What needs to happen in the last handful of games that remain in order for the Blues to get prepared for the playoffs? A change in goalies? A change in the defensive pairings? A change in the forward lines? Or just stand pat and hope that the team as it is will be able to succeed in the playoffs?

I believe that hitch must realize that the defense is what is most problematic with this team. Right now, J-Bo and company are failing miserably. I believe that has a domino effect on the forwards and goalie.

I think some of the younger guys need to step up and show that they are ready to help carry the team to success.

Heck, I'll confess, I really like Backes, Osh and Steener. But, this team's young guns need to know it's A-OK to lead the charge and spark this team. Guys like Schwartz, Lehtera and Tank (STL line) have played extremely well at times this season.

It's time for them to display some offensive and two way prowess down the stretch to help pull the Blues out of their funk and ride the momentum into the POs.

StL Dan wrote:I think some of the younger guys need to step up and show that they are ready to help carry the team to success.

Heck, I'll confess, I really like Backes, Osh and Steener. But, this team's young guns need to know it's A-OK to lead the charge and spark this team. Guys like Schwartz, Lehtera and Tank (STL line) have played extremely well at times this season.

It's time for them to display some offensive and two way prowess down the stretch to help pull the Blues out of their funk and ride the momentum into the POs.

Ok, I totall agree with that. What about the D? Is it just me, or is the D, especially our top 2 defenders, a complete and utter failure and liability?

I think they're tired right now and hopefully they'll wake up for round one.

I just posted something on D-Pairings! And I also singled out J-Bo. Great minds think alike Oakland Avenue.

At any rate, I think you gotta play Allen right now. It's a tough situation as a coach. But Ells looks like shit, he very well may get his game back (we've seen this in the past), but I think you have to go with Allen right now. It will (hopefully) sort itself out by the playoffs.

Regarding forwards: SOB will be fine. I think. STL is baffling to me...I don't think Schwartz is the problem, it's not Tank, so I'm going to point the finger at Lehtera wearing down after a longer season than he's used to. (NHLTIM would probably agree!). And maybe Jaskin should cool his heels in the press box for a few games because I'd like to see him well-rested for the playoffs. I'm not too worried about Statsny or Bergie, believe it or not.

Hoping your right, Battra.

I think motivation and effort won't be an issue when the playoffs start when they look over and see our old buddies Toews and Keith lined up against them.

Just stay healthy for the playoffs and get ready to sink or swim in the first round.

Sneptsmoustache wrote:I just posted something on D-Pairings! And I also singled out J-Bo. Great minds think alike Oakland Avenue.

At any rate, I think you gotta play Allen right now. It's a tough situation as a coach. But Ells looks like shit, he very well may get his game back (we've seen this in the past), but I think you have to go with Allen right now. It will (hopefully) sort itself out by the playoffs.

Regarding forwards: SOB will be fine. I think. STL is baffling to me...I don't think Schwartz is the problem, it's not Tank, so I'm going to point the finger at Lehtera wearing down after a longer season than he's used to. (NHLTIM would probably agree!). And maybe Jaskin should cool his heels in the press box for a few games because I'd like to see him well-rested for the playoffs. I'm not too worried about Statsny or Bergie, believe it or not.

I don't know if simply putting Allen in will address all of the other issues. I agree with you on Lehterra, maybe shift him to third line center and let Stastney play with top line talent for more than just a few shifts. I support Bergie, he can be a playoff hero.

Sneptsmoustache wrote:I just posted something on D-Pairings! And I also singled out J-Bo. Great minds think alike Oakland Avenue.

At any rate, I think you gotta play Allen right now. It's a tough situation as a coach. But Ells looks like shit, he very well may get his game back (we've seen this in the past), but I think you have to go with Allen right now. It will (hopefully) sort itself out by the playoffs.

Regarding forwards: SOB will be fine. I think. STL is baffling to me...I don't think Schwartz is the problem, it's not Tank, so I'm going to point the finger at Lehtera wearing down after a longer season than he's used to. (NHLTIM would probably agree!). And maybe Jaskin should cool his heels in the press box for a few games because I'd like to see him well-rested for the playoffs. I'm not too worried about Statsny or Bergie, believe it or not.

I think Lehtera is tired. I've been trying to watch him closely the past couple of games and he just doesn't look to have the same confidence with the puck. He is still battling but he showed so much offensive potential earlier this season and it just isn't happening anymore. Perhaps he is more focused on D and that is wiping him out mentally. I'm not sure but I don't think he is a liability he just isn't showing that flashy offense anymore.

Oakland Avenue wrote:
I don't know if simply putting Allen in will address all of the other issues.

I know for a fact it won't! Just saying if I'm the coach, next game he's my guy.

Lehtera has predictably hit the wall and regressed into what everyone thought he'd be, a good playmaking third line center.

