GDT: blue flame

[taylord22]

Shattenkirk wearing the grey practice jersey in the Stlblues.com photos — don't all no contact players have to wear red?

 

[Dbrownss]

Shattenkirk wearing the grey practice jersey in the Stlblues.com photos — don't all no contact players have to wear red?

Yea but he had that on when skating with Michalek by their selves. So idk what it really says. He may be skating by himself still or only practicing in non competitive drills.

 

[Ranksu]

Lines

Steen Backes Oshie
Schwartz Lehtera Tarasenko
Berglund-Stastny-Jaskin
Porter Ott Reaves

Gunnarsson Pietrangelo
Bouwmeester Michalek
Lindbohm Bortuzzo. Death to the flames pairing

Bolded: Dear God Hitch. I love you.

 

[STL fan in MN]

You're wrong there. You are using what's been happening the past games as evidence and I'll take your hockey knowledge over ESPN radio's any day.

Well thanks! I guess I was assuming that the radio folks may have been JR or at least talking to JR but I don't listen to sports radio. But yeah, if it was just pure speculation based on Hitch and Jax talking on the ice then that's pretty much nothing to go on. So yeah, I stand by my thinking that this is very likely just giving Jax a night off. We have tremendous depth so we might as well use it. I also agree with others saying it doesn't even make sense for Borts to replace Jax in the lineup on a fulltime basis since Jax is a lefty and Borts is a righty.

 

[STL fan in MN]

I love the Lindbohm-Bortuzzo pairing but I hope they don't just spend the whole night taking themselves out of position to make a big hit!

 

[542365]

I love the Lindbohm-Bortuzzo pairing but I hope they don't just spend the whole night taking themselves out of position to make a big hit!

That's my fear as well. Both guys have done a pretty good job at timing their hits appropriately, but they have both been known to chase hits on occasion as well. Calgary has too much speed to be running around chasing hits. It is fun when they make contact though

 

[Captain Creampuff]

Bolded: Dear God Hitch. I love you.

Haha perfect

 

[izzy]

Lindbohm Bortuzzo will be interesting...

 

[Twisted Blue]

Bolded: Dear God Hitch. I love you.

 

[2 Minute Minor]

Jackman, despite his limitations and decline due to age, has been one of the players you can count on in the playoffs. I think he starts on the 3rd pairing then.

However, I won't be surprised if Hitchcock keeps rotating guys even in the post-season.

 

[PitchDoug]

Well thanks! I guess I was assuming that the radio folks may have been JR or at least talking to JR but I don't listen to sports radio. But yeah, if it was just pure speculation based on Hitch and Jax talking on the ice then that's pretty much nothing to go on. So yeah, I stand by my thinking that this is very likely just giving Jax a night off. We have tremendous depth so we might as well use it. I also agree with others saying it doesn't even make sense for Borts to replace Jax in the lineup on a fulltime basis since Jax is a lefty and Borts is a righty.

It was Chris Duncan speculating before JR came on. JR didn't give it much credence other than to say Hitch was taking the opportunity to try different combinations and see what works best (and give veterans rest). I love Duncan, so I didn't bring it up to rag on him. He was just throwing out ideas and thoughts, not unfairly.

But your thought bolded above is the "conclusion" Dunc's speculation brought me too. Was curious what others on here thought about the healthy third D paring and the lefty/righty aspect. gracious sir

 

[izzy]

Jokinen playing?

 

[MissouriMook]

I love the Lindbohm-Bortuzzo pairing but I hope they don't just spend the whole night taking themselves out of position to make a big hit!

I'm sure Hitch will waste no time flipping Bortuzzo and Michalek if he feels like he needs to do so to calm that down.

 

[jbron]

Jack sits

Jackman wont play tonight, so others are sure to get playing time.

 

[EastonBlues22]

I think Jackman is a superior defenseman to Bortuzzo in pretty much every way other than knocking someone down.

I'd be very surprised if Bortuzzo knocked a healthy Jackman out of the lineup in the playoffs.

 

[High n Wide]

I'm more excited for this game usual.

