10-10-09: Blues vs Kings

It has been a rather miserable week for St. Louis sports. After the great wins in Sweden the Blues came home 2-0 over the Red Wings to lose to the Thrashers at the home opener. The Cards were swept by the Dodgers. The Rams were Lambs more than Rams. Mizzou lost to rival Nebraska.

Fan expectations were high once again for tonight’s tilt versus the LA Kings. While the Blues didn’t disappoint in the first 5-8 minutes of the first, the last 10-12 did.

The common thread from Sweden back home has been the absence of the Blues normal compete level. As in the Thrashers game, the Blues lost too many 1-on-1 battles and board battles. This team was so strong on the puck in the second half of 08-09, where has it gone? The first periods of all 4 games have been reminiscent of how 08-09 started. Lackluster, lazy 1st Period followed by catch up in the late 2nd and 3rd periods. the Blues hallmark in last years playoff push was out working their opponent, being an absolute pest to play against. That level of commitment has been DOA for the Blues. There was no support down low on the forecheck to recapture pucks all night.

The second biggest issue has to be penalties and special teams play. Over the first 4 games the Blues have been on the PK for a total of 18 times in 4 games. While that inst as bad as Caolina at 27 short handed situations in 4 games, it is cause for alarm when you top 10 unit from last year is playing below standard. The Blues cannot afford to give up 4.5 penalties a game when they are all being stacked up in the first period. You lose the opportunity (especially at home) to set the tone and pace of the game. The Blues spent nearly 6 of the last 10 minutes of the 1st period on the kill. Lazy hooking calls are quit possibly the worst call to take since the lockout. Players have to have figured out by now that the refs will call that every time. Realize it, remember it, and get in to position instead of hooking the guy. I know TJ Oshie was peeved, as was Backes. However, they simply cannot take those penalties.

While the power play has moved the puck well in the zone and created chances, they are having a troublesome time gaining the zone. One cmoon theme from around the NHL this year is stacking 3 penalty killers  on the Blueline and having one head man aggravate teh carrier. When you power play unit lacks speed in transition, the other team iseasily moving the puck out.  Quality chances need to become several quality chances each power play attempt. Going 0 for 5 is unacceptable in a 1 goal game with the talent on the ice. Please move Erik Johnson and Paul Kariya to their offhand point side every once in a while. The Blues have the skill to pull that off and create opportunity. FYI – Brad Boyes won’t score 43 goals again if he is at the exact same spot each game for every power play.

If there is a positive, then we have two.

First would be the play of Chris Mason. He has held down the fort to the best of his abilities. He and Perron were hung out to dry on the Michal Handzus goal. everything else Mason has done has given the Blues a chance to win. That’s all you can ask of Chris at this point. The talent in front needs to execute. It’s very nice to see that his play from the second half last season is still there. When given opportunity he has made the easy saves and come up with the big ones as well. All things considered, his 24 saves on 26 shots was good enough for a Star of the Game. Sadly, it wasn’t enough for a win. Seems like a consistent occurrence from tonight’s game, echos of the 1st half of 08-09.

The second would be the play of David Perron. Let me say this now. Perron is head and shoulders above Oshie, Patrik Berglund, and any other young player the Blues have. He is doing everyhting he possibly can to give the Blues a chance to win. He is working the boards better than David Backes and Brad Winchester. He is dangling better than Kariya. His shots are vastly more productive than Brad Boyes’. Perron has been by far the best forward on the ice in the last two games. Cases can be made for Alex Steen and Keith Tkachuk, but for me its Perron. By the way, excellent work tonight Mr. Steen and Mr. Tkachuk. Can our main line be Steen-Tkachuk-Perron? They seem to be the ones working the hardest right now.

Speaking of Boyes and his shot. I will say that I was extremely unimpressed with his total of eight (accompanied by eight misses). He had one shot you can quantify as a good shot. The rest were low percentage shots that were easy kicked to the corner or trapped in the chest. One in particular in the third bothers me, no matter who does it. Brad comes down the right wing, and puts it low and to the near side where Jonathan Quick easily kicks it to the corner. LA picks up the puck and works the puck out. To me that is as bad as walking in and trying to snipe the far corner, missing the net, and ringing the puck around the boards out of the zone. I think the Blues transition improved as teh game went on, but the puck management was not good.

How snake bitten can Andy McDonald be? Yes , he had a great goalie versus Detroit. However, he just cannot buy a point since the playoffs versus Vancouver. Certainly not for a lack of effort. Andy woudl be right up there with Perron, Tkachuk, and Steen for the top performers.

We shouldn’t forget that tonight was Alex Peitrangelo’s 09-10 debut. He was paired with Johnson most of the game and didn’t play much in the third. I made a point to watch him and EJ closely. I thought LA did a good job of preventing them from being be factors at even strength. Dustin Brown used the same move on Pietrangelo twice and made a good play each time. I have been routinely impressed with Pietrangelo’s stick skills to break up plays. However, his positioning and ability to win  1-on-1 battles still needs work. The kid just needs to grow in to his adult body still and add 10-15 pounds of muscle. He doesn’t have to out muscle everyone, but he needs to be able to hold his own. He has the skating and passing tools to be very good. Like Rafalski, Zubov or even Mike Green. He just doesn’t have the body and experience yet. I don’t think he should go back to Juniors, but I can see it happening if he plays this way in his other 7-8 games.

Speaking of EJ. Isn’t it lovely to see that cannon on the blueline? Isn’t it lovely to see him take a man to the boards and win a battle. Don’t you love seeing his effortlessly take the puck up ice. Once all the rust is off he will be unstoppable. I thought EJ had the best night of all the defensemen. Erik ended up with 3 shots, 3 blocks, 1 hit, and a +2 in Take/Giveaways.

I know Daryl Sydor had a few gaffes, but overall I think he was “ok”. Didn’t notice Mike Weaver much, so that means he was likely doing his job. Paging Carlo Colaiacovo. Your job is on the line if Pietrangelo steps up by the time Jackman is back. Time to show up and play a simple game to get yourself going in the right direction.

Lastly, we cannot forget about local boy Cam Janssen. Playing in the place of healthy scratch Berglund, Cam saw a completely ineffective 5 minutes on the ice. He did register a few hits, which were good hits, but he just didn’t do anything else. I would have rather seen Berglund tough it out and figure out his problems on the ice and not force us to double shift than see Cam play. Especially when Berglund has 3 goals in 4 career games versus LA.

Stat of the Night
LA was 5 for 5 killing penalties and 1 for 6 on the power play. A total of 6 for 11. Their special teams clicked at a rate of 54.5%.
St. Louis was 5 for 6 killing penalties and 0 for 5 on the power play. A total of 5 for 11. Their special teams clicked at a rate of 45.4%.

Amazing how ONE less special teams conversion, a 9.1% difference, cost the Blues a point.

Three Blues Stars
1.Chris Mason
2. David Perron
3. Keith Tkachuk

Next Game
Thursday October 15th, 2009
@ the Phoenix Coyotes
10 PM Central