GameRecap 11-27-10: All Yin and No Yang
The second half of the home and home set against the Dallas Stars moved to St. Louis and Scottrade ice. For most of the season a perfect prescription for the ailments of road losses. The Blues put their near perfect 8-0-1 home mark on the line.
The night ended with a 2009 vintage 3rd period collapse and the first regulation loss at Scottrade in the 2010-11 campaign.
In terms of pace and opportunity, the Blues greatly controlled the game. Breaking second game of a back to back set tradition by putting 36 shots on goal and allowing just 23. Even more trends were broken thanks to a 64% face-off winning percentage. All the control was for naught as the Stars borrow a page from the Colorado Avalanche’s playbook. Patiently waiting and absorbing attacks only to strike when opportunity presented itself.
Absorbing is a good way to describe Kari Lehtonen’s play. Few second chances created by shots on goal. Far too many came from the outside and to his glove hand. Much like Pekka Rinne, he has soft hands made for snatching up pucks. Getting lateral movement and low shots through is vital to steer clear of the trapper. The Blues couldn’t make either happen really. The transition game also lacked the speed needed to break in to the middle of the ice to snatch up rebounds when they did come.
Basically a 180 degree flip from the game against New Jersey one week ago.
Scoring the lone goal for the good guys was BJ Crombeen. playing on a line with Brad Winchester and Patrik Berglund, Crombeen was to use his size to work the boards to create space for Berglund. That line didn’t make much happen outside Berglund’s quick shot that trickled through Lehtonen which Crombeen tapped in to make it 1-0.
Peculiar officiating played a part in the contest. A rather late whistle on an icing dew a penalty against Crombeen for crashing in to former team mate Jeff Woywitka. A few Dallas interference calls were left out while Matt D’Agostini was collared for one on Loui Eriksson. After Jamie Benn victimized Jaroslav Halak on consecutive nights to tie the game 1-1, Dallas got a chance to go up with a controversial call on Alex Steen. Putting a seemingly clean hit in to Eriksson earned Steen a 2 minute rest for elbowing. Given Alex’s lack of history for being a “questionable hitter”, teh stretch to make that call in a tight game was an odd one.
The Stars top unit wasted no time in burning Halak high to the glove side again. Stpehane Robidas to Brad Richards to Eriksson and its 2-1 Dallas.
Head Coach Davis Payne talks about push back and dealing with adversity all the time. When the going gets tough, the tough get going type stuff. Lately, the Blues haven’t responded with effort to meet the request. Try as the Blues might, they would be consistently repelled from the offensive zone over the last 15 minutes of the game. A late flurry with Halak pulled produced a chance, but nothing was put behind Lehtonen.
Playing mistake free hockey because of offensive impotence is bad news. Without the creative magic of TJ Oshie and David Perron, the Blues are all yin and no yang. There is no balance to their game. No avenue to make up for the eventual mistakes. The only way to correct the problem is for key players to step up and players to shine outside their role. Winchester and Crombeen have shown flashes, but over the last two seasons Blues fans all know what to expect from those two regularly. Now, more than ever, Steen and Berglund must prove their value. To take the opportunity to shine above their injuries comrades and make a difference. Sadly, close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. They effort is there, but execution is not.
The same can be said for D’Agostini who has gone rather cold with the weight of expectations on him. Rediscovery of his play that earned higher expectations is his challenge.
Quick Hits Game Notes
- Dallas power play conversion was just their SECOND of the season on the road.
- David Backes was 13 for 26, 50%, on draws.
- Brad Boyes played like he is going to drift back to his perimeter play version.
- Alex Pietrangelo had more of a positive impact overall in this game than Erik Johnson. Only Blues skater with more than 20 minutes ESTOI and led all skaters with 25:36 Total TOI. Much more coming up on those two this week.
- Blues had 37 total missed shots and Dallas blocked 17 shots. out of 90 total attempts on net, 54 didn’t make it on net. Yes, 60%.
- Is there a book out on Halak now? Shoot corner, glove side? Dallas has burned him there multiple times now.
- Adam Burish is no Ronaldinho. Miss with the stick blade? Just kick it in.
- Check out the highlights on NHL.com