That's why Hitch should have insisted on playing Stastny with Schwartz and Tarasenko, even when Lehtera outplayed him in the preseason and even after Stastny was injured.

STL line was dominant earlier but Lehtera's play was unsustainable.

Sneptsmoustache wrote:

Oakland Avenue wrote:
I don't know if simply putting Allen in will address all of the other issues.

I know for a fact it won't! Just saying if I'm the coach, next game he's my guy.

I see your point. The only problem with that move that I see is if it doesn't work and jake struggled as well, this mentally fragile team my completely implode. God it's great being a Blues fan!

Guys need to start scoring again. Outside of Tarasenko and Steen, no one is scoring lately:

Schwartz - 4 points in his last 10 games
Backes - 2 points in his last 5 games
Oshie - 2 points in his last 5 games
Stastny - 6 points in his last 13 games
Lehtera - 2 points in his last 10 games
Jaskin - 0 points in his last 10 games
Berglund - 1 point in his last 10 games

Ladislav Bonita wrote:Lehtera has predictably hit the wall and regressed into what everyone thought he'd be, a good playmaking third line center.

That's why Hitch should have insisted on playing Stastny with Schwartz and Tarasenko, even when Lehtera outplayed him in the preseason and even after Stastny was injured.

STL line was dominant earlier but Lehtera's play was unsustainable.

I don't mind them riding out the STL hot streak, but yes, it would have been nice to give the "SST" line a significant amount of time. We all knew Lehtera would level of, which is fine, but they needed someone else to heat up in his place. For awhile, Jaskin provided that. Right now, nobody seems to be stepping up.

As for the last games of the season. They need to figure it out now and get the machine running for this last stretch before the playoffs. The dismal play in late March is a bad sign, but if they can get going the right way and enter the playoffs healthy and humming, I'll like their chances. As a longtime Blues fan, I expect the wheels to come off and hope to be wrong.

MIZDSP wrote:Guys need to start scoring again. Outside of Tarasenko and Steen, no one is scoring lately:

Schwartz - 4 points in his last 10 games
Backes - 2 points in his last 5 games
Oshie - 2 points in his last 5 games
Stastny - 6 points in his last 13 games
Lehtera - 2 points in his last 10 games
Jaskin - 0 points in his last 10 games
Berglund - 1 point in his last 10 games

Why do you think those players are not scoring at a high rate any longer? My opinion is that Lehtera and Jaskin are adjusting to a full NHL season, Schwartz is going to be ok and oshie, backes and berglund are who they are.

I also think that the Backes line is being misused. My opinion is that the Backes line should be shifted to third line type minutes, switch steen with bergie, and give the Stastney and Lehtera lines the top scoring shifts as they are clearly our most talented group of forwards. Just my opinion

I kinda wish someone in a position of leadership would step up at a team meeting and rant and scream and throw shit. That's what I feel like doing when I watch them play. Would it be ineffective behavior? Probably, but it would feel sooooooooo good. And actually, as I write these words, it comes to my mind that this would be an excellent promotion: "Win a chance to ream the team." .... One lucky fan get's to go ballistic on them in the locker room (with proper security provided.... perhaps a police escort). That would be awesome.

MIZDSP wrote:Guys need to start scoring again. Outside of Tarasenko and Steen, no one is scoring lately:

Schwartz - 4 points in his last 10 games
Backes - 2 points in his last 5 games
Oshie - 2 points in his last 5 games
Stastny - 6 points in his last 13 games
Lehtera - 2 points in his last 10 games
Jaskin - 0 points in his last 10 games
Berglund - 1 point in his last 10 games

Minor correction: Berglund has 2 points in his last 10 (but 2 in his last 2 games! )

Also, you somewhat cherry picked those stats. I think if you're going to show that sort of thing then you need to correlate all of the data within the same time frame. Maybe everyone's in the last 10 instead?

Points - Last 10 Games Played:
Backes - 8 (that's actually surprising, considering how invisible he's seemed)
Oshie - 6
Stastny - 5
Schwartz - 4
Lehtera - 2
Berglund - 2
Jaskin - 0

And since you mentioned Tarasenko and Steen, let's look at them as well:

Steen - 8
Tarasenko - 5

So I'm not sure your sample size indicates what you were implying. That said, it's pretty clear the team is having some pretty bad scoring issues lately (so I agree with you 100% on that part of it).

Oakland Avenue wrote:What needs to happen in the last handful of games that remain in order for the Blues to get prepared for the playoffs? A change in goalies? A change in the defensive pairings? A change in the forward lines? Or just stand pat and hope that the team as it is will be able to succeed in the playoffs?

I believe that hitch must realize that the defense is what is most problematic with this team. Right now, J-Bo and company are failing miserably. I believe that has a domino effect on the forwards and goalie.

Quite clearly, what needs to happen is that the Blues need to score more goals.

