Good morning Blues fans! Hopefully you are all settled in after that bitter pill we had to swallow last night. Another wasted effort came after a solid opening against the Edmonton Oilers.
The St. Louis Blues looked like a team on a mission to start their contest against the Edmonton Oilers last night. After a brief feeling out period, the Blues took over.
It only took four minutes and 20 seconds for St. Louis to strike. A fortunate bounce and good positioning led to a nice wrist shot goal for Kyle Brodziak. It would be the first good moment in a game full of them for the fourth line.
Scottie Upshall almost scored off another giveaway just moments later. Unfortunately, the good moments for the fourth line didn’t spark the team for the entire game.
You can’t give nothing but praise to the fourth line though. Their repeated icing of the puck caught up to them and led to Edmonton’s tying goal. Brodziak failed to win the faceoff after a second consecutive icing call and Edmonton scored on a screen shot immediately.
Those mistakes usually end up being minor, but they are easily correctable. The Blues seem to fail to correct them though as it seems like they ice the puck more than your average team. Since I don’t see any other team with the regularity of the Blues, that’s merely a feeling as opposed to a true observation.
Still, the Blues had a good first period. Vladimir Tarasenko scored barely 30 seconds after the lead was given up.
That was another bright spot in the game. Though it did not occur, Tarasenko looked like a man on a mission to tie up the league’s scoring lead.
He had chances. Vlady was credited with four shots on goal, but probably took close to double that.
Though he was only rewarded with one goal, it was the kind of performance fans would love to see night in and out – especially in the playoffs. It’s just a shame the Blues keep wasting these kinds of efforts.
That goes double for Carter Hutton and the Blues’ goaltending in general. Hutton played out of his mind and was handed a loss again.
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After a rather calm first period, Hutton was pelted with 28 shots in the last two periods and in overtime. If not for him, the Blues would have easily lost in regulation. Instead, they were somewhat fortunate to get a point.
The Blues cannot continually play 30 minutes of a 60 minute game. They change when the 30 minute are during a contest, but they never seem to have a full 60 in the tank.
They had a fine first period. It was downhill after that.
Optimists will say at least they got a point. They aren’t wrong, but we are a team thatneeds to be past that thinking. Every point does matter, but these types of games feel like a point lost rather than gained.
Here are your St. Louis Blues Morning Links to get your day started off right.
Based on some Twitter conversations, many fans don’t want to hear about schedules and tiredness. That said, the old axiom “no rest for the weary” applies to the Blues as they have to get right back to it tonight. The Blues take on a banged up, but still dangerous Dallas team. (STLToday)
Plenty of little news and notes after the game against Edmonton. Ken Hitchcock explained why Jake Allen got a rest, the fourth liners described their fluke goal against Chicago and a scratched defenseman didn’t stay out of the lineup for long. (Post Dispatch)
Now might not be the best time to mention it since the coach usually takes a beating after any loss. Still, our sixth day of Bluesmas is up from yesterday and it focuses on the six years of Ken Hitchcock. (Bleedin’ Blue)
It is not completely uncommon for games to get postponed at this time of year. Normally it is due to ice or a snow storm making it too unsafe for crowds to get to the arena. In a rare turn of events, it was player safety due to ice conditions that led to a postponement in Carolina. (ESPN)
John Tortarella is one of those love him or hate him kind of guys. He doesn’t mind that one bit and would likely tell you so. You can’t argue with his numbers though. With a Columbus win over Vancouver, he became the first American born coach in a rather exclusive club. (ESPN)
Have a great day Blues fans!