 8:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 3:59 pm
by sseagle
anyone been following Burnside and his 'embedded with the blues' series on the four letter network?

interesting insights..
http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/89555 ... es-balance

Re: GDT #15: 2/17/13 > Blues @ Canucks > 8:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 6:01 pm
by sseagle
This dump is dead today, anyone remember our hockies teams?

Re: GDT #15: 2/17/13 > Blues @ Canucks > 8:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 10:50 pm
by dmiles2186
Win or lose, he shall now be known as Stonewall Allen.

Re: GDT #15: 2/17/13 > Blues @ Canucks > 8:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 10:59 pm
by sseagle
Horrible refs again, but, we prevail.

Still like pie!

Re: GDT #15: 2/17/13 > Blues @ Canucks > 8:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 11:03 pm
by glen a richter
Can't blame any of the three goals on Allen. He came up huge when he had to. Big two points there. Stupid penalties at the end could have easily cost them the game.

Re: GDT #15: 2/17/13 > Blues @ Canucks > 8:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 11:20 pm
by PGABluesFan
JAKE. FRACKING. ALLEN.

Yeah, we might be bandwagoning a bit, possibly over-reacting. But I'm gonna be sad when he gets sent back down. I'm sure glad he's in our system!

Re: GDT #15: 2/17/13 > Blues @ Canucks > 8:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 12:02 am
by ComradeT
dmiles2186 wrote:Win or lose, he shall now be known as Stonewall Allen.
Stonewallen perhaps? Or simply, Jake Wallen?

Re: GDT #15: 2/17/13 > Blues @ Canucks > 8:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 12:21 am
by Nyghtewynd
Get swept on the homestand, then sweep the road trip. Hockey is a funny game.

Re: GDT #15: 2/17/13 > Blues @ Canucks > 8:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 12:44 am
by cprice12
God I hate the Canucks.
Typical end of the game diving and embellishing to get calls. It's like the Canucks think they are playing soccer.

Allen was great tonight. A number of huge saves. Can't really fault him on any of the 3 goals. He's looking better and better. Very composed, quick and his positioning is already light years better than in his first game.

Burrows can suck it. What a piece of shit he is...correction, always has been.

Oshie's shootout goal was sneaky smart. You could tell Luongo was expecting his traditional series of dekes and Osh completely caught him off guard snapping a quick shot 5 hole...Luongo never moved.

MacDonald's shootout goal was sick. The replay showed there wasn't much to shoot at up there, and he buried it. Game, set, 2 pts.

I was expecting at least one PP goal by the Blues tonight with how good they have been and with the Canuck PK struggling. But they didn't get many calls and only had a couple chances on the PP. Vancouver did a good job pressuring the puck and taking a lot of stuff away.

Poor start to the game, but the last 2 1/2 periods were much better...except for that massive offensive zone pressure the Canucks had that seemed to last for 5 minutes in the 3rd period. The Blues did good not to take a penalty during that push. Then the Blues go up 3-2 just a few minutes later. That was big.

Good win. We move into 4th place in the conference. Their play over the past few games has been noticeably better than the previous 5 where they struggled. They seem to be righting the ship.

Oh, and Detroit currently sits in 9th after blowing a 2-0 lead and losing to Minnesota tonight. 8)

Re: GDT #15: 2/17/13 > Blues @ Canucks > 8:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 7:11 am
by abc789987
I always love them to beat the Canucks! I'll take the win.

I'm not sure I'm sold on Allen. IMO he slides around a lot. Just get the puck going side to side and eventually he'll slide all the way out of the crease. This was the first game I was able to watch with him playing though.

Re: GDT #15: 2/17/13 > Blues @ Canucks > 8:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 8:12 am
by cprice12
abc789987 wrote:I always love them to beat the Canucks! I'll take the win.

I'm not sure I'm sold on Allen. IMO he slides around a lot. Just get the puck going side to side and eventually he'll slide all the way out of the crease. This was the first game I was able to watch with him playing though.
I didn't see that as an issue at all. The couple goals scored when he was "out of the crease" were nice back door pass plays, and if anyone is to blame, I think you blame the defense in front for not picking those guys up or just flat out give credit to the other team for a very nice play. He'll give up far fewer goals if he is on the aggressive side, as opposed to being too conservative and staying under the crossbar. Watching him from the overhead camera during the scrambles in front was impressive to watch. Very quick and well positioned.

I'm not sold on Allen yet either, mainly because he's only played a few NHL games. But he has gotten better each game, and was outstanding last night. I'm liking what I am seeing so far.

Re: GDT #15: 2/17/13 > Blues @ Canucks > 8:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 8:26 am
by glen a richter
Nyghtewynd wrote:Get swept on the homestand, then sweep the road trip. Hockey is a funny game.
There's no place like road.

Re: GDT #15: 2/17/13 > Blues @ Canucks > 8:00 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 9:24 am
by WaukeeBlues
And as I think someone mentioned in the Calgary thread, if Allen starts slipping maybe put Elliott back out there or see where Halak is at.

If Allen keeps it up that gives the Blues three, count em, THREE, solid goaltenders. Unheard of luxury.