last_stand
the gay card thrower Call Me Ragnar
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 7766
Loc: anywhere but "HomeofToto"
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It's a statement we are back on track. It's a reminder for this team how good they can play when they stay together and play a physical team game.
I still want Elliott in goal for game one of the playoffs but he has to step up and get 2 more SOLID games in this regular season if he wants that role. He did not look good in Dallas. I would think it will be Elliott for the Jets and Allen back in net for Chicago then Elliott for the final game.
Allen's playing very well. That really was a great all round game for him and the team. Elliott not so much, his mates could help him out more too, but it's his job to lose if he can't batten down the hatch here on in.
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Sometimes you got it sometimes you get got.
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sptsman
member
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 6215
Loc: Missouri
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Quote:
IIFID said:
Wow winning a Cup then is like winning the lottery. Do it once (like 16 years ago) and it certifies you as a genius forever. Great gig if you can get one.
Not necessarily but it goes a long way towards credibility. When you include it with a body of work that is impressive and you gain the respect of your peers and the "experts" that analyze your sport, it is icing on the cake.
I see only two ways this team falls short in the playoffs. Goaltending is #1 and effort is #2. If one of these two netminders can't step up and deliver solid performances, maybe even steal a game or two, they're doomed. If the five players in front of the goaltender can't play with 100% intensity on every shift, they're doomed. Not sure what Berglund ate before the last 3 or 4 games but I hope he has a good supply of it. His play has stepped up about 200% in the last few games. Maybe he's figured out that you have to give some effort to get results...
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"Hunts are best measured by the endurance of the memories they produce..."
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IIFID
Bond....Timmy Bond
Reged: 12/15/05
Posts: 8075
Loc: Nipawin, Saskatchewan
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Sptsman,
Griff was essentially laying all of the blame for late season swoon on the players. I felt that maybe Hitchcock should shoulder some of the blame. Everyone is saying this is a "make it or break it" year for the Note and they have to go deep in the playoffs. I was pointing out that while Hitchcock has had a lot of regular season success but his teams have not had as good of success in the playoffs. That 1999 Stars team had (among others) Belfour between the pipes and had Hull, Modano, Niewendyk and Lehtinen. I was pointing out that he had a lot of his playoff success with one team in two seasons. And it happened a long time ago. The game has changed (rules, penalties, etc.) and for good or bad the typical NHL player has changed. Great coaches adapt to change. I am not sure that that Hitchcock has done that. That being said, I sincerely hope I'm wrong and this team hoists the Cup.
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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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sptsman
member
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 6215
Loc: Missouri
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I see your point and understand your perspective. But I would argue that what it takes to win in the playoffs has changed very little in the past 40+ years I have followed the NHL. Sure, some rules have changed and there have been some minor changes to the way the game is played as a result. But the overall concept of playing hard-checking, vertical, puck-possession game hasn't changed that much. Hitchcock preaches and teaches a very NHL, playoff style of play. The trouble is the some of the modern players think they can play like the wide open college or international style of play, in the NHL playoffs and they can't. Perhaps that's why Berglund struggles and why some of the more free-flowing type of players go into a funk at times, playing under him.
I can tell you this with relative certainty. If every player on that team bought in to his system and played every shift with 100% effort, this team would breeze to the Cup. Armstrong has assembled a fantastic group of players and they have all the talent and size they need. I think the issue is some players think they can freelance and play "their style" when it suits them. When that happens you put yourself and/or your teammates out of position and create turnovers and odd-man rushes against your team.
I will argue that Hitchcock is the right man for the job. There is a time when players need to be accountable and that time for the Blues is now...
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"Hunts are best measured by the endurance of the memories they produce..."
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IIFID
Bond....Timmy Bond
Reged: 12/15/05
Posts: 8075
Loc: Nipawin, Saskatchewan
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Speaking of that.. did you see the look on Hithcocks face when Oshie missed the empty net and the icing gave the hawks the faceoff in the Blues zone? Classic! And Oshie wouldn't even look at him! LOL
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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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griffin
administrator
Reged: 12/13/05
Posts: 9637
Loc: the most dangerous city in Ame...
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That's because Oshie is likely an asshole who is constantly butting heads with Hitchcock. I don't like Oshie, and the Blues would be better without him.
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: 8075
Loc: Nipawin, Saskatchewan
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Free Oshie!
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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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Bubba
strangesly aroused
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 3828
Loc: Lemmingstan
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Oshie is the key. 
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God Bless our Troops!
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IIFID
Bond....Timmy Bond
Reged: 12/15/05
Posts: 8075
Loc: Nipawin, Saskatchewan
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Wow! What a game! Blues win the Central!!
Allen is hot! Do you ride him into the playoffs? Griff will probably say that I'm a knucklehead when it come to knowing hockey.. But I would!
