Blues Stop the Bleeding in the Desert.

            The St. Louis Blues rolled into Jobing.com Arena in Glendale AZ Thursday night, in a fairly desperate situation. Regular season games are rarely deemed as “must win,” especially with 20+ games to play. However, with the Blues in a critical nose dive and with the team in apparent disarray, the contest against the Phoenix Coyotes last night certainly fit the bill. When the Blues hit the road this week, they sat smack in the middle of the playoff picture. At game time last night, they found themselves looking up from 9^th place in the Western Conference.

They gave a lack-luster performance in Dallas against the Stars on Sunday afternoon, earning a sound 4-1 whipping. Tuesday night, the L.A. Kings would spot the Blues a 4-1 lead, and then go on to score 5 unanswered goals, en route to a 6-4 come from behind victory. The Blues flat out fell apart in every aspect of the game, and the defending Stanley Cup Champs definitely took advantage.

The Blues also have something of a goalie situation, meaning that both Brian Elliott and Jaroslav Halak have struggled to say the least. Let’s not hold them solely responsible however. The Blues defense has not played well in front of either guy. Their play has been sloppy, they’ve regularly turned the puck over in their own zone constantly getting caught out of position, and they’ve allowed far too many easy chances by wide open snipers. It is safe to say that the Great Ken Dryden himself would struggle facing the constant point blank barrage Halak and Elliott have seen this year.

            That said, there have also been far too many soft goals allowed by both goalies, and neither player looks very comfortable out there right now. The Blues recalled exciting young rookie Jake Allen from Peoria, after the loss in L.A. Allen was nothing short of spectacular in his last brief visit to the NHL, earning 3 wins in 4 starts before returning to the farm team. With the Blues once again needing a spark, the rookie got the start last night against the Coyotes.

            In any sport, it is sometimes very clear that certain athletes are just a little bit different. Some might even use the word “special.” When you watch them, their movements look very smooth, almost effortless. Jake Allen has that kind of air about him. He does not look like a rookie when he warms up, or when the clock starts ticking. He stops pucks with very little reaction, and does not allow many long rebounds. Allen does not hope to make saves he knows he will make saves. He has no fear, and he appears to be incredibly focused on the puck, rarely surprised by any shot.

Allen definitely belongs in the NHL. Hopefully the powers that be now understand that it may be time to make some roster moves, and get him some help, before he ends up a fragile mess like his predecessors. While they still have some trade value, perhaps the Blues could seek to move Halak or Elliott, for some more productive players, as they try to make a playoff push. A veteran defensemen could certainly help the injury ridden Blues right now.

With the rookie between the pipes, the Blues Chris Stewart(9, 11) would open the scoring, banging in a rebound off a shot from the point by Alex Pietrangelo(5, 11). The Blues gained control of the puck and dropped it back to Pietrangelo at the blue line. “Petro” let the shot fly, and the Coyotes Mike Smith made the initial save, but Stewart was all alone on the doorstep to notch his 9^th goal of the season. The Blues would go on to kill off a penalty, and appeared to be heading into the first intermission with a lead. Unfortunately, on a late power play, they committed another bad turnover which would result in a short handed goal by the Coyotes David Moss at 18:54. Their momentum went right out the window, and the period ended in a 1-1 tie.

            Speaking of momentum, the Blues would find themselves trailing 2-1 just 41 seconds into the second period. Once again, a horrible turnover right in front of Allen resulted in an uncontested scoring chance for Shane Doan. Doan would make no mistake with his slap shot from the near slot, beating the helpless Allen glove side. The Blues seemed to be crumbling as they had two nights ago in L.A., and the Coyote fans were howling after taking the lead. Coach Hitchcock had to be thinking to himself, “here we go again,” whether he would ever admit to it or not.

            Then, Patrik Berglund(11, 3) took over, and the Blues suddenly had life. Berglund took a neat pass from Barret Jackman(2, 5), flipped a shot on goal, and followed his shot to the net. After Stewart fanned on the rebound, the puck landed on Berglund’s stick, and he put it in the back of the net behind Smith, tying the game at 2-2, and stealing back the momentum.

            It would not take long for the St. Louis line of David Perron, Patrik Berglund and Chris Stewart to strike again. This time the Blues would take advantage of a turnover by the Coyotes, and race in on Smith. Perron led Berglund with a pass to the net, and Berglund would take care of the rest, lifting a backhander top shelf from a wicked angle. Smith had no chance, and the Blues quickly had the lead 3-2. The Blues were not done scoring in the 2^nd period. Roughly 2 minutes after taking the lead, Scott Nichol would earn his first goal of the season, on a strong fore check by the Blues. Winger Jaden Schwartz(2, 4) worked hard in the corner to get control of the puck and dart in front of the net. He slid a pass over to Nichol, who did not miss, and all of a sudden the Blues were up 4-2.

