Game 1 Thoughts

[Bluesfan1978]

I just rewatched the 3rd period and theres no doubt the Blues got away from their forecheck and were in defend mode. This can happen to any team.
Parayko also on the tying goal and winning goal maybe could have been a bit more aggressive in closing the gap vs stick swinging and Fowler leaving the front of the net left the opening for the tying goal.
I think Binner would like to have the tying goal back.
The Jets first goal was a deflection and Kyrou also could have easily had a goal to go up 4-2.
All in all the Blues could have just as easily won this game.
3 forwards were in their first playoff games and it showed.
Fowler hasn't been in a playoff in 7 or 8 years.
The jets only have Cole Perfetti who was in his 2nd playoff game but they were a year apart and he also has 222 reg season games under his belt.
Besides the the Blues with only 1 game playoff experience now the entire team hasn't been in the playoffs since 21-22 Season. The Jets have been bounced the last two years 4-1 so I'm sure they've been preparing for the playoffs every offseason.
What I did realize watching the game is theres no way to prepare these players without playoff experience for the intensity of the game last night without them playing. Even Kyrou only has a few playoff games experience.
I thought if the Blues didn't make the playoffs that the young players got plenty of experience trying to get in and being apart of those games. After last night and seeing this is another level of battle and intensity this will serve Jake and Bolduc and Snuggerud well in there preparations for each season. No matter how this series goes this team knows they can play with the Jets and I can't wait to see how the team improves over the next few years.

[dhsux]

Good summary.

Yes, far from perfect and the few ticky tacky mistakes proved costly. The refs called a very tight game which surprised me.

The Blues had their moments, really good puck movement on a number of possessions and pp's.

I was waiting for Monty to call a TO in the third for a reset but never happened.

[Cahokanut]

My thoughts.

This is on Monty.
Since our window started to open. The turtle has become the game plan against good teams.

Players my not be told to dump and defend or to Turtle. But Management makes it clear. That's the game to play.

One other thing happened.
Bolducs penalty.
While a penalty. Many players did the same. Till then it was looked past. But when a ref. is looking for a call. A rookie is always gonna be watched.
So no blame to bolduc.
Monty was mad. And his outrage at Bolduc was felt by everyone in the bench. Monty was so mad. When the pentalty ended. They yelled for Bolduc to come to the bench, with Bolducs line in the offensive zone. To have a teaching. This changed everyone's attitude, and imo the reason for the lose.

I'm beginning to think Monty likes the liquor.

[dhsux]

That sounds like a leap to me.

[BobbyOrr]

You can't play Backup with the Jets, they are to good.

Hopefully Blues leaned a lesson.
Pedal to the metal, full aggression with d moving in on the offense for 60 minutes is the only why you have a chance at
winning this series!

[TBone]

One other thing happened.
Bolducs penalty.
While a penalty. Many players did the same. Till then it was looked past. But when a ref. is looking for a call. A rookie is always gonna be watched.
So no blame to bolduc.
Monty was mad. And his outrage at Bolduc was felt by everyone in the bench. Monty was so mad. When the pentalty ended. They yelled for Bolduc to come to the bench, with Bolducs line in the offensive zone. To have a teaching. This changed everyone's attitude, and imo the reason for the lose.

I get why Monty was pizzed about the penalty but I hope he doesn't put Bolduc in the doghouse over it. He should be encouraging Bolduc to embrace the role of a team agitator. Boldy has the makings another Kadri or Marchand, combining skill and the willingness to play physically up to the edge of dirty. Every team needs one and he could be it for us.

He also has an incredible knack for finding open ice in which to maneuver. His play entering the zone where he wheeled hard to the left to fire a shot from the slot was incredible.

Truth be told, he should be playing on the second line instead of Snuggerud who looks lost out there. He's earned it.

[Bluesfan1978]

One other thing happened.
Bolducs penalty.
While a penalty. Many players did the same. Till then it was looked past. But when a ref. is looking for a call. A rookie is always gonna be watched.
So no blame to bolduc.
Monty was mad. And his outrage at Bolduc was felt by everyone in the bench. Monty was so mad. When the pentalty ended. They yelled for Bolduc to come to the bench, with Bolducs line in the offensive zone. To have a teaching. This changed everyone's attitude, and imo the reason for the lose.

I get why Monty was pizzed about the penalty but I hope he doesn't put Bolduc in the doghouse over it. He should be encouraging Bolduc to embrace the role of a team agitator. Boldy has the makings another Kadri or Marchand, combining skill and the willingness to play physically up to the edge of dirty. Every team needs one and he could be it for us.

