Recap 12-31-09: Blues vs. Canucks

What a way to end 2009. Go up 3-1 only to lose 4-3 in Overtime. What sad, strange days these are around the St. Louis Blues.

Is this seasons issue the Euro Effect?

Teams that have started over in Sweden have generally struggled after starting the season there. Last season Ottawa, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, and the New York Rangers all fired their coaches before season’s end due to failures in performance. Now this year coudl be different. Detroit, Chicago and Florida are not likely to axe their coaches. The Blues, something could be there.

This Blues team is generally healthy and as good as last years model, yet has regressed. They aren’t working as hard or are as mentally prepared on the ice. That was evident again last night as the Blues coughed up a 3-1 lead in the third period to end up losing in OT. It was from lack of effort and mental break downs that the two points were lost. The goaltending (or lack their of) did not help, but Chris Mason wasn’t really supported either.

I know I harp on Brad Boyes a lot. The last to seasons have lead to very lofty expectations in his third full season in St. Louis. While he has never been considered a physical player, he was much stronger on the puck the last two seasons. Last night might have been he worst performance of the season. Lazy pursuing loose pucks, getting pushed off the puck on the boards, weak offensive zone turnovers…the whole gambit that usually plagues him. He still managed two secondary assists, but the rest of his game was shallow, weak, and lacking effort. Where did he go? Where was the dynamic offensive zone player who was lighting up the score board last spring with David Backes? That player seems far away right now.When he tried to out deke Luongo with an open lane to shoot really shows how tightly he is holding the stick and not simplifying his game.

Is it fair to ask if Brad Boyes is creeping in to Michael Ryder / Chris Higgins territory? A player with one or two very productive seasons who slips greatly? I think the answer could be yes if he doesn’t find the will to do his job in himself. Ultimately he is responsible for his level of play and right now he is about as responsible as a stereotypical 16 year old.

Is it fair to ask if Chris Mason is going in to Manny Legace territory? A good run one season followed up by a noticeable slippage in performance? Not yet. The team’s defensive play has taken a sharp dive down lately. The mental decisions (especially to exist/clear the zone) have been poor. The effort needed hasn’t been present when mental lapses occur as well. Mason isn’t getting help and he didn’t last night in the third period. For all the good things that happened in the first 40 minutes, they didn’t happen in the last 25.

Does anyone else work at the same level as TJ Oshie, Andy McDonald, Alex Steen, and Roman Polak? These seem to be the only four putting out a consistent, even effort combined with intelligent play. I love that Polak jumped in on the rush to help create the first goal. He just continues to impress. The three forwards seem to just be it right now. The two David’s (Backes and Perron) seem to be close to matching those three, but the rest I am not so sure about. I think its unfair to group guys like McClement and Crombeen, but their impact hasn’t been felt (save for the penalty kill) for some time.

What is up with this teams play with a lead? After 40 minutes the Blues lead in shots 18 to 13. In the third they were out-shot 15 to 7. Why are they not still playing for the next goal? Why are they sitting back? If someone could answer that question, give the Blues a call and tell them. I think its philosophy mixed with the teams overall play. I honestly think that the Blues do not want to give up a goal in the third period with the lead. So their play is safe, cautious. Get the puck in deep, get fresh bodies out and try to make the other team earn a goal. If you play to win for 40 minutes, why change in the last 20? Why not take the play to the other end just the same as the first 40? Is it because the other team wants it more? Most likely they do, so you match that level of play. When you can’t you do something (like a timeout) to slow the pace and take it back. The coaching staff didn’t use the timeout when they had chances and the team played cautious. At some point this isn’t just the players when its happening game after game.

Credit Vancouver for playing a chippy, stereotypical road game. As much as I loathe Alex Burrows (and I do), he does his job well. He gets under your skin, like a Geoff Courtnall.

Did anyone else laugh their @$$ off when they saw Barret Jackman handle the two Sedin’s by himself? I wonder how Burrows got away with being basically the 3rd man in on that one. I will also credit the Sedons for making an impact against the Blues one again. You can dislike them and call them the “Sedin Sisters”, but you cannot say that they can’t play the game at a high level. They are just good.

Gotta say I disagree with Alain Vigneault’s interpretation of the rule that lead to the match penalty on Rick Rypen. The article is linked here. Basically Rypen had tape on his hands which lead to injuries to Janssen. It looked like Cam had a broken nose and cut up hands. If tape or another opject below the write injures a player the offender gets a 5-minute match penalty on top of his others. The rule says “who cuts or injures”. Vigneault said Rypen broke Janssen’s nose, he didn’t cut him. While that appears to be true, the rule says “cut OR injure”. A broken nose is an injury last time I checked. One of the few correct calls by the ref.

If you were at or watched the game, did you get the feeling that the calls were tilted in Vancouver’s favor? Kind of odd for a home team to not get a few calls to go their way more than road team did.
Do the Blues have a player of the game? Not really. Not for a whole 60 minutes. I will however dis some kudos out.

* I really like Steen on the point right now. He is just settling in well on his off hand side.
* Cam Janssen did his usual 2-3 big hits and a fight and it helped get the crowd in to it…for 40 minutes.
* David Perron had a decent game.
* Erik Johnson returned to the line up and was better than he had been previously.
* Eric Brewer was ok.  I’ll take the good with the bad as they usually even out.
* Polak is showing more offensive game than ever the last week or so. He is rapidly showing he can become a legit top 4 defensemen.
* Still can’t complain about And y McDonald’s effort and now we can’t complain about production as he gets back on track.

As far as jeers..(which there were many from the stands last night)

* Brad Boyes needs to be off the power play and spend a night off up in the box watching the game.
* Berglund was fairly invisible…maybe I missed something, but I didn’t think he made much of an impact.
* Chris Mason can’t make a big save to bail this team out and this team can’t give him a chance to do it. Not a good game for him though.

Next up is Chicago on Saturday. This could be the most important game Murray has had as Blues coach. Losing 4 in a row at home after taking 3 in a row on the road…could his card be punched before heading out for 3 games in California?