            They were in a similar position two nights ago, and Blues fans have come to expect that no lead is safe with this team. There was a definite difference in the body language last night against the Coyotes however, possibly due to the calm of their rookie goal tender, who made the routine saves, and kept the Blues out in front. The 2^nd period would end with the Blues up 4-2, and the Coyotes reeling.

            The 3^rd period was not a disaster for the Note, who finally played 60 minutes of hockey for a change. Vladimir Sobotka (4, 6) would put the Blues ahead 5-2, and later  Pietrangelo , would tack on goal number 6. They would go on to win the game 6-3, after Phoenix Keith Yandle scored a late 3^rd period goal with time running out, and the game already in hand for the Blues. It’s never good to give up goals at the end of any period, but with a 4 goal cushion, this time it would not be a problem. The Blues still need to address playing a full 60 minutes of hockey moving forward, but the game last night was truly a breath of fresh air for the St. Louis faithful, who could see their team’s playoff hopes fading on this road trip.

            The Blues next action is Saturday afternoon in San Jose. The Sharks have become a dangerous conference rival for the Blues, and every game seems to take on a playoff feel between the teams. The Blues will need to play with the same sense of urgency they showed in Phoenix, if they want to win in the “Shark Tank.” Jake Allen will get the start again, looking to avenge his only NHL loss, a 2-1 regulation defeat at home on Feb. 19^th.

With the victory over Phoenix, the Blues have crept back into the 8^th and final playoff spot, with 26 points. Once again, they are tied with 3 teams, Dallas Stars, L.A. Kings, and their next opponents, the San Jose Sharks. It would be very nice if they could get themselves on a winning streak at this juncture, and force someone else to scramble for the 8^th slot, and a potential meeting with the unbelievable Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the playoffs.

Rodney N Eldridge

The Sportz Yak

Unfortunate Injury or Poor Management?

The Cardinals and Rafael Furcal have announced that he will have surgery on his right elbow, to repair damaged ligaments. This is the same elbow he hurt last fall, but chose to "rehab" rather than get the surgery right away. The Cardinals organization chose not to pursue other shortstops in the off season, and simply hope that Furcal would be ready to play in 2013. He has not been able to throw all spring, and now he will have the operation he could, or should have had months ago, which will essentially end his season. I'm curious who Cards fans should hold accountable for this situation?

I understand that you cannot force a player to get an operation, even when they are under contract. I also understand that ligaments do not repair themselves, and I can't understand why the Cardinals didn't take some kind of action in the off season, when Furcal refused to get surgery. If a player will not do absolutely everything they need to do to get their body ready for the next season, what is their true commitment to the team, to their contract, and to the game? Do these players owe anything to the fans? What can management do now, with the season just 3 weeks away? Is Pete Kozma the answer at shortstop? Will they be able to sign or trade for a player at this juncture?

People have questioned the Cardinals medical team over the years. Do the Cards have a competent medical staff? Are they making decisions based on money, or based on what the athletes need to do, to be in the best possible condition to play? If a player like Furcal, can essentially hold the team hostage and keep them waiting on what might or might not happen, what does that say about the money these players are making? What does it say about their control over the organization? Are they worth the multiple millions their agents are demanding?

Bottom line, the Cardinals are in a bit of trouble up the middle right now, with unproven players at second base, and now at shortstop. In a system ripe with pitching that pitches to contact, how are the Cards going to make a playoff run this year, with a sub-par middle infield? I think St. Louis fans should be optimistic about the team, but concerned about their defense.







Rodney N Eldridge
The Sportz Yak

Atrocious

If the NHL playoffs began today, The St. Louis Blues would be packing for home, which would probably be for the best. The Blues have no idea what it takes to win a hockey game right now, never mind win a playoff series. The team set out on a five game road trip, with an opportunity to separate themselves from several Western Conference teams, by beating them head-to-head. It seemed possible considering the Blues have been better on the road this season, than at home. Unfortunately for Blues fans, opportunity is knocking, but nobody is home.

Since February 1, the Blues have lost 10 of 15 games. With a few exceptions, they have been grossly outplayed in those games. It could be said they were more lucky than good in the few games they won, specifically at Detroit, at Vancouver, and home against Edmonton. They fell behind in each of those games, and put themselves in a position where they had to play catch up hockey. Not the best formula for the Blues.

Okay, maybe they deserved a better fate in Colorado, losing a 1-0 heartbreaker in overtime. They also should have won at home against Anaheim, even though they did not play very well at times in that contest, and ultimately found a way to lose it in the shoot-out.

Those who religiously sip the Blues “Kool-Aid” will not appreciate this, but after searching for words that properly describe their play over the last month, one that probably says it best is atrocious.

atrocious adj. shockingly cruel or wicked || of very bad quality || extremely painful || very unpleasant [fr. L. atrox (atrocis), cruel] Webster’s Dictionary Encyclopedic Edition.

