Ah right. End of December. 12/27, 12/31, 2/4, 2/19, and tomorrow, 2/23
Four regulation losses.
Watching the Vancouver-Nashville game last night, Gill has had an immediate positive effect for their PK. Blues need Polak to be more like Gill in the PK specialist respect. It changes the way the Blues want to play their system if you take Russell out for Gill, and he couldn't handle top line minutes like Kubina could've with Petro (the reason I supported Kubina over Gill), but there's no denying Gill is going to help the Preds. Nashville is a very dangerous team for anyone, not just the Blues, in the postseason. Rinne's not just good against the Blues, he's good against everyone.
I don't particularly have a good feeling about this week either.
Maybe it's because the Blues won't play at home until March 6th after tonight and Nashville continues to nip at our heels while Chicago is re-finding its mojo.
I'm interested to see how Backes plays tonight who I thought played his worst game as a Blue in two years on Sunday which leads me to believe he wasn't close to 100% after the Minnesota game.
Every time McDonald is touched I cringe (like after Olson gave him a shot to the head after his goal) and now Langebrunner is out and he was playing well.
Quick, someone remind me we have home ice if the season ended today!
Watching the Vancouver-Nashville game last night, Gill has had an immediate positive effect for their PK. Blues need Polak to be more like Gill in the PK specialist respect. It changes the way the Blues want to play their system if you take Russell out for Gill, and he couldn't handle top line minutes like Kubina could've with Petro (the reason I supported Kubina over Gill), but there's no denying Gill is going to help the Preds. Nashville is a very dangerous team for anyone, not just the Blues, in the postseason. Rinne's not just good against the Blues, he's good against everyone.
They were 18/1 to win the Cup at Caesar's in Vegas (Blues were 8/1).
The road trip has plenty of winnable games. Winnipeg's D allows scoring chances and it's a game where the Blues' structure should do well. In the event the Blues are coming off three losses (a possibility) they should be extra pissed off and focused.
Calgary has been playing well but that game is very winnable too. The Oilers lit them up last night. Edmonton will want to play a run and gun with the Blues because they have a porous defense so, again, structure will be key. Against a team like Edmonton is where Pietrangelo can be extra effective offensively.
Vancouver is playing well no doubt, but the Blues have matched up very well with them this year, and Nashville matched up well with them last night.
San Jose, I guess it all depends on the ice and reffing and clutching and grabbing and boring trapping and how many stanchions are responsible for Pietrangelo's play. Excuseville USA.
Bruins fan here. I've been looking forward to this game for a while. Bruins are slumping right now and have not been nearly as physical lately but I'm hoping the Blues physical game can bring that back in the Bruins. When these two teams are on it's almost eerie how similar they are. I love watching the Blues play and really respect their style. If the Bruins don't repeat I hope they pass the crown to you guys.
Bruins fan here. I've been looking forward to this game for a while. Bruins are slumping right now and have not been nearly as physical lately but I'm hoping the Blues physical game can bring that back in the Bruins. When these two teams are on it's almost eerie how similar they are. I love watching the Blues play and really respect their style. If the Bruins don't repeat I hope they pass the crown to you guys.
Blues-Bruins games have been very entertaining pretty much always. Watching that Minnesota game I thought uh-oh, they're going to come back hard their next game. I just hope neither team suffers any serious injury in this one.
For Blues fans it'll be interesting to see how a mature playoff team puts pressure on Pietrangelo the way he'll face in the playoffs. I know the Rangers have been excellent this year and even had that big win against the Bruins but when the Bruins get rolling they are a juggernaut. Hopefully it starts the game after this one.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this could be a tough week. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Blues slip below Nashville in the standings or have the gap between Chicago close. The Bruins and Preds will be tough, and just because the next three games are against teams that are below the Blues doesn't make them easy games, especially on the road. I just hate assuming that the Blues will win because they're playing a team low in the standings. Those are the games I worry more about than the games against good opponents, because the Blues will get up for those.
1. NYR .698
2. DET .689
3. VAN .683 4. STL .669
5. NSH .633 6. BOS .632
7. NJ .627
8. PHI .619
9. PIT .608
10. CHI .598
11. SJ .595
12. PHX .575
13. OTT .574
14. FLA .560 ---true.500=.558---
15. LA .550
16. TOR .542
17. CGY .542
My bad. If I could change it at work I would, I don't have the files here. Next time I'll put in Dropbox ... or ... not make any mistakes.
