Lou Korac @lkorac10
Hitch: "We knew this was coming. That's why we changed the lineup. ... They wanted to test our resolve & they tested it big-time."
Whew. I was really nervous, the Blues needed that one bad. Now they need to take at least one in San Jose. The series has been very back and forth; I'd like the Blues to tighten up defensively for longer stretches, but I don't know if that will be possible with the way San Jose is playing. If they start burying some of those chances the Blues are going to be in trouble.
I actually really liked the game that the 4th line brought tonight. I'm usually not a big fan of Crombeen, but I thought he played well and was glad he didn't take any stupid penalties (he was given a dumb penalty, but he certainly didnt take one.) I also liked what Dag's brought. No specific "good plays," but had some good speed on the forecheck and gave consistent effort. Although I like what Reaves brings, I agree with Hitch scratching him and think he should in game 3 as well. Blues proved tonight they are not lacking in toughness team wise, and Reaves is too much of a D liability and doesnt provide enough offense to warrant a start imo.
And then theres Cola... I'm really torn about whether he should play. To me, there's no doubt Cola has more talent and is/can be a better player than Huskins. But, as we all know, he's prone to at least one big gaffe, and that gaffe could be the difference between a win and a loss in the playoffs. That said, I think I'd rather him start (over Huskins at least, Cole is another story but I just don't see that happening). Huskins just seems to handicap Petro so much. He's slow, provides nothing offensively, and even his strengths (size and defense) are not that great. (But I am more of a gambler, and I'd have to take some heartburn meds before the game)
Whew. I was really nervous, the Blues needed that one bad. Now they need to take at least one in San Jose. The series has been very back and forth; I'd like the Blues to tighten up defensively for longer stretches, but I don't know if that will be possible with the way San Jose is playing. If they start burying some of those chances the Blues are going to be in trouble.
I'd be surprised not to see a Game 6. Anybody can win a Game 6, and anybody can win a Game 7. Reality is, this is never going to be comfortable for either team til it's over. If the Blues do win it, it's probably just the kind of series they need if they want to go on a run.
The Sharks coach was implying that Blues were playing dirty this game. The Sharks were just as dirty, though.
I think that the Sobotka punch on whichever guy lost the fight after the guy was on the ground was a bit weak. In Sobotka's defense, he did stop and the guy clearly was dropping many f bombs. But, in a fight where both guys drop the gloves its really hard to call anything dirty.
Seemed to me, however, that the Sharks were consistently using their elbows in hits and initiated contact to the head a few times, most notably with McDonald. I don't like seeing the amount of hits and gloves to the head that Steen and McDonald are getting.
Also, Joe Thornton, he irks me because he lets his teammates get into it with Backes, and then afterwards comes over and talks trash. If I were his size, I'd be physical myself.
While some of the Tarasenko love that a number of blues fans show may very well be premature, having watched him play, I think he offers an offensive skill set that the Blues desperately need. His ability to attack the net and create and finish plays is unlike anyone the Blues currently have. Sure, maybe it won't translate to the NHL game, but there is as good or maybe even better chance that it will.
As for your assessment of Joe Thornton, I couldn't agree more. Hell, we even share the same last name and I can't stand the guy. He's bigger than a guy like Backes, but shows about half as much toughness.
I think that the Sobotka punch on whichever guy lost the fight after the guy was on the ground was a bit weak. In Sobotka's defense, he did stop and the guy clearly was dropping many f bombs. But, in a fight where both guys drop the gloves its really hard to call anything dirty.
Seemed to me, however, that the Sharks were consistently using their elbows in hits and initiated contact to the head a few times, most notably with McDonald. I don't like seeing the amount of hits and gloves to the head that Steen and McDonald are getting.
Also, Joe Thornton, he irks me because he lets his teammates get into it with Backes, and then afterwards comes over and talks trash. If I were his size, I'd be physical myself.
Uhhhh... Thornton has challenged your Backes to a fight twice and he has declined.
Sobotka punched Moore and broke his nose before he even had his gloves off. That is pretty much as dirty as it gets. Ask Ulf Samuelsson.
Uhhhh... Thornton has challenged your Backes to a fight twice and he has declined.
Sobotka punched Moore and broke his nose before he even had his gloves off. That is pretty much as dirty as it gets. Ask Ulf Samuelsson.
We are all a little biased but come on!
how do you know he wanted to fight Backes? all I saw was Jumbo came over chirping at Backes when all was already said and done...but anyway, everyone has his sight of things and thats ok.
but this is our board, if you wanna argue why not on the main-board? maybe you find some Blues fans there who are still desperate enough to try to argue with your fanbase
its obvious that your and your team`s coaches meanings of "dirty hockey" are different to ours, but no one here cares
how do you know he wanted to fight Backes? all I saw was Jumbo came over chirping at Backes when all was already said and done...but anyway, everyone has his sight of things and thats ok.
but this is our board, if you wanna argue why not on the main-board? maybe you find some Blues fans there who are still desperate enough to try to argue with your fanbase
its obvious that your and your team`s coaches meanings of "dirty hockey" are different to ours, but no one here cares
Nah, I was just trying to keep it real.
Moore's pushing your guy into the net was a bit dirty. Burns elbow was dirty.. whether it was on accident or not, probably not I'm guessing. Galiardi's hit on Macdonald wasn't dirty by definition of rule.. but I bet he knew what he was doing and it wasn't the nicest thing to do. However, right before that it was Macdoanald or some other Blue who was cheap shotting Mitchell (I think) behind the play. So it may have been a payback thing... Whatever.
My point is, it's ridiculous to claim Joe Thornton isn't being physical when nobody on the Blues will drop em with him. That's all.