This clearly isn’t your 109 point St. Louis Blues from a year ago. No sir, the 2012-2013 edition has virtually no heart at all. There are individuals out there giving up the body, and leaving it all out on the ice every night. David Backes "C" is a perfect example of that, playing most of the game last night with a bloody face, after catching a high stick that was apparently missed by the refs, who found plenty of other occasions to raise their right arms. However, the collective pulse is weak and the Blues are being outworked at both ends of the ice, night after night. It is most glaring on the defensive end, with the Blues regularly leaving men unattended in front of whoever is the unfortunate backstop that evening.

The Blues went to Dallas on Sunday, tied with five other teams at 24 points, sitting in 5^th place in the conference. After back to back losses to the Stars on Sunday 4-1, and the Kings last night 6-4, they now sit in 9^th place in the conference, skating themselves right out of the playoff picture. It doesn’t get any easier for the Blues, who still have to go to Phoenix, San Jose, and Anaheim, and figure out how to win hockey games, against teams they are now chasing.

The Blues scored first in Dallas, and then proceeded to give up 4 unanswered goals, suffering a very unpleasant 4-1 loss. The loss dropped them into the 8^th and final playoff spot, and seemed to set the cruel tone for this west coast swing. This team is just not good enough.

That fact has never been more crystal clear than it was last night in Los Angeles. The Blues came out flying, scoring the first goal, and getting in three scraps with the defending Stanley Cup Champs, as if to say, “We are not going to be pushed around any more this year.” The Kings missed that message, and pushed them around anyway.

After spotting the Blues a 4-1 lead, and pulling starting goaltender Jonathan Bernier, who started on consecutive nights for the first time in his career, the Kings turned on the juice. They scored 5 unanswered goals, erasing what should have been a “safe” lead, and exposing the Blues as a team in utter disarray. They do not come from behind very well, and last night they proved that they cannot play with a lead either.

             By definition, the Blues have been atrocious since they shot out to a 6-1 record to start their season. It has been extremely painful to watch at times, and they have allowed far too many ridiculously easy scoring chances during the stretch. Some will argue, “They have played hard,” or “They’ve had a lot of injuries,” and they would be correct to say those things. Still, there is honestly no excuse for the way this team is playing right now, and any professional athlete needs to know that there are no acceptable excuses, for the way they are playing right now.

Guys who are getting paid to play hockey, or any sport professionally, are expected to play at a very high level. It’s that simple. The Blues, are not playing with any level of quality, and it is beginning to take on a similar aroma to the way the beloved St. Louis Cardinals stunk up the NLCS last season. They basically forgot how to play baseball after being up 3 games to 1 against the San Francisco Giants a year ago. They went on to drop 3 straight games, scoring only 1 run in 27 innings. Atrocious fit then and it fits where the Blues are concerned now.

The Blues recalled goaltender Jake Allen from the Peoria Rivermen immediately after the game last night. Allen provided a major spark when the team was struggling back in February, and hopefully he can bring some of that same energy with him upon his return. No word yet if he will start Thursday in Phoenix, but it stands to reason, the kid will play. The Blues have also signed defenseman Joel Edmundson and forward Yannick Veilleux to three-year entry level contracts today. Again, no word on when they will join the team.

The Blues do not have time to cry over spilled milk. They will take on the Phoenix Coyotes Thursday night, in another very important conference road game. The Blues can pull themselves out of this nosedive, if they can find a way to get ahead, and play with a lead tomorrow night in Arizona. There is not much room for error with 26 games to play, all against division rivals. They need to figure out a way to get on a positive run, and win a few consecutive games, if they don’t want to be playing golf at the end of April.

Rodney N Eldridge

The Sportz Yak

Blackhawks Dismantle Blues

       Buzz saw, steam roller, wood chipper, wrecking ball, Terminator, Predator, take your pick. Real or fictional, the St. Louis Blues ran into a well oiled destruction machine last night at Scottrade Center that flattened them, and took them apart piece by piece. The undefeated Chicago Blackhawks lived up to the hype, dismantling the Blues in every aspect of the game en route to a 3-0 shutout.

           It took only 12 seconds for the Hawks to demonstrate exactly why they were 16-0-3 coming in. The Blues arch rivals won the opening face off, dropped back into their zone, set up their offense, and started up the ice. Four sharp passes later, they found Jonathan Toews on the doorstep for a goal that was far too easy. In the blink of an eye, the Blues trailed 1-0, and the crowd was stunned.

Towes who won the face off, was allowed to float right down the middle of the ice completely untouched, leaving Jaroslav Halak with no chance. Blues fans, hoping to dodge a bullet, held their breath as the NHL reviewed the goal that went in off of Towes’ skate. League officials would quickly rule that he made no specific kicking motion to redirect the puck. The goal would stand, much to the delight of the significant Blackhawk following in attendance.

