St. Louis Blues Pros And Cons From Game 61 Vs. Arizona

The St. Louis Blues have not had much success against the Arizona Coyotes in recent years. They hoped a fresh start with a new defender at home would change their luck

The St. Louis Blues had plenty of reason to be hopeful as they headed into their third and final game against the Arizona Coyotes. They played quite well against the New Jersey Devils the previous game and had a new player going in Marco Scandella.

Scandella was placed on the team’s second defensive pairing, going with Colton Parayko. Scandella looked quite good, overall, for a new player. He pinched in at the right times and his puck movement was solid for a defense-first defenseman.

The Blues got off to a decent start too. They had the first five shots on goal and were moving their feet and keeping the game in motion.

Unfortunately, that mattered little in terms of the game. The Blues had to rely on Jordan Binnington and their defense to stop a five-on-three power play and also a late period breakaway, where it looked like he might have tweaked his left leg. The Blues were good, but also fortunate to end the first period 0-0.

St. Louis lucked out in that Binnington was not hurt, or at least well enough to continue the game. However, they continued to have no luck in the second period.

The Blues kept buzzing on the offensive end, but came up empty. They thought they had the first goal of the game when David Perron finally scored on a one-timer, but like Jordan Kryou a few weeks ago, Perron cost himself a goal by being offside. Technically, it was Jaden Schwartz‘ fault for holding the puck up at the blue line.

The Blues continued to come up empty in the second period. For the second game in a row against Arizona, it seemed as though Antti Raanta had the Blues number.

Just when it seemed as though the Blues might never score, they finally cracked the Raanta shield. It was a lucky goal, but they all count the same.

Despite the Blues offensive explosion in terms of shots, it was a nail biting game. Raanta refused to let any goals in and the Coyotes did a good job of limiting the Blues rebound chances.

Arizona made a good push toward the end of the game, but the team’s defense picked off their long passes and Binnington made saves on the few shots that did get through.

It was not comfortable, but it was important to win no matter what.

Pros: Gunnarsson’s PK

As a fan/analyst I fully admit that I’ve been as hard on Carl Gunnarsson as anyone. Until the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2019, at best he has been a ghost that you rarely knew was there and at worst he made mistakes that either cost the team or came close to it.

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While I did not see the supposed great game he played against New Jersey, I admit, I was not really looking. That was not the case in this game.

No player is without mistake. Gunnarsson was somewhat responsible for the turnover that allowed the Coyotes to have the late first period breakout.

Still, he made some fantastic defensive plays.

With the Blues trying to kill off a five-on-three power play for Arizona, Gunnarsson made a huge play to thwart the attack. With the Coyotes trying to get the puck to the right circle, Gunnarsson came over to jab the puck loose. He was not content with just knocking it away. He managed to sidestep the opponent, get the puck and shrug off the pressure to clear it down the ice.

On the Coyotes third power play, he did more of the same. There were a couple occasions where he stood them up, or near, the blue line. It wasn’t as pretty as the clearance earlier, but just as important as it did not even let Arizona get set up.

Cons: Schwartz

The hope after the New Jersey game was that Jaden Schwartz would have developed a little offensive confidence after scoring one against the Devils. Instead, he reverted to his pass-first mentality, which you just cannot have as a winger playing with two other playmakers.

Your other linemates are both centers. Brayden Schenn has been moved over the wing, but he’s a center at heart. So, Schwartz should look to score goals or get pucks on net.

However, he passed up a good look toward goal late in the second period. He might not have scored, but guys were driving to the net for a possible rebound. Instead, Schwartz tried to peel it back and the Blues got nothing as the puck was jabbed out of the zone and the period ended.

Also, it was his hesitation that cost the Blues their first goal. Yes, that play happens 20 times a game, but if Schwartz just gets the puck over the blue line instead of holding it up for a brief second, then Perron is not offside and the Blues get their goal.

Schwartz is having a far better statistical year than he did in 2018-19. Even so, his lack of determination when it comes to pure goal scoring is frustrating.

You could pile on and point out him not even getting a shot at an empty net when he came up the right wing. However, he was in an awkward situation and his faults earlier in the game were enough. The guy hustles his butt off, but you’d like to see more killer instinct.

Pros: First goal buildup

Teh way the Blues first goal went in might not have been the stuff of highlight reels, but as mentioned earlier, they all count. Ryan O’Reilly did great work to get the puck shoveled upward on the backhand and then it hit the shoulder, the post and went in off Raanta’s back.

However, it was not the shot that was something to behold. It was the Blues entire shift prior to that.

John Kelly made the comment on the television broadcast that it looked like a Blues power play. The Blues should wish their power play looked that coherent and dangerous.

St. Louis was getting loose pucks and picking up rebounds. While they didn’t score or shoot on some of the plays you’d like in that offensive flurry, they kept possession, which made Arizona more and more fatigued.

You have to admire the perseverence of the Coyotes, but the Blues had even more. They refused to let the puck out of the zone.

They did not scramble and just dump the puck anywhere either. Scandella was calm and held the zone as did Parayko. The forwards had some chances to keep control of the puck too. Everyone chipped in.

It took 42 shots to beat the goalie, but as long as the goal came, that’s enough.

Overview

Just like a 6-3 win over Carolina did not show how shaky the Blues were at times in that game, 1-0 against Arizona does not show how dominant the Blues were. They got 46 shots against the Coyotes and many of them were grade-A chances.

If you wanted to find fault with the Blues offense, the Blues did not have enough traffic in front of the net. They also did not drive the net and get rebounds either. Many of those shots were either held onto, even if the save was great, or the puck went away from the net or the Blues didn’t have anyone close enough to pounce.

The constant worry, similar to the New Jersey game, was that it took so long to get the goal and in this one there was no insurance. The Blues relied on the shutout to get the win, even if the Coyotes really never threatened other than that one breakaway. Arizona had a few shots here or there, but it was more the worry about that lucky bounce as opposed to anything the Coyotes were generating. The statisticians gave the Coyotes 11 scoring chances of their 14 shots, but as Bernie Federko said that was generous.

It was good to get the win and you can see it as good or bad with the amount of energy the Blues had to put in. It’s bad because they play in Dallas one night later. However, that might be good so the Blues get their legs and know it won’t be any easier the next time out.

Tomorrow’s game is very important. The Blues can put four points between them and the Stars with a win. For now, they need to rest up and sharpen up since their sticks might have some smoke from usage on all those shots against Arizona.