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2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Round 1 Series Discussion: #4 Blues vs. #5 Kings

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Telos said:
I think Sutter sticks with what's proven to work:

Brown-Kopitar-Williams
Penner-Richards-Carter
King-Stoll-Lewis
Clifford-Fraser/Richardson-Nolan

Regehr-Doughty
Scuderi-Voynov
Ellerby/Martinez-Greene
Click to expand...

Not sure why you think Muzzin is going to be benched in favor of Ellerby or Martinez.
 
Blues fan here.

I'm looking forward to a great series. I'm sure the rest of the West is pleased that LAK and STL are facing each other, so that they can avoid the heavy type of game those two bring. This one should be bloody and entertaining. I'm interested to see what the Blues upgraded D looks like against the LAK forecheck.

For those who are glad to be facing Elliott, I think you're in for a disappointment. He's on top of his game, and there are two competent goalies behind him, so its not the situation like last year where he was stuck in net even if he struggled, despite having an inner ear infection. His early season struggles have created a situation where he has absolutely worked his ass off to get back into form. None of us thought it would happen, but his recent stretch has been solid. Its not an artifact of playing low level competition. He stole games from Chicago and shut-out Detroit in Detroit, even when the newly acquired defensive players were trying to adjust, and the team was giving up lots of shots.

The team isn't giving up lots of shots now, though.

The biggest question mark from the Blues is what Hitchcock does with the line-up now that Oshie is returning. And whether the Blues produce out of their top lines. The scoring has been spread all around lately, and the 4th line has been a joy to behold, but Backes' line and Berglund's line have not been generating enough goals to sustain success.

Hopefully its a Tuesday and not Wednesday start! Here's to a good series.
 
2 Minute Minor said:
Blues fan here.

I'm looking forward to a great series. I'm sure the rest of the West is pleased that LAK and STL are facing each other, so that they can avoid the heavy type of game those two bring. This one should be bloody and entertaining. I'm interested to see what the Blues upgraded D looks like against the LAK forecheck.

For those who are glad to be facing Elliott, I think you're in for a disappointment. He's on top of his game, and there are two competent goalies behind him, so its not the situation like last year where he was stuck in net even if he struggled, despite having an inner ear infection. His early season struggles have created a situation where he has absolutely worked his ass off to get back into form. None of us thought it would happen, but his recent stretch has been solid. Its not an artifact of playing low level competition. He stole games from Chicago and shut-out Detroit in Detroit, even when the newly acquired defensive players were trying to adjust, and the team was giving up lots of shots.

The team isn't giving up lots of shots now, though.

The biggest question mark from the Blues is what Hitchcock does with the line-up now that Oshie is returning. And whether the Blues produce out of their top lines. The scoring has been spread all around lately, and the 4th line has been a joy to behold, but Backes' line and Berglund's line have not been generating enough goals to sustain success.

Hopefully its a Tuesday and not Wednesday start! Here's to a good series.
Click to expand...
What will the Blues lineup look like with Oshie back in?
 
Obviously I don't think we will sweep them this year, but Quick has found his game from last year again and we'll be better on the blueline with Regehr and Greene back. Either way this will be a great series, really looking forward to it.
 
Chazz Reinhold said:
Agreed. It will be interesting to see the reports from practice on Monday as to what the lines are.
Click to expand...

Yeah, there was a play last night where I think Carter set up Clifford for what should have been a slam dunk goal and he shot it low right into Neimi's pads where a more skilled guy would have buried it. That's the kind of thing that loses you playoff games when you don't convert. I just don't think we can take a chance with a grinder on the top two lines. Of course it's not as much of a problem with Brown coming back.
 
SLang said:
It's Crombeen. Funny you like it "even though you're a Blues fan" (paraphrasing)....why wouldn't you? The **** is funny, regardless.
Click to expand...

I did wonder if it might be beener. Fun guy, class act, has diabetes, gives himself shots and plays hockey at the highest level of a sport pretty classy guy. I've met him he is a good guy. I think he is in Tampa now still.

Some people can't take a joke that's all I meant. Yes it is funny :handclap:

I liked it. I see no problem with it, its the L.A. Fan board and it is hilarious. I was being serious. I was only stating even as a Blues fan I could see the humor.

To the person who asked what our lineup with Oshie will look like. I am assuming if he comes back he will slide in on one of the top two lines, unless he needs conditioning which might put him on the third line. I'm not sure who he will be replacing. Our fourth line is on fire and is super fun to watch right now, all of the guys on it are scoring and hitting and causing havoc in general for the opposition. Everybody on the team is playing great, it will be tough but Oshie will get a spot that's a given. Lol if Perron gets back in the doghouse he might be the odd guy out. But he has played well the last couple games, even when he was thrown on the 4th line he played his way off by the second period. I would say in the top six he gets booted to the bottom six and cracknel might get to sit if they move Sobotka out of the top six to make room for Oshie. I have to say the way they have been playing, I hate to see anybody get shifted, even for Oshie, but its a given it will happen and I'm not sad to see him back.
 
I have no clue how the Kings have had so much success against the Blues. The Blues are a tough team, I just hope the Kings do not take them lightly due to their history. This series is going to be hard fought big time.
 
2 Minute Minor said:
Blues fan here.

I'm looking forward to a great series. I'm sure the rest of the West is pleased that LAK and STL are facing each other, so that they can avoid the heavy type of game those two bring. This one should be bloody and entertaining. I'm interested to see what the Blues upgraded D looks like against the LAK forecheck.

