Can Elliott backstop us to a cup this year?

[cprice12]

Pretty simple question.
Once the playoffs start, we all know Elliott will be the guy starting every game. Is he good enough to help this team win a cup this year?
And why or why not?

[cardsfan04]

He's absolutely good enough. I think his play speaks for itself. He may not be on the same level as Rinne or Price or Quick, but he's not a liability either. And, the team in front of him is good enough that we don't need him to be as good as those others.

Can we and will we are two different questions though. I don't know if this year is our year or not, but I'm not looking at Elliott as something holding us back heading into the playoffs.

[Toasted Oates]

I agree with cardsfan: I don't think he'll blow it for us. He'll have to steal a game here and there, but I fail to see how he can't do that. He's had some injury woes, though, and I wonder (as others have) if he's ailing a little bit with Allen getting consecutive starts.

I'm actually excited to see how he plays. This is a big "earn your stripes" moment in his career.

My only playoff worry for this team is that the top two lines will have to carry the team offensively.

Will Hitchcock trust the 4th line enough to give them double digit minutes in a playoff game? Will their play merit that trust? Will Jaskin get his game going again? Will my dream of Guelph's OHL season ending early, Fabbri joining the team, shining in practice, and usurping Berglund come true?

Long story short, no...not worried about the goaltending. Can't wait for the best bracket of them all: The Stanley Cup Playoffs.

[Oaklandblue]

Bad Poll Questions are well...bad

The Poll question should be "Will the Blues be able to score enough goals to win games in the playoffs?"

Brian Elliott has been the single biggest factor in the playoffs for us. Scoring has never been there for him and idiot wannabe fans want to hold him responsible for that.

Will this be this year we bring the guns out? God, I hope so.

[JesusNEVERexisted]

Anything is possible but I'm quite dubious about Elliot. I agree scoring is the bigger problem and not the goalie.

[glen a richter]

Plenty of lousy to mediocre/average goalies have still gone on to win the Cup. Osgood, Fleury, Crawford, Richter. Elliott isn't a lousy goalie, but given that this is his first foray into being a #1 option, his body of work isn't particularly large compared to other previous champs. Nevertheless, I think the issue is motivation. This team is frustratingly lazy at times, including and not limited to playoff time. That's not the fault of Elliott, that's the fault of everyone else. Any NHL caliber goalie with the right team in front of him can win a Cup. Ergo, I agree with Oakland. The question shouldn't be if Elliott can achieve the goal, but if the rest of the team wants to achieve the goal.

[rorschach]

Sure can

[cprice12]

Sure can

That's a quality first post.
Welcome aboard.

[dmiles2186]

I think he can, I really do. Sure, Ells can give up a weak goal here or there, but a good chunk of the goals he gives up are because of defensive breakdowns. I put those more on the D than on Ells. The question will be if he can steal a game here or there, and as our franchise leader in shutouts, the guy has shown the ability to do that from time to time.

[cprice12]

I think he's more than good enough to take this team as far as they want to go.
Like others have said, I think it boils down to how well the team plays in front of him. Goaltending hasn't been our issue in years. We've had the goaltending, we just haven't been able to put the puck in the net enough in the playoffs.
I think this team is built to score more in the playoffs this time around...but we'll see.

[STLADOGG]

If Crawford and Niemi can do it, Elliott can too.

[cardsfan04]

I think he's more than good enough to take this team as far as they want to go.
Like others have said, I think it boils down to how well the team plays in front of him. Goaltending hasn't been our issue in years. We've had the goaltending, we just haven't been able to put the puck in the net enough in the playoffs.
I think this team is built to score more in the playoffs this time around...but we'll see.

Every year since we've been legit good again I've convinced myself that it was our year to win. This year my rationale is the bolded above. We've dominated teams in the playoffs in the past only to be tied in the 3rd period, make a mistake, and let the team that didn't play well win. I think games we dominate this year won't be tied late anymore.

[rorschach]

Sure can

That's a quality first post.
Welcome aboard.

