Blues/Wild Playoff series discussion

[The Note]

Honestly if Spurgeon is that worked up about the first game of the first series not going their way they may be in bigger trouble anyway.

 

[oPlaiD]

Honestly if Spurgeon is that worked up about the first game of the first series not going their way they may be in bigger trouble anyway.

Stats like the teams' recent records against each other are usually overrated as predictors for playoff results compared to overall strength of the teams, but Spurgeon is just one of many exhibits from last night's game that show the Blues truly are in the Wild's heads.

Maybe that wouldn't be the case if they got some bounces early in that game, but that game was about as demoralizing as it could get. Overall you could say they played a pretty good game at 5v5, outshot and outchanced us, kept the puck in our zone, "drew" 6 penalties... and still lost 4-0. If you are a good team sometimes those kind of results happen and you shrug it off and play next, but right now it doesn't look like they have the leadership to get there.

I thought the Wild were a bit favored heading into the series and would certainly take a couple games, but if the Blues come out and get a quick goal or two tomorrow I wouldn't be surprised to see a sweep now. I also wouldn't be surprised to see the Wild take the second game with Talbot in net and make this a rough series still. We shall see.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

I decided to go on YouTube and watch some breakdowns of Game one, and jeez, I think Wild fans are more upset about Spurgeon trying to merc Buch's ankles than we are. They're even saying him getting a 5k fine instead of a suspension is disgustingly bad.

 

[Mike Liut]

I decided to go on YouTube and watch some breakdowns of Game one, and jeez, I think Wild fans are more upset about Spurgeon trying to merc Buch's ankles than we are. They're even saying him getting a 5k fine instead of a suspension is disgustingly bad.

They have good fans.

 

[Chet Manly]

Ho boy.

That av/pred series.

Edit - might be time to call a time out before things get out of hand.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

They have good fans.

I have a hard time hating them or their fans. Tho it's funny they called us high school bullies. And their prime example was Perron clothelining Hartman against the Blues bench and the Blues Laughing at the Wild when the Wild were trying to be Gritty at the end of the game. Also saying the Blues dictated the entire game even when the Wild had the Puck.

 

[Xerloris]

Wonder if Nashville are gonna try to break some ankles

 

[BlueDream]

I decided to go on YouTube and watch some breakdowns of Game one, and jeez, I think Wild fans are more upset about Spurgeon trying to merc Buch's ankles than we are. They're even saying him getting a 5k fine instead of a suspension is disgustingly bad.

Yeah I truly don't mind them. In the midst of a playoff series, things get said and things happen to piss off both sides but they're not that bad and they've had a handful of players I've liked.

I even accept Spurgeon's public statement as an apology because that really was out of character for him.

 

[mk80]

I can't help but think that one reason Spurgeon didn't get a suspension was the fact that Buchy shrugged it off and wasn't injured at all. Not the way it should be, but there would be a lot more pressure on them to suspend him if Buchy was seriously hurt.

I know you address this in your post, and you are absolutely correct, but it's insane that had Buch's Achilles ruptured, or his ankle snapped, he probably gets multiple games. It just so happened Buch was able to get up and skate away, so just a fine. So ridiculous.

You guys hit the nail on the head here. Unfortunately I've seen it at a lot of levels where the result of a play determines a penalization and not the play itself. This one for DOPS on Buch, or for example I've seen perfectly clean hits that unfortunately result in an injury receive a penalty.

Player safety needs to be more about the plays themselves rather the outcomes in these instances.

 

[PocketNines]

The Wild's defense is an extremely weak playoff defense. They have one goalie without rebound control who they are forced to start over their other goalie who gets lit up if you make him go post to post. They also have abysmal special teams. I know we're supposed to say how this series is heavyweight battle but I am still searching for reasons to be worried in this specific matchup

 

[Allens Five Hole]

Hi all, first time poster, long time lurker. Just found my account again.

It's been mentioned before several times here but I wanted to again point out how much the advanced stats struggle to work out how the Blues play. Money Puck has us losing 53% of the time in game 1. I don't know about you all, but that was one of the most comfortable playoff games I've watched in quite some time.

MoneyPuck.com

 

[BAdvocate]

You guys hit the nail on the head here. Unfortunately I've seen it at a lot of levels where the result of a play determines a penalization and not the play itself. This one for DOPS on Buch, or for example I've seen perfectly clean hits that unfortunately result in an injury receive a penalty.

Player safety needs to be more about the plays themselves rather the outcomes in these instances.

Yep, the department of player safety have set the precedent if you want to attempt to injure an opponent, but are only willing to risk suspension if you succeed, send your Lady Byng candidate to do the deed.

 

[AjaxManifesto]

The injuries in the D corps may cost us the series.

 

[Tarasenkshow]

The injuries in the D corps may cost us the series.

This highlights the officiating even further. When at least one of their players should have been suspended after game one, it at least evens out the losses. I still can't grasp how that hit on Leddy wasn't a suspension or the clear intent to injure from Spurgeon.

The real problem, in the officiating, is the amount of penalties (mostly soft calls) called right out of the gate. How many first period penalties have been called against us? They finally give us a few calls later in the game to make it look balanced on paper but we're playing from behind each night. They're allowing the Wild to play dirty but calling the weak stuff against us.

Just. Be. Consistent. As a player, that's all you can ask for.

 

[PocketNines]

#5 defenseman goes down right before the playoffs and in the first period of Game 1 the #3 defenseman is concussed with a rough hit and in the first period of Game 2 the #6 defenseman is concussed with a wrist shot to the temple. Basically shredding our PK, it's no accident Minnesota PP got hot in Game 2.

 

[TheDizee]

 

[Louie the Blue]

Fine with him playing over Rosen or Mikkola.

Just need 1 of Scandella/Leddy to play as well (ideally both).

 

[JoshFromMO]

I wanna know why so many blues players keep randomly falling for like no reason lol. Also I hope Thomas is okay after getting trucked by Parayko

 

[Allens Five Hole]

Is Witkowski really worse than Santini? Probably not much between them and Santini has played with our group before I suppose. If Leddy and Scandella return, I feel fine sheltering Santini but if we're without all 3, it's not going to make for pleasant viewing.

 

[TheDizee]

 

[PocketNines]

Kyrou did not have an egregious turnover free game but it was his best game in months. There's a lot more space with multi goal leads in the playoffs, so he can be a useful playoff tool when you need to get a comeback going. To consider keeping him, I want to see him make an impact on a game that's in doubt in the playoffs.

It's going to be a HUGE offseason discussion about committing to him with a big contract versus trusting the Blues have the depth and prospects to survive losing him on the wing. The Blues are not going to challenge seriously for the Cup without another excellent 24+ min a night all situations top pair defenseman and those have to get paid and they're hard to find without paying a high price.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

#5 defenseman goes down right before the playoffs and in the first period of Game 1 the #3 defenseman is concussed with a rough hit and in the first period of Game 2 the #6 defenseman is concussed with a wrist shot to the temple. Basically shredding our PK, it's no accident Minnesota PP got hot in Game 2.

Faulk was also in the box a couple times there.

Hopefully the bad luck was consolidated in that one game.

 

[Borderbluesfan]

He’s baaaack!!!! Fearlessly defending our country and the St. Louis blue line!!!!!

 

[Bobby Orrtuzzo]

I wanna know why so many blues players keep randomly falling for like no reason lol. Also I hope Thomas is okay after getting trucked by Parayko

I was wondering the same, I guess the ice in Minny was that bad lol

 

[Ridge1982]

I’d be pleasantly surprised if this series goes to 7 and because of these injuries, I see the Blues being dispatched in 5.