Period.

End of story.

It really is just that simple.

Put players on the ice who have shown, recently, that they can score goals.

And, play them more than those players who have shown recently that they can't.

So, no Porter.

Plenty of Jaskin.

Ott, fourth line minutes only.

Etc.

edit:

And, yes, Jaskin. The kid was on fire until Hitch started to get into his head about defense and playing at 80% versus 100%.

WebSant, I completely agree. The lack of scoring is the current problem. However, in the last two game, injuries can be noted as part of the problem. On Sat, it was Oshie and Steen missings. Last night, Jokinen filled in for Steen and was two steps behind Backes and Oshie all night. I'm still puzzled by Hitch's decision to play Jokinen on the top line even for a spot start.

This team is built to out score any defense or goaltending deficiencies. The D is not built to pitch shutouts; it's built to help score 3-4 goals/game. IMO, Shatty's return has shuffled the D and the play is not going north and south as smoothly the past two games. Hopefully, Hitch is monitoring Bouwmeester's struggles (and lingering injury) and is telling him to get better or get ready to sit in the playoffs.

The team needs a psychologist. A psychiatrist would prescribe RX and then the team would play even more like Zombies!
Seriously, though, this team needs a motivator. So why was Marty Brodeur brought in? What is Al MacInnis' role?
Seems they were just hired to sit 5' away from each other in the press box and look serious! Why not rotate these Stanley Cup Champs behind the bench to offer advice and encouragement for the last 6 game? Heck; add Hull with his brutal honesty! Maybe tick someone off for motivation! In all seriousness, What this team lacks is confidence. They look lost!

But for on-ice advice: We next start Allen, and alternate goalies until one loses. Up front I'd keep the SOB line together. Enough line tinkering with them. There is chemistry there when the line plays with instinct and starts to hum. I agree Lehtera has been dragging the STL line down, but my impression is that the whole line has forgotten how to play both ends and giving pucks away in all 3 zones. I'm not completely sold on Stastny, but with his passing ability, the logical place is to let him gel with for this playoff run is Tank & Schwartz, and put Lethera with Berglund on the 3rd line to give them less minutes. The team sorely lacks toughness, and I think the the opposition has been playing fearlessly without apprehension. Very few are "paying the price"so the opponents are easily intercepting passes, and they have not been worn down going into the 3rd period. Now Hitch had mentioned playing 7 defensmen. I am not sure if I floated this idea on this forum, but I would add toughness by putting Bortuzzo on the right wing (big like Bryuglien) on the 3rd line. His shot appears to be accurate and gets through, and leave the 4th line alone, or let Olli rotate with Goc. The opposition must be "punished" more from the first period on, and those hit leaders should be Backes, Bortuzzo, Reaves and Ott (who hasn't looked as shabby lately in the offensive zone). On defense, put Petro with Shatty, Michalek with Gunner (maybe try Butler again since Lindbolm is probably going to the Wolves playoffs), and Bou on the right side with Jax. Personally, I'd sit Gunner because he just seems to be too slow and behind the plays the 2nd half of the season. Bou at least has the longer reach to break up plays, so he plays on the right side with Jax. I liked Jax with Bortuzzo together, but Hitch seems disinterested in returning him to the defense! Jaskin can come back to the 3rd line in the Borts experiment fails, and then at least he is in playing shape (instead of press-box if Gunner or Bou play weakly-or an injury occurs on D). My basic plan is to have the SOB line set the tone (Backes camps out in front of the net and pucks channel toward him for deflections), the new Stastny line wears down their D by puck possession, skilled passing and scoring, Borts bangs around the O zone, giving Lethera/Jaskin and Berglund room in the middle to shoot on goal. The Goc line bangs hard, keeps the opponent's D running around and with Shatty & Petro together for better opportunities from the points. Michalek is playing a little tougher now (last game looked his best as a Blue), and his partner will need to follow his example. Need Jax to continue to intimidate the opponent with his partner being mobile and moving the puck out on a rush. That's about it as we need the other team to play more tentatively and feel the pressure with strong, hard bodies getting into their way, so they think more "I don't want to be hit", rather than to patiently wait for a soft pass and just float by tour players toward our goalie. That's my plan (so tear it apart and continue to present yours).

MIZDSP wrote:Guys need to start scoring again. Outside of Tarasenko and Steen, no one is scoring lately:

Schwartz - 4 points in his last 10 games
Backes - 2 points in his last 5 games
Oshie - 2 points in his last 5 games
Stastny - 6 points in his last 13 games
Lehtera - 2 points in his last 10 games
Jaskin - 0 points in his last 10 games
Berglund - 1 point in his last 10 games

This!

That Stastny line needs to chip in and it starts with Berglund. The goal he scored the other day, just before he released the shot, I thought to myself how's he gonna miss that one.