GDT #28: Blues vs G. Knights | 7:00 pm CT | FSMW, 101 ESPN

[gaijin]

Season series presented by Bommarito Automotive Group: Tied 1-1

KEY STAT
The St. Louis Blues have never lost a game in regulation to the Vegas Golden Knights. In 11 meetings between the clubs, the Blues are 6-0-5.

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 13: 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).

[theohall]

Keep collecting points. They are going to need them with what's going on in Minnesota who they still have to play 8 times.

[Robb_K]

Not a good period by The Blues. They were chasing the puck the whole time. They were losing the puck as lot, just like last night, not able to handle The Knights' speed and relentless forecheck. Just like all the last four games, they seem tired and are not doing their own hard hitting forecheck. They lose the puck in their own zone, and IF they somehow get into The Neutral Zone, they lose it there. They're having trouble simply even skating the puck out of the zone . Again, the puck is bouncing off and dribbling off their sticks, and The Knights are jumping on all the loose pucks.

[Robb_K]

The Blues played a little better in the flurry near the end of The 2nd, but they still look listless. They'd better pick up the intensity in The 3rd. Husso has made a few very good saves, but also made some mistakes on some shots, or reading plays.

[flyingnote38]

getting tired of the phrase
"Hoffman fails to clear the zone"

[Robb_K]

Sammy Blais scores on a super pass from Tarasenko from the wall!!!!! Bluues cut the lead in half!!!

[Robb_K]

5 on 3 for The Blues for almost a minute!!!

[Robb_K]

Yet another disappointing game. It's clear that The depleted Blues are exhausted. They just can't skate with the other teams. They've been lucky to keep getting points in games they've been outmanned. I hope Schwartz, Bozak, and Parayko can get back soon. If you can't score on almost a minute of 5 on 3, when CAN you score???

[theohall]

After accidentally seeing the score, not sure I want to watch this one.

The one thing I see about Mike Hoffman - he doesn't engage... Remember when Thomas, as a rookie, wouldn't hit someone when he could, but would turn and skate to try and do whatever - Hoffman does the same thing - all the time. That kind of play got Thomas benched. Hate saying this, but Hoffman isn't cutout for Western Conference hockey. He's a floater. Great shot - when he has space and he is good at finding space, but he's not the kind of guy to create it - which doesn't fit the Blues style of play at all. Even Tarasenko hits to help create space for his line and actually backchecks 200'. Glad Hoffman is only on a 1-year deal. Were it not for the injuries, I'd healthy scratch his butt to send the message.

However, this is where those injuries will benefit, because the Blues are seeing who can replace Hoffman next season from within the system. I'd rather see Sundqvist moved up in Hoffman's spot on a regular basis and keep Dakota Joshua for the 4th line, even if it mean moving Joshua to the wing with Barbashev and Clifford. Gives flexibility with another Center playing the wing. It's not like Sundqvist isn't playing wing half the time already...

But that's for the future...

[theohall]

Injury stuff related to the Cap

Schwartz is no longer on IR - which is good.

Whenever Bozak comes back, the Blues will have a cap issue. They currently have 2.3M left in LTIR space... but Bozak makes 5M. So when he comes back, the issue is evident.

Parayko isn't on long-term IR, so they could move him there essentially swapping him with Bozak and it solves the issue. My guess is that's what happens. Bulging discs don't tend to heal quickly.

[gaijin]

Well, that's halfway through the regular season.

The Blues are currently 4th in the West Division, although the point spread is fairly close- 1 point behind Colorado, 2 points behind Minnesota, 4 points behind Vegas. There is no longer a huge disparity in the number of games played, either.

The key to the rest of the season is going to be expectation management and maintaining mental resiliency- not getting overly frustrated by keeping in mind the team's depleted status. The going will be tough until the injured players return. Once everyone is back, it will feel like the start of a new season with a new team.