griffin
administrator
Reged: 12/13/05
Posts: 9625
Loc: the most dangerous city in Ame...
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I would say they're in trouble.
You can't be playing your worst hockey of the year heading into the playoffs....that formula has never worked.
5-5 over last ten games, only 8 goals total for 8 of those games......not looking good.
griffin
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"The Irish are one race of people for whom psychoanalysis is of no use whatsoever." - Sigmund Freud
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sptsman
member
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 6194
Loc: Missouri
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Here are the troubles as I see them:
Fatigue is going to take it's toll on every team but maybe a little more on the Blues, with so many in the Olympics. They are certainly lacking that spark we've seem most of the season. Are they just gassed?
Scoring is always tough in the playoffs. Tarasenko is doubtful for the start of the playoffs and I have no idea what to expect with Steen's return. If both of them are out, this team seems to have trouble scoring. Pretty disappointing that others have not stepped up and filled the voids. Reason for concern.
Guts and heart. One trait this team has shown all year and even more in the past few weeks is the grit it takes to get out of a mini-slump, in the middle of a game. It seems once they get down and show a poor effort, it gets worse not better, as the game progresses. I know last stand thinks I'm nuts but Backes is a great player and weak "C". I would rather have Jackman or even Roy or Morrow as a "C". Backes has a tendancy to get a little wild when the Blues are down by one or two goals and take dumb penalties, at the worst possible times. I think he is doing that to try to "lead" the team. Since he doesn't have real leadership skills he just does what he thinks will show everyone else how hard you can play. Being one of the best players in the NHL doesn't do us much good when he's sitting in the penalty box, with 3 or 4 mins to go and down by a goal.
On the bright side:
The goaltending should be top-notch!! 
They have a great NHL coach that has his name on the Cup already. He knows what it takes to win, in the playoffs.
They have one of the best balanced defenses in the NHL and they are all healthy.
They have the talent up front. They just need to get it clickin in these last few games.
Go Blue!!
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"Hunts are best measured by the endurance of the memories they produce..."
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griffin
administrator
Reged: 12/13/05
Posts: 9625
Loc: the most dangerous city in Ame...
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Quote:
sptsman said:
They have one of the best balanced defenses in the NHL and they are all healthy....
.....and playing like chit. In 5 of the last 10 games the Blues have allowed 4 goals. They will NEVER win with defense like that.
griffin
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"The Irish are one race of people for whom psychoanalysis is of no use whatsoever." - Sigmund Freud
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sptsman
member
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 6194
Loc: Missouri
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The whole team is playing like chit. I can't argue that the defense is not playing it's best but when the Blues are losing like they have been it is as much about the forwards not playing a 200' game as anything.
I'll tell you who I can't figure out is Berglund. That dude was coming on stong in the 2nd half and looking like the player everyone thought he could be. Now he's playing like some kind of a 4th line role player again. Guys like him have to step up, when Tarasenko and Steen go down.
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"Hunts are best measured by the endurance of the memories they produce..."
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last_stand
the gay card thrower Call Me Ragnar
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 7737
Loc: anywhere but "HomeofToto"
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Honestly.....to imply that this slump is on Backes is a joke. He never slacks. Guys got one speed. And Jackman needs more ice time to be a Captain....what is he a #4 or 5??
We are like 39-1 when we score 3 goals or more. While an off D can be very bad, you got a absolutely, guaranteed disaster on our hands if you can't score goals.
Steen and Senko not helping in the dressing room. I hope it's rest and recovery for Steener, he hasn't been right since coming back.
Problems in both areas right now but give me goals to climb out of this.
Ducks have lost 2 in a row, Hawks have not been much better than us lately and the Pens are 5-5 like us too. No smooth sailing for any club it appears.
They gotta snap out of this and find ways to score the goals. I would think play in front of the net is key. Shoot the forkin puck and get in front of the net guys
C'ya.....Gotta go light a candle.
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Sometimes you got it sometimes you get got.
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last_stand
the gay card thrower Call Me Ragnar
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 7737
Loc: anywhere but "HomeofToto"
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This sports board is out of whack on my computer.....threads are all jumbled up out of order....got any tips for me woo??
TX
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Sometimes you got it sometimes you get got.
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sptsman
member
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 6194
Loc: Missouri
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Quote:
last_stand said:
Honestly.....to imply that this slump is on Backes is a joke. He never slacks. Guys got one speed.
Do you actually read any of the posts or do you just see Backes and go all Foghorn Leghorn on us? Nobody is blaming the slump on Backes. The whole team is playing like chit.
