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GDT #58: 2/26/14 > Blues @ Canucks > 9:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 7:34 am
by dmiles2186
Boys, I've been waiting to do this for a long time. Blues hockey is finally back.
BLUES (39-12-6) at CANUCKS (27-24-9)

TV: FS-MW, SNET-P

Last 10: St. Louis 7-2-1; Vancouver 2-8-0

Season series: The Vancouver Canucks are going for a three-game sweep of the St. Louis Blues after winning 3-2 in overtime at Scottrade Center on Oct. 25 and 2-1 at home on Jan. 10.

Big story: The teams resume play after the Olympic break in vastly different circumstances. The Blues begin a three-game road trip on top of the Central Division, all but assured of a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and challenging for the Presidents' Trophy. The Canucks start a three-game homestand on the outside looking in at the top eight in the Western Conference, but they should get a boost from the return of top-line center Henrik Sedin.

Team Scope:

Blues: With seven Blues playing in the maximum six games in Sochi, coach Ken Hitchcock may be forced to give some of his stars a break during a three-game road trip.

"It's going to be really interesting to see all of these guys coming back that played in some of the important games over there, how quickly they can mentally turn that off and get refocused for some real important hockey," said Blues associate coach Brad Shaw, who has been running practice while Hitchcock served as an assistant coach for Canada. "That'll be a real tough mental challenge for those guys and we'll have to maybe expect some play that is a little bit haywire at times. Hopefully we'll have enough guys pointed in the right direction."

Shaw said the Blues may have to give their Olympians some additional rest.

"I don't think it's written in stone, but there is an idea that some guys will probably need a break, some may not," he said. "A lot of the guys that went over, a [Alex Pietrangelo] or [Jay Bouwmeester], who average 25 minutes and end up playing a 17 or 18 minutes, might be able to come right back in. It's hard to say."

Canucks: The good news is that although Sedin missed practice this week for personal reasons, coach John Tortorella said he is expected to return to the lineup against the Blues. The bad news is that Tortorella had no update on whether center Ryan Kesler would be available. Kesler played the final three games for the United States in Sochi despite a right hand injury sustained when he blocked a shot in the game against Russia; he had an MRI on Tuesday.

Kesler's absence would be a major loss for a team that's already thin down the middle. He leads NHL forwards in ice time (22:12) and has a key role on both special teams for the Canucks.

"He's one guy you notice more than others because he contributes in so many areas of our team," forward Christopher Higgins told the Vancouver Province. "He plays hard minutes. He would be a tough guy to replace."

Who's hot: Blues forward T.J. Oshie became a household name after his shootout heroics in the United States' preliminary-round win against Russia in Sochi, but he's played well all season. His 46 points are tied with Alexander Steen for the team lead. … Higgins had points in each of Vancouver's last two games, and his 16 goals are second on the team.

Injury report: The Blues are expected to be without defenseman Jordan Leopold (ankle) and forward Vladimir Sobotka (knee). … The Canucks will be without defensemen Christopher Tanev (hand) and Andrew Alberts (concussion), and center Mike Santorelli (shoulder). Forward Alexandre Burrows (hand) and defenseman Yannick Weber (undisclosed) are day-to-day.

Re: GDT #58: 2/26/14 > Blues @ Canucks > 9:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 9:54 am
by not_a_wings_fan
Am I the only one hoping Stewart is a late scratch?

I would love to see that he doesn't play tonight because of a pending trade, lol.

We really need to get a good game here as we have traditionally not played well against VAN.

Two points, boys! Let's get 'er done!

Re: GDT #58: 2/26/14 > Blues @ Canucks > 9:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 10:11 am
by sseagle
Big. Ass. Tittays!!!

Lets go flashchat!! Oh wait it's still broken and no one is caring at all.

Re: GDT #58: 2/26/14 > Blues @ Canucks > 9:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 10:24 am
by gaijin
Holy crap, it's an NHL game! 2 points, please. :letsgoblues:

Re: GDT #58: 2/26/14 > Blues @ Canucks > 9:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 10:56 am
by dmiles2186
sseagle wrote:Big. Ass. Tittays!!!

