The Blues weren't playing that bad before Hitch came. There were 3 games when the other teams' goalie stole the game. Hitch has definitely sparked them though. I was never a Davis Payne fan. The team just wasn't playing up to their potential. Also, Halak has played great his last 5 starts. .940 save %. Elliot has been great all year. The Blues do lack that game changing player, but they have so much crazy depth. Everybody on their top 9 is a 20+ goal scorer. The Blues are a tough team to play because of their size physical play. The Blues will go as far as their goaltending will take them. If Halak steps up, they could win the Central. They are built for the playoffs.
Crazy how any time something remotely good happens in St. Louis there is a St. Louis fan that comes on the mains and makes a thread clamoring how the Blues are great or here they come, we get it, you need constant justification of your favorite team.
Funny how that happens for any team that has recently gone through a rebuild, like St. Louis, Edmonton, Colorado, LA, etc. Is it so surprising that fans of those teams want to celebrate their team's success? You better believe that if Columbus wasn't so terrible, their fans would be raving about them taking the next step.
Crazy how any time something remotely good happens in St. Louis there is a St. Louis fan that comes on the mains and makes a thread clamoring how the Blues are great or here they come, we get it, you need constant justification of your favorite team.
I'm having awful flashbacks to the "St. Louis is the best defensive team in the NHL" thread from about this time last year.
The first five games of the Hitch era have been great, and we climbed back into the Top 8...let's see if we're still there at the end of the month after playing a few road games.
I'm having awful flashbacks to the "St. Louis is the best defensive team in the NHL" thread from about this time last year.
The first five games of the Hitch era have been great, and we climbed back into the Top 8...let's see if we're still there at the end of the month after playing a few road games.
Agree 100% Filthynote, even on you jinxing it so I'll blame you. Ha ha anyway I even agree that I like the Predators. I REALLY wanted them to win the cup last year dang it!! I think they are a great team and despite being in the same division I enjoy their games more than most.
I feel like the Blues are definitely playing different and better under Hitchcock. I admit I'm rather new to the NHL, but it's about time they make the playoffs, enough of the rebuild crap. I feel like they aren't taken seriously (at least in my environment with non-Blues fans) and I get tired of people dismissing them like they don't matter and pose no threat. And even when they do beat the strong teams, there's always an excuse, as if it didn't really count/matter.
Anytime the Blues beat my in-law's favorite team, or my friend's favorite team, the all claim it was either a fluke, dumb luck, their team didn't feel like playing better because the Blues don't matter, or the Blues cheated, or it was 100% ref's fault, blah blah.
I'm having awful flashbacks to the "St. Louis is the best defensive team in the NHL" thread from about this time last year.
Except they were. 27.2 shots against per 60 minutes of even-strength hockey last year -- only New Jersey averaged fewer. The Blues just got ridiculously poor even-strength goaltending last season and unless your netminder is Steve Mason that tends not to persist from season to season.
Probably going to jinx it but since Hitchcock has taken over as coach the Blues have yet to lose in regulation (4-0-1). Granted it was a 5 game home-stand but the Blues have looked fantastic and beat some top-tier teams:
CHI 0 - STL 3 (At the time the best team in hockey in this early season)
TOR 3 - STL 2 (SO)
TBL 0 - STL 3 (2nd shutout in 3 games.)
DET 1 - STL 2 (This was one of the best games I have seen the Blues play in a long time. Detroit usually owns us - even at home!)
FLA 1 STL 4 (Beat the team with the best road record / most road wins so far this season.)
Any Blues fans will tell you that the team has really responded to Hitch. Guys like Jackman, Halak and Oshie have really stepped up their game. Both Elliott and Halak are fighting for that #1 and early in the season it looks like Elliot was a lock of the position because his game was miles ahead of Jaro's. Now? That's not so clear. It's a good problem to have.
Man, record repeating in my head. We hear this every year. Are you sure this time?
The team didn't "respond to Hitch." They were a fantastic team last season that got very unlucky and received terrible goaltending. The percentages are finally regressing to the mean this season as they continue to play at the same level. Basically the mirror image of Anaheim. Good on them and I'm positive they'll make the playoffs.
Every team gets bad tending in stretches and deals with injuries. You are right that they are playing better but I find it hard to believe that they haven't responded this way in part because of a new coach. The special teams in particular has completely turned around. Even if the execution isn't always there, since Hitchcock took over there have been actual scoring chances with the man advantage, something that most blues fan have not been accustomed to seeing the last few years.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Doug61
Crazy how any time something remotely good happens in St. Louis there is a St. Louis fan that comes on the mains and makes a thread clamoring how the Blues are great or here they come, we get it, you need constant justification of your favorite team.
This is almost as dumb as the inevitable one or two threads a season that deals with the Blues on the main board. I blame bad titles and overly ambitious fans, but the Blues base on here is so scarce that I am forced to believe you just commit these things to memory and neglect the thousands of other posts about other teams that get started after sometimes periods of play.
