Round Robin GDT #3: Stars @ Blues in Edmonton, 8/9/20, 12:00pm CDT, NBC/NHL TV

[Robb_K]

Allen had an excellent game. No way he even got a slight glimpse of the 6 on 5 goal. It WAS his fault he didn't react quickly enough on the shootout goal. Binnington would have stopped that because he wouldn't have opened such a big 5-hole. But, the game shouldn't have gone to OT. The Blues probably lost 90% of the races to the puck, and puck battles. Many times there were 3 Blues around the puck, and only one Star, and The Stars ended up with possession. The Blues sent passes directly to The Stars, couldn't keep the puck on their sticks, had no energy to go afyer the puck when they knocked it free, couldn't corral free-standing pucks even when they had a man twice as close to it, couldn't clear the puck from their zone. They could easily have lost this game 5 or 6 to 1, if The Stars weren't so inept at scoring.

The Blues had the fortitude and desire to NOT have the post Stanley Cup winning next season letdown, by earning the best record in The West, and then get the letdown during the pandemic "break", by being lazy, and not getting back into shape. And now they have the extra pressure to get their timing back , and get back in sync with their teammates quickly, on the fly, during their first playoff series. And, even if they beat Vancouver, they'll be reseeded from the 4th Place, instead of 1st Place.

The Blues better come out hard checking and hard hitting against the young, fast Canucks, They're not going to be able to win a scoring fest at this stage of their post-break conditioning.

[theohall]

Vancouver looked good in their series, but they lack depth.

Petterson, Boeser, Horvat, JT Miller, and Jake Virtanen are the forwards to worry about. Possibly Guadette. The Canucks bottom six just aren't that good, but Antoine Roussel is a PITA.

Defensively the show starts and ends with Quinn Hughes already with support from Alexander Edler. Myers, Tanev, Stecher, and Jordie Benn aren't much to write home about.

[glen a richter]

I have no illusion that the Blues will just coast to a repeat. It's hard enough to win two in a row in normal circumstances, never mind one like this.

It would be nice, I wouldn't be overly heartbroken--you can't win them all and hell, we got to enjoy being defending champs for a few more months than expected so whatever happens happens.

Most important thing right now: Rangers are out, my ex is probably upset about that, so good.

[theohall]

Rangers are out, my ex is probably upset about that, so good.

Priorities!!!