He also has an incredible knack for finding open ice in which to maneuver. His play entering the zone where he wheeled hard to the left to fire a shot from the slot was incredible.

Truth be told, he should be playing on the second line instead of Snuggerud who looks lost out there. He's earned it.

Nothing wrong with Bolduc being over aggressive as long as he learns from it. I think I’d put him on the 2nd line so you have 2 players willing to be physical. Then I think I would put Texier on RW in the 3 rd line and sit Snuggerud to watch for a game or two. Texier would be a much better option than Snuggerud at this point I think.

[BalotelliMassive]

Boldy has the makings another Kadri or Marchand,

[bud white]

Bolduc won a Memorial Cup. Neighbors went deep with the Edmonton Oil Kings in Memorial Cup. Boldy will figure it out. I thought Neighbors was fine - that call on him was just horse dung. He's already gotten under Winnipeg's skin and I can see him taking a lot of attention and opening ice up for the snipers.

It does appear that after Monty chewed out Bolduc, the younger guys went into "play not to lose mode".

[PM_123]

One other thing happened.
Bolducs penalty.
While a penalty. Many players did the same. Till then it was looked past. But when a ref. is looking for a call. A rookie is always gonna be watched.
So no blame to bolduc.
Monty was mad. And his outrage at Bolduc was felt by everyone in the bench. Monty was so mad. When the pentalty ended. They yelled for Bolduc to come to the bench, with Bolducs line in the offensive zone. To have a teaching. This changed everyone's attitude, and imo the reason for the lose.

I get why Monty was pizzed about the penalty but I hope he doesn't put Bolduc in the doghouse over it. He should be encouraging Bolduc to embrace the role of a team agitator. Boldy has the makings another Kadri or Marchand, combining skill and the willingness to play physically up to the edge of dirty. Every team needs one and he could be it for us.

He also has an incredible knack for finding open ice in which to maneuver. His play entering the zone where he wheeled hard to the left to fire a shot from the slot was incredible.

Truth be told, he should be playing on the second line instead of Snuggerud who looks lost out there. He's earned it.

Let’s be clear, Kadri does not play up to the “edge of dirty”, he is a dirty player.

[DawgDad]

Perhaps the Blues could have won that game. It went pretty much the same as the last regular season match with the Jets, the Blues folded late in the third period. The team, the WHOLE TEAM, needs to play their A-game 60 minutes (or more) not 45 or 50.

Kyrou clearly grasped the enormity of his breakaway shot not going in. The team has to react differently to that. There will be deflating moments, aggressions that spark instinctive reactions, moments of intense pressure from the opponent. The Blues simply have to learn to maintain their focus and their DISCIPLINED intensity until the final buzzer.

There is never a moment in playoff hockey at even strength where aggressive checking all over the ice is not the best path to victory.

These teams are pretty evenly matched, willpower is the primary difference at this point. The Blues imposed their will for two periods but they cracked under pressure in the third. Will they learn from this experience?

[Phil Roberto fan]

One other thing happened.
Bolducs penalty.
While a penalty. Many players did the same. Till then it was looked past. But when a ref. is looking for a call. A rookie is always gonna be watched.
So no blame to bolduc.
Monty was mad. And his outrage at Bolduc was felt by everyone in the bench. Monty was so mad. When the pentalty ended. They yelled for Bolduc to come to the bench, with Bolducs line in the offensive zone. To have a teaching. This changed everyone's attitude, and imo the reason for the lose.

I get why Monty was pizzed about the penalty but I hope he doesn't put Bolduc in the doghouse over it. He should be encouraging Bolduc to embrace the role of a team agitator. Boldy has the makings another Kadri or Marchand, combining skill and the willingness to play physically up to the edge of dirty. Every team needs one and he could be it for us.

He also has an incredible knack for finding open ice in which to maneuver. His play entering the zone where he wheeled hard to the left to fire a shot from the slot was incredible.

Truth be told, he should be playing on the second line instead of Snuggerud who looks lost out there. He's earned it.

+1

[icon]

The Blues did a lot of standing around in their own zone watching them with the puck the final 30 minutes of the game. Their point men and others were allowed to stand there or maneuver forever with the puck, even 5 on 5. More aggression is needed to regain control of the puck.

