GDT Game 6: 5/9/16 | 7:00PM CST | v Stars | NBCSN/KMOX

[Kerfuffle]

Maybe all this can be summed up in terms of confidence - in that sometimes the Blues show a lack of it. I don't see any players I would change right now or positions that are weak on this team (although I think Reaves and Ott are wasted roster space but that's another topic). So it's not like you're missing a blueliner or a center or something. Even if the Blues lose I don't even know what I would do to change the team other than fire the coach. Hence I think it's just a matter of these guys believing in themselves and having confidence. When they got the second goal in the 3rd last night you could see the confidence return and they played that whole period outstanding. Obviously you want game 7 in your own barn but maybe the reduced pressure being on the road will benefit the Blues. I don't know - but if I could figure this stuff out I'd be a genius.

[goon attack]

Sometimes I don't understand your team. You guys have these spurts in games where you're playing like champions and then at other times I'm scratching my head like where did that killer drive go? Last night's game perfect example. The Blues started flat and had a bad first. Then the Blues dominated the second and then really dominated the third. Dallas went into "prevent" mode and was just "playing not to lose" which isn't good. The puck was in the offensive zone almost the entire third period. Then Fabbri misses the net late in the game on what was a perfect pass. And the Stars squeak by. If the Blues played the first period like they did then third this would've been over. They just didn't pour it on or play in desperation mode until the third period. I still don't get it.

So in other words, you have not even a minimal grasp of the way humans behave?

They had a cushion. This was not a do or die game for them. Plus the pressure was on them in front of their home crowd.

The pressure is now on both teams to win Game 7. The Blues just need to play a solid road game and be done with it.

It's now a crapshoot. The Blues didn't muster up that killer instinct for whatever reason. But they did against Chicago.

No matter what happens, it's going to be one helluva game.

[ecbm]

Another awful effort. I don't get the flatness. Guess they should have practiced.

Now there's 60 minutes to prevent all the work of the last 95 games being for nothing.

[ComradeT]

Something to be said about not having a practice and how it affects the team's mindset. The lackluster first most definitely was a consequence of not practicing earlier that day. Whether the issue was physical or mental, doesn't matter now.

[theohall]

Where are you guys getting the Blues had a bad first period? They outplayed Dallas the majority of the period, made 3 mistakes and all 3 went in the net. It was the complete reverse of Game 5 where Dallas outplayed the Blues the entire first, made one mistake, and it went in the Dallas net. The outcome did not match the effort and that's probably the first time I can say that in these playoffs in relation to the Blues.

Consider, the Blues were dominating play prior to the first goal, and I mean dominating. Faceoffs were continually in the Dallas zone. Dallas was struggling to even get the puck across center ice. Parayko's attempt from the point gets blocked. - 1st mistake of the period and Dallas scores on the break. Next one is 20ish seconds later and Shattenkirk screws up. 2nd mistake - goal. The Blues again are dominating play in the Dallas zone when Brouwer takes an idiotic cross-checking penalty. Pietrangelo just misses sending someone in on a break, the puck goes the other way, Bouwmeester falls down and it's in the Blues net - 3rd set of mistakes, 3rd goal. Outside of those 3 things, the Blues were controlling the play of the damn game and did so from the outset. Again, the effort did not match the result in that 1st period.

I'm pissed at Brouwer for taking that completely unnecessary cross-check and, once again, Shattenkirk is NOT good in the defensive zone playing on the left side. Why Hitch keeps moving him over I have no friggin' idea.

Bortuzzo was actually very good in this game, it was Bouwmeester who fell down on the PK in the first, and while sometimes was good on offense, kept falling down for pete's sake.

[Kerfuffle]

Where are you guys getting the Blues had a bad first period?

Being down 3-0 after the first period is usually a good indicator that things didn't go well.

[ComradeT]

Where are you guys getting the Blues had a bad first period? They outplayed Dallas the majority of the period, made 3 mistakes and all 3 went in the net. It was the complete reverse of Game 5 where Dallas outplayed the Blues the entire first, made one mistake, and it went in the Dallas net. The outcome did not match the effort and that's probably the first time I can say that in these playoffs in relation to the Blues.

Consider, the Blues were dominating play prior to the first goal, and I mean dominating. Faceoffs were continually in the Dallas zone. Dallas was struggling to even get the puck across center ice. Parayko's attempt from the point gets blocked. - 1st mistake of the period and Dallas scores on the break. Next one is 20ish seconds later and Shattenkirk screws up. 2nd mistake - goal. The Blues again are dominating play in the Dallas zone when Brouwer takes an idiotic cross-checking penalty. Pietrangelo just misses sending someone in on a break, the puck goes the other way, Bouwmeester falls down and it's in the Blues net - 3rd set of mistakes, 3rd goal. Outside of those 3 things, the Blues were controlling the play of the damn game and did so from the outset. Again, the effort did not match the result in that 1st period.

