Reality Check

[Bluesfan1978]

Last night was a reality check for me. This team isn't ready for a playoff series. I do they will get in but I'm preparing myself that this team will be lucky to win 1-2 games.
I am grateful for all the players that play the right way all game long but there are too many top 6 players that aren't willing to put their body on the line every shift.
Kyrou has taking huge steps this year with his defensive play but him, Buch and even Thomas aren't willing to consistently step up on or standup other teams players. Doesn't need to be a hit but you need to use your body to separate them from the puck. On the Oilers 2nd goal McDavid circled out past Kyrou who was just standing still and looked like a pylon. He needs to step into him and not worry about the puck. Kyrou played that way the whole game. Buch and Thomas are a little better than Kyrou at stepping up on people but not nearly consistent enough. Holloway and Bolduc are great examples of playing the right way.
Other Oilers were left all alone in front of the net with no-one taking their space away.
I watched Vegas play last week and every player from the top of the lineup to the bottom are willing to stand people up and separate them from the puck. Most wouldn't be classified as a hit but they still use their body to make sure they are ending the play. Thats winning hockey. My sons U11 team know how to play the body to gain control of the puck.
Schenn the last few games is back to looking overmatched as a 2C. Boy what a pickup Holloway was.
No regrets staying up till 2am to watch the game last night. Well worth seeing Binner hit Perry and it was an entertaining game.
The last few weeks have been a hell of a run and the most entertaining hockey I've seen in years but some of these players need to ask themselves how much they want to win.

[seattleblue]

We can talk about how the team feels good about itself all we want, but when you subtract the catalyst that drives the second line you're back to being a one line team.

[Zizzle1297]

The refs have suck overall the last few games.

[Bacchk29]

We can talk about how the team feels good about itself all we want, but when you subtract the catalyst that drives the second line you're back to being a one line team.

Holloway drives the pace. Without him it’s a first round exit more than likely.

[theograce]

We can talk about how the team feels good about itself all we want, but when you subtract the catalyst that drives the second line you're back to being a one line team.

Holloway drives the pace. Without him it’s a first round exit more than likely.

So does Draisaitl … oil missing key pieces too

[theograce]

No matter what happens, a lot of the young guys are hitting which is great. And Thomas is leading. He’s been a boss.

[WeWentBlues0819]

The Blues are missing two of their 3 best players and it still took a missed call from the ref to lose last night. They are also 12-2 over their last 14 games

[TBone]

Last night was a reality check for me. This team isn't ready for a playoff series. I do they will get in but I'm preparing myself that this team will be lucky to win 1-2 games.

The eye opener for me was the game before against the Jets.

Winnipeg's top priority was to deny player's any kind of space. They were heat seeking missiles to the player with the puck, usually finishing with a physical body check even after the puck was passed. And to me this is should be an off-season front office point of emphasis / evaluation: can this team as currently constructed compete physically in multiple 7 game series?

I think the answer is likely no due to being a little too young and slightly undersized as a team, so I'm hoping a key off-season addition or two can up the overall physicality of the team. Even last night Jake Neighbours is squaring off with with someone 4-6 inches taller and heavier. They need someone who can provide this element so Jake, Schenn and Walker don't have to as often.

Hopefully it can be done without sacrificing any of the young core unless it's for a Top 6 player. Time will tell.

[Harry S Deals]

The reality is losing Holloway and Parayko are too much to sustain. In the case of Parayko yes the Blues have gotten by well at time with Fowler but we've seen Faulk in critical situations on the RHD side and Faulk simply cannot anchor that position when the chips are down.
Replacing Holloway with Snuggerud is a big loss Holloway is very effective in every zone
My guess is Monty tries Texier and Joseph Saturday night to try to stabilize the lines a bit more

[Russdv14]

I appreciate the poster’s opinions. I thought Binnington could have blocked that last goal too. It did not appear to be that fast a shot, but twice Brown had easy goals because no one covered him. Our defensive zone play is getting weaker. The crisp passes are getting less and less.

We also lost offensive zone time without Holloway. It was not a 60 min effort and Oilers did not have their best players.

