The St. Louis Blues keep slamming on their own breaks just when it seems like they have a little forward momentum. They certainly kept that going against the Calgary Flames.
The Calgary Flames are having a great season to this point in 2018-19, there is no doubt of that. Any result was going to be a struggle for the St. Louis Blues. However, the Blues just hand over these types of games right now.
Calgary played a very good game, that must has to be said. Nevertheless, the Blues could not have rolled over more easily.
The Blues allowed four goals against in the first period alone. Before people jump to their usual, lazy conclusions, just about every crew associated with the game said that Jake Allen could do nothing differently on any of the goals.
When your defense consistently leaves your goaltender out to dry, regardless of who they are, there is something fundamentally wrong. There is also something fundamentally wrong with a team that cannot string any positive performance together longer than two games.
The Blues have some talent, but we are far past the time of saying they should be winning. People, including myself and surely the guys in that locker room, have to be getting tired of hearing it all.
If the talent is there, do it. If you can win, get it done. The Blues are beyond the point of needing to gel or whatever. This team seems to find new ways to implode in their losses, no matter what went right in the wins.
Cons: Defense In General
What the heck is wrong with these guys? You shutout one of the best offensive teams in hockey and then get blown out two games later?
Fans keep saying they would be more at peace with the losses if the team looked like they were pouring their heart into it and just got beat. Calgary is a good enough team that the Blues were not expected to win.
Even so, they have proven they can hang with these faster teams. So, it was not without the realm of possibility that the Blues could have won.
The defensive unit, and really even forwards in defensive positions, must not have gotten the memo.
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The Blues allowed over 15 shots in the first period alone. In the past there were games that St. Louis allowed that many shots in a game.
Then, when you are allowing four goals on that amount of shots, you simply are not doing enough. When Allen actually made some decent saves and you still allow that many in one period, you are not getting the job done.
The same problems continue to creep up. There is a lack of being able to keep up with anyone. Certain defenders might be getting up in age, but nobody else has any excuse.
Also, the defenders are scrambling and end up getting in the way. On one of Calgary’s power play goals, the Blues had three guys screening in front.
First off, it amazes me that many players could not knock a puck away. Secondly, aside from breakaways, which the Blues give a lot of, we have reached a point where they just need to get out of the way. Goals are getting scored anyway, but maybe they would not if the goaltender would see.
Pros: Tyler Bozak
Ok, it’s a reach to a degree but let’s give Tyler Bozak some love. While he has not been quite what some fans would have wanted when he signed, he’s been a solid player when healthy.
Bozak continues to be stellar on the faceoff dot. He won 60% of his draws in this game, giving the Blues every opportunity to get set up in the offensive zone or get out of the defensive one. Whether they did or not is not his fault.
His goal was due to good positioning as well. We have seen similar bounces fall different ways and the Blues do not get goals. Bozak was in the right place at the right time.
He was able to capitalize on a loose puck after a blocked shot. But, with as many open nets as we have seen the Blues miss, it was important to stuff one in.
On top of that, Bozak is just a steady presence. He’s not going to wow you most nights, but he’s out there doing his job.
He filled in on the power play nicely. The somewhat shocking thing is his lack of time on the penalty kill. It clearly did not hurt him statistically since he managed to be a plus-2 when the team gave up seven goals.
Again, he’s not flash and glamor. Bozak has been and was in this game, just what he needed to be – a third line center. Right now the Blues have far too many people out of their proper position.
Cons: Another Shorthanded Goal Against
The Blues allowed yet another shorthanded goal on a breakaway. It was quite an embarrassing play too.
St. Louis was only down by one goal at the time and, clearly, on the power play. After winning the draw, there was a panicked and rushed pass toward the point that was fanned on.
From there, Colton Parayko lost a 50/50 battle for it and the Flames were off to the races. Haters will demand that Allen make the save, but the Blues are not good examples of what happens on breakaways. Most people score on those, no matter who the goalie is.
Beyond the goal itself, it is frustrating to basically put yourself out of the game on such a preventable play. The Blues are becoming masters of that.
It is actually fascinating that the Blues have only allowed four short handers. That is only one goal above the league average, though it’s not something you want to have more of than the rest.
It would be far more interesting to see how many shorthanded chances they have given up. That number has to be far greater.
It just does not make any sense. However, with this team, perhaps that makes sense that it doesn’t make sense.
Overview
We could go on and on about the bad things from this game. You could write an article up on each goal allowed.
Instead, it’s better for us all to leave this one behind us. The up and down nature of this team and this season will continue to drive us all mad, but we might as well just get used to it.
The Blues have continually proven that this is just who they are. They are able to play well for a game or two and then they just implode.
That is what is gut wrenching thing is that they don’t just lose. They blow up. There is not a slow, steady reduction but a complete halt to anything resembling a good NHL team. When the Blues play like this, they might not even be better than many AHL teams.
Even the broadcasters are getting frustrated with this team. The radio crew marveled at the fact the Blues had two of their top defenders on the ice and neither one had the sense to be near Matthew Tkachuk when he scored.
I think each man is trying too hard as opposed to not enough, but it is having the same end result. At the end of the day, if there is an L in the book, you were not doing your job in enough areas and that is true of just about everyone on this team.