I feel bad for Halak, we've been losing games because of our special teams, and it comes back on him. But a goal like that? that can't happen. The Blues goal tending carousel continues after all these years. If Brian Elliot can cmoe in and play well, then great. The problem then comes, we have a 3.5(?) million a year back up goalie.
This team is full of role players. Not one stand out player that's willing to take their game to the next level. The leftside defense and goaltending are the true glaring holes in this team.
...really glad i've stayed up to watch this game when my alarm goes off in 6 hours
I feel ya...
We're better than this. The only comfort I can take in this team's start is that we started 9-1-2 last year...and we all know how that turned out. C'mon Blues.
I can't remember the last time I've been this mad after a Blues loss. That was an absolute travesty. It was so bad, there's no point in even discussing the game.
If Payne is fired, I bet it won't be until we lose enough so that there's absolutely no chance of a run to get into the playoffs. I've never been convinced that Payne is an NHL-caliber coach, but I've never really been on the fire-Payne bandwagon either. I'm welcoming the idea more and more, though. I'm tired of his helpless puppy dog face whenever the other team scores and his decisions that seem to come out of nowhere. If it's going to be done, I'd rather see it sooner than later. I don't think coaching is the entire problem though.
The whole team played like crap tonight. I saw that Berglund was benched towards the end of the game. He may have been playing badly but I'm not sure why he was singled out. Players really need to step up (you there, Backes?) and get this season on track.
LA played well, but they didn't play well enough for that score. Really bad loss tonight.
I hope Steen is back with Arnott and D'Agostini for Carolina. Let Grachev get a chance to play on a higher line (no one else is producing up there, so why not?).
Stewart needs a demotion or something to wake him up. He's not the only one. I really can't stand getting penalties while we're on a PP and down a goal. Where is the awareness of the game situation?
Jackman was slow after getting his ankle destroyed while blocking a shot. Geez, lay off a little. He was just out there trying to gut it out so the team wouldn't have to play short a man during meaningless minutes of a blowout.
Really disappointed to see the lack of effort.
OK Backes, you're the Captain, how to you get the team to respond?
The Blues don't look close to a playoff team. At least we have our own #1 pick.
LA played well, but they didn't play well enough for that score. Really bad loss tonight.
What could they have done better? Honestly, that was probably the most complete game I have seen the Kings put together in years. The Kings board has zero complaints about the team's play tonight. So I'm curious what you think they could improve on.
What could they have done better? Honestly, that was probably the most complete game I have seen the Kings put together in years. The Kings board has zero complaints about the team's play tonight. So I'm curious what you think they could improve on.
I didn't mean it as a knock against the Kings' play tonight. They did play a really good game. What I meant was that there were several mistakes that the Blues made that could've easily saved a goal or two- the weak goal by Halak, horrible defensive coverage, unnecessary penalties, and a lot of half-assedness. Several players seemed to give up after the fourth goal. When a team is blown out by five goals AND shut out, I don't think you can blame it entirely on how well the other team played. That's what I meant. I worded it weirdly, so I see how it comes across that I'm saying that the Kings didn't play that great. I meant that no matter how well the Kings played, there were also a ton of horrible mistakes made by the Blues. LA has a great team this year, but I still expect the Blues to put up a better effort than they did tonight. I just really don't think there's any excuse for a team to lose 0-5, no matter how well the other team played.
First of all, this is my first time posting on the Blues boards, let alone HFB. I enjoy reading all your opinions, and I think I'll inject my own for once. I'm sure this has been posted already, but:
1) Halak has not played like a starter, but our defense has been even worse. Sure, Jaro should shut his five-hole and really work on his glove, but our defense has been worrisome. It's starting to seem like Halak is not the #1 we paid for, and our defense will have to perform better than he does if we want to win games. That's quite unsettling with such a young d-core.
2) Someone already stated that we can't break the zone in either end efficiently. Personally, I remember some great breakout passes last year coming from either E.J., Pie, and [gasp] Brewer. It seemed that those guys got the play moving, and now we rely only on Pie (and unreliably on the rest) to jumpstart the breakout to breach the blueline with some momentum.
3) Stewart needs to check his ego at the locker-room door, he's a huge reason why we're a negative(-) on the PP (our new stat is not PP% but +/-).
4) We have such a talented group of young guys that we all thought would accomplish so much this season. It's only the beginning, but I'm very worried as I'm sure many of you are. I've observed an extreme lack of chemistry and cohesion within the squad, which really worries me. It's just so hard to determine who's at fault here. I hate to be cliche, but on paper we have a hell of a squad. How come our stars aren't prominent thus far? Why are our special teams worse than they've (probably) ever been?
If this young team is any representation of myself, then I'd say they've been partying a whole lot this offseason and are coming to the realization that it's taking a toll on their endurance.
I think the decision to make Petro our #1 defenseman was a very risky move. One that I have been concerned about ever since we knew the established roster. He still need developmental time and although that only comes through experience, this team does not have time to wait on one player who is not ready to be the go to guy on defense. As a whole we have too many players playing in roles that are higher than their ceiling.
Another guy over relied on is Jackman. He just doesn't have the same energy and endurance he once had.
Moving Brewer was probably not a great decision. We really could use another guy who can log some solid minutes.
If Jax needs some time to heal, we should bring up Cole. After all, at least there is some hope from improvement on D, being hope poor it has looked at times so far.
On offense our guys look lethargic. Loosing McDonald was a huge blow, as he was one of a very short list of players bringing it every game. Maybe it is time to start looking for a replacement...especially when Perron could end up in a similar situation.
Halak...what to say? It might be best just to lay off him for a while, because his play has been primarily infuriating. This coming from a guy who was just hoping he would be above average.
Leadership was supposedly addressed this season, but I have yet to see it yet. Maybe Payne needs to take the gloves off and show how scrappy he used to be and how he has not lost that edge. Mellanby has that edge too, hopefully he is laying into the guys pretty hard at the moment. They need it!
The season is still young and I think we will be ok, but this start is nearly the worst imaginable, realistic scenario playing out at this point in time.
The defense is putrid, goaltending is putrid and offence is horrid. Zero creativity. This team lacks a true established #1 defender and a true #1 playmaking center.
