GameRecap 1-6-11: Blues Fall Short In Shootout After Epic Comeback
The Blues deserved a better fate against the Leafs. Had they worked up to their standards in the second period, they would have earned fate’s blessing.
Instead a 2-1 first period lead evaporated in to a three goal Toronto second to completely flip the game over. If not for the quick discovery of their legs and the shock value of a pulled starter, the fifth goal against might have sunk the good guys.
Brad Winchester, Jay McClement, Brad Boyes and Eric Brewer got the Blues back in the game on the scoreboard. Those four combined to score a pair of goals within two minutes of each other. Both thanks to the net presence of Winchester.
The first score by putting Leafs netminder Jonas Gustavsson into the net as he helped the puck squirted in. Goal number two came from Brewer as Winchester provided a Holmstrom quality screen.
Bang-bang it’s 5-4 with about 12 minutes left.
Just as much as the Leafs smelled blood when the Blues let up in the 2nd, the Blues could feel how shell shocked Toronto was. They know from experience.
Matt D’Agostini tied up the game with about 7 minutes left when Vladimir Sobotka hit D’Ags on a stretch pass for a breakaway. Forehand, backhand, goal.
Both sides had chances at the end of the third, but couldn’t grab a regulation win.
Early OT was controlled by the Blues, but the Leafs got their chains in the latter half of the extra time.
Once again Ty Conklin was overmatched in the shootout, allowing 3 goals on four attempts. Guatavsson allowed goals by Alex Steen and Boyes, but stopped D’Agostini and Berglund.
- Jaroslav Halak was pulled, but wasn’t supported very well. Stopped just 15 of 19 shots. Conks stopped 11 of 12 in relief effort.
- Alex Steen was possessed in the third. Played his usual game of outworking everyone for the puck.
- Vladimir Sobotka had a forgettable game. Especially since his wrist took a puck and looked the color of a certain dinosaur and his freebe handed off to Phil Kessel.
- Kris Versteeg flops around like a dead fish for calls. Did he do that in Chicago?
- Kessel is scary in the offensive zone. Making plays happen instead of waiting for a pass. Other than that, no big impact when the game got tight.
- Gustavsson stopped 39 of 44 Blues shots.
- Leafs got skill, but no depth and little resolve.
- Highlight of the night: Mikhail Grabovski’s shootout spin-o-rama.
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