St. Louis Blues Pros And Cons From Game 33 Vs. Vancouver

The St. Louis Blues just can’t win for trying. That is sadly both a literal and figurative statement at this time, as they proved in Vancouver.

The St. Louis Blues just don’t have a clue right now. I guess we really should not expect them to since they have been so up and down, but you would think something might click.

At this point there are some that would rather they just pick one way to play. If you’re going to be bad, just be bad.

If you are capable of being good, be good. Yes, it is easier said than done, but the up and down nature of this team is more frustrating than anything.

The Blues game against the Vancouver Canucks was a prime example of how up and down this team has been and likely will be.

In the first period, they looked as good as any team in the league. They were playing fast, but under control and taking it to the Canucks.

Of course, in true Blues fashion, they let that good play slip and the Canucks took them to school after that. We never saw the full potential of the bad Blues, thankfully, but they still got taken behind the woodshed.

They have now allowed 11 goals in two games against Vancouver. That just cannot happen. Losing is bad enough, but getting outscored 11-2 is just embarrassing when you were thought of as a Cup contender.

Pros: Dominating the First Period</h3
You could almost label this a bad thing since the Blues did not score. Nevertheless, they played about as good a period as we have seen from them and just did not get rewarded.

You tip your hat to the Canucks goalie as he was the only reason the Blues did not have two goals in this period. Unfortunately, that statement would come back to haunt the Blues, but we will get to that.

As mentioned, the Blues looked like a legitimate NHL team, just like they were supposed to be. They were skating with purpose, throwing bodies and getting pucks to the net.

Their passes were on point, for the most part, and guys were looking fast. Even current whipping boy Pat Maroon was looking like he had good pace.

The Blues deserved much better than what they got from the first period, but those are the breaks. Sometimes your best is not good enough and you have to keep plugging. If we got the Blues from the first period for the rest of the game, they would have had every opportunity to win. The outcome proved that is not what we got.

Cons: Second Period

As good as things were for the Blues in the first period, they were equally bad in the second. That is not to say the team played awfully, but they stopped doing the things that gave them success in the first.

Credit has to go to Vancouver for making adjustments, but you take credit away from the Blues for not making those counter-adjustments.

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The Blues only had three shots on goal in the second period compared to 15 in the first. The Blues got pinned to the outside too.

That’s partly where you give credit to Vancouver. However, the Blues really did not put up enough fight to get off the boards.

St. Louis battled well, but what’s the big deal if you’re winning puck battles on the wall and never get to the middle of the ice?

In addition to the overall sloppy play in the second period, you give up two goals. They were quick goals against too.

St. Louis took two silly penalties. They killed off the first, but a quick second one left them with tired penalty killers.

There was nothing Jake Allen could do about either second period goals. The power play goal was about as nice a setup as you’ll see.

It just does not make any sense how you can come out like that. You had a great first period. You should come out flying and confident, not acting like the fat cat who is happy about a good 20 minutes.

You could complain about the third period since they allowed more goals, but one was an empty net goal and the Blues were pressing too. That second period is truly what cost them the game.

Overview

It is becoming tedious to figure out new ways to describe this team. They continue to find ways to disappoint us and new ways to let us down.

Just when you think things are going to take a turn for the better, they slam on the breaks. Every time they start inching closer to a .500 record and the ability to look toward the second half, they take three steps back.

Even the positives just are not right now. Vladimir Tarasenko now has two goals in two games after going five without. That should be a good thing, but it does not feel like it because the team got smoked.

The Blues are playing good teams. You can’t argue against them, though Vancouver is still one of those pushing the playoff envelope and not near the top yet.

But with each game, it seems like the Blues truly are where they belong. Given the talent on this team, they should not be bottom feeders, but that’s where they are and what they are.