Jake Allen Is Back!!

[glen a richter]

Osgood was totally the product of the team he played on. I could have backstopped the Red Wings to at least a couple of wins given the offensive and defensive firepower they had, and I'm quite literally the worst goalie in the world. True story in 8th grade we played deck hockey in gym and no one ever wanted to play goal so they always threw me in there even though I preferred defense. In a 5 week span I gave up roughly 50 goals (I believe) to a girl and the opposing goalie also notched a goal against me. And I could have won a game or two on that Detroit team. Osgood is not an elite goalie, not now not ever and he should absolutely not be mentioned in the same breath as Roy.

[Shanahan19]

Osgood was totally the product of the team he played on. I could have backstopped the Red Wings to at least a couple of wins given the offensive and defensive firepower they had, and I'm quite literally the worst goalie in the world. True story in 8th grade we played deck hockey in gym and no one ever wanted to play goal so they always threw me in there even though I preferred defense. In a 5 week span I gave up roughly 50 goals (I believe) to a girl and the opposing goalie also notched a goal against me. And I could have won a game or two on that Detroit team. Osgood is not an elite goalie, not now not ever and he should absolutely not be mentioned in the same breath as Roy.

Still better than DiPietro.

[abc789987]

After the way the team plays with him in net, I hope he is here to stay. Can I trade Elliot for Allen in my sponsorship?

[sseagle]

After the way the team plays with him in net, I hope he is here to stay. Can I trade Elliot for Allen in my sponsorship?

No some newb will grab him when the sponsor thread is started at 1:30 pm on a non game day

[cprice12]

After the way the team plays with him in net, I hope he is here to stay. Can I trade Elliot for Allen in my sponsorship?

No some newb will grab him when the sponsor thread is started at 1:30 pm on a non game day

Next year you let me know when you will be online a week or so before the season starts and I'll be sure to create it then so it's the most convenient for you.

[sseagle]

After the way the team plays with him in net, I hope he is here to stay. Can I trade Elliot for Allen in my sponsorship?

No some newb will grab him when the sponsor thread is started at 1:30 pm on a non game day

Next year you let me know when you will be online a week or so before the season starts and I'll be sure to create it then so it's the most convenient for you.

Meh no one want mine. I'm talking aboot the tarasenko disaster.

[gaijin]

One thing that strikes me while watching Allen- when the puck is off to the side of net, he always has his stick down flat on the ice, and he always hugs the post like it's a security blanket. I'm not sure if Halak and Elliott aren't doing these things, or if I just don't notice them. But it seems like these basic positioning points are really paying dividends for him.

I am worried that his AHL stats aren't better, though. We all agree he's done great while he's played with the Blues, but then why is it he does an average job against the less-talented AHL forwards? This tells me his andrenaline at playing in the NHL (or desire to prove himself at the NHL level, or whatever is driving his performance) is enabling him to play above his normal level. I fear that the more he plays with the big club, the more that will wear off. If he really is this good against the NHL teams, he should be even better against the AHL teams, and he really hasn't been.

[Oaklandblue]

One thing that strikes me while watching Allen- when the puck is off to the side of net, he always has his stick down flat on the ice, and he always hugs the post like it's a security blanket. I'm not sure if Halak and Elliott aren't doing these things, or if I just don't notice them. But it seems like these basic positioning points are really paying dividends for him.

I am worried that his AHL stats aren't better, though. We all agree he's done great while he's played with the Blues, but then why is it he does an average job against the less-talented AHL forwards? This tells me his andrenaline at playing in the NHL (or desire to prove himself at the NHL level, or whatever is driving his performance) is enabling him to play above his normal level. I fear that the more he plays with the big club, the more that will wear off. If he really is this good against the NHL teams, he should be even better against the AHL teams, and he really hasn't been.

He really hasn't been that good stats-wise here either. Wins are the best, but he's operating at below .900. Those 3 goals with the Yotes would have normally sank us but Hitch fixed a line and suddenly offense paid a visit and brought six goals with them.

This team believes in Jake and Jake has absolutely no give up in him. Look at his eyes. He plays without fear.

[abc789987]

One thing that strikes me while watching Allen- when the puck is off to the side of net, he always has his stick down flat on the ice, and he always hugs the post like it's a security blanket. I'm not sure if Halak and Elliott aren't doing these things, or if I just don't notice them. But it seems like these basic positioning points are really paying dividends for him.

