GDT: Blues vs. Coyotes| 7pm -- FSMW| Can we make it 3?|

[The Note]

When: Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 7 p.m.
Where: Enterprise Center
Watch: FOX Sports Midwest, FOX Sports GO
Listen: 101 ESPN, NHL App


Projected lineups

Sanford - O'Reilly - Perron
Schwartz - Schenn - Kyrou
Blais - Thomas - Hoffman
Clifford - Barbashev - Sundqvist

Scandella - Parayko
Krug - Faulk
Dunn - Mikkola

Binnington (presumably)

VS.

Caggiula - Schmaltz - Garland
Keller - Hayton - Kessel
Brassard - Dvorak - Pitlick
Crouse - Larsson - Fischer

Chychrun - Goligoski
Hjlamarsson - Demers
Oesterle - Soderstrom

Kuemper/Raanta ​

Click to read more...

 

[SwivelSchwartz]

Love that the yotes went back to this logo. They also seem to play us well. Definitely keeping an eye on Conner Garland tonight. That said, let’s take these dogs back behind the barn

 

[Xerloris]

I mean we're literally on a 3 game win streak already.

 

[mw2noobbuster]

Hoffman hatty incoming.

 

[Xanadude]

Love that the yotes went back to this logo. They also seem to play us well. Definitely keeping an eye on Conner Garland tonight. That said, let’s take these dogs back behind the barn

I have always had a soft spot for the Coyotes. I love the Kachina, their goal horn, their current announcers, etc. And they've got some sneaky good players, Garland is like a righty Johnny Hockey, Chychrun is super underrated and their goalie tandem is strong. I honestly think if they fired Tocchet and put in a more offensively-condusive system that they could really take a step forward.

 

[The Note]

I mean we're literally on a 3 game win streak already.

Indeed we are. The COVID break + me just generally being busy resulted in a brainfart. I'd change it but I can't.

 

[Ranksu]

Good to see Mikkola can play jos offside in NHL level.

Mikkola - Parayko were I promiding at PK. I would like to see they play at 5on5 at least some time. Mikkola has all the tools become real stud at defensively. What better duo then Mikkola - Parayko.

 

[Meatball]

Anyone else had those strange days where you wake up, you haven't looked at the schedule yet, but somehow you know it's game day because you can feel it in the air?

This is one of those days.

 

[KirkOut]

let's go blues! love to see another big game from 17-10-25. would love to get 68 going as well. Also I hope Parayko is feeling better tonight.

 

[TK 421]

Good to see Mikkola can play jos offside in NHL level.

Mikkola - Parayko were I promiding at PK. I would like to see they play at 5on5 at least some time. Mikkola has all the tools become real stud at defensively. What better duo then Mikkola - Parayko.

I'd like to see the D structured and utilized the same as our Cup run.

Mikkola - Parayko eating up D zone starts against top lines

Krug - Faulk with heavy O zone deployment

Scandella - Bortuzzo to keep top 2 pairs fresh

If you're in the keep Dunn for now camp then drop Borts to 7th D and put Dunn - Scandella as the 3rd pair.

 

[Note Worthy]

LGB! I'm curious to see how much 1400 fans sound tonight. I have a couple of friends who are going.

 

[Meatball]

LGB! I'm curious to see how much 1400 fans sound tonight. I have a couple of friends who are going.

Tell them I love them! Tell them to be safe! Also, congratulate them on being some of the luckiest people on the planet! I hope they have a blast tonight!

LET'S GO BLUES!

 

[Joshuar56]

I mean we're literally on a 3 game win streak already.

This is what I came here to say.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

I'd like to see the D structured and utilized the same as our Cup run.

Mikkola - Parayko eating up D zone starts against top lines

Krug - Faulk with heavy O zone deployment

Scandella - Bortuzzo to keep top 2 pairs fresh

If you're in the keep Dunn for now camp then drop Borts to 7th D and put Dunn - Scandella as the 3rd pair.

It’s a little too soon to put Mikkola with Parayko. I prefer Scandella there for now. Especially if Parayko isn’t 100%.

If they are intent on trading Dunn, he’ll be in the line-up to showcase.

 

[TK 421]

It’s a little too soon to put Mikkola with Parayko. I prefer Scandella there for now. Especially if Parayko isn’t 100%.

If they are intent on trading Dunn, he’ll be in the line-up to showcase.

Mikkola is already a better, more intuitive defender than Scandella imo. He's also a better skater that's actually suited to shut down work and I don't like Scandella in that role. Imo we're actually worse with Scandella going against top lines. He chases hits too often for my tastes.

 

[mk80]

The Coyotes always seem to give us a good game in recent years, and they've certainly got the talent to do it. Let's Go Blues!

Also this is the first meeting of the Armstrongs since Bill became the AZ GM

 

[Bobby Orrtuzzo]

Hoffman hatty incoming.

I finally dropped him in my fantasy league, which usually means this is the most likely outcome

 

[MissouriMook]

Kuemper has been carrying the load for them so far and playing fairly well, but we always seem to struggle against both he and Raanta. Worried about getting shut down or shut out, if not tonight then on Thursday.

