GDT: St. Louis and Monty vs St. Louis and Monty

[542365]

Super even distribution of minutes. Every forward played between 12 and 17 minutes and every Dman played between 17 and 21 minutes. Obviously the score helps that, but even before it was out of hand we had a pretty decent load share.

 

[PJJJP]

Not gonna lie I forgot Laine was as playing yesterday. He usually torches us but dude was invisible at 5v5 and lazy on the PP just standing still

 

[TheOrganist]

When you watch Fowler in person you really appreciate the subtle plays he makes to kick start offense from the d-zone. There was a play in the first period where he corralled a hard rim from below the goal line…with a Montreal forechecker skating hard to the wall to cut off a play to the boards that 70% of less skilled d-men would do, Fowler uses a little shoulder fake that commits the forechecker and then promptly makes a backhand outlet pass to the center and the Blues were off to their 50th rush chance in the first period.

Binner’s puck handling is another element that gets talked a lot about but shouldn’t be under appreciated when it comes to our breakouts. He’s really incredible at that aspect of the game and it’s even more effective against Eastern teams that don’t really grasp how good he is at killing a forecheck.

 

[taylord22]

When you watch Fowler in person you really appreciate the subtle plays he makes to kick start offense from the d-zone. There was a play in the first period where he corralled a hard rim from below the goal line…with a Montreal forechecker skating hard to the wall to cut off a play to the boards that 70% of less skilled d-men would do, Fowler uses a little shoulder fake that commits the forechecker and then promptly makes a backhand outlet pass to the center and the Blues were off to their 50th rush chance in the first period.

Binner’s puck handling is another element that gets talked a lot about but shouldn’t be under appreciated when it comes to our breakouts. He’s really incredible at that aspect of the game and it’s even more effective against Eastern teams that don’t really grasp how good he is at killing a forecheck.

Completely agree here. If you focus in on him, you'll start to see that he almost NEVER makes a blind backhand rim, even under pressure. He uses every tool in his toolbox to make a direct play.

There was another play where he had a guy right on his back immediately on retrieval. He moved toward the net like he was going to dip behind it, shoulder faked to the other side and banked a sharp angled pass behind the net that went right to Leddy who was standing parallel to the net on the other side...and had all the daylight in the world to make a play.

I know Army is probably hesitant to hand a guy Fowler's age an early extension, but man...he has all the makings of a player who's likely to provide quality minutes in the latter half of his 30s.

 

[ds774622]

Look at these expected goals percentages from last night. Good grief...72% for Leddy-Fowler is absolutely nuts.

 

[TheOrganist]

Completely agree here. If you focus in on him, you'll start to see that he almost NEVER makes a blind backhand rim, even under pressure. He uses every tool in his toolbox to make a direct play.

There was another play where he had a guy right on his back immediately on retrieval. He moved toward the net like he was going to dip behind it, shoulder faked to the other side and banked a sharp angled pass behind the net that went right to Leddy who was standing parallel to the net on the other side...and had all the daylight in the world to make a play.

I know Army is probably hesitant to hand a guy Fowler's age an early extension, but man...he has all the makings of a player who's likely to provide quality minutes in the latter half of his 30s.

It's one of those player/coach/system matches made in hockey heaven. With Monty at the helm and with Fowler's hockey IQ it's hard to see Fowler not thriving for the next several years barring something unforeseen.

 

[thebestnic]

I put 20$ on you guys winning the cup after that ass whooping last night. You could do some real damage if you enter the Pacific bracket

 

[thebestnic]

When you watch Fowler in person you really appreciate the subtle plays he makes to kick start offense from the d-zone. There was a play in the first period where he corralled a hard rim from below the goal line…with a Montreal forechecker skating hard to the wall to cut off a play to the boards that 70% of less skilled d-men would do, Fowler uses a little shoulder fake that commits the forechecker and then promptly makes a backhand outlet pass to the center and the Blues were off to their 50th rush chance in the first period.

Binner’s puck handling is another element that gets talked a lot about but shouldn’t be under appreciated when it comes to our breakouts. He’s really incredible at that aspect of the game and it’s even more effective against Eastern teams that don’t really grasp how good he is at killing a forecheck.

Binnington reminded me of Price last night with how frequently he was able to stop the dump and chase

 

[Brian39]

That game was an absolute clinic by the Blues. That said, I have no idea why Montembeault was in that game anywhere near as long as he was. He looked uncomfortable all game and while there was traffic, he was getting beat from distance. I'd have taken him out after the Thomas goal that made it 3-1, but I'm genuinely baffled that he wasn't lifted after goal #4.

