NHL '15/'16 Thread
- Thread starter Straight Shooter
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Jagger69
Three lullabies in an ancient tongue
Well, "Rally Boobs" or not, we're getting our asses handed to us. We can't win if we can't maintain any sustained pressure in the offensive zone and the Sharks have been razor sharp, quick, strong....you name it. No weakness in their game right now. Impressive.
I hate to say this but unless we can figure out a way to offset their dominance in all the critical areas, we're toast in this series. The Blues are built to beat teams that don't play the way they do....especially one who is proving they can do it better. So far, the Sharks are clearly the better team. Long way to go but this might get really ugly unless we can find a formula to counter how the Sharks are executing right now.
I hate to say this but unless we can figure out a way to offset their dominance in all the critical areas, we're toast in this series. The Blues are built to beat teams that don't play the way they do....especially one who is proving they can do it better. So far, the Sharks are clearly the better team. Long way to go but this might get really ugly unless we can find a formula to counter how the Sharks are executing right now.
Jagger69
Three lullabies in an ancient tongue
I understand it is only 2-1 but the Blues must change their approach in order to have a chance here. The Sharks have done an excellent job of scouting the Blues tendencies and the first 2 goals last night were exemplary of the Sharks knowing exactly what the Blues were going to do, intercepted passes and created odd-man rushes that led to unchallenged shots on goal. They neutralized the Blues' forecheck and, as a result, we had way too many one-and-done possessions. I am in total awe of the way the Sharks have played defensively....they've been absolutely dominant at the blue line.
This series is still winnable but not if the Blues keep playing the same way and expecting a different result. In my opinion, and no fault of Elliott's....he's been incredible in the playoffs but we start Jake Allen tomorrow for one overriding reason....he's like a 3rd defenseman out there when it comes to handling the puck. Elliott stays in his cage whereas Jake tends to roam and make lots of breakout passes, plays behind the net, etc. We need that quality against a team like the Sharks. Secondarily, we need to stop relying on the forecheck. We aren't getting any chances in front of the net since the Sharks are doing such a great job of backchecking and pushing the puck out of the zone. Not to say we should not remain physical but we need to start relying on more stretch passes, narrowing the distance between the D and the the forwards and allow us to get some sustained pressure. It won't be easy. The friggin' Sharks are playing about as well as any team could be at this stage.
Tomorrow is obviously a "must win" scenario and the odds are against us but I remain cautiously optimistic. Puck control, reducing turnovers and getting some sustained offensive pressure is the only way we get this done. We'll see if we can make a comeback tomorrow....if so, it's 2-2 and a best of 3. If not....get out the golf clubs.
Jagger69
Three lullabies in an ancient tongue
There seems to be very little interest in this thread so I'll just go ahead and take it over and state that Kevin Shattenkirk should be given his immediate release by the Blues. His lack of self-control was directly responsible for 2 power play goals that spelled doom on what otherwise was a solid effort by St. Louis tonight. This series is done thanks to him....fucking prick!! He's been horrible this entire post-season and has managed to set a new low standard for himself tonight. Thanks "Shat-deuces"....your lack of self-control just cost us a chance at the Stanley Cup. Tar and feather the mother fucker and run his ass out of town on a fucking rail. Geezus mother fucking christ....the worst fate a hockey fan can face is to be a fan of the St. Louis Blues.
Jagger69
Three lullabies in an ancient tongue
OK, this offfside rule simply needs to be changed. Unless the player's skate is all the way across the blue line, what difference does it make if it is on the ice or not? The way the rule reads currently (I guess), the trailing skate could be lifted less than a single millimeter off the ice even if it is a couple of feet behind the line and the play is offside. However, as long as the trailing skate is in contact with the ice surface, it can be dragged to within a cunt-hair's width of being across the line and they play is onside. Makes no sense.
The reality is, and we've had a number of these calls be made in the playoffs (don't remember so many of them in the regular season), these tiny differences have not had any genuine impact on the ensuing goals that have been disallowed from what I have seen. I think the rule should be changed so that, as long as any part of the trailing skate is not completely across the blue line, it doesn't matter if the skate is in contact with the ice surface or not. That aspect of the rule does not apply to the puck (whether elevated off the ice or not). Unless the puck is all the way across the blue line and completely inside the offensive zone, the play is onside. The same conditions should apply to the trailing skate in my opinion.
The reality is, and we've had a number of these calls be made in the playoffs (don't remember so many of them in the regular season), these tiny differences have not had any genuine impact on the ensuing goals that have been disallowed from what I have seen. I think the rule should be changed so that, as long as any part of the trailing skate is not completely across the blue line, it doesn't matter if the skate is in contact with the ice surface or not. That aspect of the rule does not apply to the puck (whether elevated off the ice or not). Unless the puck is all the way across the blue line and completely inside the offensive zone, the play is onside. The same conditions should apply to the trailing skate in my opinion.
