GDT: 10/5/13 - Game 2 - Panthers @ Blues

[Boothinator]

It was all on the perimeter and everyone was pretty stationary. PK's will let you do that all day. I mean our players need to move around more.

Ahh okay, my bad. Players need to move around more is true though!

 

[Android 16]

Some of us are in panic mode because of 2 things:

1. It took 2 games into the season for us to get blown out. Worst defeat in the NHL thus far.
2. The powerplay looks like it has the potential to be the worst in the NHL.

 

[Cats2TheCup]

I think it was the Blues' 7th goal last night where Barkov came back to cover. Instead of covering the pass and letting Weaver take the man with the puck, Barkov went after the guy with the puck, forcing Weaver to stay in the middle, allowing the Blues forward to have a clear path to the net.

The kid has talent, but still has a lot to learn in the NHL.

Barkov strikes me as the type who won't make the same mistake twice

 

[ProjectPanthers]

Gomez needs to get off the 1st PP unit immediately. Having him, Flash and Steeger out there makes us extremely soft down low for board play. The puck goes deep and we have no one particularly good on that line at fishing it out and maintaining possession. Throw Kopecky out there with Flash and Steeg. He is capable on faceoffs, is a big body and can handle the puck. He'll battle down low and when we are working the perimeter, he parks his 6'3 frame in front of the net. This does two things. First, it distracts the goalie and obstructs his view, and secondly it distracts both (or at least 1) d-man in front of the net. They quickly become more concerned with protecting their goalie than watching the puck. Some PK setups will leave the guy alone in front of the net, which is even better. Flash, Steeg and Campbell are more than capable puck handlers to allow us to put a guy like Kopy on the PP. Also.....SHOOT.

Also, my other big issue with us is the defensive turnovers. Not just that they're turnovers, but what kind of turnovers they are. Both last night's game and the Dallas game we passed the puck right up the middle way too often. Since I was an 8 year old playing hockey, my coaches always stressed to dump the puck up the boards. If the other team gets it, they're still not in prime scoring position. They stressed it SO MUCH. "Even if it looks like the Red Sea has parted itself just for you, still play the boards because that gap closes quickly". And it does. I noticed there was always another guy available to take a pass and make a play, but the D-man chooses to rush it and try and shoot it up the middle. St. Louis is a better team than Dallas so they took advantage of those opportunities more than the Stars did, resulting in the score we saw yesterday. I can't even single out one particular guy because it seems every single one of our defenseman is guilty of doing it. Even some forwards (Winchester I remember specifically). Teams make mistakes and turnovers happen, it's the nature of the game, but clearing the puck up the boards is hockey 101.

 

[Android 16]

Blue are good but they aren't that good. We just played like absolute crap and played worse after each goal against.

 

[RainingRats]

Blue are good but they aren't that good. We just played like absolute crap and played worse after each goal against.

I think the Blues are top 5 in the NHL

 

[Panteras]

Blue are good but they aren't that good. We just played like absolute crap and played worse after each goal against.

the Blues are a legit team dude, the have solid goalies, to notch D, and a deep forward core...it was a road game, 2nd game of the season...we just totally lost it in the 2nd period, it happens..is something to just simply brush aside, of course not, we take this and lear from it, there were a lot of negatives, and I'm sure the team will put this behind them, but not forget, so if it makes you feel better, I think we'll beat the Blues when they come to the BB&T

but yeah, just know that there's a lot of work to be done, but there's a lot of games to be played, we have more than enough time to turn this around..so, seriously, there's absolutely no reason to panic and call it a lost season after the 2nd game, regardless of the score...

 

[Howboutthempanthers]

I wonder who's starting Tuesday.

or

 

[Dread Clawz]

Definitely Marky I would say.

 

[Panteras]

yeah Markstrom I reckon