Lets go flashchat!! Oh wait it's still broken and no one is caring at all.
As I posted a week ago in our 'fix this forum' forum. And no one responded to that either. Yipee. It's working!

Re: GDT #58: 2/26/14 > Blues @ Canucks > 9:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 11:50 am
by ComradeT
Halak injures his groin while receiving a lap dance from one of the Sedin sisters last night at a gentlemen's club. Elliot delivers a solid performance, and Jake Allen is called up. Together, they form an unbreakable tandem that carries the Blues all the way to you-know-what-but-I-am-afraid-to-jinx-it-by-actually-saying-it. Blues' US Olympians come out hungry for blood and break some Swedish skulls. Their other Olympians simply have a great game, and so do those who did not travel to Sochi. Blues chase both goalies and break their psyche so bad neither wants to go back in goal, so Burrows is forced to be in goal. He attempts to bite everyone who comes within a foot of the crease and breaks his teeth on Captain America's calf (hey, if stray dogs of Sochi couldn't do it, do you really think you can?) The game ends up in a bench clearing brawl, with Vancouver's fourth line beating up their other three lines for sucking huge hairy balls and being too girly. Blues are long gone by the time the fight is stopped. Torts eats his own necktie.

What? The score? Oh, I dunno... Say 3-1 Blues.

Re: GDT #58: 2/26/14 > Blues @ Canucks > 9:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 1:14 pm
by sseagle
I'm voting for comrade

Re: GDT #58: 2/26/14 > Blues @ Canucks > 9:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 2:45 pm
by ViPeRx007
What What?! BLUES HOCKEY TONIGHT!

This makes me happy. LETS WIN BLUES!

Re: GDT #58: 2/26/14 > Blues @ Canucks > 9:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 3:31 pm
by drwoland
ComradeT wrote:Halak injures his groin while receiving a lap dance from one of the Sedin sisters last night at a gentlemen's club. Elliot delivers a solid performance, and Jake Allen is called up. Together, they form an unbreakable tandem that carries the Blues all the way to you-know-what-but-I-am-afraid-to-jinx-it-by-actually-saying-it. Blues' US Olympians come out hungry for blood and break some Swedish skulls. Their other Olympians simply have a great game, and so do those who did not travel to Sochi. Blues chase both goalies and break their psyche so bad neither wants to go back in goal, so Burrows is forced to be in goal. He attempts to bite everyone who comes within a foot of the crease and breaks his teeth on Captain America's calf (hey, if stray dogs of Sochi couldn't do it, do you really think you can?) The game ends up in a bench clearing brawl, with Vancouver's fourth line beating up their other three lines for sucking huge hairy balls and being too girly. Blues are long gone by the time the fight is stopped. Torts eats his own necktie.

What? The score? Oh, I dunno... Say 3-1 Blues.
:lol:

Re: GDT #58: 2/26/14 > Blues @ Canucks > 9:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 6:51 pm
by glen a richter
First game back and it's 10:30 PM on my tube... or radio, whichever. I'll get the score in the morning.

Re: GDT #58: 2/26/14 > Blues @ Canucks > 9:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 7:04 pm
by sseagle
glen a richter wrote:First game back and it's 10:30 PM on my tube... or radio, whichever. I'll get the score in the morning.

I got yer tube right here

Re: GDT #58: 2/26/14 > Blues @ Canucks > 9:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 7:22 pm
by glen a richter
sseagle wrote:
glen a richter wrote:First game back and it's 10:30 PM on my tube... or radio, whichever. I'll get the score in the morning.

I got yer tube right here
That tube, is it the KY that you don't need because your wife is disinterested?

Re: GDT #58: 2/26/14 > Blues @ Canucks > 9:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 7:41 pm
by ComradeT
glen a richter wrote:
sseagle wrote:
glen a richter wrote:First game back and it's 10:30 PM on my tube... or radio, whichever. I'll get the score in the morning.

I got yer tube right here
That tube, is it the KY that you don't need because you're wife is disinterested?
OH

Image

Re: GDT #58: 2/26/14 > Blues @ Canucks > 9:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 9:23 pm
by sseagle

Re: GDT #58: 2/26/14 > Blues @ Canucks > 9:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2014 12:09 am
by ViPeRx007
Ryan Miller doesn't score goals. Just sayin...