I am worried that his AHL stats aren't better, though. We all agree he's done great while he's played with the Blues, but then why is it he does an average job against the less-talented AHL forwards? This tells me his andrenaline at playing in the NHL (or desire to prove himself at the NHL level, or whatever is driving his performance) is enabling him to play above his normal level. I fear that the more he plays with the big club, the more that will wear off. If he really is this good against the NHL teams, he should be even better against the AHL teams, and he really hasn't been.

He really hasn't been that good stats-wise here either. Wins are the best, but he's operating at below .900. Those 3 goals with the Yotes would have normally sank us but Hitch fixed a line and suddenly offense paid a visit and brought six goals with them.

This team believes in Jake and Jake has absolutely no give up in him. Look at his eyes. He plays without fear.

I didn't get to watch the game last night (stupid freaking basketball in Indiana...), only got to see the highlights on NHL.com, but it looked like he made a lot of huge saves when he needed to at times. If he can do this I'll be happy.

[DaDitka]

This tweet from JR and quote from Hitch says it all...

Allen to play vs. SJ, Halak vs. ANA. Why Allen next? Hitchism: "Last year we rewarded shutouts. Now we're rewarding wins. Bar has changed."

[Oaklandblue]

One thing that strikes me while watching Allen- when the puck is off to the side of net, he always has his stick down flat on the ice, and he always hugs the post like it's a security blanket. I'm not sure if Halak and Elliott aren't doing these things, or if I just don't notice them. But it seems like these basic positioning points are really paying dividends for him.

I am worried that his AHL stats aren't better, though. We all agree he's done great while he's played with the Blues, but then why is it he does an average job against the less-talented AHL forwards? This tells me his andrenaline at playing in the NHL (or desire to prove himself at the NHL level, or whatever is driving his performance) is enabling him to play above his normal level. I fear that the more he plays with the big club, the more that will wear off. If he really is this good against the NHL teams, he should be even better against the AHL teams, and he really hasn't been.

He really hasn't been that good stats-wise here either. Wins are the best, but he's operating at below .900. Those 3 goals with the Yotes would have normally sank us but Hitch fixed a line and suddenly offense paid a visit and brought six goals with them.

This team believes in Jake and Jake has absolutely no give up in him. Look at his eyes. He plays without fear.

I didn't get to watch the game last night (stupid freaking basketball in Indiana...), only got to see the highlights on NHL.com, but it looked like he made a lot of huge saves when he needed to at times. If he can do this I'll be happy.

He's made great saves including what I consider the 'Save of the Year' with that paddle-catch. I meant purely stats-wise since he's not facing a lot of shots thanks to the D, which is going to lower the GAA.

[Oaklandblue]

This tweet from JR and quote from Hitch says it all...

Allen to play vs. SJ, Halak vs. ANA. Why Allen next? Hitchism: "Last year we rewarded shutouts. Now we're rewarding wins. Bar has changed."

If a shutout is a win without goals scored against us and a win is just a win, doesn't that mean the bar's been lowered? o.O

[cardsfan04]

This tweet from JR and quote from Hitch says it all...

Allen to play vs. SJ, Halak vs. ANA. Why Allen next? Hitchism: "Last year we rewarded shutouts. Now we're rewarding wins. Bar has changed."

If a shutout is a win without goals scored against us and a win is just a win, doesn't that mean the bar's been lowered? o.O

Nothing gets by you.

[Oaklandblue]

This tweet from JR and quote from Hitch says it all...

Allen to play vs. SJ, Halak vs. ANA. Why Allen next? Hitchism: "Last year we rewarded shutouts. Now we're rewarding wins. Bar has changed."

If a shutout is a win without goals scored against us and a win is just a win, doesn't that mean the bar's been lowered? o.O

Nothing gets by you.

*looks for that Picard Facepalm pic to put up as a response*

[KCFederko]

The only thing puzzling about this move is that anyone would be puzzled by it at all.

The Blues rank second in the league in SOG differential and last, by a large margin in Save %.

Halak and Elliott have zero trade value as it is, so one of them being a healthy scratch or demoted does nothing to change their trade value.

The only decent stretch the team has had has been when Allen was in goal.

This is a team poised to make a deep run in the playoffs and you can't let it be sabotaged by inferior goal play, which is about all that Halak and Elliott have provided so far this year.

I say the job is Allen's until he plays himself out of it like Halak and Elliott already have.

[glen a richter]

I'm thinking his AHL numbers are the result of a poor team in front of him. It doesn't look like anyone really puts up decent numbers on Peoria. I feel so much more comfortable with Allen in net anyway because even though his numbers aren't that great, the fact is he's still developing. Halak and Elliott, what we see is what we get at this point.

