GDT: Blues vs. Vegas| 2nd Verse Same as the First

[Xerloris]

Husso's play is a concern in the sense that any struggles he has makes a playoff berth that much tougher to obtain, but to me the bigger concern is the complete and utter breakdowns that are leading to uncontested scoring chances in prime scoring areas. All four goals against Husso were high danger shots after significant breakdowns with nobody between the shooter and the net, and the only one that was an even remotely "contested" shot, and I'm using the term extremely loosely, was Stone's second goal where Krug lost a battle behind the net, then completely lost his defensive positioning in a man-to-man situation.

This team isn't winning a darn thing without significantly cleaning up their play in the defensive zone.

Injuries aren't an excuse for it, either.

Goals 1 and 3 were not high danger. 25-30 foot out with no screen is not high danger. Can goal 4 really be classified as high danger? It was a f***ing wrap around and an goalie that doesn't blow is going to save it.

 

[WATTAGE4451]

who else can we callup to backup binny?

husso needs to be sent down ASAP

Theres a few teams that have decent 3rd string goalies. We could explore trades for guts like stalock, hutchinson, dell or someone else if we dont have anyone in the system thats ready

 

[i aint Dunn yet]

Looking those goals. Not good efford by Husso.

Tho 47-72 midgets was on ice half of those goals.

Only Mikkola - Bortuzzo pair didnt allowed goals. Yet they got just 12min icetime per each. Let's decrease dmen icetime which can defend.

i dont mind faulker .. but i expect more from krug ... maybe reset the pairings

 

[i aint Dunn yet]

Only positive thing from tonight's game was this.

kid is gonna steal a spot if he keeps that up

 

[i aint Dunn yet]

Husso's play is a concern in the sense that any struggles he has makes a playoff berth that much tougher to obtain, but to me the bigger concern is the complete and utter breakdowns that are leading to uncontested scoring chances in prime scoring areas. All four goals against Husso were high danger shots after significant breakdowns with nobody between the shooter and the net, and the only one that was an even remotely "contested" shot, and I'm using the term extremely loosely, was Stone's second goal where Krug lost a battle behind the net, then completely lost his defensive positioning in a man-to-man situation.

This team isn't winning a darn thing without significantly cleaning up their play in the defensive zone.

Injuries aren't an excuse for it, either.

his defense sucks ...

 

[EastonBlues22]

Goals 1 and 3 were not high danger. 25-30 foot out with no screen is not high danger. Can goal 4 really be classified as high danger? It was a f***ing wrap around and an goalie that doesn't blow is going to save it.

An 80 mph wrist shot travels 117 feet a second. A 20' shot at that speed gives a goalie 1/6th of a second to react and stop the puck...at 30' it's about 1/4 of a second. Those are high danger chances, especially from the middle of the ice (as the goalie has far more effective net to cover), and especially if the shot is uncontested (as the shooter can pick the timing of his shot, and his target, and release his shot cleanly without any impediment at all). Whether or not there's a screen is irrelevant because at that speed and distance, an NHL quality shooter can beat an NHL quality goalie cleanly without the need of a screen.

Chances don't get more high danger than goal #1. Goal #3 is still a high danger shot, though a lower percentage shot than goal #1, mostly because Husso had ample opportunity to set his angle and press out on it. It's still a lot more dangerous than any run of the mill shot, and no coach is going to be happy with his team giving up that chance.

Goal #4 wasn't just a wrap around. Against a wrap around all you have to do is seal the post and the ice on the near side of the net because the puck is literally just wrapping around the post. Stone actually released his shot from beyond the top corner of the crease because there was nobody in front of the net to stop him from walking out that far and Krug couldn't do anything from behind. That opened up the far side of the net, which Husso wasn't able to cover because he was in position to stop the traditional wrap around. That's a high danger chance.

Maybe Dominic Hasek stops that anyway, or Quick, or other goalies with incredible lateral explosiveness and lower net coverage, but plenty of NHL goalies don't. If your goalie doesn't have that ability, you have to prevent that chance from happening at all by actually playing defense...which the Blues didn't.

 

[DoubleK81]

Looking those goals. Not good efford by Husso.

Tho 47-72 midgets was on ice half of those goals.

Only Mikkola - Bortuzzo pair didnt allowed goals. Yet they got just 12min icetime per each. Let's decrease dmen icetime which can defend.

Ranksu, I really like you. You're an entertaining person, but your hot takes on players are absolutely f***ing atrocious. Mikkola would get eaten alive by top line players if he got shoved into a role with higher minutes. He barely looks passable at times where he is. He may end up being a decent 3-4 dman or PK specialist down the line, but he's still a damn rookie and he's getting more responsibility than he should have already. We get it, he's a Finn and you've got his back, but you've got to slow down a bit on trying to move him up just because you hate Faulk and Krug despite how well they've been playing this year.

