The Breakout of Brad Boyes

Tuesday night sure was a happy night for Blues fans. For a group of people that haven’t had the chance to enjoy much offense in the last stretch of games, the first period last night was like Christmas morning.

Andy McDonald broke the ice just 18 seconds in on a nice drop pass by Brad Boyes. Yes, I said Brad Boyes. The same Brad Boyes who had gone 7 games without registering a point, finally produced in the style that he is expected to.

A player of Brad Boyes skill set, often strives on confidence, whether Andy Murray will admit it or not. You could see the last number of games that he was starting to feel better and better with the puck on his stick. He was beginning to beat defenceman one on one again, he was getting more and more pucks on net. They weren’t going in, but they were starting to go on net.

A scorer like Boyes, when not getting chances, will start getting concerned if he’s lost something. If he is getting chances and creating scoring opportunities than he realizes that they will eventually start going in.

It is never the finishing aspect of scoring that is dependent on confidence. Beating defenceman and controlling puck breeds the confidence required to produce in the NHL. Brad Boyes has gained this confidence back over the last stretch of games, and last night was just an expected result of that confidence coming back.

Confidence in himself causes Brad Boyes to shoot the puck on David Perron’s first goal against Vancouver. It causes him to move more on the power play, leading him to get open for Andy McDonald to feed him for an easy one timer goal.

Last night is the Brad Boyes that Blues fans always want to see. He’ll never be the best defensive player, but when his confidence is high, this causes him to want the puck on his stick more often. This want for the puck, leads him into more puck battles and back checking situations.

Watching this Brad Boyes play, causes me to expect to see one of his known stretches of 8 or 9 goals in 10 games. With the solid netminding, and improved team defence, when Boyes can produce during a stretch like that it can easily lead to a great stretch for the Blues.

This current 6 game homestand would be a great time to get on one of those rolls. Blues fans need a run like that to re-energize the fan base that seemed to take a step back during the recent offensive slump the team went through.

I know from my vantage point, it’s hard not to get excited with the play of the Perron – McDonald – Boyes line last night.

Remembrance / Veteran’s Day

I sincerely hope that everyone takes some time today to remember / honour those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice in order for us to enjoy a beer and watch our Blues.

Lest we Forget.