GDT: TankTown Express: Is it getting hot in here?

[Xerloris]

@Robb_K I'm not looking for 20+ goals from Jake in his rookie season, but I am looking for him to push his game and take a few chances. He's got some speed and has a fairly explosive first stride, for a big man.

He needs to work on his passes and anticipation, but, with more experience, I expect him improve in those areas. Power forward types need a little time, so I think we will see the real Jake Neighbours in the 2024-25 season.

If he could just be half of what Tage Thompson is

 

[Meatball]

God I love that goal horn.

Too bad Bally Sports does everything in their power to mute the sound.

Trash telecast.

 

[shpongle falls]

Sick pass by Kyrou and Thomas roofs that sucker, what a goal.

So glad to see the Blues didn’t wilt under pressure after letting in some goals and a sketchy second period.

Really loving Alexandrov’s game right now, smart player. I think Tucker has been generally really solid as well, can’t wait till he’s a regular in the lineup. Neighbors is still pretty raw but I love the potential he has, he’s be going to be good for sure.

I’m a huge stand up comedy fan so it was cool to see Nikki Glaser in the audience.

 

[CROTT]

Yes....

But if we wore Avs sweaters that would be ruled onside. Just say'n.

Tonight's goal and the OT disallowed goal that the Oilers scored against your blues are both similar to this goal, I hope the NHL looks at this rule and clearly defines what is required for possession and control on the entry. (The Makar goal was delayed offside different rule) Cause yes McDavid lost it after he crossed the line when O'Rielly checked his stick, but both him and the puck were already across the line at that point and the rule is possession and control prior the players skates crossing the leading edge so at that point McDavid did the same as Kuzentsov.

Kyrou did get a little mixed up handing the puck on the entry, but still played it after the entry was complete something people argued that was the reason McDavid was off side. All three goals the player last touched the puck prior to it crossing the blue line. If they want to define puck on stick while crossing the line, okay but how do you verify that? And then to what extent is a puck too far away from the players stick to still have control, as its on and off their stick as they carry it.

 

[mk80]

Had to step out for a bit so I caught the end on radio. Posting this in celebration now.

Let's go out on Thursday and beat them in regulation!

 

[BlueSeal]

Tuna Boat adds another W on the sail!

 

[Linkens Mastery]

And now we're Tied for 2nd WC with the exact same record as Edmonton.

 

[542365]

And now we're Tied for 2nd WC with the exact same record as Edmonton.

Not really. We’ve just played 3 more games than Nashville and Colorado and 2 more than Minnesota. Our points percentage still puts us in 10th in the West, ahead of only Vancouver and the tanking teams. Still a pretty big long shot to make the playoffs, especially given the injuries.

 

[ChicagoIsBedarded]

Welp, that's what I get.

Finally resolved issues with charter. Last night was the first game I've watched in months.

Turned it off with 3 minutes left in the 2nd.....

 

[Louie the Blue]

Still a pretty big long shot to make the playoffs, especially given the injuries.

Not really a big long shot given that it’s still January.

Not expecting much from this team, but it shouldn’t be surprising if they make the POs.

 

[pseudoswede]

Yes....

But if we wore Avs sweaters that would be ruled onside. Just say'n.

Ironically, the Avs had a goal disallowed last night for an offsides. Would've put them in the lead. Instead, they lost.

Still a pretty big long shot to make the playoffs, especially given the injuries.

If I remember correctly, the Blues were dead last in the NHL with a decent number of injured players in January 2019.

 

[Bluesnatic27]

Ironically, the Avs had a goal disallowed last night for an offsides. Would've put them in the lead. Instead, they lost.



If I remember correctly, the Blues were dead last in the NHL with a decent number of injured players in January 2019.

The difference between then and now was that the 2019 team had positive underlying numbers that would indicate they were a good team suffering from only a few issues, like inconsistent goaltending. The current team has no such evidence. The current team has no cap space, terrible team defense, suspect goaltending in conjunction with bad team defense (I’m in the camp that wants the defense to improve first), and a large group of aging players that will only get worse. It says a lot that the Blues poor expected values are almost 100% identical to the actual values when 5-on-5, as of this morning.

There are reasons that Blues fans are not positive about this season.

 

[BadgersandBlues]

Alexandrov has really helped solidify the 4th line. Chief made a good call late in the second/early in the third to start rotating those guys out there a lot more then he usually does, and I think their straight line hockey really helped push us in the right direction. It's nice that our 4th line is finally getting some positive traction, vs. what it was earlier in the year, which was pretty lackluster. Generally I see Toro and crew around 9ish minutes a game, last night he was almost at 13 - that's a pretty big difference for a 4th liner.

