GDT: St. Louis Blues vs. Vancouver Canucks -- Game 2 |NHLN, FSMW|5:30 CT|

[The Note]

When: Friday, Aug. 14 at 5:30 p.m. CT
Where: Rogers Place in Edmonton
Watch: FOX Sports Midwest, FOX Sports GO, NHL Network
Listen: 101 ESPN, NHL App


*Projected lineups; Blais was skating yesterday so he may be in. Steen TBD*

Sanford-O'Reilly-Perron
Schwartz-Schenn-Tarasenko
Sundqvist-Thomas-Bozak
MacEachern-De La Rose*-Brouwer*

Gunnarsson-Pietrangelo
Scandella-Parayko
Dunn-Faulk

Binnington

VS.



Miller-Pettersson-Boeser
Pearson-Horvat-Eriksson
Roussel-Sutter-Virtanen
Motte-Beagle-MaCewen

Hughes-Tanev
Edler-Stecher
Juolevi-Myers

Markstrom

Last time the Blues won a game?

Everything is fine though

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[tfriede2]

Tarasenko better start raising his game. I hate to say it, but he’s not a game breaking talent anymore and is not an “x-factor.” Prove me wrong, Vova.

 

[EurlichBachman]

9:30 start on a Wednesday and back to back 9:30 starts on Sunday and Monday? But the Friday game is the one thats at 5:30? Talk about short end of the stick. /endminirant

Hopefully they clean things up defensively and stay out of the box. Do those things and I think they win.

 

[The Note]

This is a huge game. With the obvious caveat of going down 2-0 in any series is something to avoid, one of the things the Blues did so well last year was bouncing back and not letting things spiral. I desperately hope we see something similar this evening (particularly from Binnington). I kinda joked about it in the OP but these guys haven't won a competitive game of hockey in 5 months. A win today and I have to imagine a big weight will be lifted and they can start feeling better about themselves. I posted in another thread, that if they can even this series up, I like their odds in a best of 5 . If they lose, I think they might be lucky to see a 5th game.

 

[RR10]

Tarasenko better start raising his game. I hate to say it, but he’s not a game breaking talent anymore and is not an “x-factor.” Prove me wrong, Vova.

Indeed. Very one dimensional lately. If he doesn't find his groove I would consider trading him.

 

[67Blues]

 

[The Note]

 

[Bobby Orrtuzzo]

Tarasenko better start raising his game. I hate to say it, but he’s not a game breaking talent anymore and is not an “x-factor.” Prove me wrong, Vova.

It pains me to agree with this, as he’s been my favorite player since he came into the league

 

[Davimir Tarablad]

I'm not concerned unless they lose tonight. Expecting Binny to bounce back and have a solid game tonight though.

 

[EurlichBachman]

Indeed. Very one dimensional lately. If he doesn't find his groove I would consider trading him.

He’s played 5 games in the last 10 months or so (4 of which were basically meaningless).... He was just an instrumental piece in winning the cup 14 months ago.... Let’s lay off the panic button guys.

 

[Note Worthy]

He’s played 5 games in the last 10 months or so (4 of which were basically meaningless).... He was just an instrumental piece in winning the cup 14 months ago.... Let’s lay off the panic button guys.

Agreed. I'm confused as to why people expected Tarasenko to be a monster right out of the gate. I think this is pretty normal for someone just coming off a major surgery and virtually played very little hockey in almost a calendar year. Relax everyone.

 

[MissouriMook]

He’s played 5 games in the last 10 months or so (4 of which were basically meaningless).... He was just an instrumental piece in winning the cup 14 months ago.... Let’s lay off the panic button guys.

 

[67Blues]

He’s played 5 games in the last 10 months or so (4 of which were basically meaningless).... He was just an instrumental piece in winning the cup 14 months ago.... Let’s lay off the panic button guys.

And you call yourself a Blues fan. Panic and over-reaction is the foundation on which we are built!

 

[RR10]

He’s played 5 games in the last 10 months or so (4 of which were basically meaningless).... He was just an instrumental piece in winning the cup 14 months ago.... Let’s lay off the panic button guys.

He was not himself before the injury either so it's not only based on his absence. Tank was dominant 3-4 years ago, not so much now.

 

[Blanick]

For some reason I am way more nervous about tonight than I was on Wednesday. Maybe because I was half expecting a loss for Game 1 so the loss didn't hurt that much. Tonight though we need a win and given what we saw in Game 1, Binnington needs to much better and the PK needs to be much better. If those two things get straightened out I think we win tonight.

As always. Lets Go Blues.

 

[EurlichBachman]

He was not himself before the injury either so it's not only based on his absence. Tank was dominant 3-4 years ago, not so much now.

He played 10 games this year and was on a point per game pace with 3 goals and 7 assists. He was instrumental in the cup win last year. You can’t possibly be serious here or you are just misremembering.

 

[TheBluePenguin]

I thought I would see what opinions my fellow Blues fans had before the game.....