Signed up almost 2 years ago, but I thought the site was dead, because there wasn't any traffic at all. Been a regular poster on HF Blues board every since. I just happened to see a Tweet that stated Lets Go Blues Podcast decided to come back, so that's the only reason I happened along. Agree with above posters who stated the offense is who we should be worrying about come playoff time, Ells will do his job. Will the forwards, that's the question. They've already shown their playoff form in the last several games, where the play has been gearing up towards PO hockey, and they're barely scoring. Hope they get it figured out before the actual playoffs start.

[ViPeRx007]

Probably. I mean, why the heck not? Former Vezina winner Ryan Miller was supposed to last season and we all know how that went. Again, not putting sole blame on him, I'm just saying we didn't win the cup with a more "proven" goalie, so who's to say Elliott can't do it?

Gotta prove yourself somehow...

[JesusNEVERexisted]

I think he's more than good enough to take this team as far as they want to go.
Like others have said, I think it boils down to how well the team plays in front of him. Goaltending hasn't been our issue in years. We've had the goaltending, we just haven't been able to put the puck in the net enough in the playoffs.
I think this team is built to score more in the playoffs this time around...but we'll see.

This is the Show Me State so show me first. Remember the Blues are going to be facing the best teams in the playoffs who will be gunning for them. This ain't like playing Arizona or Buffalo!

[dmiles2186]

I think he's more than good enough to take this team as far as they want to go.
Like others have said, I think it boils down to how well the team plays in front of him. Goaltending hasn't been our issue in years. We've had the goaltending, we just haven't been able to put the puck in the net enough in the playoffs.
I think this team is built to score more in the playoffs this time around...but we'll see.

This is the Show Me State so show me first. Remember the Blues are going to be facing the best teams in the playoffs who will be gunning for them. This ain't like playing Arizona or Buffalo!

Only the best teams make the playoffs and winning the Cup (let alone one round) is incredibly hard?! As a Blues fan, I had no idea this was the case. It's not like our whole franchise's existence has been defined by having that drilled into our heads and souls over and over again.

[cprice12]

I think he's more than good enough to take this team as far as they want to go.
Like others have said, I think it boils down to how well the team plays in front of him. Goaltending hasn't been our issue in years. We've had the goaltending, we just haven't been able to put the puck in the net enough in the playoffs.
I think this team is built to score more in the playoffs this time around...but we'll see.

This is the Show Me State so show me first. Remember the Blues are going to be facing the best teams in the playoffs who will be gunning for them. This ain't like playing Arizona or Buffalo!

The Blues are going to be facing the best teams in the playoffs??? Not Arizona or Buffalo????

I had no idea.

Thanks for reminding me. I thought the playoffs this year were going to be easy...but now I find out we have to play good teams???

Screw that.

[ecbm]

He's certainly good enough. His lapses wouldn't frustrate me so much if I didn't think he is a very good goalie.

Plenty of lousy to mediocre/average goalies have still gone on to win the Cup. Osgood, Fleury, Crawford, Richter. Elliott isn't a lousy goalie, but given that this is his first foray into being a #1 option, his body of work isn't particularly large compared to other previous champs. Nevertheless, I think the issue is motivation. This team is frustratingly lazy at times, including and not limited to playoff time. That's not the fault of Elliott, that's the fault of everyone else. Any NHL caliber goalie with the right team in front of him can win a Cup. Ergo, I agree with Oakland. The question shouldn't be if Elliott can achieve the goal, but if the rest of the team wants to achieve the goal.

Pretty much agree with that, though I'll add to lazy that they often look worn out late in the season and as games wear on-I think that's possibly caused by the same thing: Hitchcock's system.

I also agree with those above who say the guys in front of him are more important to the Blues' fortunes. 19 in particular needs to get his head out of his ass NOW.

[Jackman5]

Pretty simple question.
Once the playoffs start, we all know Elliott will be the guy starting every game. Is he good enough to help this team win a cup this year?
And why or why not?

No, too inconsistent.

[cardsfan04]

Allen starting tomorrow and Hitch's comment is a little odd. Probably nothing, but it's the first time I've thought there was any chance of a goalie controversy this year. There's something about the way he phrased it that makes me wonder if Allen could steal the job with a lights out performance.

[tweet][/tweet]