GDT: Game #1 of 82: Blues @ Avs - 8pm CT

[Moose and Squirrel]

I agree on everything with the minor exception of the last bad. Thought Tarasenko wasn’t bad but just disengaged for stretches of the game. I’m just optimistic he’ll get there and his okay when Barbie was bumped up was encouraging. Just hoping is still coming is all.

agreed. Vladi made some really good passes last night that didn't get converted. his shooting looks off still tho. open shot right into the chest is not what you want your sniper doing.
Thomas was not very good last night, but surprisingly he backchecked better than I was expecting and saw him several times behind the net putting pressure on and stealing pucks. his FO work tho...woof... he had NO business taking those faceoffs in our zone late in the game. that's why you re-signed Bozak, no?
Neal was useless. absolutely no reason in the world for him to be in the lineup over Kostin

 

[Moose and Squirrel]

...no?

actually I think it was Dunn. his 'stats' showed he was awesome.. our eyes told us he was something different

 

[Moose and Squirrel]

Wow...one game in and Neal is already in the doghouse with some.

I have no idea why.

honestly, except for the 1st preseason game, what has Neal done?

 

[stl76]

The problem is that if Kostin was good he'd have an every day role on this team. The spot was practically gifted to him by trading Sanford and he not only didn't take it, he barely made the team.

You've been extremely low on Kostin for a long time, and that's fine you're welcome to your opinion. But saying the twenty-two year old was gift a spot, failed to take it, and barely made the team is just about the most pessimistic view one could possibly take.

Just because Kostin wasn't in the lineup opening night does not mean he isn't a good player and won't see plenty of games as the season goes on. It also doesn't mean he was "practically gifted" a spot (there was a ton of competition in camp this year) and it doesn't necessarily mean he barely made the team.

I frankly disagree with your assessment of Kostin as a player and think we need to be patient with him. He's 22 and on a NHL roster as a full time player for the first time in his career. Maybe let's wait and see how he does over a decent sample size before deciding he's not a good player?

 

[Moose and Squirrel]

You've been extremely low on Kostin for a long time, and that's fine you're welcome to your opinion. But saying the twenty-two year old was gift a spot, failed to take it, and barely made the team is just about the most pessimistic view one could possibly take.

Just because Kostin wasn't in the lineup opening night does not mean he isn't a good player and won't see plenty of games as the season goes on. It also doesn't mean he was "practically gifted" a spot (there was a ton of competition in camp this year) and it doesn't necessarily mean he barely made the team.

I frankly disagree with your assessment of Kostin as a player and think we need to be patient with him. He's 22 and on a NHL roster as a full time player for the first time in his career. Maybe let's wait and see how he does over a decent sample size before deciding he's not a good player?

I think if given a chance to play on a line with Thomas (good passer) and Bozak (defensively responsible) would help Kostin a ton

 

[Stlblue50]

Blues played very well last night against a top team on the road. Great to see that beautiful snapper from DP57 stick twice! That guy has an amazing shot. Really all 4 goals were snipes.

Reading the comments on the no goal is surprising. Since they call these reviews goals 95% of the time, that was the only reason I thought there was a chance they would call it a good goal. Other then that, if that's not a kicking motion then just scrap the rule

 

[execwrite1]

Tarasenko made an awful play in the third that eventually set up Colorado's second goal. That turned the tide. Could have cruised home without that opening for the Avalanche.

Hey - they won, that's what counts. Fixable mistakes. Now it's on to Arizona and let's win there.

 

[Xerloris]

Same people that refused to give the Blues a break last year due to injuries are now trying to give the Avs a break because they're missing 2 of their top players.

 

[TheDizee]

Same people that refused to give the Blues a break last year due to injuries are now trying to give the Avs a break because they're missing 2 of their top players.

we are lucky they didnt cancel the entire division again since ANOTHER av got covid.

 

[Moose and Squirrel]

we are lucky they didnt cancel the entire division again since ANOTHER av got covid.

lets see what happens when it's Vegas

 

[joe galiba]

Vlads pass doesn’t bother me that much
the Colorado player jumped the play and made a good play with his stick
guys on the PP make that play all the time, it usually works, and the penalty killer has put himself out of position

I actually liked Vlads play overall
his accuracy isn’t there, but he found the scoring spots on the ice without the puck and made some excellent passes that his teammates didn’t do anything with
he appears to be seeing the ice and reading the play which he wasn’t doing last year

had no problem with Thomas either other than putting us in the hole with bad faceoffs

 

