Half-Assed GDT: ♪ @ ★ Game #38 (My First GDT Edition)

[sbkbghockey]

First: Glad we picked up the SO win against DAL on Saturday. The NHL has quickly adapted to a game that favors the style of play and team makeup of Dallas over the Blues.

One big issue I saw last night was that the Blues are so ridged in the offensive zone, while Dallas had more creative plays in the O-zone. Many of the Stars' chances came from carrying the puck into the zone, including D-men, then dishing to open players cutting into the slot on the weak side or in the quiet areas. That completely contrasted the Blues dump-and-chase or shot-pass and deflect into the zone. StL got few chances because they essentially kept giving the Stars the puck. The faster Dallas team got to the loose puck and turned it back up ice very quickly. The Blues got one of their few scoring chances on one of the few times that the Blues did take the puck into the zone- JayBo carried the puck through the neutral zone, into the Dallas end of the ice to the FO circle then dished to Vladi for a quality scoring chance.

It was hard to watch, and even more frustrating that Hitch/coaching staff never adjusted to the pace of the game or changed up the zone entry plays.

 

[Dbrownss]

Watching Dallas play is like watching some kid play NHL16 cross crease passes till you score.
.

 

[BlueOil]

That speaks more about how bad the forward core is outside of Tarasenko and Steen.......

Actually it completely negates your notion that he's not an offensive threat.

 

[BadgersandBlues]

This game bothered me the most of any game I've watched this year. This game was a microcosm of the Blues in the playoffs. We can win a game our two with our talent, but once the other team adjusts to our "system" we simply have no response. Yes, we looked like crap in a lot of ways, but so many issues in this game were a direct result of Dallas simply closing the correct gaps to stifle our transition. This team is going nowhere with Hitch behind the bench, he is incapable of any type of in-game adjustment other then simple line juggling.

 

[Vladdy the Impaler]

Actually it completely negates your notion that he's not an offensive threat.

Not really? If Backes the number 3 offensive threat on your team, when the offense is already completely reliant on one or two players, then it shows how poorly balanced the offense is as a whole. Backes is not a true offensive threat, let's be real here.

Relying on guys like Backes to produce offensively is what leads to first round exits every single year.

 

[Vincenzo Arelliti]

First: Glad we picked up the SO win against DAL on Saturday. The NHL has quickly adapted to a game that favors the style of play and team makeup of Dallas over the Blues.

One big issue I saw last night was that the Blues are so ridged in the offensive zone, while Dallas had more creative plays in the O-zone. Many of the Stars' chances came from carrying the puck into the zone, including D-men, then dishing to open players cutting into the slot on the weak side or in the quiet areas. That completely contrasted the Blues dump-and-chase or shot-pass and deflect into the zone. StL got few chances because they essentially kept giving the Stars the puck. The faster Dallas team got to the loose puck and turned it back up ice very quickly. The Blues got one of their few scoring chances on one of the few times that the Blues did take the puck into the zone- JayBo carried the puck through the neutral zone, into the Dallas end of the ice to the FO circle then dished to Vladi for a quality scoring chance.

It was hard to watch, and even more frustrating that Hitch/coaching staff never adjusted to the pace of the game or changed up the zone entry plays.

I think pairing Bouwmeester with Shattenkirk and Parayko with Petro will help - Shattenkirk dishes the puck to a streaking JBo naughty.

Our system needs to change to allow our players to hit the blue line with speed, and for the dmen to be able to choose run over pass like a QB in American Football would.

We should have the players on both sides of the puck to be able to limit our dump and chase game and start passing up ice, or skating the puck across the line - we just have to be able to teach that system and then the players have to execute the more fluid positioning.

 

[STL BLUES]

Hitchcock: "We couldn't get on our toes, because we put ourselves on our heels." #stlblues

Im quite sure I have heard this phrase before.

Wasn't that from The Wizard of Oz

 

[Overkamp]

I think pairing Bouwmeester with Shattenkirk and Parayko with Petro will help - Shattenkirk dishes the puck to a streaking JBo naughty.

Our system needs to change to allow our players to hit the blue line with speed, and for the dmen to be able to choose run over pass like a QB in American Football would.

We should have the players on both sides of the puck to be able to limit our dump and chase game and start passing up ice, or skating the puck across the line - we just have to be able to teach that system and then the players have to execute the more fluid positioning.

We all knew Hitch wasn't going to change.

Just the same ole same ole. Very good regular season record. Unable to turn up that other gear when playoffs come. No leadership. Team is spent by the spring.

Lol

 

[EastonBlues22]

Not really? If Backes the number 3 offensive threat on your team, when the offense is already completely reliant on one or two players, then it shows how poorly balanced the offense is as a whole. Backes is not a true offensive threat, let's be real here.

Relying on guys like Backes to produce offensively is what leads to first round exits every single year.

Backes has basically been a 25 goal, 55 point guy over the last 8 seasons.

I can understand the argument that you want better as your third best scoring threat, especially if the team is bent on using him in a shut-down role, but how is a guy who puts up those numbers not an offensive threat?