Re: GDT #58: 2/26/14 > Blues @ Canucks > 9:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2014 1:15 am
by not_a_wings_fan
That actually went better than I expected from a score standpoint. We struggle with those pacific teams something fierce. It does not bode well for a deep run in the playoffs.

Meh, moving on.

Re: GDT #58: 2/26/14 > Blues @ Canucks > 9:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2014 7:48 am
by dmiles2186
I figured I'd come in here to knee jerking galore. First game back, it's a bummer we lost to a team that hadn't won in 7 games, but time to move on. Big game against Anaheim tomorrow night.

As for the goal scoring thing, the Blues are, I believe, in the top 5 in goals for. They've got scoring, I don't know why people say they don't. We have 6-7 guys that have a double digit goal total if I'm not mistaken.

(Edit: Just checked, we have 7 with at least 10 goals, Roy is knocking on the door at 9).

To continue on that point, the Blues have 196 goals for, the league average is 162. Keep in mind that the Blues have played a couple games less than most teams. Plus, this was the first time the Blues were shutout this season, if I'm not mistaken. The Blues don't need a top level scorer because they have guys all over that can score. Not saying I wouldn't take someone that can score, those are always needed. But to act like the Blues can't score goals isn't accurate in my mind.

(Viper, this wasn't directly towards you, I've seen others mention it here and there this season)

Re: GDT #58: 2/26/14 > Blues @ Canucks > 9:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2014 9:58 am
by ComradeT
dmiles2186 wrote:I figured I'd come in here to knee jerking galore. First game back, it's a bummer we lost to a team that hadn't won in 7 games, but time to move on. Big game against Anaheim tomorrow night.

As for the goal scoring thing, the Blues are, I believe, in the top 5 in goals for. They've got scoring, I don't know why people say they don't. We have 6-7 guys that have a double digit goal total if I'm not mistaken.

(Edit: Just checked, we have 7 with at least 10 goals, Roy is knocking on the door at 9).

To continue on that point, the Blues have 196 goals for, the league average is 162. Keep in mind that the Blues have played a couple games less than most teams. Plus, this was the first time the Blues were shutout this season, if I'm not mistaken. The Blues don't need a top level scorer because they have guys all over that can score. Not saying I wouldn't take someone that can score, those are always needed. But to act like the Blues can't score goals isn't accurate in my mind.

(Viper, this wasn't directly towards you, I've seen others mention it here and there this season)
Blues are #2 in goals per game, behind Blackhawks and ahead of Ducks and Penguins (anyone else feels like they are in a hatchery?), so scoring is definitely not a problem so long as they don't go on 8-0 binges followed by goal droughts (which they don't). Blackhawks were shut out once this season, both Ducks and Penguins more than once. These nights will happen to anyone. And it's not like Canucks played so well. Blues just couldn't hit the net to save their lives. Let's see what happens in Anaheim, the panic button is not going anywhere anyway, so I'll wait to hit it.

Interestingly (or not), Chicago's only shut-out came right before the Olympic break, and the Blues got shut out right after. Both were to bad teams (Hawks lost to Coyotes).

Re: GDT #58: 2/26/14 > Blues @ Canucks > 9:30 PM > FSMW/KMOX

Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2014 6:57 pm
by Oaklandblue
We played really damn well for not playing for two weeks. Our first game back as a -cohesive- unit and not as a unit split apart and playing for various Olympic teams. It was a good, solid effort. I don't think I would have done the lines like Hitchcock did, but they were interesting and it was good to see how a player reacts to being given a role not normal to them. This alone should have got us shelled, but when it came down to it, we stayed in the fight.

Halak was absolutely amazing. He didn't get rattled and the times he flubbed something, he quickly snapped out of it and played through. The one goal he let in, no one would have stopped. I honestly think he had a chip on his shoulder coming into tonight due to his performance in the Olympics. Whatever it is, I hope that chip stays right where it is.

The Canucks earned this win. I'm ok with that. NEXT GAME.