GameBlog 4-5-10: Blues vs. Blue Jackets
Recap
Chances are slim and the outlook bleak, but that didn’t stop the Blues from pulling out an OT winner.
The game started poorly. Columbus
Really dictated the pace. They cut the Blues off at the Columbus blueline and didn’t really let the Blues possess the puck from the red line forward. The Blues were sleepwalking the period. Columbus jumped on the oppertunity and scored the first goal on a Dorsett tip in. There was a collective “here we go again” feeling. The only Blues player making an impact besides Mason was Tkachuk.
I don’t know what was said in the locker room or who said it. Whatever was said seemed to jump start the team as a whole. The Blues ened the first with 4 shots on goal. At the 10 minute mark of the second the Blues had 16 shots on goal. That momentum lead to Andy McDonald’s 23rd goal of the season (from Perron and Colaiacovo).
Both teams had chances in the third, yet failed to find the back of the net. The Blues held off Columbus with offensive zone time and key saves by Mason. Columbus denied the Blues any clear chances on net.
Overtime was no let down as both teams pushed the play inthe first half if the 5 minute session. Oshie draws a penalty off a nice move to the slot. Johnson finished the game off with an Al MacInnis type blast for his 10th goal of the season.
The Blues were plagued by lost one on one battles all night. Even physical players like Backes had issues. Perron also struggled winning battles, but he came up big late in the third. Columbus nearly took a break away in on Mason. Perron tied up the attacker and helped preserve the tie.
Both Berglund and Tkachuk left the game early with injuries. Brad Boyes replace Berglund. Berglund looked better than the previous two games before the injury.
I thought Sydor had a decent game. You can tell he still has the mental aspects figured out. Physically, he just can’t keep up as well. I honestly hope he sticks around with the organization in some coaching or front office capacity.
Next season’s core players had their struggled. Oshie and Perron both took bad penalties. Johnson had a so-so game (till the OT goal). For their mistakes they made up for them as described above. When the team and fans talk about growth and player development, that’s what everyone is looking for. Attempt, mistake, understanding, correction, and adaptation. These are the type of games Johnson, Oshie, Backes, etc need to take charge of and they eventually did.
Three Stars:
3 – McDonald
2 – Garon
1 – Mason
PreGame
To start off, big kudos to Keith “Walt” Tkachuk on appearing in his 1,200th NHL game tonight. I hope (and expect) the Blues honor him. I will stand and applaud loudly.
Just because the Cardinals start their regular sason today doesn’t mean that the Blues are done. The Columbus Blue Jackets come to town with the Blues clinging on to their slim playoff hopes.
Perhaps the biggest story line for this game is the Barrett Jackman injury situation. If you pick up a copy of the Post today or read on StLToday.com, you will see an article by Jeremy Rutherford. In said article Rutherford discusses Jackman’s most recent injuries. Yes, injuries. After getting hit in the first period on Nashville Jaclman came up slowly and didn’t play well the rest of the game. We’ll give Barrett some credit there for sticking it out like a hockey player should. Now Blues fans find out he was injured previously. Could this explain his recent level of play? You can argue his play over the last five or six games has not been where it was for most of the season prior. If the injury was decreasing his level of play, should he have been playing as much (or at all) during the Blues frantic attempt to steal the final playoff spot? Given the collapses against Nashville and other missed oppertunities, have rhe Blues missed out on key points due to this injury?
If the Blues are in the playoffs this isn’t a question. If they weren’t terrible at home for 80% of the season this isn’t a question. However, this team is on the outside looking in and there is a need for answers. What was last season’s epic run’s strength has become this runs weakness, defense. Are any of the recent struggles tied to injury?
The Blues must cast out this outside pressure and march on to their fifth straight home victory. The fans need to cast out defensive doubts as well. The NHL is all about offense and in the impact losses the Blues have struggled to score. The concerns should be focused on generating scoring. Transition and finishing. For that, there is little remedy till this summer.
If I had to guess on the line-up I would likely be wrong, but here is an educated shot in the dark.
9-42-74
10-21-57
20-18-26
55/19/15-7-22 (wouldn’t surprise me to see McDonald double shifted with Walt and Boyes)
4-46
44-6
28-43
Mason is the likely choice in net for the Blues.
I would also guess that Steve Mason is in net for the Blue Jackets.
I will keep an eye out on Twitter as both team’s bloggers and beat writers update throughout the day.
No TV tonight folks. I still need to check Center Ice to see if Columbus has it on.
Updates
Per Lou Korac: No Jackman. Chris Mason will start.
Per Aaron Portzline : F Chad Kolarik has been recalled under emergency conditions from Syracuse of the AHL. He will make his NHL debut tonight vs. the Blues, wearing No. 42.