[DatDude44]

agreed. Vladi made some really good passes last night that didn't get converted. his shooting looks off still tho. open shot right into the chest is not what you want your sniper doing.
Thomas was not very good last night, but surprisingly he backchecked better than I was expecting and saw him several times behind the net putting pressure on and stealing pucks. his FO work tho...woof... he had NO business taking those faceoffs in our zone late in the game. that's why you re-signed Bozak, no?
Neal was useless. absolutely no reason in the world for him to be in the lineup over Kostin

The funny thing about this statement is literally the avs first goal was thanks to a brutal backcheck by thomas not picking up the backside of the ice as F1.... but that being said, after he made that mistake, he was noticeably better in that area the rest of the night and your right, he showed alot more complete down low in our zone and actually used his body well.....For his development this is an absolutely great sign. The offense will always be there with thomas, but taking that next step in his development with his pro details on the defensive side of the puck is huge if he wants to play center long term behind ROR etc....

I don't know if this will be the year he pops or not offensively (hope it is, i'm a massive fan of RT's) but i'm ecstatic about what i'm seeing in his development as an overall hockey player and his work ethic/attention to detail to the boring details of the game. I love this forward core man, especially with the Neighbours kid (even if he only gets 9 games).

 

[Mike Liut]

Same people that refused to give the Blues a break last year due to injuries are now trying to give the Avs a break because they're missing 2 of their top players.

Perron, Sunny and Faulk out. Parayko and Scandella playing injured. I wouldn’t be surprised if we would have won that series with a 100% healthy team.

 

[Moose and Squirrel]

The funny thing about this statement is literally the avs first goal was thanks to a brutal backcheck by thomas not picking up the backside of the ice as F1.... but that being said, after he made that mistake, he was noticeably better in that area the rest of the night and your right, he showed alot more complete down low in our zone and actually used his body well.....For his development this is an absolutely great sign. The offense will always be there with thomas, but taking that next step in his development with his pro details on the defensive side of the puck is huge if he wants to play center long term behind ROR etc....

I don't know if this will be the year he pops or not offensively (hope it is, i'm a massive fan of RT's) but i'm ecstatic about what i'm seeing in his development as an overall hockey player and his work ethic/attention to detail to the boring details of the game. I love this forward core man, especially with the Neighbours kid (even if he only gets 9 games).

yeah, he def wasn't perfect last night, as you pointed out, but I was just giving him some props for doing what he needs to do in the Dzone. like you, I'm a huge fan, so here's hoping this is his year.
absolute must that he stay healthy

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

yes theyve always been a one line team, even back to the sakic days

i love the media hyping them up every year b/c their team has shown they choke harder than the blues/caps/sharks combined pre 2018. Refalanche are the new Ref Jose Sharks and deep down everyone knows it. they make the second round then choke in glorious fashion.

Forsberg would beg to disagree.

 

[jura]

Does anyone have a video of the disallowed goal? I can't seem to find a good video of it

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

He is a volume shooter so that’s not a surprise. Goal scorers are streaky. Hopefully he gets a couple soon and goes on a mini tear

So we can finally trade him.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

And with a #1 defenseman who shall not be named but you know who.

Parayko looks healthy again so we should be set there.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Is there any other team in league who is worse than holding a lead like the st. louis Blues?

We really struggle with goalie pulled, either for or against. With 2 goalies on ice we are so much better.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Wow. I did not think they’d overturn that after the play in the Vegas/Seattle game

The last replay showed he really kicked it in. Vegas game was more of nudge to redirect.

 

[WATTAGE4451]

Not league-wide, but on our team. The year we won the Cup, Bortuzzo I believe was our leading Corsi, xGA defender. The year prior Eddy was at or near the top of our charts. Parayko and Bouw were not, despite our heavy reliance on them.

And to be clear, I'm not completely discounting advanced stats. I just don't like people using them as their entire argument.

Bortz had a higher corsi and xga than parayko and bo because bortz played against teams 3rd and 4th lines while parayko and bouw matched up against teams top line.

Obviously context is important when cross comparing players but it showed bortz did his job as bottom pairing defender well

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

I’m gonna need more alcohol

I had so much that I didn’t watch 3rd period until this afternoon.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Well, bad news is that Robert Thomas looked like hot garbage all game.

I didn’t like that line. At all. Berube apparently didn’t either bc he flipped Neal and Barbie for 3rd.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

He made a couple of nice defensive plays and he didn't get hemmed in his own zone. That's what I want from a bottom pairing defenseman.

Agreed. If he plays like this all year I will be pleased.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

I don't think they're comparable. Lindell is a large commitment, but useful. Scandella is both overpaid and not useful. Like, Tarasenko is overpaid rn, but I'd still much rather have him than Sanford...

I’d take Sanford over him, even at same $.