GDT #49: Blues @ Wild| 7:00 pm CT | BSMW, 101 ESPN

[theohall]

This is my WTF question. I understand every player who was on the ice for the Wild's game tying goal - except Sanford WTF??? It's not like he's some massively awesome defensively sound player. Maybe when he cleared the puck if it had actually gone beyond the flipping neutral zone, the GTG wouldn't have happened. I just don't get Berube's fascination with playing Sanford in critical situations given Sanford's propensity for a) turning the puck over or b) not getting the puck deep enough in the other team's end like happened on this GTG, considering his clear didn't even reach the opposing blueline.

I get the "size" and "reach" argument, but that doesn't mean crap if the hockey IQ and skill is not flipping there. Why flip Blais for Sanford at that critical point in the game?

This loss, IMO, is on a questionable Berube coaching decision. Go back to 7 D, 11 F and keep scratching Sanford, PLEASE!!!!!

While Sanford may have Sundqvist's size and reach, Sanford doesn't have the hockey IQ, speed or basic flipping instincts that make Sundqvist so damn effective. Dear Chief - knock off the playing size over talent, IQ, and speed for forwards in critical defensive situations, PLEASE!!!!!

[theohall]

While it might be social media - 20+ people including 2 reporters - have questioned why #12 was on the ice for the GTG... Seriously - does Sanford have pictures of Berube doing an unnatural sexual act or something?? I don't get it - given how many times, this season alone, #12 has screwed the pooch. AND in the post-game presser - Berube specifically states the GTG should have been blocked. The only player who could have blocked it..... #12..... Berube put him there.

Put that ####er on the bench, PLEASE!!!!!

[Robb_K]

It was a VERY disappointing loss. They were up by 2 fairly late in The 3rd, and then a few lax plays in which they gave up the puck when they had lots of chance to keep possession, and then a freak lucky tip-in goal on a shot going WAY wide, and then they lost confidence, and for the rest of the period they couldn't move the puck keeping possession for more than 2 seconds - all they could do was attempt to ice the puck. I still think that concentrating on keeping control of the puck, even in your own zone, is better than panicking, and wildly flailing at the puck always trying to clear the zone, when that almost always ends up with them losing the puck with it staying inside the zone, and when it gets out successfully, it mostly goes for icing (which leaves the tired defenders on the ice while the opposition gets to change lines). And even when the puck is cleared but DOESN'T go for icing, the other team grabs it and skates it quickly back into your zone, and has chances to score. Playing calmly, and keeping possession and skating with it until you can pass safely is always better than giving up possession automatically.