 

[Brian39]

Binnington reminded me of Price last night with how frequently he was able to stop the dump and chase

I mean this with the utmost respect for Price, who was a fantastic puckhandler and one of my favorite goalies in his generation.

Binner is a better puckhandler than Price was.

 

[Mike Liut]

I put 20$ on you guys winning the cup after that ass whooping last night. You could do some real damage if you enter the Pacific bracket

And we are missing the best shut down defender in the nhl too. He’ll be back in a couple weeks.

 

[thebestnic]

And we are missing the best shut down defender in the nhl too. He’ll be back in a couple weeks.

Is he ? I traded for him in fantasy but didn't expect to have him until next year

 

[thebestnic]

I mean this with the utmost respect for Price, who was a fantastic puckhandler and one of my favorite goalies in his generation.

Binner is a better puckhandler than Price was.

Possible it's not really the kind of thing I notice unless my team is playing. Marc Denis on the broadcast had him at the top of the league for stickhandling and he's usually spot on with his analysis(especially for goalies)

 

[BadgersandBlues]

I know it makes for less fun/interesting discussion when the season ends, but I get the feeling we’re not going to be picking in the 1st round. I think it gets moved in a package for a young RD. If the trade isn’t there, there’s no reason to force something, but regardless of how this season goes, Army/Steen have to feel fairly confident the light is now green to “spend” - filling the most obvious hole on the roster.



Vitale objectively understands the modern NHL game better than anyone else on our media team. I say that with all due respect to JK who is no slouch, and Kerbs who is an extremely entertaining listen.

I also get the sense Vitale probably has the best pulse on the team itself - it seems he’s brought in on some of the locker-room business/jokes. He alluded to how Jobu got started a few weeks ago. He was quietly beating the 18/89 injury drum prior to 4 Nations. He hinted the Parayko diagnosis wasn’t as bad as it first seemed. Etc.

Maybe not Panger level of plugged in, but, certainly more than the other guys.

I actually liked the 3 man broadcast (the whole broadcast and post game was WAY better than Bally/Fan Duel). Vitale helped de-robot Rivers and t’d him up to comment on the forward side of the game, which is a massive shortcoming in Rivers’s analysis, IMO.

Laughing at how many of us commented on the quality of the broadcast

I agree - JK is a f***ing robot. He's super professional, and I appreciate that about him, but he's def way down on my choices of announcers to listen to when I have a chance. Rivers I think actually has another gear in him that doesn't come out during broadcasts with only JK, b/c JK is such a robot. You throw Vitale in the mix and it's WAY WAY better in terms of the subjects they talk about and simply the way both of them see the game.

I f***ing LOVE that Vitale brought up Monty playing grab-ass with Rivers after the bench interview - it's something I noticed a couple of games and and get a super kick out of every time I see it happen - and for Vitale to actually call it out was f***ing amazing.

Please for the love of all that is good let's go to a 3 man booth.

 

[WATTAGE4451]

Is he ? I traded for him in fantasy but didn't expect to have him until next year

The original timeline was 6 weeks. Thatd have him back around april 17thish. That would be after our last regular season game but before our first playoff game if we make it. Doesnt mean he will reach that schedule but its possible. Hes already skating again.

 

[TheOrganist]

I agree - JK is a f***ing robot. He's super professional, and I appreciate that about him, but he's def way down on my choices of announcers to listen to when I have a chance. Rivers I think actually has another gear in him that doesn't come out during broadcasts with only JK, b/c JK is such a robot. You throw Vitale in the mix and it's WAY WAY better in terms of the subjects they talk about and simply the way both of them see the game.

I f***ing LOVE that Vitale brought up Monty playing grab-ass with Rivers after the bench interview - it's something I noticed a couple of games and and get a super kick out of every time I see it happen - and for Vitale to actually call it out was f***ing amazing.

Please for the love of all that is good let's go to a 3 man booth.

I’ve made the point many times Rivers is much better on the radio. But he’s too dry to be paired w Kelly. You need someone really charismatic like Pang or Vitale paired with Kelly bc he has the personality of a corpse.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

I’ve made the point many times Rivers is much better on the radio. But he’s too dry to be paired w Kelly. You need someone really charismatic like Pang or Vitale paired with Kelly bc he has the personality of a corpse.

Vitale is kinda nerdy. He should play that up.