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GDT #69: 3/19/14 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:00 PM > NBCSN/KMOX

Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 6:33 am
by dmiles2186
Heh heh. 69.

But seriously, destroy 'em.
BLUES (47-14-7) at BLACKHAWKS (39-15-15)

TV: TSN2, NBCSN

Last 10: St. Louis 8-1-1; Chicago 4-5-1

Season series: This is the fourth of five games between the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks. The Blues are 3-0-0 against the Blackhawks this season, with the past two victories coming in the shootout.

Big story: Chicago likely needs this one if it plans on remaining in the Central Division race. The Blues enter the game eight points ahead of the Blackhawks and Colorado Avalanche; Colorado and Chicago are tied with 93 points apiece, but the Avalanche are ahead because they have five more non-shootout victories.

Team Scope:

Blues: After earning a 3-1 win against the Winnipeg Jets at Scottrade Center on Monday, the Blues held an optional skate Tuesday morning. Right wing T.J. Oshie did not participate; his wife gave birth to the couple's first child Monday. However, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that Oshie was expected to travel with the team to Chicago and be in the lineup Wednesday night.

Only six players participated in the skate Tuesday, according to the Post-Dispatch. One of them was forward Magnus Paajarvi, who is working his way back from an upper-body injury.

"Been resting and been doing some activity," Paajarvi told the newspaper. "It was nice to get back and it feels better for sure."

Blackhawks: Chicago did get a point Tuesday night, but couldn't get a second in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center. Now the Blackhawks face the challenge of finally solving the Blues, whom they haven't beaten in three attempts this season.

"Right now they're the best team in the League," said Chicago defenseman Duncan Keith, who scored his first goal in 30 games Tuesday. "It's going to be a fun game, a good challenge. They've got a lot of depth on that team. It seems like they've been building that team, that same group of guys for three or four years now, and you know they're going to be hungry."

Who's hot: Blues center David Backes scored twice Monday and has a three-game point streak( two goals, two assists). … Blackhawks forward Patrick Sharp has eight points (one goal, seven assists) in as many games and Andrew Shaw has six points (three goals, three assists) in his past six. Forward Marian Hossa has one goal and three assists in his past two.

Injury report: The Blues are expected to be without forwards Paajarvi and Vladimir Tarasenko (hand), along with defenseman Jordan Leopold (flu). … Forward Brandon Saad (upper body) and goalie Nikolai Khabibulin (shoulder) are out for the Blackhawks.

Re: GDT #69: 3/19/14 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:00 PM > NBCSN/KMOX

Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 7:21 am
by sseagle
Just win it. My math says this one clinches a playoff berth for the Blues. So sweet on shitcago ice.

Re: GDT #69: 3/19/14 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:00 PM > NBCSN/KMOX

Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 8:18 am
by STLADOGG
Ready to (Frank) some shit up now.
Sobotka scores.

Re: GDT #69: 3/19/14 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:00 PM > NBCSN/KMOX

Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 9:10 am
by not_a_wings_fan
Two points in regulation makes the math crushing for Chicago. It would be a ten point lead, and Chicago would only have 24 possible points left. We would need 13 points in 13 games to clinch the central. 6-6-1 would get it done, and that's only if Chicago rolls off 12 in a row!

Big game here.

Go blues!

Re: GDT #69: 3/19/14 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:00 PM > NBCSN/KMOX

Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 9:42 am
by gaijin
2 points, please. :letsgoblues:

And no more injuries.

Re: GDT #69: 3/19/14 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:00 PM > NBCSN/KMOX

Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 10:15 am
by tjk002
Great show on NBC Sports last night called "Rivals" featured the Blues/Blackhawks. Great games of the early nineties. St. Patty's Day Massacre, Belfour having a meltdown after the 4 game sweep, Backes kickiig Toews ass, etc. Got me ready for tonights game. Great viewing!

Blues 4, Hawks 1.

