Blues @ Flames: Bring your parents and ridiculous stick saves!

[PocketNines]

For everyone including Backes, Halak was at best mediocre tonight. It is what it is. He still cant make the big save and that's important. The team should have won this game or at least got a point, but a 37 year old outplayed him by a massive margin. Disappointing.

He's too small and he's not nearly aggressive enough.

Quibble but he's only 36 and still in great condition. Has a playing workload far superior to Halak's. Plays even better in the postseason, so he loves pressure.

 

[The Note]

It's usually not fair to pin a loss on one person, but tonight I think we can. Aside from the second goal, you've gotta make at least one of those stops if you're Halak especially on the 3rd goal.

Also, I really can't think of a skater who had a bad game the team was sharp.

 

[EastonBlues22]

So other than that, Mr. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the show?

I've always considered this to be a fairly well known expression, if not incredibly common anymore. I'm going to let it stand unless someone takes offense to it.

 

[sbet1998]

Exactly. One save and the game is in the Blues favor. We're always chasing with Halak in net lately unless the team plays an absolute perfect game. Thats sad and on a game-to-game basis, impossible.

 

[sbet1998]

Quibble but he's only 36 and still in great condition. Has a playing workload far superior to Halak's. Plays even better in the postseason, so he loves pressure.

And considering the chances, all Halak had to do was make one timely save while he made 20.

 

[ExJbeck]

I've always considered this to be a fairly well known expression, if not incredibly common anymore. I'm going to let it stand unless someone takes offense to it.

Would it be better for everyone if I took offense to it?

 

[BadgersandBlues]

First off, Brunette. I bet she gives great helmet.

Second off, it's supposed to be Mrs. Lincoln. It doesn't make sense otherwise.

Third, Halak is worthless. He doesn't track the puck worth a damn. Watch him sometime, he slides all over the place, it's actually a miracle imo that he doesn't give up more goals. There were at least 3-4 times he had no idea where the puck was in the offensive zone during just regular play, not some shot-bounce-deflection type thing....just literally people passing/cycling.

I was pretty pissed when I heard Halak was playing tonight, I had a bad feeling. Guess I was right. According to the stat posted with like 30 seconds left in the game, we gave up 7 scoring chances. He stopped 4 of them. That's just simply not enough. I know it's a team game and all that, but no team can allow zero chances. You need a goalie who can make -some- saves.

Jake Allen should be in net until his legs fall off. Halak should be put in the pressbox as a message for the rest of this month.

 

[sbet1998]

Allen should start the next game. Until he proves otherwise, he's the best the Blues have right now.

They should win Tues or an all powerful deity hates us, which going by history, might be true.

 

[ToniJ1960]

I've always considered this to be a fairly well known expression, if not incredibly common anymore. I'm going to let it stand unless someone takes offense to it.

Its not as bad as the relentless and rabid profanity lately.

 

[Mike Liut]

Allen has been playing great, so what does Hitch do? Plays Halak back to back games. Hitch does moronic things sometimes. I know Hitch has the shut out thing, but still. Allen is so much better fundamentally and mentally than both Halak and Elliott is not even funny. Jake has the tools to be a #1 goalie and carry a team. Jake is much quicker and anticipates so much better too.

 

[sbet1998]

First off, Brunette. I bet she gives great helmet.

Second off, it's supposed to be Mrs. Lincoln. It doesn't make sense otherwise.

Third, Halak is worthless. He doesn't track the puck worth a damn. Watch him sometime, he slides all over the place, it's actually a miracle imo that he doesn't give up more goals. There were at least 3-4 times he had no idea where the puck was in the offensive zone during just regular play, not some shot-bounce-deflection type thing....just literally people passing/cycling.

I was pretty pissed when I heard Halak was playing tonight, I had a bad feeling. Guess I was right. According to the stat posted with like 30 seconds left in the game, we gave up 7 scoring chances. He stopped 4 of them. That's just simply not enough. I know it's a team game and all that, but no team can allow zero chances. You need a goalie who can make -some- saves.

Jake Allen should be in net until his legs fall off. Halak should be put in the pressbox as a message for the rest of this month.

It works either way. Mr and Mrs Lincoln both were screwed there. I had the same feeling about Halak tonight. EDM didnt do anything last night to warrant him playing in Cal tonight other than not finding the net once.

Now, I wish the Oilers would have lucked into one goal, because the Blues would have likely went 2-1 on the trip instead of 1-2. With 2 undeserved losses.

How many points has the goaltending cost this team this season? Its unreal.

 

[BadgersandBlues]

So you guys at least see where I was coming from re: Halak+Cole+2d for Kipprusoff+Giordano. Halak is the highest paid player this year.

