Recap 12-15-09: Blues vs Flames

You couldn’t wipe the smile off Brett Hull’s face tonight. Nor could you off a Blues fan leaving Scottrade.

Blues fans were treated to the Blues best overall home effort all season. There was consistent effort and it showed. Yes, there were some stretches where Calgary hemmed the Blues in behind their blue line. Yes, Calgary did score 3 goals. However, the Blues had an answer all night. If there was a big hit, the Blue shad one to. If there was a goal, they got one too.

The table setter was the Cam Janssen bout against Prust of the Flames. Here is my Video from the game on our Facebook Page. The Blues scored the first goal of the game less than 2 minutes after the Janssen fight. The fight was quick and close to a split decision, but the fans loved it. Then David Backes scores his 7th of the season on a quick shot on net that found its way through. Suddenly the team is hoppin’ and the fans love it.

Rene Bourque answered six minutes later with his 10th goal. He had one shot, to get it on a steep angle over Mason just under the crossbar and he did it. Watch out for this guy.

The Blues got their own later period goal when Andy McDonald came in with a burst of speed off a very nifty pass by Brad Boyes in the neutral zone. He cut in down the right wing, back to the middle and scored to the right side of Curits McElhinney. It was very similar to his shootout moves to Andy’s left.

The Blues were up 2-1 going in to the second and the crowd was still in to it.

Calgary had some good pace and pressure in the second, keeping the Blues in their own zone for a fair amount of time. The key was that Calgary didn’t really score off sustained pressure. For the most part they were ket outside. Calgary did score two straight goals to take a 3-2 lead. The Blues answered late in the period again. Alex Steen ripped a shot home from the point on the power play. Consecutive home games with a good power play? Yes, there is a Santa Ca]laus and it looks like he came early for the Blues. After two, tied 3-3.

The third was evenly matched with both teams generating legitimate scoring chances. The breaker came off the rush where the Backes line connected again. Backes got the puck to Kariya, Kariya in to Oshie open in the slot. TJ gets McElhinney to make his move back over and he roofs it just barely under the cross bar. Blues up 4-3. Calgary pushed for a tying goal in the last 5 minutes of the game, but the Blues didn’t give up on the play. They didn’t give up on getting the puck and getting it deep behind Calgary’s defense. They played like a team trying to win a game.

Chris Mason stopped 20 of a meager 23 shots on goal.

Thoughts

After a weak shift on the power play in the first period, David Perron came back and played a solid game. It sure seems like playing on a line w/ McClement and Crombeen forces David to constantly move at an elevated pace. Which seemed to be a good thing once again. BJ Crombeen had a heck of a game as well. No points, but effective working the puck in the offensive zone.

Erik Johnson was invisible till the third period. He seems to get in a rut where he doesn’t carry the puck up ice or pinch, like he is playing it safe. Now Erik doesn’t need to play risky, but the confidence needs to be there to execute those plays. Not sure what gives. I was extremely happy to see Carlo Colaiacovo and EJ paired together at the end of the game.

Congrats to Andy McDonald on a multi-point game (1G, 1A). He had been struggling very much to produce points. He was very much a part of the screen that allowed the Steen goal to go in as well.

The Backes line continues to be the Blues best. They had lots of “get up ‘n go” n all three zones and accounted for several scoring chances and the Oshie goal. Speaking of Oshie, what a game. He was on, full “TJ mode”. Skating hard, never giving up on the play.  Backes was a physical presence behind the net (leading to 2 points) and Kariya worked his speed down the left side all night (earning him an assist).

Brad Boyes, what can I say? He had a better game, to the tune of three assists. He was stronger on the puck and appeared to be more in the game that he has been recently. He looked like the Boyes that ended 08-09 and not the one that has been around for the first 30 games of the 09-10 season.

Mason was good enough for the win. He had good saves and controlled most rebounds.Yes, giving up 3 goals on 23 shots is a little below his standards, but he made big saves in the third to keep the team in the game.

Calgary really backed the Blues off the blueline with speed several times. They woudl come down and cut in to the slot without someone stepping up to take the man. It produced  blocked shots and deflections, but the ones that made it Mason handled. I don’t like seeing guys back up from a puck carrier when they are giving up their slot.

The power play is moving the puck well in the zone. I was very happy to see multiple back door plays to Colaiacovo. They still have issues entering the zone.

Player of the Game

TJ Oshie

TJ notched the Game Winning Goal late in the Third Period. He also worked tirelessly in all three zones.

Next up is Chicago Wednesday night. Another important two points sitting out there for the taking.