I must admit it had been awhile since watching a Blues game gave me goosebumps but Friday night as the Blues organization honored the World Champion St Louis Cardinals I had multiple "gooseasms". This euphoric skin reaction wasnt fully directed towards the Blues playing as much as it was for Tony LaRussa, Chris Carpenter, and David Freese. The Blues did decide to play inspired hockey and come out with a win to bring their record to 6-6-0 but the Blue's thunder was stolen by the honored Cardinals players and their unbeleivable World Series victory. Larussa and company graciously gave pregame interviews and met with Darren Pang and John Kelly in the announcers booth during the game. Throughout the game cameras randomly shot video of our Cardinal champions supporting our struggling hockey club by standing up, cheering, and clapping.
I must also admit that this game was the first game I was able to watch this season in its entirety so I was anxious to see how our club improved from last year. Right off the bat the Blues came out sluggish and flat. The first five minutes of the game Vancouver was sending a message and hemming our defense in our own zone. I began to think about last year and how peeling 20 pounds of potatoes would have been more interesting than watching the Blues squander away game after game. Soon the Blues started throwing their weight around and hitting bodies. First Reaves had a big hit in Vancouver's zone then a few seconds later Oshie crushed a Canuck Defender. The crowd got louder and things were looking better until Alexandre Burrows tickles the nylon behind goaltender Brian Elliot. How would the Blues react to this first period deficit?...... apparently very well as T.J. Oshie knots up the score one minute and fourty seconds later. This was definitely nice to see. Three in a half minutes into the second period, the Blues are up 2-1 on Oshies's second goal of the game, the Blues are on the power play (which is ranked dead last in the league) and what do you know the Blues take a too many men on the ice penalty.... not too smart but they were able kill it.
I must also admit that this game was the first game I was able to watch this season in its entirety so I was anxious to see how our club improved from last year. Right off the bat the Blues came out sluggish and flat. The first five minutes of the game Vancouver was sending a message and hemming our defense in our own zone. I began to think about last year and how peeling 20 pounds of potatoes would have been more interesting than watching the Blues squander away game after game. Soon the Blues started throwing their weight around and hitting bodies. First Reaves had a big hit in Vancouver's zone then a few seconds later Oshie crushed a Canuck Defender. The crowd got louder and things were looking better until Alexandre Burrows tickles the nylon behind goaltender Brian Elliot. How would the Blues react to this first period deficit?...... apparently very well as T.J. Oshie knots up the score one minute and fourty seconds later. This was definitely nice to see. Three in a half minutes into the second period, the Blues are up 2-1 on Oshies's second goal of the game, the Blues are on the power play (which is ranked dead last in the league) and what do you know the Blues take a too many men on the ice penalty.... not too smart but they were able kill it.
After Oshie put the Blues up by one goal the Blues start in with the lazy and lackluster play that we are so accustom to seeing from last years team. Sloppy passes, not clearing their zone, and missing hits could have put the Blues out of this match but fortunately Elliot was on top of his game, slapping out the leather and stopping rubber disk after rubber disk. Vancouver's Ryan Kesler would tie the game 2-2 twenty three seconds into the third period and now it was time to see if the Blues would cave in on themselves or fight until the end. Six minutes later David Backes scores the game winner assisted by Shattenkirk and Oshie. The Blues were outshot 30-28 but were able to squeak out this victory. Brian Elliot is now 5-1 with a GAA of 1.72. In contrast Halak is 1-5
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with a GAA of 3.58. The Blues are now 4-1-1 in their last six games at home against Vancouver. Blues forward Chris Stewart continues to struggle and has not scored a goal in nine consecutive games. Stewart only played 11 minutes and 49 seconds Friday night.
The Blues will take on the the Wild Saturday night in Minnesota beginning at 7:00pm. Minnesota will be riding their hot goaltender Josh Harding who has won three straight games while only allowing two goals. The Blues will then come back to St. Louis for five games at home. |