Big story: This is turning out to be the low-scoring series many expected, with the St. Louis Blues managing only four goals over the first two games -- just one of them coming prior to the third period -- and yet holding a commanding lead. That's because the strong play of the defense and goaltender Brian Elliott has indeed carried over from the end of the regular season, and the Los Angeles Kings have only two goals to show for well over 120 minutes of play. They return to Staples Center knowing if they don't find some offense soon, the Blues may reverse the outcome of last year's playoff meeting and take the brooms to them.
Team Scope:
Blues: Barret Jackman has been a solid defender since playing his initial NHL game with St. Louis during the 2001-02 season. In the 10 seasons to follow he's twice played in all 82 games and on three occasions posted a plus/minus of plus-20 or better. One thing he's never done a lot, though, is fill the net with pucks -- his career-high for a season is four, and he has 23 total in 644 regular-season games. He had no goals in 22 postseason games entering Thursday.
Jackman, of course, is a primary reason the Blues recorded a come-from-behind 2-1 win in Game 2, as he scored the decisive goal with 50.4 seconds left in regulation. Patrik Berglund had scored 3:44 into the third to tie the score, while Elliott was strong again with 28 saves.
"I don't think there's one person in the room that thinks we're in control of anything other than the number that says 2-0," coach Ken Hitchcock said, preaching caution. "I don't think we're in control of anything. I don't think they feel like they're in control of anything. This is two teams that are going to fight this right to the end, and I think every player in that locker room knows that. … It's that close. Every shift seems like it's the last shift on earth."
Kings: Following the goaltending gaffe in overtime that cost his team Game 1, Jonathan Quick came right back and blanked St. Louis over the first 40 minutes on Thursday, allowing Los Angeles to get on the board first when Dustin Brown redirected a Mike Richards shot during a two-man advantage in the first period.
But the Kings, who got their only goal in Game 1 in the final minute of regulation with Quick on the bench, were unable to add to the lead despite outshooting the Blues 23-15 heading into the third. Their inability to provide Quick with any sort of insurance would end up proving costly and dropping them into a deep hole heading home.
"We didn't expect to be in [this position], but it's our own fault," defenseman Drew Doughty said. "We're in this position. We've been fully prepared for their game, fully prepared for what they're going to do against us and we just haven't stepped up to the plate."
Who's hot: Elliott, who was 4-6 in 12 career playoff games prior to this past week, has posted a .966 save percentage in winning both his starts in this series for the Blues. … Brown, a point-per-game player during the Kings' run to the Stanley Cup in 2012, scored his 11th career playoff goal Thursday. He also had a game-high six hits.
Injury report: Los Angeles defenseman Matt Greene has been scratched from each of the first two games with an undisclosed injury. … St. Louis forward Jamie Langenbrunner is skating again, but has been ruled out for the first round. Langenbrunner had hip surgery in February that was expected to sideline him the remainder of the season.
Last edited by dmiles2186 on Sat May 04, 2013 7:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Just need a win here! Feel pretty good about this game
Anyone have a update on Elliott I guess he is good to go.
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It would be really nice to win tonight, but I think it's far more important that we don't let the Kings steal the momentum of the series. If we go there and lose 2-1, it's not a major deal. If we lose 5-1, it kind of is (at least if it lingers into game 4). If we take 1 of these in LA, I think it becomes really really hard for the Kings to win this series.
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cardsfan04 wrote:It would be really nice to win tonight, but I think it's far more important that we don't let the Kings steal the momentum of the series. If we go there and lose 2-1, it's not a major deal. If we lose 5-1, it kind of is (at least if it lingers into game 4). If we take 1 of these in LA, I think it becomes really really hard for the Kings to win this series.
If we win both they really won't have a chance.
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cardsfan04 wrote:It would be really nice to win tonight, but I think it's far more important that we don't let the Kings steal the momentum of the series. If we go there and lose 2-1, it's not a major deal. If we lose 5-1, it kind of is (at least if it lingers into game 4). If we take 1 of these in LA, I think it becomes really really hard for the Kings to win this series.
If we win both they really won't have a chance.
I guess I could get on board with just winning both. Keeps it simple.
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cardsfan04 wrote:It would be really nice to win tonight, but I think it's far more important that we don't let the Kings steal the momentum of the series. If we go there and lose 2-1, it's not a major deal. If we lose 5-1, it kind of is (at least if it lingers into game 4). If we take 1 of these in LA, I think it becomes really really hard for the Kings to win this series.
If we win both they really won't have a chance.
I guess I could get on board with just winning both. Keeps it simple.
Agree, but I think if anything I would rather win game 4 if we were to win just 1. But I do feel really good about this game though not sure why
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I just now relizing how long of a night its going to be.....may have to get drunk in flashchat.
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As tight as the first two games have been, I don't think the Blues can pull out both games in LA. The key will be how the Blues bounce back if they do lose.
gaijin wrote:As tight as the first two games have been, I don't think the Blues can pull out both games in LA. The key will be how the Blues bounce back if they do lose.
Let's! Go! Blues!
Well you can be just as wrong as Ponder..
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gaijin wrote:As tight as the first two games have been, I don't think the Blues can pull out both games in LA. The key will be how the Blues bounce back if they do lose.
Good game, but have to CAPITALIZE on the PP. We played better all night than they did just need to net the puck instead of miss wide or fan.
I still say boat needs to sit.
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Still think we're the better team...just tip your cap to Quick and get to Monday.
If you're going to fault anything the Blues did, the last five minutes were too much of a panic fest. They were doing great at getting scoring chances up to then, but were way too frenetic in the closing minutes.
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18tonytwist wrote:I hate the fact if we give up ONE goal, we are in danger of losing every playoff game...pisses me off. Chances don't win games, goals do.
The Blues will certainly be in the market for a goal scorer in the offseason.
I could have copied this post from any offseason in the past five years.
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NOT the end of the world. Could have easily gone either way, we just have to keep grinding and making our own luck.
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