And maybe take the blinders off or at least adjust them a little so you can get a peek at what is obvious to eveyone else. Backes is a great player, maybe MVP material. But he takes too many bad penalties at really critical times. He was really bad about it last year in the playoffs and he's done it a few times in the last several games. That's not what you want your "C" to be doing...
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"Hunts are best measured by the endurance of the memories they produce..."
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wuchang
spiritual advisor and gatekeeper to the Spirit World
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 5210
Loc: uphill
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Quote:
last_stand said:
This sports board is out of whack on my computer.....threads are all jumbled up out of order....got any tips for me woo??
TX
check your pm
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last_stand
the gay card thrower Call Me Ragnar
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 7737
Loc: anywhere but "HomeofToto"
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Quote:
sptsman said:
Backes is a great player, maybe MVP material.
I've never seen any one who can beat you at fence sitting.
Great player...MVP...but wait a minute.... no....can't be Captain.
Good God man. They have meds now for this kind of thing.
bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
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Sometimes you got it sometimes you get got.
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griffin
administrator
Reged: 12/13/05
Posts: 9625
Loc: the most dangerous city in Ame...
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Really?? Miller is going to lead us to the cup? Gimme a forking break!!!!!
This prick loves giving up 4 goals.....it's his standard.
I hate this corksucker.
griffin
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"The Irish are one race of people for whom psychoanalysis is of no use whatsoever." - Sigmund Freud
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last_stand
the gay card thrower Call Me Ragnar
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 7737
Loc: anywhere but "HomeofToto"
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Miller?? Played no better no worse than most rest of the team.
This is beyond goal tending. But you already know that.
If Wayne "Cola" Gretzky takes yet another shot from the blue line he should be benched. Wait....bench him anyway.
Blues are clearly reeling once they get behind. that is the trend. Playing hard to start but Bam! spiral down once they get behind.
Miller and this team need to stay with all 60 minutes. Offense needs more shots and the D has to avoid getting caught on the 2 on 1's.
Puck possession, quick transitions and fore checking.
Same thing that got them where they were 2 weeks ago but all the more important with Steens game being off and Senko on the pine.
If Backes's injury is minor, I think they'll turn this around. I really do. Ya'll can jump off the wagon but I'm stayin put.
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Sometimes you got it sometimes you get got.
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Bubba
strangesly aroused
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 3828
Loc: Lemmingstan
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And so it begins.......
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God Bless our Troops!
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last_stand
the gay card thrower Call Me Ragnar
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 7737
Loc: anywhere but "HomeofToto"
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I was not even considering just how low this team can get before the end of the season but last night was a revelation along those lines.
WOW.
I am stuck believing a light switch will turn them on come next Wednesday.
For who ever is left, that is.
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Sometimes you got it sometimes you get got.
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sptsman
member
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 6194
Loc: Missouri
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Last night's game was a complete embarrassment. Players running into each other, poor clearing attempts, minimal puck support, giving up a SHG, and generally weak play. I have never seen this team play so poor defensively. When the other team transitions into our zone, it looks like the forwards have no idea how to come back and defend. The defense is scattered and the goaltending has been abysmal. I was/am a big supporter of the Miller trade but he needs to be 10X better than he is right now. If we wanted to give up 4 goals a game, we could have just kept Halak.
I have no idea what it takes for them to go back to their winning ways but it is clear they are in a funk that makes them look like a Div II college hockey team could beat. I honestly thought I was watching one of the pathetic mid-2000's teams we had.
Let's hope like hell they can turn it around but it ain't lookin' good... If they play tonight, like they did last night, I would predict a 10-0 or 12-0 loss. Dallas is hungry...
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"Hunts are best measured by the endurance of the memories they produce..."
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wuchang
spiritual advisor and gatekeeper to the Spirit World
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 5210
Loc: uphill
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I'll give y'all credit---
no one has jumped off the bandwagon..................
yet
 
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sptsman
member
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 6194
Loc: Missouri
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Quote:
wuchang said:
I'll give y'all credit---
no one has jumped off the bandwagon..................
Just like a Cubs fan, I may get frustrated but "Hope springs eternal..."
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"Hunts are best measured by the endurance of the memories they produce..."
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griffin
administrator
Reged: 12/13/05
Posts: 9625
Loc: the most dangerous city in Ame...
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Quote:
sptsman said:
Last night's game was a complete embarrassment. Players running into each other, poor clearing attempts, minimal puck support, giving up a SHG, and generally weak play. I have never seen this team play so poor defensively. When the other team transitions into our zone, it looks like the forwards have no idea how to come back and defend. The defense is scattered and the goaltending has been abysmal. I was/am a big supporter of the Miller trade but he needs to be 10X better than he is right now. If we wanted to give up 4 goals a game, we could have just kept Halak.