For those who are glad to be facing Elliott, I think you're in for a disappointment. He's on top of his game, and there are two competent goalies behind him, so its not the situation like last year where he was stuck in net even if he struggled, despite having an inner ear infection. His early season struggles have created a situation where he has absolutely worked his ass off to get back into form. None of us thought it would happen, but his recent stretch has been solid. Its not an artifact of playing low level competition. He stole games from Chicago and shut-out Detroit in Detroit, even when the newly acquired defensive players were trying to adjust, and the team was giving up lots of shots.

The team isn't giving up lots of shots now, though.

The biggest question mark from the Blues is what Hitchcock does with the line-up now that Oshie is returning. And whether the Blues produce out of their top lines. The scoring has been spread all around lately, and the 4th line has been a joy to behold, but Backes' line and Berglund's line have not been generating enough goals to sustain success.

Hopefully its a Tuesday and not Wednesday start! Here's to a good series.
Click to expand...



Thanks for coming by and I agree it should be a good series though Elliot has nothing to do with it.

Elliot is easily beatable so he isn't the reason that Kings fans should be concerned about facing the Blues, your upgraded D is though without a doubt. The Blues have been playing playoff hockey since the deadline and the Kings haven't or at least not to the level that we are capable of playing.

IF we can recapture our fire and dominant defencive game then I think we can win this series in 6 games but if not we will be in serious trouble.

The Blues have upgraded their D significantly and not just on the blueline, they have all bought in to the system and improved their team play significantly since the last time we faced them.

Should be a good series and if Elliot can play even half as good as he has lately for the Blues the Kings could be in trouble. That said I don't put much stock in Elliot just yet, he is going to have to do allot to win me over.
 
I was actually a little scared, but then I remembered how bad elliot is as a goalie and how his confidence is more unstable than a pregnant woman. I just want that ONE bad goal for him to collapse then we will set light him up like a Christmas tree.
 
Since it worked last year. :)




Hey, St. Louis...

34rw4g8.jpg
 
I'm suddenly quite a bit more confident. If they keep 11 and 77 together they can put a lesser player like Clifford on that line and it will still be dynamic (should have scored twice last night), and that lets them have more balance throughout the lineup. Kopitar looked fantastic last night, and having Clifford on that line can be a bit of a deterrent should anyone try and take liberties with either of the Kings two star forwards. And as we saw with his beautiful set-up to Clifford, Jeff Carter can make great passes with that extra space he will have playing with an offensive threat like Kopitar.

Brown doesn't need Kopitar to generate offense, he has been effective carrying the puck this season on the off-wing, he will be fine wherever they slot him. Richards is much better off playing with a guy like Brown or Williams on his wing, they can play lunch pail hockey, and Stoll has been excellent all season.

The defense and goaltending will be ok, especially if Greene is back, I was worried about the forwards, but not so much anymore if they stick with a lineup similar to last night.
 
ShattStar03 said:
Who else actually more relieved that we have to deal with Blues fans instead of the arrogant, obnoxious and ignorant Ducks or Nucks fans?
Click to expand...

Definitely, although their recent play against us may be humbling them. If they come out and take game 1 they may end up like every other fan base.
 
First round predictions:

Kings will take Blues, but it will be tougher than last playoffs or even this season.

Detroit takes Anaheim, who has been shakey the last month or so.

Chicago crushes Minnesota.

Vancouver takes San Jose.

East:

Don't care.

West Semis:

We get Vancouver in the second round, under this scenario, which can't make Vancouver too happy.

Detroit finally gets their comeuppance against Chicago.

Unfortunately, I can't see us getting past Chicago. :( But it will be a great challenge for the Kings if they are going to repeat.
 
This is gonna be a long, physical series. Take no prisoners!

Also, I feel like the Blues this year are like the Kings last year--they're gonna show up with something to prove and a chip on their shoulder and I can bet you they give two ***** about history starting Tuesday. It's a 0-0 history as far as hockey players are concerned and the Kings haven't earned anything until they win games. If anything, I'm scared of the Blues because they have some demons to exorcise--remember us vs. Van?
 
I agree. Carter and Kopitar is a really good combination and it can be more effective than being with Richards in a little time. Richards would do real good centering williams and if not brown then Clifford. It can work. Richards Penner williams
 
Courtesy of the LA Kings Insider, team stats:


Goals/Game: LAK – 10 / 2.73; STL – 17 / 2.58
Goals Against/Game: LAK – t-7 / 2.38; STL – t-7 / 2.38
Power Play: LAK – 10 / 19.9%; STL – 12 / 19.5%
Penalty Kill: LAK – 10 / 83.2%; STL – 7 / 84.7%
Shots/Game: LAK – 12 / 29.8; STL – 23 / 27.8
Shots Against/Game: LAK – 3 / 25.0; STL – 2 / 24.2
Faceoffs: LAK – 4 / 52.0%; STL – 13 / 50.7%
Save Percentage: LAK – 16 / .905; STL – 20 / .902
 
This is the playoffs and we're defending our title. Sutter will make sure our players will give it everything they got to repeat. Speaking of Sutter, his concern is mine as well. We will have a very condensed playoff schedule. Combine that with the type of series we're going to play against the Blues could affect our chances at a repeat.
 
I cannot emphasize how important it is for Brown, from the drop of the puck, to get inside Backes' head. The second you get him off his game he takes stupid penalty after stupid penalty; and then the entire team follows suite. Chirp the hell out of him, lay a couple big hits, do whatever it takes. That will be a game changer and ultimately a series changer.
 
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