I'm pissed at Brouwer for taking that completely unnecessary cross-check and, once again, Shattenkirk is NOT good in the defensive zone playing on the left side. Why Hitch keeps moving him over I have no friggin' idea.

Bortuzzo was actually very good in this game, it was Bouwmeester who fell down on the PK in the first, and while sometimes was good on offense, kept falling down for pete's sake.

The mistakes you refer two are a good indicator of the mental state of the team. They were not on their toes. Yes, they were on the offensive but they were sloppy. Dallas tied them up and waited for a break, and got it when the mental lapses happened, one after another. After 3-0, the Blues came out of stupor and actually played with energy and tenacity.

Parayko tried to make that same play twice in the game - the second time he got a luckier bounce that came back to him. He's still a beast and a demigod but he needs to send it down the boards when the shooting lanes are not there.

[StL Dan]

I'm still replaying Lehtonen's save on Schwartzy's one timer over and over in my mind....

[dmiles2186]

Something to be said about not having a practice and how it affects the team's mindset. The lackluster first most definitely was a consequence of not practicing earlier that day. Whether the issue was physical or mental, doesn't matter now.

I don't know...this seems like one of those things that if the Blues HAD won, everyone would be crediting Hitchcock with pumping the brakes and letting the players play. It's like when a team rests for a week between series. If they win, the narrative is that the rest helped them get healed up and have an advantage on their opponent. If they get beat, the team sat too long, got cold, and rested on their laurels. You can spin it either way depending on the result in hindsight.

To me, Hitch had a gut feel, he thought the guys looked sharp, and maybe felt like the team could use a little extra rest.

Did it pay off? Obviously not. Am I okay with him cutting practice short because the guys looked sharp? Absolutely. He's the coach, he's got a pulse on the team...if he feels it might help, it's worth the shot. If I'm a player and I'm asleep for the first 15 mins of a potential series clincher, that's on me.

[ComradeT]

Something to be said about not having a practice and how it affects the team's mindset. The lackluster first most definitely was a consequence of not practicing earlier that day. Whether the issue was physical or mental, doesn't matter now.

I don't know...this seems like one of those things that if the Blues HAD won, everyone would be crediting Hitchcock with pumping the brakes and letting the players play. It's like when a team rests for a week between series. If they win, the narrative is that the rest helped them get healed up and have an advantage on their opponent. If they get beat, the team sat too long, got cold, and rested on their laurels. You can spin it either way depending on the result in hindsight.

To me, Hitch had a gut feel, he thought the guys looked sharp, and maybe felt like the team could use a little extra rest.

Did it pay off? Obviously not. Am I okay with him cutting practice short because the guys looked sharp? Absolutely. He's the coach, he's got a pulse on the team...if he feels it might help, it's worth the shot. If I'm a player and I'm asleep for the first 15 mins of a potential series clincher, that's on me.

Are you trying to tell me hindsight is 20/20? Well, you're right. It is.

And it's clear as day that not having a practice backfired!

[theohall]

Something to be said about not having a practice and how it affects the team's mindset. The lackluster first most definitely was a consequence of not practicing earlier that day. Whether the issue was physical or mental, doesn't matter now.

I don't know...this seems like one of those things that if the Blues HAD won, everyone would be crediting Hitchcock with pumping the brakes and letting the players play. It's like when a team rests for a week between series. If they win, the narrative is that the rest helped them get healed up and have an advantage on their opponent. If they get beat, the team sat too long, got cold, and rested on their laurels. You can spin it either way depending on the result in hindsight.

To me, Hitch had a gut feel, he thought the guys looked sharp, and maybe felt like the team could use a little extra rest.

Did it pay off? Obviously not. Am I okay with him cutting practice short because the guys looked sharp? Absolutely. He's the coach, he's got a pulse on the team...if he feels it might help, it's worth the shot. If I'm a player and I'm asleep for the first 15 mins of a potential series clincher, that's on me.

Are you trying to tell me hindsight is 20/20? Well, you're right. It is.

And it's clear as day that not having a practice backfired!

Then why did the Blues dominate every statistical category in the 1st period and throughout the game except goals? Lehtonen played out of his head and stole a game. Sometimes, the other team's goalie deserves credit. Sometimes, like when a shooter puts the puck into the top 3rd of the net, like on the Stars first goal, the shooter deserves credit for capitalizing on the turnover.

It's like the effort and what was done for essentially an entire game didn't exist because of the result. The effort, which likely helped by the team being rested, was there.

As Ruff said after Game 5 when referring to the Stars play, he'd take the same effort again and would probably get a different result. I'm saying the same about the Blues after Game 6. Put forth that same effort in Game 7, the Blues win.