 

[mike1320]

Injuries aren't an excuse for it, either.

This is a little shortsighted, imo. Because of all the injuries you have a bunch of guys who are trying to play out of their comfort zones and some who shouldn't even be on NHL ice. If they ever get the entire team healthy and the lines go back to normal, the team will be fine.

 

[mike1320]

i dont mind faulker .. but i expect more from krug ... maybe reset the pairings

I think he needs a year to acclimate, just as Faulk did. A full, regular training camp would have helped as well I'm sure.

 

[Xanadude]

I agree with a few posters that this goes past injuries. Husso looks awful and we're mising half a lineup of regulars, but we're routinely giving up a handful of brutal odd-man rushes and d-zone giveaways a game.

I keep saying we can make a run and go deep if we get fully healthy, but if we fall out of playoff positioning there's no wild card. We're toast. And if we keep playing like this, the Wild are leapfrogging us this week and we're having to beat the best in the division to stay in the picture whatsoever.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Jesus just let it go about Stone, I'm not happy about his hit on Bozak and not getting suspended. It is what it is. Let it go already.

Of course. He is one of your guys now on team Petro, eh?

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

We are tired...and it shows

We have played more games than basically anyone. Insane injuries. Healthy guys have had to do more to keep us afloat and it takes toll. Good news is other teams have more condensed schedules ahead and most of our guys should be back next few weeks.

 

[EastonBlues22]

This is a little shortsighted, imo. Because of all the injuries you have a bunch of guys who are trying to play out of their comfort zones and some who shouldn't even be on NHL ice. If they ever get the entire team healthy and the lines go back to normal, the team will be fine.

Things like clearing the zone, managing the puck, and not losing your man are fundamental skills that far less talented teams than this one, even with the injuries, have done well. It's not like our AHL players are the ones being exploited and everyone else is fine.

Picking up an activating defenseman is basic hockey, and we had NHL players on the ice. Faulk flat lost his man in man to man. Krug got worked behind the net. There was an ill-advised attempt to hold the line at the offensive zone, which opened up the middle and Dunn was beat. How are any of these things due to injury or someone "playing out of their comfort zone?"

I don't want to make it sound like only those players are at fault. They're just some of tonight's highlights. Across the board there are too many fundamental breakdowns that shouldn't be happening, and that aren't really excusable under any circumstances.

 

[mike1320]

Things like clearing the zone, managing the puck, and not losing your man are fundamental skills that far less talented teams than this one, even with the injuries, have done well. It's not like our AHL players are the ones being exploited and everyone else is fine.

Picking up an activating defenseman is basic hockey, and we had NHL players on the ice. Faulk flat lost his man in man to man. Krug got worked behind the net. There was an ill-advised attempt to hold the line at the offensive zone, which opened up the middle and Dunn was beat. How are any of these things due to injury or someone "playing out of their comfort zone?"

I don't want to make it sound like only those players are at fault. They're just some of tonight's highlights. Across the board there are too many fundamental breakdowns that shouldn't be happening, and that aren't really excusable under any circumstances.

If they had Parayko back and playing 20+ minutes a night, he'd shave off significant minutes from the rest of the d-core. You don't think these guys are absolutely gassed at the moment?

Schwartz and Barbie are a big part of the forechecking/defensive dynamic of the team and it's sorely missed.

 

[EastonBlues22]

If they had Parayko back and playing 20+ minutes a night, he'd shave off significant minutes from the rest of the d-core. You don't think these guys are absolutely gassed at the moment?

Schwartz and Barbie are a big part of the forechecking/defensive dynamic of the team and it's sorely missed.

No, I don't think Faulk lost his guy in space or Krug lost a battle with Stone because they're "absolutely gassed."

Even if Parayko comes back and is 100%, which is a huge question mark at this point, it's not going to prevent others from making fundamental mistakes. Nor is this team only poorly executing because Schwartz and Barbashev are out of the lineup. There were plenty of uncharacteristic gaffes this season while they were in there and the team was generally healthier. It's not like this issue only cropped up recently. It's been a problem all year.

 

[mike1320]

No, I don't think Faulk lost his guy in space or Krug lost a battle with Stone because they're "absolutely gassed."

Even if Parayko comes back and is 100%, which is a huge question mark at this point, it's not going to prevent others from making fundamental mistakes. Nor is this team only poorly executing because Schwartz and Barbashev are out of the lineup. There were plenty of uncharacteristic gaffes this season while they were in there and the team was generally healthier. It's not like this issue only cropped up recently. It's been a problem all year.

Agree to disagree. If the team is close to 100% healthy and the lines were (somewhat) set in stone for the majority of the year I think this team looks and plays much better.