As an older fan, I desperately want us to get into the playoffs, no matter what they do because every season is a lost opportunity when you don’t make the playoffs and we had our own destiny to fulfill because Calgary had lost before our game was finished.
This team did not look ready for prime time though, and I’m hoping the extra day of rest will help them for the next game

[Hooking]

Lots of games that can go either way against top teams the past few games. Blues are matching these teams. Last night was gut-wrenching but this team CAN hang with the big boys and even beat them somewhat consistently. They see the definition of get in and anything can happen.

[callitwhatyouwant]

The Blues are exactly what was advertised. The win streak without Parayko, was extremely impressive because multiple guys played above their pay grade for multiple games in a row. With Parayko in the lineup the team is a 10ish or so defensive team. What is showing up is how valuable Holloway is to the team. The 2nd line for like 30ish games was the best line on the team in terms of consistency. Kyrou finally had a guy that could speed with him and Schenn being a direct and savvy player allowed those 2 to cook. Last night we got lucky that the top line came alive in that 3rd, but having Kyrou and Thomas on the same line has proven to be a losing recipe for this team for 3 years.

You hope that the team gets in for the 1 purpose that the young guys need that exposure. You hope that Monty gives them that runway. Dvorsky got short changed yesterday because of the scoreboard, but hindsight being 20/20, in a close loss, you would hope him and snuggs are getting their shifts. I like that the team is seemingly in every game, so the stakes are high. But it's hard to see how the team drives offense consistently if Holloway isn't in the lineup. I guess a biproduct of what is going on, is snuggy and dvorsky are getting a jumpstart to the 25/26 season which should pay off later.

[seattleblue]

The point about Edmonton missing a lot of players too is a good one. I see this one as a reversion to the mean with some of the puck luck and last minute events (the Kyrou goal against Detroit the other night for example, that easily could have been a loss).

They're still getting in the playoffs barring choking against two eliminated teams plus Calgary winning out.
They see the structure of the team going forward. This team has a very bright future on offense.

They have a team they can supplement toward contending, that is the big takeaway.
While it was not a fun loss last night, the games matter now.
I watch every game regardless but these ones have been a reminder of competitive seasons past.
Now if Calgary loses in any fashion to Minnesota, they can clinch at a game I attend, in a Binner 4 Nations jersey

[blackinkbiz]

Just enjoying the ride, win or lose, the future's bright.

TBS, they won't win jack without Holloway. As I've said many times with how Tarasenko used to throw one line and thus the Blues entire forecheck out of sync, now the opposite is happening without Dylan.

The great news is, the retool should be over. Blues should be looking to add a couple key FA signings this offseason.

[Harry S Deals]

Just enjoying the ride, win or lose, the future's bright.

TBS, they won't win jack without Holloway. As I've said many times with how Tarasenko used to throw one line and thus the Blues entire forecheck out of sync, now the opposite is happening without Dylan.

The great news is, the retool should be over. Blues should be looking to add a couple key FA signings this offseason.

I would look at a capable UFA FA to replace Faksa not sure who it is. I like the idea of Frederic would we take a run at Granlund idk what Army would do but i cant see the Blues going with Thomas, Schenn, Dvorsky and Sunny after watching 19 yr old Dvorsky play last night. He will no doubt be very good he is moving well, he has hockey sense but he may need a year or two

[sdaltons]

If you had told me they'd win 12 of the next 14, I'd be pretty pumped. It's only concerning because of the order it happened in. If they had won 6 of the first 7 and then 6 of the second 7, we'd be feeling pretty good about things.

They are still the same team that needed a crazy stretch like this to climb into contention. There was never a great chance of an extended playoff run, but it is exciting that they will most likely still make it.

And I still think if the first round opponent takes us for granted, it's not out of the question that we might just surprise them and do a little damage.

But obviously we were a very well oiled machine operating with an exact set of 18 skaters. We somehow survived the loss of one of the most critical parts of the machine, but it's certainly growing concerning that a second is just too much to overcome.

I suspect we see Parayko soon and that when it happens, it'll be at least partially reactionary and not 100% just that he was fully healed and ready to go.