[ComradeT]

Something to be said about not having a practice and how it affects the team's mindset. The lackluster first most definitely was a consequence of not practicing earlier that day. Whether the issue was physical or mental, doesn't matter now.

I don't know...this seems like one of those things that if the Blues HAD won, everyone would be crediting Hitchcock with pumping the brakes and letting the players play. It's like when a team rests for a week between series. If they win, the narrative is that the rest helped them get healed up and have an advantage on their opponent. If they get beat, the team sat too long, got cold, and rested on their laurels. You can spin it either way depending on the result in hindsight.

To me, Hitch had a gut feel, he thought the guys looked sharp, and maybe felt like the team could use a little extra rest.

Did it pay off? Obviously not. Am I okay with him cutting practice short because the guys looked sharp? Absolutely. He's the coach, he's got a pulse on the team...if he feels it might help, it's worth the shot. If I'm a player and I'm asleep for the first 15 mins of a potential series clincher, that's on me.

Are you trying to tell me hindsight is 20/20? Well, you're right. It is.

And it's clear as day that not having a practice backfired!

Then why did the Blues dominate every statistical category in the 1st period and throughout the game except goals?

A very typical flow of events in sports. A team having got too comfortable comes out sluggish, gets shellacked by the more prepared opponent, snaps back into it and has the game of their lives only for the mental slump of the first few minutes to haunt them. Blues could have won this, surely. They played like a team possessed for most of the game, certainly. The awesome 50 minutes of play resulted in domination over all stat categories. But they were slow off the start and it cost them.

[cardsfan04]

Something to be said about not having a practice and how it affects the team's mindset. The lackluster first most definitely was a consequence of not practicing earlier that day. Whether the issue was physical or mental, doesn't matter now.

I don't know...this seems like one of those things that if the Blues HAD won, everyone would be crediting Hitchcock with pumping the brakes and letting the players play. It's like when a team rests for a week between series. If they win, the narrative is that the rest helped them get healed up and have an advantage on their opponent. If they get beat, the team sat too long, got cold, and rested on their laurels. You can spin it either way depending on the result in hindsight.

To me, Hitch had a gut feel, he thought the guys looked sharp, and maybe felt like the team could use a little extra rest.

Did it pay off? Obviously not. Am I okay with him cutting practice short because the guys looked sharp? Absolutely. He's the coach, he's got a pulse on the team...if he feels it might help, it's worth the shot. If I'm a player and I'm asleep for the first 15 mins of a potential series clincher, that's on me.

Are you trying to tell me hindsight is 20/20? Well, you're right. It is.

And it's clear as day that not having a practice backfired!

Then why did the Blues dominate every statistical category in the 1st period and throughout the game except goals? Lehtonen played out of his head and stole a game. Sometimes, the other team's goalie deserves credit. Sometimes, like when a shooter puts the puck into the top 3rd of the net, like on the Stars first goal, the shooter deserves credit for capitalizing on the turnover.

It's like the effort and what was done for essentially an entire game didn't exist because of the result. The effort, which likely helped by the team being rested, was there.

As Ruff said after Game 5 when referring to the Stars play, he'd take the same effort again and would probably get a different result. I'm saying the same about the Blues after Game 6. Put forth that same effort in Game 7, the Blues win.

I missed the first period because of a final exam, but that was my takeaway from the game as well. The way the first period was described to me is that we made 2 turnovers that led to goals early and Bouwmeester fell down on a PK later. But, we controlled the action on the whole.

Second and third period looked like we dominated, just couldn't find the back of the net often enough to overcome the early mistakes. Jake Allen played more than 2 periods and only faced 7 shots. Hopefully we maintain that on Wednesday.

[Kerfuffle]

How much is the media playing it up in St. Louis today that Hitch didn't have a morning skate? I sense this will become a bigger story nationally if the Blues drop game 7. But I'm wondering if the local sportswriters are making a big deal about it down there today.

[StL Dan]

Something to be said about not having a practice and how it affects the team's mindset. The lackluster first most definitely was a consequence of not practicing earlier that day. Whether the issue was physical or mental, doesn't matter now.

I don't know...this seems like one of those things that if the Blues HAD won, everyone would be crediting Hitchcock with pumping the brakes and letting the players play. It's like when a team rests for a week between series. If they win, the narrative is that the rest helped them get healed up and have an advantage on their opponent. If they get beat, the team sat too long, got cold, and rested on their laurels. You can spin it either way depending on the result in hindsight.

To me, Hitch had a gut feel, he thought the guys looked sharp, and maybe felt like the team could use a little extra rest.

Did it pay off? Obviously not. Am I okay with him cutting practice short because the guys looked sharp? Absolutely. He's the coach, he's got a pulse on the team...if he feels it might help, it's worth the shot. If I'm a player and I'm asleep for the first 15 mins of a potential series clincher, that's on me.