Re: GDT #69: 3/19/14 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:00 PM > NBCSN/KMOX

Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 1:56 pm
by dmiles2186
Just in case anyone questioned it...

[tweet][/tweet]

Re: GDT #69: 3/19/14 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:00 PM > NBCSN/KMOX

Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 2:25 pm
by flyingnote38
Panger was on the radio here in Chicago this morning. The AM show hosts are not hockey guys per se. Their first question was about a statement Duncan Keith made about the Blues being the best team in the NHL "right now". The take in Chicago being that he wasn't praising the Blues so much as suggesting that who will be the best come the playoffs will be a different matter. Panger responded saying the Blues have been very good ever since Hitch took over a couple years ago but that the teams you have to fear in the playoffs are the ones who haves cores that have been through the wars together and won -- specifically mentioning the Hawks, Kings and Bruins.

Asked about the Hawks lack of success against the Blues and Aves this season (only one win in total). Panger focused more on the Aves at first and said that alot of teams are having problems with the Aves this season and that they have alot of good young players. He also suggested that he suspects they'll disappoint come playoff time as part of the growing pains process.

As you'd guess there was talk of Oshie's shootout success and the Miller trade. In term of Blues/Hawks specifics. Panger suggested that Backes and Toews tend to neutralize each other and Jackman gets assigned to shutting down Kane. This leaves Hossa and Sharp as the wildcards that tend to get the best scoring opportunities against the Blues and how they play determines how the game turns out.

Interestingly, they didn't talk much about the Blues Jets game, which had Panger been on with Dan McNeil the host of the next show and a card carrying blackhawks meathead fan, would have been the bulk of the discussion along with "do people in St Louis consider Jackman a gutless pud like they do in Chicago?"

Re: GDT #69: 3/19/14 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:00 PM > NBCSN/KMOX

Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 5:45 pm
by dmiles2186

Re: GDT #69: 3/19/14 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:00 PM > NBCSN/KMOX

Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 6:04 pm
by APOD
Lets do this!

I want the papers to read BLACKHAWKS GIVE BERTH!!!

Re: GDT #69: 3/19/14 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:00 PM > NBCSN/KMOX

Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 6:51 pm
by glen a richter
Lame ass penalty call on Cole leads to lame ass goal by Chicago. Come out flying in the 2nd and take it to these assholes.

Re: GDT #69: 3/19/14 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:00 PM > NBCSN/KMOX

Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 8:42 pm
by STLADOGG
(Frank) Chicago.

Re: GDT #69: 3/19/14 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:00 PM > NBCSN/KMOX

Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 9:05 pm
by not_a_wings_fan
Couldn't see the game tonight-did miller get injured or yanked? Was it the d or did he have an off night?

Re: GDT #69: 3/19/14 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:00 PM > NBCSN/KMOX

Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 9:53 pm
by Oaklandblue
We're like what, 7-1-1 since we acquired Miller? We were going to lose one, it was ineviatable. We won the series this year against the Hawks and for a change, the Hawks have a player get injured in the game instead of us. I'd trade that for a loss any day of the week.

I can live with this one. NEXT GAME.

Re: GDT #69: 3/19/14 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:00 PM > NBCSN/KMOX

Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 6:26 am
by Krigloch the Furious
I didnt get to watch this one.
And sorry I've been out of flashchat for so long
anyways, Saturday they better come out pissed!

Re: GDT #69: 3/19/14 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:00 PM > NBCSN/KMOX

Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 8:24 am
by cardsfan04
not_a_wings_fan wrote:Couldn't see the game tonight-did miller get injured or yanked? Was it the d or did he have an off night?
Yanked. I don't think Miller had his A-game, but I think it was mainly the team in front of him. First goal he was screened (and powerplay). 2nd was a deflection that significantly changed the direction of the puck. 3rd goal I think was a turnover and a nice pass that caught Miller to one side of the goal giving the scorer an empty net. I don't remember the 4th.

I remember thinking on the third that the turnover was the problem, but that Miller seemed to overcommit to the guy with the puck. I may be wrong though.

