Absolute BS no call on the OT goal. Team controlled much of the game but just enough glitzs to allow St. Louis to stay in the game. Give Canucks credit for real push in the third.
Good
Suter - put in a offensive situation and came through. Shows how getting to the net is so important. Misssed a few chances lately but at least he getting them and showed in this game he can convert.
Hughes - out of this world. Willed the team back in the game and frankly carried them for much of the game. Makes one great play after another. Heart and soul of the team. Absolutely the captain instead of Pettersson. To be the best you've got to want it as much as Hughes does. Hopefully shoulder doesn't tighten up - if so an excuse to miss the all star game and take a rest.
Not good
Pettersson - one of those nights were he was sloppy with the puck and mentally half in the game. Had little bursts down and then but was more likely to rush the puck into traffic, make a weak pass and dangerous lateral pass or lose the puck along the boards. Think it is becoming more evident that he is best as a winger. For this team to suceed they need Pettersson to be better than this. Real up and down season to date.
Juulsen - playing nervous and desparation hockey. Just banging the puck off the boards to get it out and looking disoreinted in this zone. Soucy >>>>>>>>> Juulsen. Maybe, like earlier in the season, he will play himself into better hockey as he gets in a few more games.
Others
Zadorov - don't think the third goal was really his fault. He had to go wide with his man and someone else had to get back to the net. Thought Hronek should have shifted across to take the Blues player rather than Hronek staying to other side of the crease. Probably the center shoulchave tracking that the Blues player to the net. Quite a lack luster preformance by Zadorov overall and his minutes were severly decreased.
Mikheyev - would this player please start scoring. Again chances but seems to be just aimlessly firing the puck at the net rather than picking a spot to put it. I don't think that line works and really hasn't all season.
Kuzmenko - seems to be dark cloud over his head. Pressing hard and somehow always seems to end up making a mistake. Gets chances but gets so wired he ends up stick handling himself out of position. Can see his confidence is shot and he's guessing. Season now appears a write off. No Bali next off-season.
Boeser - ends up with 2 assists in another very mediocre preformance. Had more than half the net to put the puck away on one occasion and somehow misses. (as did Miller) Any decent sniper easily scores that. Also lousy, late coverage on one of the goals. Overall Boeser is a pretty average offensive player who is benefitting from the work of Hughes, Miller and, to an extent, Pettersson. See now that if you put a journey man like Suter in that position, he starts scoring (plus play way better defensively.)
deSmith - wasn't particularly good. Absolutely the second best goalie in this game. Hofer basically won it for the Blues.
Lafferty - play has fallen off and I could see where you could say he wasn't good. Hoglander the only one getting anything done on that line.
Miller - need this player to star to have team suceed and he hasn't been that over the last few games. As he and Hughes go, so goes the team.
Team gets a point which after the second you doubted was going to happen. You wanted that other point and it was there for Hronek to pick up. Then the refs swallowed their whistles and let Schenn do his Bertuzzi thing. Such is the NHL officiating which remains a joke.
