GDT #48: Blues @ Wild| 7:00 pm CT | BSMW, 101 ESPN

[ibldbl]

And we give up the tying goal with the goalie out. Just soft.

[ibldbl]

Holy shit! Amazing pass from Kyrou to O'Reilly and he comes in on the breakaway and puts it in on the backhand for the OT winner!

[Robb_K]

Kyrou passes to the breaking O'Reilly, and the Captain makes no mistake!!!! Backhander over Talbot's shoulder! Blues win 5-4 in OT, and get the 2 points!!!!

[theohall]

The 1st 3 periods were basically a mirror image of the prior game except it went to OT. Fantastic pass from Kryou including the patience to wait for the change!!

[Robb_K]

Great win in OT after giving up a 2 goal lead, to almost toss away what should have been a win. The Blues now have a little cushion over The Yotes. Binnington will have to play most games from now out.

[theohall]

Here is kind of a crazy statistic...

Blues and the Islanders are the only 2 teams in the league who haven't allowed a SHG. Far cry from the way the PP was the past few years.

[Portland Blues]

Here is kind of a crazy statistic...

Blues and the Islanders are the only 2 teams in the league who haven't allowed a SHG. Far cry from the way the PP was the past few years.

I was surprised to hear during the radio broadcast tonight that the Blues have not had a shutout this season.

[theohall]

IMO, the lack of having a shutout has to do with the combination of a new backup tender, dealing with a ridiculous number of injuries over the first half, including not having Parayko for half the season, while at the same time integrating new key players into the Blues system and adjusting the system accordingly.

It was interesting seeing the Wild overplay Hoffman on the PP with Tarasenko out of the lineup tonight. That adjustment to Hoffman on the PP has taken awhile and he made a key play prior to ROR's PPG. The puck was loose and the Wild were about to clear the puck, but Hoffman was able to steal it and put it back behind the goal line allowing the rest of the unit to get to work without having to work in another zone entry. If Hoffman can keep playing the way he has the past week, I'll take back the earlier comments about not re-signing him.

[gaijin]

If Hoffman can keep playing the way he has the past week, I'll take back the earlier comments about not re-signing him.

If Hoffman can keep playing the way he has the past week, will the Blues be able to afford him? It would be nice to have both Hoffman and Tarasenko for another year- you can't give either guy any space or they kill you, and it's impossible to double-cover both at the same time.

Once the Wild pulled within 3-2, I had a feeling they would eventually tie the game. I'm not upset about Minnesota getting the bonus point, I'm more upset the Blues gave up the goals that allowed the OT point rather than shutting things down in regulation. Glad the good guys ultimately got the two points.

[Robb_K]

IMO, the lack of having a shutout has to do with the combination of a new backup tender, dealing with a ridiculous number of injuries over the first half, including not having Parayko for half the season, while at the same time integrating new key players into the Blues system and adjusting the system accordingly.

It was interesting seeing the Wild overplay Hoffman on the PP with Tarasenko out of the lineup tonight. That adjustment to Hoffman on the PP has taken awhile and he made a key play prior to ROR's PPG. The puck was loose and the Wild were about to clear the puck, but Hoffman was able to steal it and put it back behind the goal line allowing the rest of the unit to get to work without having to work in another zone entry. If Hoffman can keep playing the way he has the past week, I'll take back the earlier comments about not re-signing him.

I'm hopig that The Blues can re-sign Hoffman. I think he's finally found the way to play on this team. Without him, or someone else who can generate their own offence, The Blues will have periodic stagnation in scoring ability that will make them lose too many close games.

[WaukeeBlues]

...
It was interesting seeing the Wild overplay Hoffman on the PP with Tarasenko out of the lineup tonight. That adjustment to Hoffman on the PP has taken awhile and he made a key play prior to ROR's PPG. The puck was loose and the Wild were about to clear the puck, but Hoffman was able to steal it and put it back behind the goal line allowing the rest of the unit to get to work without having to work in another zone entry. If Hoffman can keep playing the way he has the past week, I'll take back the earlier comments about not re-signing him.

When Krug faked to Hoffman on the PP the two Wild players at the top bit HARD on it. Slide over to the side promptly to a now-open ROR as a result. Beautiful play, great fake by Krug.

I'm pretty pis*** the Blues gave up the tying goal there. We had five guys back. FIVE. What the f***? Just stacking at the blueline waiting for the Wild to come at us. That's trash, I'm sorry. Switch to a 1-2-2 then but this 0-0-5 nonsense... I was mad. Felt it coming and then sure enough they score. Prety inexcusable coaching decisions if you ask me. But nobody did, so...