[netboy65]

One other thing happened.
Bolducs penalty.
While a penalty. Many players did the same. Till then it was looked past. But when a ref. is looking for a call. A rookie is always gonna be watched.
So no blame to bolduc.
Monty was mad. And his outrage at Bolduc was felt by everyone in the bench. Monty was so mad. When the pentalty ended. They yelled for Bolduc to come to the bench, with Bolducs line in the offensive zone. To have a teaching. This changed everyone's attitude, and imo the reason for the lose.

I get why Monty was pizzed about the penalty but I hope he doesn't put Bolduc in the doghouse over it. He should be encouraging Bolduc to embrace the role of a team agitator. Boldy has the makings another Kadri or Marchand, combining skill and the willingness to play physically up to the edge of dirty. Every team needs one and he could be it for us.

He also has an incredible knack for finding open ice in which to maneuver. His play entering the zone where he wheeled hard to the left to fire a shot from the slot was incredible.

Truth be told, he should be playing on the second line instead of Snuggerud who looks lost out there. He's earned it.

Nothing wrong with Bolduc being over aggressive as long as he learns from it. I think I’d put him on the 2nd line so you have 2 players willing to be physical. Then I think I would put Texier on RW in the 3 rd line and sit Snuggerud to watch for a game or two. Texier would be a much better option than Snuggerud at this point I think.

Texier is never the answer to anything. I’d take my chances with Snuggie, he got his first game in, hopefully he learns and can make adjustments.

[Harry York 37]

One other thing happened.
Bolducs penalty.
While a penalty. Many players did the same. Till then it was looked past. But when a ref. is looking for a call. A rookie is always gonna be watched.
So no blame to bolduc.
Monty was mad. And his outrage at Bolduc was felt by everyone in the bench. Monty was so mad. When the pentalty ended. They yelled for Bolduc to come to the bench, with Bolducs line in the offensive zone. To have a teaching. This changed everyone's attitude, and imo the reason for the lose.

I get why Monty was pizzed about the penalty but I hope he doesn't put Bolduc in the doghouse over it. He should be encouraging Bolduc to embrace the role of a team agitator. Boldy has the makings another Kadri or Marchand, combining skill and the willingness to play physically up to the edge of dirty. Every team needs one and he could be it for us.

He also has an incredible knack for finding open ice in which to maneuver. His play entering the zone where he wheeled hard to the left to fire a shot from the slot was incredible.

Truth be told, he should be playing on the second line instead of Snuggerud who looks lost out there. He's earned it.

Nothing wrong with Bolduc being over aggressive as long as he learns from it. I think I’d put him on the 2nd line so you have 2 players willing to be physical. Then I think I would put Texier on RW in the 3 rd line and sit Snuggerud to watch for a game or two. Texier would be a much better option than Snuggerud at this point I think.

I generally agree with all three of you fellows.

Bolduc was a [redacted] for taking that penalty. It’s the playoffs. You are near referees and the focus is already on you. He needs to keep his cool, wait a shift, find a shielded position and spear Iafollo in the nuts. Not in a bad way. Just enough to cripple him for the rest of the third. I am, mostly, kidding. The point is, he must take his revenge served cold.


He needed to be taught a lesson and perhaps, Monty could have handled it differently, because, now that you mention it… that might have been the exact moment- 4 minutes into the third- when we took our foot off the pedal.


You gotta let Bolduc play his game. Out of all the forwards not on the fourth line, he might be the most dangerous, physically, and we surely need that edge. Buch and Schenner are capable, but Bolduc has that speed and extra mass that can separate ligaments and break bones. He is not evil enough to be a Kadri, or a Marchand, or even an evil coward like Petro… but the opponents won’t have time to make that distinction.

Do you give Snuggerud a second game? I don’t know. He did nothing egregious, but he was invisible and could not make reliable plays to advance the puck in any zone. I don’t know. It’s a helluva ask for a kid so fresh, even with his high level successes on the small rink.
Texier would be a more solid choice at this point.
He last was in the playoffs five years ago at the age of 20. He did well that year, and as a19 year old the previous playoff season. But, that is a lengthy lapse.
I think he would be solid and his shot might be as good as Snuggy’s. He seems to never really play inspired hockey. Who knows if he is capable of catching fire. Now would be a great time for him to do so.

[MizTruBlueLuvzU]

The team looked absolutely gassed the entire 3rd period, zero legs. If that's the case moving forward this will be over in 5. That run we had to go on to qualify for the dance really taxed this team, in my opinion.