Frozen Four

[theohall]

While the Blues don't have any draft picks participating in the Frozen Four, the tournament is stacked with 41 NHL draft picks. Michigan, Denver, and Minnesota all have 12+ while Minnesota State only has 2. Interestingly, the best player on Minn St is their goalie, undrafted Dryden McKay who is a Hobey Baker Finalist for the 2nd straight season and becomes a UFA as soon as his tournament ends. Minnesota State and Michigan have traded #1 overall throughout the season. Semifinals are Michigan vs Denver and Minnesota vs Minnesota State tomorrow at 5 pm on ESPN2. Final is Saturday at 8. Should be 3 quality hockey games.

[theohall]

Denver beats heavily favored Michigan in OT 3-2 in a tightly checked game. Denver basically took away what the Wolverines do best which is generate offense from their defense using stretch passes. Denver just stayed at home the entire game, waited for opportunities, took advantage of the few they got, and Michigan couldn't find a way to counter the Pioneers strategy, in spite of their massively loaded roster.

Minnesota St dominated the 2nd game winning 5-1 over Minnesota. Yes, the Gophers scored on a 2-on-0 break to score the opening goal, which came off of that was the only significant Maverick's turnover the entire game. Minnesota St plays a very Blues like game which relies on high-low cycling and the defense jumping into the holes when the opponent loses their coverage due to the cycle. Minnesota was never really in the game at all, even though the 1st period ended 1-0 in favor of the Golden Gophers. They were lucky not to be down at the end of the 1st. Minnesota St stuck to their gameplan and executed it almost flawless in the final 2 periods.

Dryden McKay wins the Hobey Baker. How does a goalie be a Hobey Baker Finalist (in the final 3) 3 years in a row, yet go undrafted?? Heck, he won the Mike Richter award (best NCAA goalie) last season, was a Baker Finalist last season, and still went undrafted. Someone is going to get a very good goalie as a FA after the Frozen Four Final.

[glen a richter]

While I don't expect the Blues to be active in pursuing any of the NCAA kids when the tourney is over, I'd be very interested in Jake Livingstone. They need RHD prospects and if they don't want to or can't address it at the draft he seems like just the guy to get into the system, give him a year in the AHL and then see about getting him up to the NHL level the year after.

[theohall]

Many of the undrafted Minnesota St players would fit in the Blues system. They essentially play the style Berube wants the Blues to play and execute it incredibly well.

The Final - Minnesota St controlled possession for 2 periods and 5 minutes, but Magnus Chrona stoned the Mavericks. Minn St had more than doubled the Pioneers shots and even when they got quality chances, of which there were several. Chrona made the saves - all but once, and the one he missed was deflected. The Pioneers got the game-tying goal in the 3rd period after Chrona had made two more outstanding saves to keep the game 1-0. From that point on, Denver controlled the game winning 5-1 which included 2 empty netters. The Mavs were forced out of their system when they got down 2-1 with 12 minutes to play in the 3rd. The Pioneers capitalized on the Mavs aggressiveness to make it 3-1 leading to the empty net situations which Denver buried twice.

[chrisjordan07]

CANADIENS The Montreal Canadiens enter Thursday's matchup on a 10-game losing streak - eight in a row in regulation - and will be trying to avoid a winless eight-game homestand when they host the Blues.

This season has been a struggle for the Habs, whose multitude of injuries and COVID-19 absences have strongly hindered their ability to build consistency and win hockey games.