I really like the line combos, but I think what I'm most excited about is Jackman sitting. And not because I don't like Jax or have thought he's been playing poorly, but it gives me hope that Hitch is transitioning his style to fit the team and the league. We always push so hard in the regular season and I remember Hitch even pushing for an all out effort to win the Presidents Trophy last year (potentially at the expense of our team energy). I really like to see a different approach this year where different guys are getting rest (and mentally fighting for a spot). Clearly he has more depth to work with this year than last, but I'm glad to see him using it because I don't think he would've unless necessary last year. I think this is an awesome play and I really gotta give Hitch some credit because one of my biggest hang ups with him was that he always seemed to stuck in his ways.

I'm also looking forward to us playing Calgary because I know it's a game we can win, but it's not going to be a give-me game by any means. We're going to have to play with some heart and will to win and I look forward to seeing it.

Basically me right now (from about :15 - :35 with the Blues game being my "pet" ):

 

[bleedblue1223]

Bortuzzo wouldn't be the one to take Jackman's spot, Lindbohm would be the one that could.

 

[Oberyn]

Flames are a hell of a team, we won't see the same result as when we played them in October.

Really excited to see Tarasenko live for the first time. Hope he snipes a couple tonight.

 

[Dbrownss]

Bortuzzo wouldn't be the one to take Jackman's spot, Lindbohm would be the one that could.

I'm thinking the same thing. Lindbhom always has a calm demeanor, he works well under pressure. These games against bubble teams can tell alot. I still think Jax takes 90% of the POs on the 3rd pairing but getting a handle on Lindbhom and Bortuzzo now under high pressure situations is a good thing.

 

[bleedblue1223]

I'm not saying Lindbohm does take his spot, just that Bortuzzo's performance will have no effect on Jackman's playing time.

 

[Dbrownss]

I'm not saying Lindbohm does take his spot, just that Bortuzzo's performance will have no effect on Jackman's playing time.

I'm agreeing with you lol. The radio guy and some have implied it. Which didn't make sense to me. Management wanted L/R balance. I don't see them putting Bortuzzo on the LH side. I'm suprised we don't see Butler slide in for speedier games. I guess he's seriously just injury depth now

 

[bleedblue1223]

I'm agreeing with you lol. The radio guy and some have implied it. Which didn't make sense to me. Management wanted L/R balance. I don't see them putting Bortuzzo on the LH side. I'm suprised we don't see Butler slide in for speedier games. I guess he's seriously just injury depth now

I know, don't worry we're on the same page.

 

[Ranksu]

I see only couple scenario where we could see Lindbohm on ice replacing Jackman's spot. There is no scenario that Bortuzzo is taking Jackman spot. It's only taking 3rd pair spot from Michalek. If some one these cannot play, Pietro, Jbo, Gunnar, Shattery, our top4 D's Lindbohm is taking they spot. I don't see Butler playing in any playoff series/games. (ofc if we loose top6 2 D's.)

1. Injury
2. Series is 3-0 to us and Hitch gives rest some of 50% healthy D's.
3. Jackman gets bumped up by heavy hitter team (Jets,Kings), Lindbohm bring more stay-at-home presence and more physicality + give team some spark + extra boost.

* * *

But tonight its going to be very interesting how Lindbohm - Bortuzzo can handle, opening plays d-zone, pressure/back check, o-zone blueline and most of do they have chemistry together.

I got this itch, they are dynamic duo on d-zone and there is no room front of our goaltender. Flames boys are running away from there.
I'm really starting to Love Hitch. Jesus. Hitch we are now in same page

 

[MissouriMook]

Flames are a hell of a team, we won't see the same result as when we played them in October.

Really excited to see Tarasenko live for the first time. Hope he snipes a couple tonight.

My suggestion....bring a hat. You're going to want to have something to throw.

 

[Tryblot]

Flames are a hell of a team, we won't see the same result as when we played them in October.

Really excited to see Tarasenko live for the first time. Hope he snipes a couple tonight.

I'm really jealous of you. I wanted to go to this game ever since I seen the Blues were playing in Calgary at the start of the season but I wasn't able to get it off work. Enjoy the game! I'll be at the next one in Calgary for sure, I would love it if it was in the playoffs which is definitely a possibility.