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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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griffin
administrator
Reged: 12/13/05
Posts: 9637
Loc: the most dangerous city in Ame...
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Quote:
IIFID said:
Allen is hot! Do you ride him into the playoffs?
I think you have to.
GO BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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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: 7766
Loc: anywhere but "HomeofToto"
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Those boys were on the puck tonight.
No way Hitch splits up the SOS line when Senko and Steen come back.
Nice problem to have.
The stars are aligned. Time for this team to play some great post season hockey.
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Sometimes you got it sometimes you get got.
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IIFID
Bond....Timmy Bond
Reged: 12/15/05
Posts: 8075
Loc: Nipawin, Saskatchewan
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In Allen's last five games the Blues have gone 4 - 1 and he has had a GAA of 1.20 and a save % of .9632. I'd ride that horse...
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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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DADAKOTA
member
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 3852
Loc: Missouri West Side
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If Timmy is on the bandwagon they are doomed. Happens to every team when he jumps on board. B-lose need to get healthy or they will be golfing in 2 weeks.
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last_stand
the gay card thrower Call Me Ragnar
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 7766
Loc: anywhere but "HomeofToto"
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Well it's hard to believe but sposedly Hitch is actually holding a player or two back for the playoffs.
And lemme tell ya, that's one old dog who just learned a new trick.
Finally.
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Sometimes you got it sometimes you get got.
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IIFID
Bond....Timmy Bond
Reged: 12/15/05
Posts: 8075
Loc: Nipawin, Saskatchewan
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I know there are still about 47 different possibilities of who the Blues may end up playing in the first round depending on the the next game for each team. Right now most likely is starting with the Wild. I can't believe I'm even saying this but I'd almost rather play the Hawks. The hawks haven't been good lately and the Wild have played really well against the Note especially lately.  
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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.”
Edited by IIFID (04/10/15 01:33 PM)
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last_stand
the gay card thrower Call Me Ragnar
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 7766
Loc: anywhere but "HomeofToto"
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Lots of that is Dubnyk.
He/They are 4th in GAA and he is 2nd in SP.
Team is 1st in pk.
Light and fast. We would need to pummel them carefully as we play our game.
Doesn't matter who we play imo. It's up to the Blues to win.
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Sometimes you got it sometimes you get got.
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sptsman
member
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 6215
Loc: Missouri
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It is PLAYOFF TIME... 
Now we site back and enjoy the road to the Cup. All the questions will be answered in the next few weeks:
Who will be in goal and will they be Cup worthy?
Will they overcome Backes as Captain?
(side question: How many dogs & cats will be rescued during the playoffs?)
Will Berglund be an asset or liability in the playoffs?
Does Hitchcock have a plan and will he have set lines?
Will Bubba be glued to the tube for every minute of every game?
All these questions... 
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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: 7766
Loc: anywhere but "HomeofToto"
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We are playing well.
We are healthy.
We are a good team.
We are deep.
IMO, we are as good or better as any other team.
It's up to the Blues to win. I don't see an excuse on the board to not make conference finals.
Thursday nite likely on radio for me. Go Blue!!
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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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Hitch is the key.
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God Bless our Troops!
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sptsman
member
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 6215
Loc: Missouri
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Bubba, will you be hosting a live chat during the game or providing some commentary after?
Go Blues!! 
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"Hunts are best measured by the endurance of the memories they produce..."
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IIFID
Bond....Timmy Bond
Reged: 12/15/05
Posts: 8075
Loc: Nipawin, Saskatchewan
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Hitch going with Allen but not exactly making that sound like a concrete decision.
http://espn.go.com/nhl/preview?gameId=400790482
Multiple home teams lost their series opener last night. The Note better come out fired up and ready to go. It was a real problem for a while there. Go Blue!
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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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sptsman
member
Reged: 12/14/05
Posts: 6215
Loc: Missouri
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Quote:
IIFID said: The Note better come out fired up and ready to go. It was a real problem for a while there. Go Blue!
I just hope they win. I gave up hoping they come out fired up last year. This team has to be the worst 1st period team in the playoffs. Have no idea why that is but they had a few runs of multiple games in a row with no 1st period goals. I think one of them got up to 10 or 11 games.
I would like to think that is one of the things you look to your Captain for. Maybe help fire the boys up or inspire them to give some effort before the 2nd period starts???
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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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Your Captain is key.
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God Bless our Troops!
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griffin
administrator
Reged: 12/13/05
Posts: 9637
Loc: the most dangerous city in Ame...
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Quote:
Bubba said:
Your Captain is key.
There is something to be said for that, Bubba, and Andy may indeed have a point.
The simple fact is, David Backes did not show up for game 1. It is fair to say that he was not the only one.....but he is the only one with a "C" on his sweater.
I was there......he was pathetic. He should not be the team Captain.
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: 8075
Loc: Nipawin, Saskatchewan
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The sky is falling..
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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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