Overall, except for the first 5-10 minutes and a few stretches here and there, the Blackhawks were the better team. Our powerplay was awful. AWFUL. We didn't move the puck very well overall. And Chicago just seemed to really control the flow of the game.

Re: GDT #69: 3/19/14 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:00 PM > NBCSN/KMOX

Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 9:04 am
by not_a_wings_fan
cardsfan04 wrote:
not_a_wings_fan wrote:Couldn't see the game tonight-did miller get injured or yanked? Was it the d or did he have an off night?
Yanked. I don't think Miller had his A-game, but I think it was mainly the team in front of him. First goal he was screened (and powerplay). 2nd was a deflection that significantly changed the direction of the puck. 3rd goal I think was a turnover and a nice pass that caught Miller to one side of the goal giving the scorer an empty net. I don't remember the 4th.

I remember thinking on the third that the turnover was the problem, but that Miller seemed to overcommit to the guy with the puck. I may be wrong though.

Overall, except for the first 5-10 minutes and a few stretches here and there, the Blackhawks were the better team. Our powerplay was awful. AWFUL. We didn't move the puck very well overall. And Chicago just seemed to really control the flow of the game.
thanks! Pretty much what I figured.

Toews is out? What happened?

My big ? is this: does this team have another gear or are they at max effort right now? I know the hawks, kings, sharks, and ducks do.

Bring on the post season and let's just find out!

Re: GDT #69: 3/19/14 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:00 PM > NBCSN/KMOX

Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 9:15 am
by cardsfan04
not_a_wings_fan wrote:
cardsfan04 wrote:
not_a_wings_fan wrote:Couldn't see the game tonight-did miller get injured or yanked? Was it the d or did he have an off night?
Yanked. I don't think Miller had his A-game, but I think it was mainly the team in front of him. First goal he was screened (and powerplay). 2nd was a deflection that significantly changed the direction of the puck. 3rd goal I think was a turnover and a nice pass that caught Miller to one side of the goal giving the scorer an empty net. I don't remember the 4th.

I remember thinking on the third that the turnover was the problem, but that Miller seemed to overcommit to the guy with the puck. I may be wrong though.

Overall, except for the first 5-10 minutes and a few stretches here and there, the Blackhawks were the better team. Our powerplay was awful. AWFUL. We didn't move the puck very well overall. And Chicago just seemed to really control the flow of the game.
thanks! Pretty much what I figured.

Toews is out? What happened?

My big ? is this: does this team have another gear or are they at max effort right now? I know the hawks, kings, sharks, and ducks do.

Bring on the post season and let's just find out!
I don't know about Toews, but Kane hurt his knee. Morrow feel into it. I haven't heard anything official, but my guess is sprained MCL.

I don't know if we have another gear or not, but we better. I think we'll step up. I'd really like to beat Chicago next time. I don't normally have kneejerk reactions, but last night concerned me a little bit. Chicago was very much the better team last night. Hopefully we are next time we play.

Re: GDT #69: 3/19/14 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:00 PM > NBCSN/KMOX

Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 9:37 am
by dmiles2186
Rough game but like others have said, the Hawks were the better team. We just couldn't get any sustained pressure, constantly one and done (if that) when we gained the zone. It seemed like that frustration eventually bled over into the D end and we overplayed trying to make things happen and we just caved in late in the game. Too many times we had 2-3 guys chasing the puck carrier while leaving the back door pressure wide open.

But hey, it's our first loss in regulation against the Central this year. It happened on March 19. That's outstanding. We haven't had a regulation loss since February 28. This is a classic example of brushing off a game and moving on.

Re: GDT #69: 3/19/14 > Blues @ Hawks > 7:00 PM > NBCSN/KMOX

Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 10:24 am
by WaukeeBlues
And as Hitch said today: a bit of a needed wake-up call. Sloppy moments all over the place, and missed some chances (Oshie could've had a pair tonight easily)... just how it goes sometimes.

New winning streak starts today!