You're really going to cast stones when there is a second part to a thread titled "All purpose CBJ thread" specifically discussing your teams woes? I'm quite sure there have been other threads that were merged into it.
I don't like the thread title as much as you but come on now, out of the 5 threads (oh my god, that many??) that have dealt with the blues since the start of the season, two were immediate, reactionary discussions about divisive issues. You know, like when a guy gets suspended for boarding and the team fires their coach.
Of course you're right though, this place is really inundated with Blues discussion....
Agree 100% Filthynote, even on you jinxing it so I'll blame you. Ha ha anyway I even agree that I like the Predators. I REALLY wanted them to win the cup last year dang it!! I think they are a great team and despite being in the same division I enjoy their games more than most.
I feel like the Blues are definitely playing different and better under Hitchcock. I admit I'm rather new to the NHL, but it's about time they make the playoffs, enough of the rebuild crap. I feel like they aren't taken seriously (at least in my environment with non-Blues fans) and I get tired of people dismissing them like they don't matter and pose no threat. And even when they do beat the strong teams, there's always an excuse, as if it didn't really count/matter.
Anytime the Blues beat my in-law's favorite team, or my friend's favorite team, the all claim it was either a fluke, dumb luck, their team didn't feel like playing better because the Blues don't matter, or the Blues cheated, or it was 100% ref's fault, blah blah.
Sounds like some of my friends. lol.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ObeyJohnScott
Man, record repeating in my head. We hear this every year. Are you sure this time?
Not at all. Just happy with some good tidings coming our way. It's been a while since I have been this excited about Blues hockey. I am sure you remember not that long ago how awful your Hawks were and then how great it felt when they finally started winning.
Is anyone really surprised? It was obvious what Hitchcock was going to do with the Blues when he got hired. He was going to apply his old school system and have the Blues check every team to death. Of course they're winning close, boring low scoring games. I expected as much.
We have been playing the best hockey in awhile, but let's wait another 10 or so games. Hitch has only been here for 5 games, but if after 15 or 20 games we are still playing at this level, then I will be as optimistic as the rest of the Blues fans, the Blues have a history of bringing our hopes up and then crushing them.
We have been playing the best hockey in awhile, but let's wait another 10 or so games. Hitch has only been here for 5 games, but if after 15 or 20 games we are still playing at this level, then I will be as optimistic as the rest of the Blues fans, the Blues have a history of bringing our hopes up and then crushing them.
Even if they slow a bit, I don't think they'll crash; but they still have a lot more to prove. Especially on the road.
They have a three game roadtrip at the end of the month, but after that, no trips longer than two games until two six game trips at the end of February and middle of March. So they have a long time to boost their record at home and get really confident, but an unforgiving end to the season.
Still, I think we'll know what they're all about after the homestand that ends December 15th. By then, they will have faced several teams for the second time and several of the best teams from the East and West. And hopefully, by then, we'll see what Perron can do.
Even if they slow a bit, I don't think they'll crash; but they still have a lot more to prove. Especially on the road.
They have a three game roadtrip at the end of the month, but after that, no trips longer than two games until two six game trips at the end of February and middle of March. So they have a long time to boost their record at home and get really confident, but an unforgiving end to the season.
Still, I think we'll know what they're all about after the homestand that ends December 15th. By then, they will have faced several teams for the second time and several of the best teams from the East and West. And hopefully, by then, we'll see what Perron can do.
I completely agree. We have already beaten some of the top teams, so all that's left that I want to see is how we do on the road and if we can perform at this level on a consistent basis.
Blues are currently 5th in the West and just 3 points out of first in the west. 4 points out of being the best team in the league (With 7 teams either tied or ahead of them league-wide).
Under Hitch the Blues are 7-1-2. Currently on their 2nd 3-game win streak since the coaching change.
Blues are currently 5th in the West and just 3 points out of first in the west. 4 points out of being the best team in the league (With 7 teams either tied or ahead of them league-wide).
Under Hitch the Blues are 7-1-2. Currently on their 2nd 3-game win streak since the coaching change.
Cool stuff, I am glad the Blues are turning it around. I enjoyed when they were battling for first in the division awhile back. Should make for some fun hockey with the Blues,Wing,Hawks and Preds all being competitive.
I'm glad they are winning, but they aren't doing it too convincingly ha. Really need to get the PP, Berglund and Stewart going before they are a legitimate threat. Defense and goaltending have been absolutely stellar lately though.
I'm glad they are winning, but they aren't doing it too convincingly ha. Really need to get the PP, Berglund and Stewart going before they are a legitimate threat.
As a fan, it is very frustrating, and a very valid point btw. Those reasons alone are why we don't see more 4-5 goals in one game.
Also, I would have rather this thread had never been started.
so I'll blame you. Ha ha anyway I even agree that I like the Predators. I REALLY wanted them to win the cup last year dang it!! I think they are a great team and despite being in the same division I enjoy their games more than most. 
