St. Louis Blues: Pros/Cons From St. Louis All-Star Game

With the St. Louis Blues hosting their third NHL All-Star Game overall and the first in over 30 years, there was a lot of anticipation built up. Unfortunately, despite a decent event overall, the games were a letdown for those rooting for Blues players.

With three games to cover, we won’t waste any time with the facts of what happened. We will jump right into the good and the bad in a more quick hitting style.

Cons: Quick start

It is great to get goals early, but there is nothing wrong with a little back and forth in these games to get a feel for things. Instead, David Pastrnak managed to score on the very first shot of the very first game.

It was a beautiful back and forth play between he and Victor Hedman, but jeez guys. Let the game settle in before making the defenders look like fools.

Pros: Oshie scores

This was vintage TJ Oshie. Just like he did so many times with the Blues, Oshie got the puck in the slot and wristed home a snipe.

Oshie added an assist. Though his Metro Division lost in the opening round, he played well overall and gave Blues fans a reminder of what he provided when he was in town.

Cons: Too much info

As a broadcaster, you can usually never have enough information. However, watching sports is starting to look like watching a television broadcast of the stock market.

There’s numbers flying this way. There’s names and symbols flying that way.

I just want to watch the game and if I am distracted, I just want to hear the announcer. I don’t need five tickers telling me every minute detail in real time.

As I mentioned during the skills competition, I am amazed by the technology in and of itself. However, it’s getting to be too much.

Cons: Central dumpster fire

As a fan, you try to not put anything into these exhibition events, but whether it is the MLB All-Star Game or the NHL, you want your guys and thus their team to do well. Well, the Central Division, as well as the National League, tends to suck.

Pros: Blues goal

One of the perks of having four All-Stars was supposed to be the chemistry. For the most part, there was not a ton to behold on the part of the Blues in this game.

However, the main bright spot (other than a few Binnington saves) was David Perron scoring a goal in his first ever All-Star Game.

The funny thing about it is it was basically a one-man show. They did give Alex Pietrangelo and Ryan O’Reilly assists, the goal was basically Perron stealing the puck back and just going in for a shot. It was not like the assists really set up anything.

The goal also made a game of it, trimming the lead to 3-2 and the Central tied it later. Still, it was good for all the hometown guys to get a point.

Pros: All Tkachuk final

If the Blues could not be playing in the final, at least both St. Louis boys made it. Brady Tkachuk and Matthew Tkachuk played very well throughout and earned their divisions a spot in the final with $1 million on the line.

Each one did their part to help win that money too. The brothers combined for three points, with Matthew picking up two assists.

Brady had an assist in the semifinal, giving him a total of three assists. Matthew finished the tournament with a total of two goals and six points from the two games.

Pros: Jerseys on players

As much hate as I gave these things when the pictures were released – I stand by that opinion at the time – they actually looked decent on the players. It was everything together though.

You have to have the pants, the helmets, the socks and the gloves. I still think they would look silly for a fan just walking around, especially those odd logos like Nashville or Pittsburgh or Phyilly where it is all just one blinding color.

However, as an ensemble, they looked alright on TV.

Overview

It was what it was. This was a fun event that matters very little in the grand scheme of things.

There was stuff to like. There was stuff to dislike.

I am still not a fan of the three-on-three and likely never will be. However, for a game such as this that had literally become a farce when last played five-on-five, the style is fine. At least you know what you are getting.

I also enjoyed the ceremonial coaches. Brett Hull was a slightly more sober version of himself. Wayne Gretzky is still the Great One. The two actors, John Hamm and Jenna Fischer were fun little additions too.

The games were meh. Despite not being old, I’m an old school fan. I’m not all for 15 goals, even at three-on-three.

They were still entertaining. It’s just not my particular brand of hockey.

The fact Patrick Kane scored two goals and the Blues trio barely registered a point was a downer, but who cares. Perron scored and the other two got their assists. Binnington made some good saves even though he let up four.

The odd thing is the Pacific continually winning this event. No offense to the fine players out west, but the teams are not usually that highly thought of other than San Jose and Vegas, and LA a few years prior, but their stars seem to gel much better than any other division.

The Central keeps being a joke. The Eastern divisions keep impressing, but they’re supposed to since they supposedly have the best stars anyway.

Personally, this was just a good showcase for St. Louis. Like Nasvhville before us, our city got a chance to show the hockey world that they can show up, support the sport in exciting ways and provide a unique experience for all involved.

Next. Pros/Cons From The Skills Event. dark

The phrase best All-Star experience ever is thrown around only slightly less than this is the greatest Wrestlemania of all time. However, this one will go down as one of the best for those of us in the St. Louis area because we got our own experiences from it.

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