[ViPeRx007]

Still seems bizarre to me that we're talking about Halak and Elliott like they're scrap meat. A couple of months ago there were almost gods. I guess in this business the only thing that matters is the here and now, but it's still weird.

[AlsWoodenStick]

After the way the team plays with him in net, I hope he is here to stay. Can I trade Elliot for Allen in my sponsorship?

No some newb will grab him when the sponsor thread is started at 1:30 pm on a non game day

Next year you let me know when you will be online a week or so before the season starts and I'll be sure to create it then so it's the most convenient for you.

Meh no one want mine. I'm talking aboot the tarasenko disaster.

Newb? Bitch, please

Still seems bizarre to me that we're talking about Halak and Elliott like they're scrap meat. A couple of months ago there were almost gods. I guess in this business the only thing that matters is the here and now, but it's still weird.

I totally agree, the fluctuation hasn't just been on this board though, it's everywhere, I hear it on the radio & at the games. IMO they're gonna be ok, both of them, but the rest of the team needs to give the effort the whole game... soooo

They certainly seem to be playing a lot better in front of him however, there's just more energy. How long do you think they'll carry 3 goalies? Something's gotta give. BTW, Allen in goal again on Saturday.

[KCFederko]

but the rest of the team needs to give the effort the whole game... soooo

The team HAS been playing decent in front of the goalies a large majority of the time.

They are now third in shot differential behind only LA and Boston. They totally outplayed LA for two periods the other night, but 3 soft goals let in by Halak totally robbed the team of momentum at the end of the second and early in the third.

The Blues are allowing the least amount of shots on goal per game, and by at least a shot less a game than every other team in the league. In fact it is at least 4 shots less per game than all but six other teams. What more would you like the team to do in front of the goalies??

Sure Halak and Elliott were awesome last year, but sadly in the world of professional sports last year doesn't count for much. The team is DEAD LAST in save percentage, and by a wide margin.

The team save percentage is .871. That is horrendous. It is actually .02 worse than the Islanders who have the worst GAA in the league.

They certainly seem to be playing a lot better in front of him however, there's just more energy. How long do you think they'll carry 3 goalies? Something's gotta give. BTW, Allen in goal again on Saturday.

The team looks better in front of Allen cause he hasn't been giving up two to three soft goals a game which has been totally robbing the team of energy almost every time Elliott plays.

There is no more energy in front of Allen than there has been in front of Halak or Elliott. The team had plenty of energy Tuesday in LA. Three fighting majors in the first and Backes was playing very physical. The two goals early in the third completely demoralized the team and they ended up getting outshot 15-4 for the period.

That said, that was really the first very poor effort from Halak this year.

Elliott has been absolutely brutal. He is unplayable right now. The Blues are 9-3-1 when either Halak or Allen plays. 3-6-1 with Elliott in net.

You can probably carry three goalies and healthy scratch one for a couple weeks and if Allen is still playing well I think Elliott gets put on waivers, clears and gets sent to the minors to see if he can get his mojo back. I can't see a team placing a claim on a goalie with a $1.8M salary and a save percentage of .850 and if he does get claimed so be it as Allen would hopefully have proven he would at least be a capable backup for Halak.

Allen was a 2nd round draft pick. It isn't like he is some undrafted player out of nowhere.

[AlsWoodenStick]

There is no more energy in front of Allen than there has been in front of Halak or Elliott. The team had plenty of energy Tuesday in LA. Three fighting majors in the first and Backes was playing very physical. The two goals early in the third completely demoralized the team and they ended up getting outshot 15-4 for the period.

When I see a team get "demoralized" that quickly, it means a lack of effort to me. I've heard many coaches stress the point to continue to play 60 and this team has put together more complete games in front of Allen than Ells or Halak in many cases. I work late nights often so I haven't seen every game but that's my perspective based on my own observations.
Also, I didn't realize our save % was that bad, holy frankinballs.

You can probably carry three goalies and healthy scratch one for a couple weeks and if Allen is still playing well I think Elliott gets put on waivers, clears and gets sent to the minors to see if he can get his mojo back. I can't see a team placing a claim on a goalie with a $1.8M salary and a save percentage of .850 and if he does get claimed so be it as Allen would hopefully have proven he would at least be a capable backup for Halak.

I'd be just fine with that situation, I think someone would make a claim on Ells, but the more I see of Allen the more I like him.