NOW they get a 2nd goal! After giving up the empty-netter and while short handed! What a screwy team!

Bummer. Stupid penalty by Backes near the end of the game (typical) not that it really matters at the end.

The Dynamic Duo of Backes and Oshie show up again with their super power of invisibility.

Backes has finally descended to my shit list. Floating away from the net on a late scoring opportunity he should been there to create kaos and pop a rebound, and a dumb late penalty after doing nothing the rest of the game. I watched maxim lappierre earlier play better than him for Christ sake.

Will Backes and Oshie ever show up and have a positive impact on a playoff game? Saw absolutely nothing from them tonight. Everyone sucked for most of the game but they provided nothing all night.

Michalek was exposed tonight, Bowmeester looked like hot garbage, and the rest of the team, except for pietro, looked very much mind fucked out there. They better unfuck themselves and quickly.

SteveW7744 wrote:Anyone else see nerves and a lack of confidence in the play of the Blues?

Also, how many Blues do you think are thinking "We are GOING to win this game!"

If it was the Hawks, how many do you think would be thinking that?

I bet you there is a big difference between the two.

EXACTLY what I saw and felt! The Blues are carrying an 800 lb. gorilla on their backs and they can't shake it.

10 bucks says Backes uses the cliche "It starts with looking in the mirror" comment in his postgame interview.

Gunnarsson is just lost and a step behind out there. I'll be shocked if he is out there next game. Then again, they'll probably justify it by saying we lost on two empty net goals.

LrdStnly wrote:10 bucks says Backes uses the cliche "It starts with looking in the mirror" comment in his postgame interview.

At first I smirked at this..... Then got sad at the high probability It's said.

How does a team sign the best UFA to really help solidify their lineup, make trades to get good depth, have their 2 young stars have breakout seasons, have their young goalie of the future start playing great, win 5 of their last six to win their division and tie for best conference record (starting the playoffs with home ice), and go into the 1st game and play with NO confidence and NO energy in front of their home crowd??????

What in The World will it take to have this team have confidence in the playoffs???

Well, that looked familiar. No confidence in their play not a lot of intensity. Better figure it out quickly or the Blues are primed for another early exit.

Robb_K wrote:How does a team sign the best UFA to really help solidify their lineup, make trades to get good depth, have their 2 young stars have breakout seasons, have their young goalie of the future start playing great, win 5 of their last six to win their division and tie for best conference record (starting the playoffs with home ice), and go into the 1st game and play with NO confidence and NO energy in front of their home crowd??????

What in The World will it take to have this team have confidence in the playoffs???

Right?!?!

My #1 concern going into this game was Allen. The least of my concerns at the end of the game was Allen.

Honestly, I think you can throw home ice out the door in this series. It is going to come down to who can score first and dig in and play their game.

Robb_K wrote:How does a team sign the best UFA to really help solidify their lineup, make trades to get good depth, have their 2 young stars have breakout seasons, have their young goalie of the future start playing great, win 5 of their last six to win their division and tie for best conference record (starting the playoffs with home ice), and go into the 1st game and play with NO confidence and NO energy in front of their home crowd??????

What in The World will it take to have this team have confidence in the playoffs???

Mind boggling. Maddening.

Hard to win a game with only about 2 periods worth of effort. I hope Bortuzzo is in game two and they take the positives from the first and third and go from there.

Hopefully we see Bort on Saturday. Gunnarsson looks lost our there.

What a terrible effort to give in front of a home crowd in the playoffs. Those guys should be ashamed. Allen was good and kept this game from being out of control, the 4th line was fine, and Petro played pretty well. Everyone else needs to be pissed off and come out with some god damned effort Saturday.

With how good both these teams are on the road I'm not sure home ice is going to be a big deal in this series. Scoring first might be more important (which the Blues haven't been good at lately).

ratonmono wrote:What a terrible effort to give in front of a home crowd in the playoffs. Those guys should be ashamed. Allen was good and kept this game from being out of control, the 4th line was fine, and Petro played pretty well. Everyone else needs to be pissed off and come out with some god damned effort Saturday.

Still don't think the Blues will sweep?

JesusNEVERexisted wrote:

ratonmono wrote:What a terrible effort to give in front of a home crowd in the playoffs. Those guys should be ashamed. Allen was good and kept this game from being out of control, the 4th line was fine, and Petro played pretty well. Everyone else needs to be pissed off and come out with some god damned effort Saturday.

Still don't think the Blues will sweep?

Uh, I never said they'd sweep the Wild. I believe I picked Blues in six.

I will say this it's about time Backes and Oshie actually stepped up and did something in a playoff game. Both guys have been simply terrible in the playoffs their whole careers. If neither guy can find another level I have no issue in sending both guys packing this summer. Way too many playoff games those two have been invisible.

StL Dan wrote:

Robb_K wrote:
Mind boggling. Maddening.

Blues playoff history=Mind boggling. Maddening. Inexplicable.

My closing thoughts....

Sure, I'm several glasses of scotch and a few glasses of wine into this thought, but here's my approach to this lack of effort.

Hitch could not get them motivated to play 60 minutes (another cliche quote I expect to hear from him), so show him the door now. I don't think a coach has ever been fired during the playoffs, so we would definitely get people talking. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Muller introduces his strategy and you see if that lights a fire under the collective asses of the team. If yes, great. If not, a couple core players should bring a hefty bounty at trade deadline (Backes, Oshie, Berglund).

It's game 1, so I'm probably overreacting a bit, but I just don't like what I see....and I'm drunk. Have fun with this.

LrdStnly wrote:My closing thoughts....

Sure, I'm several glasses of scotch and a few glasses of wine into this thought, but here's my approach to this lack of effort.

Hitch could not get them motivated to play 60 minutes (another cliche quote I expect to hear from him), so show him the door now. I don't think a coach has ever been fired during the playoffs, so we would definitely get people talking. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Muller introduces his strategy and you see if that lights a fire under the collective asses of the team. If yes, great. If not, a couple core players should bring a hefty bounty at trade deadline (Backes, Oshie, Berglund).

It's game 1, so I'm probably overreacting a bit, but I just don't like what I see....and I'm drunk. Have fun with this.

Just a bit.

You would think grown men playing in the biggest game of the season wouldn't need any motivation.

I didn't realize Hitch's job was to coddle and babysit these players.

Alexander Steen wrister SHG 3-2

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