After this game I think we can't say yes fast enough. Allen will be ready by the time Kipper is ready to retire.

Now we just need to move Elliott for a mid round pick and off we go!

 

[BadgersandBlues]

It works either way. Mr and Mrs Lincoln both were screwed there. I had the same feeling about Halak tonight. EDM didnt do anything last night to warrant him playing in Cal tonight other than not finding the net once.

Now, I wish the Oilers would have lucked into one goal, because the Blues would have likely went 2-1 on the trip instead of 1-2. With 2 undeserved losses.

How many points has the goaltending cost this team this season? Its unreal.

I've only ever heard it as Mrs. Lincoln. True, it did suck to be Mr. Lincoln, but it doesn't really make sense unless it's Mrs.

 

[sbet1998]

Its not as bad as the relentless and rabid profanity lately.

Profanity isnt allowed.... Dont turn on your TV, man. Its a rough world out there these days.

 

[Captain Creampuff]

I really just want him off this team. Anytime anyone talks good about him all they do is bring up his one playoff run. He's inconsistent and is a backup at best.

 

[sbet1998]

I've only ever heard it as Mrs. Lincoln. True, it did suck to be Mr. Lincoln, but it doesn't really make sense unless it's Mrs.

Do you believe in Ghosts? I guess from a Fan's perspective the Mrs thing works better, but in reality he-who-got-shot in the head lost the most.

 

[PocketNines]

I do understand the logic of playing Halak back to back. He was fine against Edmonton even though he didn't see a lot of rubber. If he picks up a win tonight, now you've got the guy you really want to be the #1 guy, the guy you want to start the playoffs, back on a roll just like when Hitchcock first took over last year. Halak was atrocious to start last year but Hitch basically infused him with fresh-start confidence and he really turned his entire year around and was excellent after that. So I don't blame Hitch for trying the same thing. After all, this is a crappy Calgary team that the Blues always beat and Hitch probably had a good feeling about how his skaters wre playing, so it's a calculated risk and one that probably should have paid off.

The problem is, Halak's just what he is, a guy with a below average glove hand, inconsistent, and not super strong mentally. He needed Price, Elliott and now Allen threatening to end/minimize his playing time to get his **** together. He can't just go out and do it independently. Maybe in the future he'll be able to, as the Rule of Goalies is you never know, they're so friggin mercurial. But if that does happen, it'll happen because he proves it. Until he proves it, we can only conclude what we see, which is that he isn't able to.

I wouldn't hate giving Elliott another shot before Halak on the next back to back, or if Allen falters. If Elliott still sucks (remember the crazy difference in goal support the team gives Elliott and Allen, something like 2.2 to 3.6+) then he's done, but Elliott may very well have the mental makeup to seize another opportunity if given one.

What's extra crappy is now there's no clarity going into the deadline about what to expect in the Blues' net.

The upside is other than the 2d period in Vancouver, those were 8 of 9 sterling road periods the skaters just turned in.

 

[GrandPapillon*]

Do you believe in Ghosts? I guess from a Fan's perspective the Mrs thing works better, but in reality he-who-got-shot in the head lost the most.

I have heard it both ways. I prefer the Mr. Lincoln version so that's what I went with. I've never really thought of it as offensive.

 

[ToniJ1960]

Profanity isnt allowed.... Dont turn on your TV, man. Its a rough world out there these days.

A little bit doesnt bother me wwhen its relentless it loses its point when its rabid its disheartening

 

[BlueOil]

Literally can't figure out the last two paragraphs. It was as direct and powerful and relentless a game offensively as they've had this season. Crashing the net over and over, all 18 skaters were really, really strong. We watched different games.

We must have.

We spent a lot of time in their offensive zone and, in my opinion, did not frequently challenge Kipper. This team does not utilize the slot, an odd man rush, or the one timer well enough to challenge a big, solid, positional goaltender like Kipper and that's why his stats are great against us.

It was nice to see someone finally standing in front of the net most of the game. That doesn't happen often.

The Blues never let off the gas and put constant pressure on, but when you're taking low percentage shots and kept to the outside while your in the offensive zone, it's really not going to matter how uneven the zone time is with a keeper like Kipper.

 

[PocketNines]

I've only ever heard it as Mrs. Lincoln. True, it did suck to be Mr. Lincoln, but it doesn't really make sense unless it's Mrs.

Agree. It's totally only Mrs. Lincoln. It's being asked AFTER the play. How was the play? EDIT: lol re: ghosts above. Ok, fair enough.

