Page 1 of 1
GDT #32: Blues @ G. Knights | 9:00 pm CT | FSMW, 101 ESPN
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 4:55 am
by theohall
TEAM SNAPSHOTS
BLUES Despite being without Oskar Sundqvist (torn ACL), Zach Sanford (COVID protocol) and Tyler Bozak (upper-body injury), the Blues battled through and earned a convincing 5-2 win against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night.
Ryan O'Reilly and David Perron had four points each (one goal, three assists) in Saturday's win, and linemate Jordan Kyrou contributed two goals and an assist.
After going winless in five straight games (3-0-2), the Blues have now won two straight entering Monday's matchup with the Vegas Golden Knights.
"We just kept working and got some huge goals for us tonight," O'Reilly said of his line after Saturday's win."It's nice to contribute. We have to keep stepping up in times, especially as we get into these really crucial games."
The Blues currently sit in fourth place in the West Division with 16-10-5 (37 points). Only the top four teams in each division will qualify for the playoffs in this 56-game season.
GOLDEN KNIGHTS The Vegas Golden Knights dropped a 3-1 decision to the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday afternoon at Staples Center.
Tomas Nosek scored for Vegas, who was playing without Max Pacioretty due to a lower-body injury. Pacioretty is considered day-to-day and his status for Monday's game against the Blues isn't known. Former Blue Alex Pietrangelo is on long-term injured reserve.
Sunday's loss snapped a five-game win streak for Vegas, who leads the West Division with 43 points (21-7-1).
THE SERIES SO FAR
Jan. 26: Blues 5, Golden Knights 4 (SO)
A back-and-forth game featured an excessive amount of penalties by both teams, but the Blues emerged with a 5-4 win thanks to shootout goals from David Perron and Brayden Schenn. Perron also scored twice in regulation, and Jordan Kyrou turned heads with a dazzling goal that former Blue Alex Pietrangelo frustrated. Max Pacioretty netted a hat trick for Vegas, but Jordan Binnington made 42 saves to help the Blues to a win in the first game of the series.
March 12: Golden Knights 5, Blues 4 (OT)
Vladimir Tarasenko scored his first goal of the season in his third game back from shoulder surgery, helping the Blues overcome a 2-0 first period deficit to earn a point in an eventual overtime loss against the Golden Knights. Zach Sanford registered a goal and an assist, and Jordan Binnington made 35 saves. The Blues lost their third straight game in overtime but have still managed to collect points in seven consecutive games (4-0-3).
March 13: Golden Knights 5, Blues 1
Max Pacioretty had a goal and two assists and Mark Stone scored twice in the third period to help Vegas to a 5-1 win against the Blues in the second game of a back-to-back set between the teams in St. Louis. It was Vegas' first-ever win in regulation against St. Louis.
BOTTOM LINE: St. Louis visits the Vegas Golden Knights after Jordan Kyrou scored two goals in the Blues' 5-2 win over the Sharks.
The Golden Knights are 21-7-1 in division games. Vegas is the top team in the Nhl with 5.7 assists per game, led by Mark Stone averaging 0.9.
The Blues are 16-10-5 against the rest of their division. St. Louis has converted on 19.6% of power-play opportunities, recording 18 power-play goals.
In their last meeting on March 13, Vegas won 5-1. Stone scored a team-high two goals for the Golden Knights in the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Max Pacioretty leads the Golden Knights with 16 goals, adding 14 assists and totaling 30 points. Stone has five goals and six assists over the last 10 games for Vegas.
David Perron has 33 total points while scoring 12 goals and totaling 21 assists for the Blues. Ryan O'Reilly has three goals and nine assists over the last 10 games for St. Louis.
LAST 10 GAMES: Golden Knights: 7-3-0, averaging 3.4 goals, 5.6 assists, three penalties and 7.5 penalty minutes while giving up 2.4 goals per game with a .913 save percentage.
Blues: 5-2-3, averaging 2.8 goals, 5.1 assists, 2.9 penalties and 6.9 penalty minutes while giving up three goals per game with an .899 save percentage.
INJURIES: Golden Knights: Alex Pietrangelo: out (undisclosed), Max Pacioretty: day to day (lower body), Chandler Stephenson: day to day (undisclosed).
Blues: Carl Gunnarsson: out for season (lower body), Zach Sanford: day to day (covid protocol), Oskar Sundqvist: out for season (knee), Robert Thomas: out (thumb), Ivan Barbashev: out (lower body), Colton Parayko: out (upper body).
Re: GDT #32: Blues @ G. Knights | 9:00 pm CT | FSMW, 101 ESPN
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 9:38 am
by gaijin
Is Bozak going to be back tonight? Blues will need all hands to beat Vegas. It wouldn't hurt for Tarasenko to put a couple in the net either.
Re: GDT #32: Blues @ G. Knights | 9:00 pm CT | FSMW, 101 ESPN
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 11:36 am
by gaijin
After going winless in five straight games (3-0-2), the Blues have now won two straight entering Monday's matchup with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Hang on- how does going winless in five straight games give the Blues a 3-0-2 record?
6 Mar: OT loss to LA
8 Mar: OT loss to SJ
12 Mar: OT loss to VGK
13 Mar: Reg loss to VGK
17 Mar: Reg loss to LA
Shouldn't that be a 0-2-3 record? Even if you count the last two wins against SJ, that would make the Blues 2-2-1 over their last five.
Re: GDT #32: Blues @ G. Knights | 9:00 pm CT | FSMW, 101 ESPN
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 3:54 pm
by theohall
Looks like Chris screwed up with an old cut and paste... And he meant 0-2-3 in the five prior to the two wins... so... Maybe he's trying out for ESPN.