 

[mike1320]

There's not a team in the league that would play without making "fundamental mistakes" if you ripped apart their roster, plugged in AHL players, gave 2nd pairing d-man top pair minutes, and expected 4th line players to play on 2nd lines.

 

[EastonBlues22]

Agree to disagree. If the team is close to 100% healthy and the lines were (somewhat) set in stone for the majority of the year I think this team looks and plays much better.

And in the meantime while the team isn't 100% healthy, are we just giving the guys out there a free pass for making mistakes they shouldn't be making?

This team can play better right now, as is. Better individual and team execution of NHL fundamentals is an addressable problem that I prefer to focus on that instead of thinking about how things might be better if the stars align and everyone gets healthy...something that's pretty much completely out of the team's control.

 

[Blueline2757]

I agree with Easton 1000%

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

An 80 mph wrist shot travels 117 feet a second. A 20' shot at that speed gives a goalie 1/6th of a second to react and stop the puck...at 30' it's about 1/4 of a second. Those are high danger chances, especially from the middle of the ice (as the goalie has far more effective net to cover), and especially if the shot is uncontested (as the shooter can pick the timing of his shot, and his target, and release his shot cleanly without any impediment at all). Whether or not there's a screen is irrelevant because at that speed and distance, an NHL quality shooter can beat an NHL quality goalie cleanly without the need of a screen.

Chances don't get more high danger than goal #1. Goal #3 is still a high danger shot, though a lower percentage shot than goal #1, mostly because Husso had ample opportunity to set his angle and press out on it. It's still a lot more dangerous than any run of the mill shot, and no coach is going to be happy with his team giving up that chance.

Goal #4 wasn't just a wrap around. Against a wrap around all you have to do is seal the post and the ice on the near side of the net because the puck is literally just wrapping around the post. Stone actually released his shot from beyond the top corner of the crease because there was nobody in front of the net to stop him from walking out that far and Krug couldn't do anything from behind. That opened up the far side of the net, which Husso wasn't able to cover because he was in position to stop the traditional wrap around. That's a high danger chance.

Maybe Dominic Hasek stops that anyway, or Quick, or other goalies with incredible lateral explosiveness and lower net coverage, but plenty of NHL goalies don't. If your goalie doesn't have that ability, you have to prevent that chance from happening at all by actually playing defense...which the Blues didn't.

While those individual scoring chances were dangerous, good NHL goalies will stop SOME of them. The ones that get through may not be their fault in a given instance, but you expect your guy to make some saves he shouldn’t. When the rest of the roster is cobbled together from the AHL and taxi squad, a team needs BETTER than average performances in goal. Husso is providing less than average. If you look at guys that have started more than 2 games, there are only 4 players in the league with a lower save percentage than Ville. I think the difference between Husso’s numbers and Binnington’s shows that this is not all on the team in front of them.

 

[mike1320]

And in the meantime while the team isn't 100% healthy, are we just giving the guys out there a free pass for making mistakes they shouldn't be making?

This team can play better right now, as is. Better individual and team execution of NHL fundamentals is an addressable problem that I prefer to focus on that instead of thinking about how things might be better if the stars align and everyone gets healthy...something that's pretty much completely out of the team's control.

Ok, what's your solution?

 

[AjaxManifesto]

Easton nails it.

IMO it won't matter who comes back. If we don't turn this around and start going on winning streaks right now, this team can start making golf arrangements when the playoffs come around.

 

[TK 421]

This is a good discussion.

Our current woes extend beyond Husso and the massive amount of injuries imo. We're making too many critical errors in the defensive zone and that's been a constant all season. Many of us here questioned how good the defense personnel would work together before the season even started and it appears those concerns were justified.

 

[AjaxManifesto]

This is a good discussion.

Our current woes extend beyond Husso and the massive amount of injuries imo. We're making too many critical errors in the defensive zone and that's been a constant all season. Many of us here questioned how good the defense personnel would work together before the season even started and it appears those concerns were justified.

One plus is how well Faulk has been playing. He has his ups and downs, but in general I've liked his game this season. Maybe with Petro gone and Colt on IR, Faulk is "the man" back there and he thrives in that role. Who knows?

I'm hoping Krug has a rebirth like Faulk. Hopefully, that happens this season rather than next. He's too skilled of a player to cast him out based on one COVID half-season.

I will say, the stability that Gunnerson (and moreover JayBo) provided on the back end is starting to show. Those guys could really lock it down. We miss that.

 

[AjaxManifesto]

Also, another thing that is killing this team is the inconsistency of the youth. Kyrou gets hot and then goes cold. Sandford gets hot and then goes cold. You can say that about Blais as well. The vets like ROR, DP, and Schenn are fighting every game, but they need more consistent help from our youth.