Toro is starting to round into the type of shape I remember from last year. I loved his game last year and would love to see that guy again.

Neighbors had a GREAT rush to the net, I hope he continues that type of play night in and night out.

 

[finnishflash13]

Not really a big long shot given that it’s still January.

Not expecting much from this team, but it shouldn’t be surprising if they make the POs.

Exactly. And the Western Conference is so weird this year, it would not surprise me at all if the Blues convincingly made the playoffs.

 

[Reality Czech]

Alexandrov has really helped solidify the 4th line. Chief made a good call late in the second/early in the third to start rotating those guys out there a lot more then he usually does, and I think their straight line hockey really helped push us in the right direction. It's nice that our 4th line is finally getting some positive traction, vs. what it was earlier in the year, which was pretty lackluster. Generally I see Toro and crew around 9ish minutes a game, last night he was almost at 13 - that's a pretty big difference for a 4th liner.

Toro is starting to round into the type of shape I remember from last year. I loved his game last year and would love to see that guy again.

Neighbors had a GREAT rush to the net, I hope he continues that type of play night in and night out.

The fourth line has arguably been our most consistent and effective line for the past 4-5 games, which is why Chief kept putting them out there in the third period. Kudos to those guys for getting the job done. As Panger said last night, sometimes a simple game is the most effective style. Get the puck deep, forecheck hard and get pucks to the net. Rinse and repeat.

I also agree about Neighbours. He's not getting on the stat sheet much, but he's doing the little things right. I don't wanna trade him unless it's a trade that's too good to pass up. Think he's gonna be a real solid pro.

 

[Punished ROR]

Tuna Boat adds another W on the sail!

 

[Drubilly]

I tho

I thought I was on the set of Goodfellas! Notorious BIG in the background had me rolling

 

[mk80]

And now we're Tied for 2nd WC with the exact same record as Edmonton.

Only until tonight, the Oilers play the Ducks. We'll have to tie them again tomorrow.

 

[Xerloris]

Tonight's goal and the OT disallowed goal that the Oilers scored against your blues are both similar to this goal, I hope the NHL looks at this rule and clearly defines what is required for possession and control on the entry. (The Makar goal was delayed offside different rule) Cause yes McDavid lost it after he crossed the line when O'Rielly checked his stick, but both him and the puck were already across the line at that point and the rule is possession and control prior the players skates crossing the leading edge so at that point McDavid did the same as Kuzentsov.

Kyrou did get a little mixed up handing the puck on the entry, but still played it after the entry was complete something people argued that was the reason McDavid was off side. All three goals the player last touched the puck prior to it crossing the blue line. If they want to define puck on stick while crossing the line, okay but how do you verify that? And then to what extent is a puck too far away from the players stick to still have control, as its on and off their stick as they carry it.

It was a good goal, he never lost control. He moved his stick to make a drop pass. McDavid and Kyrou both completely lost control of the puck. McDavid was so bad 2 other people touched it before he did.

 

[542365]

Not really a big long shot given that it’s still January.

Not expecting much from this team, but it shouldn’t be surprising if they make the POs.

Very much a long shot.

17th in goals for per game
25th in goals against
10th in PP%
26th in PK%
27th in S/G
22nd in Shots against/G

This is not done sleeping giant. It’s a bad team who is only ahead of teams that are tanking and a dumpster fire.

 

[joe galiba]

Very much a long shot.

17th in goals for per game
25th in goals against
10th in PP%
26th in PK%
27th in S/G
22nd in Shots against/G

This is not done sleeping giant. It’s a bad team who is only ahead of teams that are tanking and a dumpster fire.

I think we were about 48th or 49th in the league(out of 32) on the PK, so at least that is a big jump

 

[jura]

Bucha

 

[Ridge1982]

The fact that the piece of shit that is Kadri was on the ice for all 4 goals made it all the more sweeter.

 

[joe galiba]

The fact that the piece of shit that is Kadri was on the ice for all 4 goals made it all the more sweeter.

and if he skates hard all the way back, he may have been in position to break up the pass
wish Toro would have connected on that check

 

[Bluesnatic27]

Very much a long shot.

17th in goals for per game
25th in goals against
10th in PP%
26th in PK%
27th in S/G
22nd in Shots against/G

This is not done sleeping giant. It’s a bad team who is only ahead of teams that are tanking and a dumpster fire.

To add, the Blues defensive metrics at even strength put them:

30th at xGA/60
28th at SCA/60 (scoring chances against)
29th at HDGA/60 (High-Danger goals against)
28th at HDCA/60 (High-Danger Corsi against/shot attempts against)

All while averaging 52 minutes a game at even strength, which is 2nd overall in the league. Even if that means they’re not on PP. often, it also means they don’t PK as often.

This team cannot defend.