I totally agree. If the referees blow the whistle on a false offside the unfairly penalized team doesn't get to challenge it and get a scoring chance...
As for the skate being lifted off the ice a millisecond prior to the puck entering the zone, it's so stupid. Your tweak to the rule would be an improvement, but we don't even need offsides... this sport needs goals and Bettman's idiotic offside review takes away goals and takes away excitement. Just bad for hockey; this is a spectator sport for crying out loud!
Jagger69
Three lullabies in an ancient tongue
Hey....the better team prevailed. The Sharks don't have any serious weaknesses whereas the Blues are so dependent on their forecheck that when it doesn't work (as it didn't all-too-often) against SJ, we can't get any sustained pressure in the o-zone and it just becomes a matter of time before we get victimized by a strong, quick and good-passing team like the Sharks. Hey, we made it to the conference finals. We took out the defending Stanley Cup champs and also the number 1 seeded team in the West. I can't complain....it's not like we gave up a 3-1 series lead or got taken out by an 8-seed or anything. We just got outplayed by a seriously-good hockey team. I'm afraid the same thing would have happened had we made the finals anyway (especially against the Pens).
It will be interesting to see what changes are made in the off-season. I think Hitch will be given the option of coming back although, in my opinion, it is probably time to have a different voice behind the bench. Sometimes, the team just doesn't listen anymore and I think we may have reached that point with Hitch. We need another serious goal-scorer although I believe that Fabbri will turn into one in the next year or two (he's only 21). Parayko is a budding superstar on D. We could use more speed at winger. Otherwise, we'll be OK. And one day, hopefully in my lifetime, we will hoist the Stanley Cup. In the meantime, congrats to San Jose. They played terrific and will represent the West well in the finals. I wish them good luck!
It will be interesting to see what changes are made in the off-season. I think Hitch will be given the option of coming back although, in my opinion, it is probably time to have a different voice behind the bench. Sometimes, the team just doesn't listen anymore and I think we may have reached that point with Hitch. We need another serious goal-scorer although I believe that Fabbri will turn into one in the next year or two (he's only 21). Parayko is a budding superstar on D. We could use more speed at winger. Otherwise, we'll be OK. And one day, hopefully in my lifetime, we will hoist the Stanley Cup. In the meantime, congrats to San Jose. They played terrific and will represent the West well in the finals. I wish them good luck!
Jagger69
Three lullabies in an ancient tongue
One would think that San Jose's dominance from a physicality aspect would be a real difference-maker in this series. They obviously would hope for a split in PGH, then back to NoCal where they could presumably assume dominance....that would be the plan at least. Even though I would be rooting for the Sharks, Peter DeBoer is a whiny little twerp and I don't much care for him. That said, it would be great to see Thornton and company get their Cup. Big game #2 coming up.
Jagger69
Three lullabies in an ancient tongue
I'd sure like to know where this passive, wimpy Sharks team was in the conference finals! Burns, Marleau, Pavelski, Thornton....anybody seen those guys recently? Penguins totally dominant....this series is over. Fucking disgusting.....pathetic effort in a must-win game on home ice by the Sharks.
Yeah it's a bummer. I wanted the Sharks to bring it home...was at least hoping they would tie it up and make it a best of 3...
This sucks. Fucking Pittsburgh teams have a lot of success (at least outside of MLB, lol).
Let's be clear, it's not over, and hocker players more than any other never quit, so maybe Sharks win the next two and we get a game 7. That would be a treat, but Pittsburgh just looks like they have it in the bag. :crying:
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Honestly surprised how really elite Phil Kessel has been...when I saw the Pens got him from Toronto I didn't think it was a great move, but boy was I wrong.
This sucks. Fucking Pittsburgh teams have a lot of success (at least outside of MLB, lol).
Let's be clear, it's not over, and hocker players more than any other never quit, so maybe Sharks win the next two and we get a game 7. That would be a treat, but Pittsburgh just looks like they have it in the bag. :crying:
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Honestly surprised how really elite Phil Kessel has been...when I saw the Pens got him from Toronto I didn't think it was a great move, but boy was I wrong.
San Jose wins it tonight. I'm tempted to say Pittsburgh wins it tonight, but I don't think the Sharks are ready to quit yet.
That's the easy choice obviously. I'm going to go against the grain though and say the Sharks won't make an embarrassment of themselves.
Won't at all be surprised if the Pens get number 4 tonight though. Not at all.
Burnsie! Good start!
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