           The Blues appeared to be stuck in quicksand, while the Hawks skated circles around them, outworking the Blues, and controlling the game from start to finish. In his post game press conference, Coach Hitch would say, “We made too many mistakes in critical areas, offensively and defensively.”

           

The Blues managed to keep the Blackhawks at bay for a while, after giving up the lightning fast opening goal. They were still clearly out played and out hustled all night long. The Hawks were more aggressive, maintaining constant pressure in the Blues zone, throwing pucks at Halak, and crashing the middle looking for rebound opportunities. The listless Blues allowed chance after chance, in front of their own goal. Halak played well despite what the score would indicate.

The Blues had several scoring chances in the 2^nd period, including 3 power play opportunities. Kevin Shattenkirk beat goalie Ray Emery with a long wrist shot on their third man advantage of the period, but the puck rang off the goalpost and stayed out. The refs immediately indicated no goal, and play continued, even after an overzealous red light flashed momentarily. Ray Emery, did not start the game, but was forced to take over after starter Corey Crawford who only faced 7 shots, was unable to answer the bell for the 2^nd period. In typical hockey fashion, no word was given on Crawford’s injury, but he was clearly in some discomfort at the end of the 1^st period. The Blues had five power play chances on the night, and put 23 total shots on goal, but all were turned aside. The once potent power play unit has not netted a goal in 5 games, adding to the Blues home scoring woes.

The Hawks on the other hand, would break through again early in the 3^rd period. The Blues were sloppy in their end, giving up a bad turnover behind the net. Winger Bryan Bickell gained control of the puck and found a wide open Andrew Shaw, all alone in the slot, who ripped a wrister past Halak. It was a recurring theme on the night. The Blues could not keep anyone out of the middle of the ice in front of the defenseless Halak, who deserved a better fate. Where is Chris Pronger when we need him? Prongs was actually in the building last night, as was the great Al MacInnis, to celebrate #5 Barret Jackman becoming the Blues all time leader in games played by a defenseman, 616 and counting. They could have used both Hall of Famers last night.

            A few minutes later, after killing off another feeble Blues power play effort, the Hawks would once again catch the Blues out of position. Toews scored his second goal of the night, tapping in a rebound off a big shot from the point by defenseman Nick Leddy. The goal put the Hawks ahead 3-0, and they were on cruise control from there

It was not the performance the Blues needed against the NHL’s top team, who extended their record to 17-0-3 on the season, good for a league high 37 points. Anaheim and Montreal have 28 points, and can only see shrinking taillights as the Blackhawks continue to race away from the rest of the league.

The loss drops the Blues into 7^th place in the Western Conference. Their 22 points are tied with 4 other teams, including the Kings, Wild, Sharks, and Stars. The Phoenix Coyotes are nipping all their heels with 21 points, and the Blues next opponent Edmonton Oilers, are also in the mix with 20 points.

The Blues will have to battle hard, to stay in the playoff picture. It will not take long to figure out which direction they’re going, as they will take on the Oilers tonight at Scottrade, before hitting the road to play Dallas, L.A., Phoenix, San Jose, and Anaheim. This next road trip may very well decide the season for the Blues, and it will be imperative that they figure out how to score some goals during the stretch. The Blues could find themselves on the outside looking in very quickly, with little time to make up ground should they fall behind in the conference.

If there is any consolation, the Blues have played much better hockey on the road. Still, it would be nice to rinse away the bad taste of the Chicago loss tonight at home, before packing their bags for Dallas. Coach Hitchcock has said that we will see goalie Brian Elliott in one of the next two games, most likely in Dallas. “He had another good day of practice, and we’ve got to get him going soon,” said Hitch of Elliott on Wednesday.

The Blues are dealing with the injury bug once again. Vladimir Terasenko has been out since sustaining a head injury in Colorado. Welcome to the NHL rookie, here’s your concussion. Andy McDonald was hurt in practice on Tuesday, and was placed on the IR list with a knee injury. Alexander Steen is listed as day-to-day, with what is being called an upper body injury. The Blues have recalled Chris Porter, and Andrew Murray from Peoria, and they refuse to make excuses for their play.

“These are short-term injuries. Everybody’s got them,” Hitchcock said after Wednesday’s practice. “All you’ve got to do is [watch] the NHL Network every hour and there’s another injury that pops up. We’ve been lucky so far. We’ve got three or four quality forwards out, but everybody’s got that going.”

“We’ll get through this fine.”

The puck drops tonight at 7pm, and the game can be seen on Fox Sports Midwest. John Kelly @jkellyhockey and Darren Pang @panger40 will have the call, with BernieFederko

 

Rodney N Eldridge

The Sportz Yak