 

[RR10]

He played 10 games this year and was on a point per game pace with 3 goals and 7 assists. He was instrumental in the cup win last year. You can’t possibly be serious here or you are just misremembering.

It's not only about points, I want him to be active and dominant like before.

 

[CaliforniaBlues310]

Don’t know what the lineup is, but I’m predicting a 5-1 Blues win today in a game that’s mainly played 5 on 5.

This team has notoriously bounced back from bad showings, and I think they’re gonna come out firing.

 

[BlueDream]

I really hope Kyrou is in for DLR.

I don’t know if Kyrou will offer anything. But it’s worth a shot because I know for a fact that DLR won’t. He’s a fine spare forward but he’s not good enough to play in the playoffs. You need to be more than just a PK specialist. And obviously our PK didn’t do much the other night anyways.

 

[CaliforniaBlues310]

I really hope Kyrou is in for DLR.

I don’t know if Kyrou will offer anything. But it’s worth a shot because I know for a fact that DLR won’t. He’s a fine spare forward but he’s not good enough to play in the playoffs. You need to be more than just a PK specialist. And obviously our PK didn’t do much the other night anyways.

Absolutely agreed. Plus it was very noticeable how much faster they were.

If Blais/Steen are still out, I’d run one of these two lineups

17/10-90-57
10/17-18-91
12-21-33
28-70-36

or

57-90-91
17-10-33
12-18-21
28-70-36

 

[MissouriMook]

I really hope Kyrou is in for DLR.

I don’t know if Kyrou will offer anything. But it’s worth a shot because I know for a fact that DLR won’t. He’s a fine spare forward but he’s not good enough to play in the playoffs. You need to be more than just a PK specialist. And obviously our PK didn’t do much the other night anyways.

DLR played 5:25 ES and 1:00 PK
Brouwer played 5:35 ES and 0:49 PK
MacMac played 5:51 ES and 0:00 PK

By contrast, Sunny, ROR and Bozak all had over 3:00 on the PK. I agree with the idea of putting Kyrou in for DLR if Blais isn't ready yet. They need to get at least 8:00 out of all three 4th liners, and more out of Sunny if they drop him down to center that line.

17-10-91
57-90-33
12-18-21
36-70-28

Let Kyrou get 10-12 minutes on the ROR line in the first 50 minutes and let Sunny move up to RW on that line late in the game for a few shifts if we're protecting a lead. I'd even consider flipping 12 and 17 for a few shifts to see if you can get a spark if we're struggling to score. One of the built-in problems with 17-10-91 is they are all primarily scorers and secondarily playmakers, and we have a playmaker in Thomas that doesn't have a natural scorer on his line when he is with 9 and 21.

 

[AjaxManifesto]

Predicting an OT loss tonight.

I think we come out strong. Maybe go up by a goal or two. Give it up in the 3rd. Then lose it in OT.

 

[AjaxManifesto]

I think the Blues' strategy has backfired.

They started up slow thinking it would preserve them during "real games". But the flaw is that their 3rd periods have been horrific. Either a lack of physical conditioning over the break or just the lack of mental focus to play solid for extended periods has cost them dearly. Living in the bubble without fans makes it hard to ride emotional energy in the 3rd. Young and inexperienced teams seem to be cool playing in a hockey bubble with no fans, no travel, and no life outside of hockey people. I think the Blues incorrectly planned to turn a switch and start winning. But going 0-5 in games and 0-14 in 3rd period goals is the tell. Bubble hockey after an extended break has thrown them out of what was prime hockey mode...a grade A game.

 

[MissouriMook]

I think the Blues' strategy has backfired.

They started up slow thinking it would preserve them during "real games". But the flaw is that their 3rd periods have been horrific. Either a lack of physical conditioning over the break or just the lack of mental focus to play solid for extended periods has cost them dearly. Living in the bubble without fans makes it hard to ride emotional energy in the 3rd. Young and inexperienced teams seem to be cool playing in a hockey bubble with no fans, no travel, and no life outside of hockey people. I think the Blues incorrectly planned to turn a switch and start winning. But going 0-5 in games and 0-14 in 3rd period goals is the tell. Bubble hockey after an extended break has thrown them out of what was prime hockey mode...a grade A game.

The shot attempts in the first four of their five games has told a story of a team that is laying back, being passive rather than taking it to the other team. No one but the players and coaches can tell you why, but they have been doing it while tied and with the lead.

We saw a bit of a turnaround in that aspect in Game 1, even if the wheels did fall off in the 3rd. I think they've learned from this and you will see them pushing the play for a full 60 minutes tonight and not letting up, even with a lead. Forecheck, forecheck, forecheck is how they were successful last year and they need to get back to that winning formula. Make the Canucks' best players wear themselves down chasing and defending our cycle and spend most of the game in their zone. Quick transitions out of our zone and constant pressure in their zone. Let's hope that they do it, and that it is enough.

Oh, and stay out of the damn box!