Very good news about #10 - hopefully is feeling up to playing tonight as well
I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this could be a tough week. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Blues slip below Nashville in the standings or have the gap between Chicago close. The Bruins and Preds will be tough, and just because the next three games are against teams that are below the Blues doesn't make them easy games, especially on the road. I just hate assuming that the Blues will win because they're playing a team low in the standings. Those are the games I worry more about than the games against good opponents, because the Blues will get up for those.
I'd be very surprised to see them slip behind Nashville in the standings this week. The Blues would have to lose all three games in regulation and Nashville beat the Blues and Sharks. The Blues actually have a fairly consistent points percentage against all quality of opponents. They lose in Edmonton and Calgary last time but that was back when Payne didn't have them playing with the same structure they play with now, and while Steen is out, Perron and McDonald are back and Pietrangelo is in a zone with his play. I don't assume any win ever but the Blues are better than those teams and if they play with the focus an experienced coach should bring, they should win.
FINALLY!
My friends and I go out and grab drinks every wednesday night...and every night we have to watch boring basketball. It's like the Blues play away from our drinking schedule (And line up all their games on my work schedule an hour before i get off...)
But tonight, i can finally get drunk, shout obscenities at the TV, and cheer for the Blues to triumph over another Eastern Conference team.
Vladimir Sobotka-David Backes-T.J. Oshie
Andy McDonald-Patrik Berglund-David Perron
Chris Porter-Jason Arnott-Chris Stewart
B.J. Crombeen-Scott Nichol-Ryan Reaves
Carlo Colaiacovo-Alex Pietrangelo
Barret Jackman-Kevin Shattenkirk
Kris Russell-Roman Polak
We'll be watching y'all in Nashville tonight to see how the B's stack up against the Blues. Truth be told is that the Preds mirror the Bruins in a lot of ways...
Anyone making the trip to Nashville tomorrow night?
We have half off domestic swill beer through the first intermission on Thursday nights! http://predators.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=59230#College But be sure to try a local Yazoo Brew too as we will reciprocate w/ Schlafly's in StL...
If you venture down, we don't care if your loud or want to cheer on your team, just be hospitable and don't go on about Mike Jones and the Rams winning Super Bowl 34 because we're pretty over it and also we see who is coaching the Rams now and think that he used to be a head coach here in Nashville... Planning on making it up there for the 3/27 game myself. Do y'all have Schlafly's on tap at Scottrade?
We'll be watching y'all in Nashville tonight to see how the B's stack up against the Blues. Truth be told is that the Preds mirror the Bruins in a lot of ways...
Anyone making the trip to Nashville tomorrow night?
We have half off domestic swill beer through the first intermission on Thursday nights! http://predators.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=59230#College But be sure to try a local Yazoo Brew too as we will reciprocate w/ Schlafly's in StL...
If you venture down, we don't care if your loud or want to cheer on your team, just be hospitable and don't go on about Mike Jones and the Rams winning Super Bowl 34 because we're pretty over it and also we see who is coaching the Rams now and think that he used to be a head coach here in Nashville... Planning on making it up there for the 3/27 game myself. Do y'all have Schlafly's on tap at Scottrade?
I actually had tickets for the game tommorow but couldnt get off work so I sold em. And yes we have Schlafly at certian places in the Scott.
I actually had tickets for the game tommorow but couldnt get off work so I sold em. And yes we have Schlafly at certian places in the Scott.
Sweet! I'll have to check that out! Too bad on not being able to use the tix. I am in 103 KK tomorrow night myself (AA-LL are closer to glass than single letter row in Nashville). Anyone else coming, check out the Visiting Fan's Guide to Nashville on the Pred's HF board: http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/sh...d.php?t=811313 Lots to do before and after game and free parking if you want to walk over a bridge and stuff!
Sweet! I'll have to check that out! Too bad on not being able to use the tix. I am in 103 KK tomorrow night myself (AA-LL are closer to glass than single letter row in Nashville). Anyone else coming, check out the Visiting Fan's Guide to Nashville on the Pred's HF board: http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/sh...d.php?t=811313 Lots to do before and after game and free parking if you want to walk over a bridge and stuff!
Would you mind getting a posse together to track down and murder the Tootoo whistle person? I can't believe Nashville-area dog owners haven't complained to the team yet.
Planning on making it up there for the 3/27 game myself. Do y'all have Schlafly's on tap at Scottrade?
Here's to an entertaining game though.
