GDT Game 5: 5/23/16 | 7:00PM CST | v Sharks | NBCSN/Y98

[dmiles2186]

When your first child is born everything else seems irrelevant.... end of story. Plus he's probably exhausted

It all adds up to no Tarasenko the way we know him.

Others need to step up

Yeah, dude carried the Blues most of the season and in the first two rounds of the playoffs. He may have hit a wall, the birth of his child probably helped w/ that. I'm not going to pin this series on him if the Blues do lose.

In fact, it's pretty incredible the Blues are 2 games away from the SCF with our best playing being held pointless so far. If he finds a 2nd wind (or 3rd wind, or 4th wind...), watch out.

[Oaklandblue]

When your first child is born everything else seems irrelevant.... end of story. Plus he's probably exhausted

It all adds up to no Tarasenko the way we know him.

Others need to step up

Yeah, dude carried the Blues most of the season and in the first two rounds of the playoffs. He may have hit a wall, the birth of his child probably helped w/ that. I'm not going to pin this series on him if the Blues do lose.

In fact, it's pretty incredible the Blues are 2 games away from the SCF with our best playing being held pointless so far. If he finds a 2nd wind (or 3rd wind, or 4th wind...), watch out.

They actually played pretty well from what I watched, you just can't give the Sharks a break or for that matter, a PP or you've had it. I was hoping Jake could steal this one for us.

[Oaklandblue]

On a side note, Brouwer is a damn warrrior.

[dern17]

Brouwer and Fabbri are my 2 new favorite players.

[goon attack]

Hey... they haven't let us down yet when their backs were against the wall.

I'm guardedly hopeful.

My first son was born in October of 2004. The Cardinals hadn't been in the WS since 1987. As I watched them get swept by Boston, I was like, "Meh" because my newborn literally had all my attention. I figured the Cardinals would get another shot at it.

[fargoblues]

Well, apparently there's nothing wrong with 91 according to Hitch.

Um, ok then. That makes things worse...

[Toasted Oates]

Well, apparently there's nothing wrong with 91 according to Hitch.

Um, ok then. That makes things worse...

If 91 is hurt, the coach would never admit it. Especially this coach.

I don't doubt the Blues as an organization are doing everything they can to diagnose his problem.

Is he hurt? Possibly. He seems just a hair behind the pace. He's not battling for the puck; fighting for his ice. That could certainly be injury related because, as we know, this is one confident son of a gun. The moment, the pressure....this isn't the kind of guy to shy away from that.

Is it the birth of his son? I could see that. We'll just leave it at that; goon's example was right on. Vladi is a human, although he's made us wonder at times.

It is just the Sharks? This is the most likely to me. They held down Tiffoli and Forsberg in the first 2 rounds. They have swarmed him with bodies and checked him. Hard. Burns gave him the shot to the ribs in Game 4. They've frustrated the hell out of him. Hat tip.

What could they do to help him? Put him with Stastny and Steen, the top line they started the season with? Him and Backes have always had good chemistry on the power play. I wouldn't mind those 2 together but the lines would be tough to construct around them, notably the 3rd line. Bring Reaves in to keep guys honest? I'd bet we see a change or two tomorrow.

Luckily, the kid still has a little time to get in this series. I think he's earned some leeway, but the time is now. He knows that better than anyone else.