Re: GDT #32: Blues @ G. Knights | 9:00 pm CT | FSMW, 101 ESPN
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 8:04 pm
by theohall
Welcome back, Robert Thomas!!!
Re: GDT #32: Blues @ G. Knights | 9:00 pm CT | FSMW, 101 ESPN
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 8:23 pm
by Robb_K
I don't like the looks of the play so far. The Knights are skating rings around The Blues, playing the whole time in The Blues' end, with a shooting gallery. The Blues are lucky to not be down 3-0 already.
Re: GDT #32: Blues @ G. Knights | 9:00 pm CT | FSMW, 101 ESPN
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 8:54 pm
by Robb_K
I don't like what I saw in the 1st. Almost the whole period The Blues were chasing the puck. It looks like they just can't skate with The Knights. I don't know if trying to be more physical with them will help, if The Blues can't skate faster to keep up with them. Their fast skating combined with great tape-to-tape passing, and sticks flying constantly around The Blues has kept the puck on their sticks and off The Blues'. The Blues need to grab some energy and skater harder and relentlessly, and get some pressure on The Knights. Otherwise they'll be so tired by the late 2nd that The Knights will blow the game wide open, and take it out of reach.
Re: GDT #32: Blues @ G. Knights | 9:00 pm CT | FSMW, 101 ESPN
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 8:54 pm
by Robb_K
I don't like what I saw in the 1st. Almost the whole period The Blues were chasing the puck. It looks like they just can't skate with The Knights. I don't know if trying to be more physical with them will help, if The Blues can't skate faster to keep up with them. Their fast skating combined with great tape-to-tape passing, and sticks flying constantly around The Blues has kept the puck on their sticks and off The Blues'. The Blues need to grab some energy and skater harder and relentlessly, and get some pressure on The Knights. Otherwise they'll be so tired by the late 2nd that The Knights will blow the game wide open, and take it out of reach.
Re: GDT #32: Blues @ G. Knights | 9:00 pm CT | FSMW, 101 ESPN
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 9:06 pm
by Robb_K
Good kill!!
Re: GDT #32: Blues @ G. Knights | 9:00 pm CT | FSMW, 101 ESPN
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 9:14 pm
by Robb_K
Re: GDT #32: Blues @ G. Knights | 9:00 pm CT | FSMW, 101 ESPN
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 9:29 pm
by Robb_K
A power play goal would go really well right now!
Re: GDT #32: Blues @ G. Knights | 9:00 pm CT | FSMW, 101 ESPN
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 9:42 pm
by Robb_K
Much better 2nd Period. In addition to Walman's surprising solid defensive play, Scandella has been defending a lot better lately. He's playing smarter, and using body leverage and his stick better, as well. He's also been taking less penalties. When Parayko returns and gets back into his groove, The Blues' defence should be a lot better than early this season. The puck bounces may decide this one. But, The Blues need to keep skating like they did in The 2nd, rather than how they did in The 1st.
Re: GDT #32: Blues @ G. Knights | 9:00 pm CT | FSMW, 101 ESPN
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 10:23 pm
by Robb_K
4 on 1 right in front of the net and no score! The score of this game isn't indicative of the play. The Blues could have lost this one 8 or 9 to 1.
Re: GDT #32: Blues @ G. Knights | 9:00 pm CT | FSMW, 101 ESPN
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 10:31 pm
by theohall
The way Vegas denies zone exits and entries is very reminiscent of what the Blues did to teams during their Cup run in 2019. Whomever is doing their film work to prepare them is darn good at what they are doing. On top of that, Vegas makes their exits and entries look almost effortless.
The Blues just aren't playing at the same level as Vegas.
Re: GDT #32: Blues @ G. Knights | 9:00 pm CT | FSMW, 101 ESPN
Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2021 9:14 am
by theohall
Jon Cooper, on NHL Radio this morning, brought up a good point about these long road trips. The teams are having to follow protocols, so there isn't going somewhere to bond. It's walks near the hotel, dinner at the hotel. Everything at the hotel - which wears on a team and doesn't present the opportunities the Blues had in 2019 during the Philadelphia trip when everything flipped around. Being gone 16 days and only doing very few things - practice, exercise play, do stuff at the hotel - and outside of official meetings and dinner - stuff at the hotels is even limited. No visiting in players rooms or having get-togethers - just ask Ovechkin. Spent my time at sea and that wasn't as strict in limiting what you could do - other than being on a ship. Saying all of that - the Blues having one of the best road records is outstanding - even if they've struggled vs Vegas.
Re: GDT #32: Blues @ G. Knights | 9:00 pm CT | FSMW, 101 ESPN
Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2021 9:49 am
by WaukeeBlues
Yea that first period was horrendously ugly. Vegas looked like they were on a whole other level and we were just trying to hold on for dear life. I'm really sick of Vegas kicking the s**** out of us. They're quickly ascending to being one of my most despised teams.
Re: GDT #32: Blues @ G. Knights | 9:00 pm CT | FSMW, 101 ESPN
Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2021 2:52 pm
by gaijin
WaukeeBlues wrote: ↑Tue Mar 23, 2021 9:49 am
Yea that first period was horrendously ugly. Vegas looked like they were on a whole other level and we were just trying to hold on for dear life. I'm really sick of Vegas kicking the s**** out of us. They're quickly ascending to being one of my most despised teams.
I don't despise them quite yet. Frustrated that they freakin' own the Blues, yes, but they don't really have the personalities that make me hate them like a Chicago or San Jose or an obnoxious fan base like Nashville.
Yet.
Re: GDT #32: Blues @ G. Knights | 9:00 pm CT | FSMW, 101 ESPN
Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2021 6:41 pm
by theohall
Mark Stone.... kinda guy worth hating with the crap he pulls. That hit on Bozak that left him with a concussion is one of many he's done to many other teams.