Moore's pushing your guy into the net was a bit dirty. Burns elbow was dirty.. whether it was on accident or not, probably not I'm guessing. Galiardi's hit on Macdonald wasn't dirty by definition of rule.. but I bet he knew what he was doing and it wasn't the nicest thing to do. However, right before that it was Macdoanald or some other Blue who was cheap shotting Mitchell (I think) behind the play. So it may have been a payback thing... Whatever.
My point is, it's ridiculous to claim Joe Thornton isn't being physical when nobody on the Blues will drop em with him. That's all.
I'm not sure anyone is saying that Joe isn't being physical. It's just that it seems a bit silly to say that he wanted to drop the gloves with Backes and Backes declined without knowing exactly what was said on ice. From my perspective, I cannot see why Backes would decline a fight with Thornton given the way David plays the game.
Of course, you aren't going to find many Blues fans who look too kindly on Joe Thornton after what David Perron went through.
I'm not sure anyone is saying that Joe isn't being physical. It's just that it seems a bit silly to say that he wanted to drop the gloves with Backes and Backes declined without knowing exactly what was said on ice. From my perspective, I cannot see why Backes would decline a fight with Thornton given the way David plays the game.
Of course, you aren't going to find many Blues fans who look too kindly on Joe Thornton after what David Perron went through.
Uhhh.. What exactly do you call it when Thornton dangles his gloves at Backes while saying come on emphatically??
Didn't Perron even say it was a clean hit? I guess I'd probably have a hard time if one of my favorite guys was hit like that.. but it was clean. I hate raffi torres for hits like that on our guys so I get it.
Last edited by EastonBlues22: 04-15-2012 at 01:31 AM.
Reason: deleted the extra bit of provocation
Uhhh.. What exactly do you call it when Thornton dangles his gloves at Backes while saying come on emphatically??
Didn't Perron even say it was a clean hit? I guess I'd probably have a hard time if one of my favorite guys was hit like that.. but it was clean. I hate raffi torres for hits like that on our guys so I get it.
what are your intentions in here?
Last edited by EastonBlues22: 04-15-2012 at 01:34 AM.
Reason: QEP
Uhhh.. What exactly do you call it when Thornton dangles his gloves at Backes while saying come on emphatically??
Didn't Perron even say it was a clean hit? I guess I'd probably have a hard time if one of my favorite guys was hit like that.. but it was clean. I hate raffi torres for hits like that on our guys so I get it.
Dangling your gloves at someone means a whole lot when the referees have already broken up the play. The point is that no one has any clue what was being said on the ice.
I would think that there is still plenty of reason to be upset about the hit on Perron. Perron said he forgave Thornton for the hit, not that he thought it was 100% clean. Not to rehash the whole issue, but to think that Blues fans, and players to an extent, would just forget about it is pretty naive. God forbid the Sharks ever have a player go through what Perron did last year.
Last edited by EastonBlues22: 04-15-2012 at 01:33 AM.
Reason: QEP
Uhhh.. What exactly do you call it when Thornton dangles his gloves at Backes while saying come on emphatically??
Didn't Perron even say it was a clean hit? I guess I'd probably have a hard time if one of my favorite guys was hit like that.. but it was clean. I hate raffi torres for hits like that on our guys so I get it.
It was dirty and Perron specifically noted it was a "dirty hit" just before these playoffs started. He said Thornton and he had spoken, Thornton was a nice guy and they'd gotten past it. But don't try to tell us it was clean. The league didn't think it was clean and suspended Thornton so it's really not debatable what kind of hit it was.
As for Thornton challenging Backes I'd be stunned if Backes wouldn't be completely fine taking Thornton off the ice for five minutes, and Backes is definitely a willing fighter with other teams' captains. Look what happened in the run up to the Olympics. Thornton's frustrated because Backes has held him pointless all season and Thornton's doing his usual playoff no-show Joe act, which we've all seen before.
Personally, i think it's smart that guys like Thornton and Backes aren't fighting. There are better guys to fight. While i'm sure they could both go toe to toe, and it would be a decent fight, i would much rather see Backes skating and scoring goals. Him fighting won't win the games for us, he's way more important on the ice lighting the lamp.
Let Reaves sort out the fights. I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunity next game.
Personally, i think it's smart that guys like Thornton and Backes aren't fighting. There are better guys to fight. While i'm sure they could both go toe to toe, and it would be a decent fight, i would much rather see Backes skating and scoring goals. Him fighting won't win the games for us, he's way more important on the ice lighting the lamp.
Let Reaves sort out the fights. I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunity next game.
Personally, I don't think Reaves will be playing next game. Without the last change, I think Hitchcock is going to want guys he can trust defensively against anyone they might happen to be trapped out there against.
Call it a strong hunch...I might very well be wrong.
Personally, I don't think Reaves will be playing next game. Without the last change, I think Hitchcock is going to want guys he can trust defensively against anyone they might happen to be trapped out there against.
Call it a strong hunch...I might very well be wrong.
Would be very surprised to see Reaves too. Even though this game got chippy, nobody couldn't handle himself. When little guys like Russell and Sobotka are in fights and at least holding their own, what you've got is a team willing to stand up for itself and teammates for each other.
The stuff we saw at the end of the game happens when there's a multi-goal lead late. In tied and 1-goal games you see the boil-over less for obvious reasons. Most of the series will be played this way because most of the series will be spent tied and with 1-goal leads.
I'd expect the next Sharks' target to be Elliott. Blues are going to have to work to protect their netminder. Strong goalies are getting punched in the head (Burrows on Quick), smashed in the head (Shaw on Smith) in these playoffs. Expect it to continue.