I have no idea what it takes for them to go back to their winning ways but it is clear they are in a funk that makes them look like a Div II college hockey team could beat. I honestly thought I was watching one of the pathetic mid-2000's teams we had.
Let's hope like hell they can turn it around but it ain't lookin' good... If they play tonight, like they did last night, I would predict a 10-0 or 12-0 loss. Dallas is hungry...
Dude....wake up!!! Miller has been a joke since he got here. I'll say it again.....YOU DON'T TRADE ONE OF THE GOALIES WHO HAS LED YOU TO BE THE NUMBER 1 TEAM IN HOCKEY WITH 3/4 OF THE SEASON IN THE BANK!!!
This will go down as one of the dumbest trades in Blues history.
I watched the first 2 goals tonight and I'm done. Miller is HORRIBLE!!! Yeah, I know, "oh, but the injuries, and blah,blah,blah". Forking save it.
griffin
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"The Irish are one race of people for whom psychoanalysis is of no use whatsoever." - Sigmund Freud
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IIFID
Bond....Timmy Bond
Reged: 12/15/05
Posts: 8066
Loc: Nipawin, Saskatchewan
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Looks like they are in a free fall...
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Thought for the day; “It’s impossible to think outside of the box when all you do is think about getting inside of the box.”
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last_stand
the gay card thrower Call Me Ragnar
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 7737
Loc: anywhere but "HomeofToto"
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Personally I thought after a horrendous game Thursday nite Miller played pretty good last night.
But Hitch will have a short leash for Miller in the play offs. Ells will be ready.
If the Blues go down in round one the trade whine will be heard from here to Saskatoon for a hundred years.
I guess it's going to be Chicago. A good test indeed.
Too bad you're done with them griff.........if we get the guys back whom you claim don't matter, this is going to be a hell of a playoff series.
GO BLUE!!
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Sometimes you got it sometimes you get got.
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last_stand
the gay card thrower Call Me Ragnar
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 7737
Loc: anywhere but "HomeofToto"
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Should be a great ending today.
I'd say Bubba has the edge but his putting is very much in question.
Speith pretty incredible kid. All round solid. Amazing.
Blixt not far off that mark either.
Lot's of players to root for. Freddy, Miguel, and the Walrus JR. would all be cool to win.
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Sometimes you got it sometimes you get got.
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 foots
the exterminator
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 5241
Loc: by my spiritual advisor, Wu
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Quote:
last_stand said:
Should be a great ending today.
I'd say Bubba has the edge but his putting is very much in question.
Speith pretty incredible kid. All round solid. Amazing.
Blixt not far off that mark either.
Lot's of players to root for. Freddy, Miguel, and the Walrus JR. would all be cool to win.
Hung over is ya. Seen it right off. 
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I was born kicking, screaming, and covered in someone elses blood. I have no problem goin out the same way.
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dabs
Reged: 12/13/05
Posts: 5971242
Loc: New Money, USA
Current High Scores in:
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Quote:
last_stand said:
Should be a great ending today.
I'd say Bubba has the edge but his putting is very much in question.
Speith pretty incredible kid. All round solid. Amazing.
Blixt not far off that mark either.
Lot's of players to root for. Freddy, Miguel, and the Walrus JR. would all be cool to win.
Especially if Miller is on net 
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sptsman
member
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 6194
Loc: Missouri
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It looks like Miller will be golfing soon...
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"Hunts are best measured by the endurance of the memories they produce..."
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Bubba
strangesly aroused
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 3828
Loc: Lemmingstan
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Quote:
sptsman said:
It looks like Miller will be golfing soon...
Looks like sptsman has finally beat LS down...poor fellow.
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God Bless our Troops!
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sptsman
member
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 6194
Loc: Missouri
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Well, I didn't watch today's game but I just looked at the final box score and recap. Not pretty...
I would have to say this is the biggest meltdown I have ever seen firsthand. I'm sure there are some other epic failures in sports, of this nature but it is really something to see up close. On one hand, you have to think that anything can happen in the playoffs and they can turn this around. On the other hand, you have to be realistic and think this team has completely lost whatever mojo they had. I can't think of a single player that deserves a grade of C or better, in the last 10 games and most deserve F's, including the coach.
I will tune in to watch the playoffs and will hold out hope that this mess turns around. But I'm not optimistic. The Hawks may even sweep them...
griffin - Feel free to bloviate all you want about the goaltending but that is about 2% of the issue here. This is a complete team failure. They have scored 5 goals in the month of April. That is the last 8 games. Unless your theory is that Halak and Elliott would have scored a dozen goals or more, in the last 8 games, netminding isn't an issue to worry about. They have waaaaay bigger issues right now.
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"Hunts are best measured by the endurance of the memories they produce..."
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