Are you trying to tell me hindsight is 20/20? Well, you're right. It is.

And it's clear as day that not having a practice backfired!

Then why did the Blues dominate every statistical category in the 1st period and throughout the game except goals? Lehtonen played out of his head and stole a game. Sometimes, the other team's goalie deserves credit. Sometimes, like when a shooter puts the puck into the top 3rd of the net, like on the Stars first goal, the shooter deserves credit for capitalizing on the turnover.

It's like the effort and what was done for essentially an entire game didn't exist because of the result. The effort, which likely helped by the team being rested, was there.

As Ruff said after Game 5 when referring to the Stars play, he'd take the same effort again and would probably get a different result. I'm saying the same about the Blues after Game 6. Put forth that same effort in Game 7, the Blues win.

I missed the first period because of a final exam, but that was my takeaway from the game as well. The way the first period was described to me is that we made 2 turnovers that led to goals early and Bouwmeester fell down on a PK later. But, we controlled the action on the whole.

Second and third period looked like we dominated, just couldn't find the back of the net often enough to overcome the early mistakes. Jake Allen played more than 2 periods and only faced 7 shots. Hopefully we maintain that on Wednesday.

2:15 - almost tied it up.
https://www.nhl.com/blues/video/recap-s ... c-43888003

[Toasted Oates]

How much is the media playing it up in St. Louis today that Hitch didn't have a morning skate? I sense this will become a bigger story nationally if the Blues drop game 7. But I'm wondering if the local sportswriters are making a big deal about it down there today.

They did have a morning skate. He just cut it short because he thought the team looked good. The sense is that the beat writers love Hitchcock because he makes their job easier. Even when Tarasenko's ice time was a hot topic, Jeremy Rutherford threw up the shield for him on Twitter.

As for the game, I also didn't mind Bortuzzo. But as was mentioned in the Game 5 thread, Shattenkirk gets played on the left to make room for him. It doesn't take a hockey sage to see Shatty is more comfortable on the right.

The gods had it in for the Blues last night. Regardless, they are the better team and should/can win Game 7. Get your proton packs out and put some ghosts to rest tomorrow night.

[ecbm]

As for the game, I also didn't mind Bortuzzo. But as was mentioned in the Game 5 thread, Shattenkirk gets played on the left to make room for him. It doesn't take a hockey sage to see Shatty is more comfortable on the right.

That's exactly why I didn't get the move. I don't see the difference in play that Hitch alludes to when Bortuzzo plays instead of Edmundson but even if it is real, I can't believe that outweighs how Shattenkirk's value is depressed when he plays on the left.

[theohall]

Something to be said about not having a practice and how it affects the team's mindset. The lackluster first most definitely was a consequence of not practicing earlier that day. Whether the issue was physical or mental, doesn't matter now.

I don't know...this seems like one of those things that if the Blues HAD won, everyone would be crediting Hitchcock with pumping the brakes and letting the players play. It's like when a team rests for a week between series. If they win, the narrative is that the rest helped them get healed up and have an advantage on their opponent. If they get beat, the team sat too long, got cold, and rested on their laurels. You can spin it either way depending on the result in hindsight.

To me, Hitch had a gut feel, he thought the guys looked sharp, and maybe felt like the team could use a little extra rest.

Did it pay off? Obviously not. Am I okay with him cutting practice short because the guys looked sharp? Absolutely. He's the coach, he's got a pulse on the team...if he feels it might help, it's worth the shot. If I'm a player and I'm asleep for the first 15 mins of a potential series clincher, that's on me.

Are you trying to tell me hindsight is 20/20? Well, you're right. It is.

And it's clear as day that not having a practice backfired!

Then why did the Blues dominate every statistical category in the 1st period and throughout the game except goals?

A very typical flow of events in sports. A team having got too comfortable comes out sluggish, gets shellacked by the more prepared opponent, snaps back into it and has the game of their lives only for the mental slump of the first few minutes to haunt them. Blues could have won this, surely. They played like a team possessed for most of the game, certainly. The awesome 50 minutes of play resulted in domination over all stat categories. But they were slow off the start and it cost them.

But it wasn't a slow start. They were dominating play from the outset. At the time of the 1st goal, the Blues were dominating zone time, faceoffs, shot attempts, shots on goal, possession - EVERYTHING. It was NOT a slow start. And outside of the 2nd goal and the stupid penalty - they continued to dominate everything.

[fargoblues]

Still in shock, but I'm over that Monday game. If the Blues play anywhere near what they did in the second and third periods on Monday, they'll be on the right side of the handshake line, and that #BANG douchenoodle can go back to whatever it is he does for a living.