 

[Note Worthy]

Kuemper has been carrying the load for them so far and playing fairly well, but we always seem to struggle against both he and Raanta. Worried about getting shut down or shut out, if not tonight then on Thursday.

Yeah this is my thought. When I think of our struggles against the Yotes it's always their goalies playing out of their minds against us.

 

[Brian39]

I'd like to see the D structured and utilized the same as our Cup run.

Mikkola - Parayko eating up D zone starts against top lines

Krug - Faulk with heavy O zone deployment

Scandella - Bortuzzo to keep top 2 pairs fresh

If you're in the keep Dunn for now camp then drop Borts to 7th D and put Dunn - Scandella as the 3rd pair.

I'm not ready to move to these full time. I'm pretty high on Mikkola, but I think his transition to the NHL is best suited by putting him in position to succeed and slowly expanding his role/usage. I don't want to just throw him into the deep end and hope for the best. I also want to see Krug-Faulk get more time together against a variety of teams before we just roll them out all night. I want Dunn in the lineup more often than not. He's had some awful games, but he is absolutely an NHL caliber D man.

We are banking points and should be taking a long-term view on our blue line construction. With everyone on their A games, the D group is better with Dunn in the lineup than out of the lineup. If we keep him, the blue line is best served long-term with him getting to his A game. If we are looking to move him, we will get a better return with him getting in the lineup, padding some stats and improving his play. And Bortz is still hurt for now, so it is a decision we can put off.

I'd like to see Mikkola and Parayko start off by getting 5-10 shifts together each game in lower-stress situations. Let them build chemistry against non-top-line competition in order to let Mikkola keep earning extended roles. My hope is that Mikkola is ready to handle a 22+ minute a night shutdown role by the time playoffs start, but there is no reason to rush him into it now.

 

[Joshuar56]

Any update on Bortuzzo?

 

[TK 421]

I'm not ready to move to these full time. I'm pretty high on Mikkola, but I think his transition to the NHL is best suited by putting him in position to succeed and slowly expanding his role/usage. I don't want to just throw him into the deep end and hope for the best. I also want to see Krug-Faulk get more time together against a variety of teams before we just roll them out all night. I want Dunn in the lineup more often than not. He's had some awful games, but he is absolutely an NHL caliber D man.

We are banking points and should be taking a long-term view on our blue line construction. With everyone on their A games, the D group is better with Dunn in the lineup than out of the lineup. If we keep him, the blue line is best served long-term with him getting to his A game. If we are looking to move him, we will get a better return with him getting in the lineup, padding some stats and improving his play. And Bortz is still hurt for now, so it is a decision we can put off.

I'd like to see Mikkola and Parayko start off by getting 5-10 shifts together each game in lower-stress situations. Let them build chemistry against non-top-line competition in order to let Mikkola keep earning extended roles. My hope is that Mikkola is ready to handle a 22+ minute a night shutdown role by the time playoffs start, but there is no reason to rush him into it now.

I agree on Dunn, as long as he's here he needs to play provided it's a 3rd pair role.

I'm tentatively liking Krug - Faulk and in order for the usage to work similar to our Cup run that pair needs to succeed. I think they can if given heavy O zone starts.

Personally I think Mikkola could handle the shut down role now but as long as he enters the PO's in that spot I suppose I don't mind how it's accomplished. I'm just glad that it's even a possibility we could potentially return to that usage and having a true shut down pair at some point.

I still don't like Scandella - Parayko as a pairing and I think Mikkola could actually help propel Parayko out of his funk sooner but that's obviously just a possibility.

 

[LGB]

I agree on Dunn, as long as he's here he needs to play provided it's a 3rd pair role.

I'm tentatively liking Krug - Faulk and in order for the usage to work similar to our Cup run that pair needs to succeed. I think they can if given heavy O zone starts.

Krug - Faulk has been one of the stronger pairings by xG share in the NHL so far in their limited action together. Actually have started the majority of their shifts in the defensive zone as well.

 

[Meatball]

I'll be the reckless optimist and say that Krug-Faulk will be an offensive force, and Mikkola-Parayko will be the new and improved version of the shut down pairing we featured during our cup run.

That would leave only the third pairing to sort out. Choosing between Dunn, Gunnarsson, Scandella, and (eventually, Bortuzzo.

Krug-Faulk
Mikkola-Parayko
Dunn/Scandella-Bortuzzo
x-Gunnarson, Dunn/Scandella

(when healthy)

 

[Joshuar56]

I'll be the reckless optimist and say that Krug-Faulk will be an offensive force, and Mikkola-Parayko will be the new and improved version of the shut down pairing we featured during our cup run.

That would leave only the third pairing to sort out. Choosing between Dunn, Gunnarsson, Scandella, and (eventually, Bortuzzo.

Krug-Faulk
Mikkola-Parayko
Dunn/Scandella-Bortuzzo
x-Gunnarson, Dunn/Scandella

(when healthy)

I think Scandella and Bortuzzo would be a good third pair.