Good morning Blues fans! It is time to get down to business for your hockey team or face the prospect of only one more game after tonight.
The St. Louis Blues have a big opportunity in front of them as they approach Game 4 against Nashville. Though they currently trail in the series, it is still all in front of them.
The Blues are behind the Predators two games to one after three. However, if the series continues the way that it has, the Blues could win and tie things up at two games a piece.
If that happens, the Blues have home ice advantage in what becomes a three game series. The Blues will still need to win two games in a row since they have been winning the even games to this point, but they have proven capable of that.
The thing the Blues have going for them is the knowledge that they have been in every game down the wire. On top of that, they have yet to play what most Blues fans would consider a good game.
Even when they won Game 2, it was not a full effort the entire time. Vladimir Tarasenko bailed the team out with two goals and the defenders did a better job of limiting chances. Other than that, it was still a B-effort.
If we ever see the Blues A-game, it gives you confidence they can win the game and the series. Whether we actually get that A-game remains to be seen.
The Blues have proven they can win without it. However, they are continually putting pressure on Jake Allen to be superhuman every night in order to pull that off.
A repeat of Game 2 against Minnesota or Nasvhille would be nice tonight. That would mean less work for Allen, a better offensive effort all around and less time overall spent defending.
It seems difficult to believe Mike Yeo is telling his team to employ what looks like a rope-a-dope defense. What that essentially means is you try to absorb as much pressure as possible to tire out your opponent.
Whether it is a strategy or simply how things turn out, the Blues need to change it. Regardless of which side you fall on regarding how deep you think this team is, they are too talented to be pushed around.
Game 3 saw the Blues get bullied. The Blues cannot have that happen again, either in this game tonight or in this series.
It has been awhile since St. Louis had that kind of clunker, but this is not the time of year you want it to creep back in. Yeo has been very good at having his alterations work wonders on this team and they need some big ones now.
Expect to see a different lineup with as many as two or more changes possible. Regardless of who is on the ice though, the Blues need to just go out and play their game.
Too much time has been wasted on worrying what the opponent is doing and stopping that. It is time the Blues make the Predators try and stop them for a change.
The Blues need to even things up going home. It would not be impossible to come back from 3-1, but it is not an enviable position. Better to get things done tonight and roll the dice in the final three games.
Here are your St. Louis Blues morning links to get your day started off right.
As human beings, it is never a good feeling to be called out about your performance. As athletes though, you have to take it in stride and make the necessary changes. The Blues realize this and are saying all the right things. (Blues)
Whether you think Mike Yeo is the right man to lead this team for the future, one thing that can’t be argued is his ability to read this team. Several times he has seen poor performances coming. With that in mind, it might be a good sign that he thinks his team has learned to hate their opponent which is a good indicator of intensity. (Blues)
Not on the job too long, St. Louis’ new mayor is getting into the swing of intra-city sports rivalries already. Barely a month in, the new mayor has already swung a bet with the mayor of Nashville with some interesting things on the line. (Fox Sports)
Next: Blues Haven't Really Shown Up Yet
Game 3 was very eventful in Pittsburgh. Sydney Crosby was out of the game early and despite some defensive miscues a former Blue was instrumental in the outcome. (NHL)
The finalists for the NHL’s MVP award, aka the Hart Trophy, were named yesterday. All three are deserving, but the picks covered quite a wide swath of style. (ESPN)
Have a great day Blues fans!