The phrase, which is a perfect one liner that succinctly captures an entire argument rebuttal is:

"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"

Cannot figure out how this would be offensive to anyone. It happened 153 years ago. I don't even think a living descendant of Lincoln's would truly be offended (the only possible category of those who'd be offended), so longstanding and known is the expression.

 

[sbet1998]

I do understand the logic of playing Halak back to back. He was fine against Edmonton even though he didn't see a lot of rubber. If he picks up a win tonight, now you've got the guy you really want to be the #1 guy, the guy you want to start the playoffs, back on a roll just like when Hitchcock first took over last year. Halak was atrocious to start last year but Hitch basically infused him with fresh-start confidence and he really turned his entire year around and was excellent after that. So I don't blame Hitch for trying the same thing. After all, this is a crappy Calgary team that the Blues always beat and Hitch probably had a good feeling about how his skaters wre playing, so it's a calculated risk and one that probably should have paid off.

The problem is, Halak's just what he is, a guy with a below average glove hand, inconsistent, and not super strong mentally. He needed Price, Elliott and now Allen threatening to end/minimize his playing time to get his **** together. He can't just go out and do it independently. Maybe in the future he'll be able to, as the Rule of Goalies is you never know, they're so friggin mercurial. But if that does happen, it'll happen because he proves it. Until he proves it, we can only conclude what we see, which is that he isn't able to.

I wouldn't hate giving Elliott another shot before Halak on the next back to back, or if Allen falters. If Elliott still sucks (remember the crazy difference in goal support the team gives Elliott and Allen, something like 2.2 to 3.6+) then he's done, but Elliott may very well have the mental makeup to seize another opportunity if given one.

What's extra crappy is now there's no clarity going into the deadline about what to expect in the Blues' net.

The upside is other than the 2d period in Vancouver, those were 8 of 9 sterling road periods the skaters just turned in.

Liked the post up until you mentioned Elliot getting a start over Halak. When you have Allen, you dont give starts to Elliot until Allen is letting the team down. I kind of get the idea of what you're saying, but Allen and Halak have outperformed Elliot by a large margin.

Its all about the mentality and right now the Blues as a group have no confidence in Elliot whatsoever.

 

[Mike Liut]

I do understand the logic of playing Halak back to back. He was fine against Edmonton even though he didn't see a lot of rubber. If he picks up a win tonight, now you've got the guy you really want to be the #1 guy, the guy you want to start the playoffs, back on a roll just like when Hitchcock first took over last year. Halak was atrocious to start last year but Hitch basically infused him with fresh-start confidence and he really turned his entire year around and was excellent after that. So I don't blame Hitch for trying the same thing. After all, this is a crappy Calgary team that the Blues always beat and Hitch probably had a good feeling about how his skaters wre playing, so it's a calculated risk and one that probably should have paid off.

The problem is, Halak's just what he is, a guy with a below average glove hand, inconsistent, and not super strong mentally. He needed Price, Elliott and now Allen threatening to end/minimize his playing time to get his **** together. He can't just go out and do it independently. Maybe in the future he'll be able to, as the Rule of Goalies is you never know, they're so friggin mercurial. But if that does happen, it'll happen because he proves it. Until he proves it, we can only conclude what we see, which is that he isn't able to.

I wouldn't hate giving Elliott another shot before Halak on the next back to back, or if Allen falters. If Elliott still sucks (remember the crazy difference in goal support the team gives Elliott and Allen, something like 2.2 to 3.6+) then he's done, but Elliott may very well have the mental makeup to seize another opportunity if given one.

What's extra crappy is now there's no clarity going into the deadline about what to expect in the Blues' net.

The upside is other than the 2d period in Vancouver, those were 8 of 9 sterling road periods the skaters just turned in.

Playing Elliott is a waste of time. He sucks unless he's playing behind a dominant D and facing weak shots. I don't care what anybody says, he and Halak benefited greatly last year by the Blues smothering D. I don't want to hear about their save % either. They were facing weak shots on a nightly basis. Halak is average and Elliott is below average. Allen is the only one with elite potential.

 

[sbet1998]

Agree. It's totally only Mrs. Lincoln. It's being asked AFTER the play. How was the play? EDIT: lol re: ghosts above. Ok, fair enough.

The phrase, which is a perfect one liner that succinctly captures an entire argument rebuttal is:

"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"

Cannot figure out how this would be offensive to anyone. It happened 153 years ago. I don't even think a living descendant of Lincoln's would truly be offended (the only possible category of those who'd be offended), so longstanding and known is the expression.

Yeah, but if you could ask Mr. Lincoln, how would he respond?

 

[Lord Helix]

This is ruining a great saying.