GDT: Flyers at Blues 7:00 FanDuel

[Sudsy 11]

Its more than scoring. On defense, for the most part this game, the forwards were caught puck watching and not marking up. 89 was ALSO guilty of this. Hes not the only one.

For example, on the game tying 3rd goal, 89 is the extra forward that should have coverage at the point. Hes puck watching (with Thomas). Nobody marks the man up front (broberg, parayko), but still too much wood on a 3 on 5 from a defenseman. He should be at least close to contest the shot.

On anpther one of the goals againat buch has a break, misses the net, turns the puck over and it ends up in the back of the net. He had a chance to get it deep, but he softly loses it on the half boards and doesn't leg it out to the defensive end and body up.

Soft. Too soft. Veterans should be better than this. They get paid millions of dollars to be difference makers. Time to prove it.

-x

Thanks for pointing those things out. At least I have some idea about specific plays that frustrated people tonight. I'm always honest about not understanding hockey strategy. I was a goalie and never learned it. Still my eyes tell me that there is an overall issue in the defensive zone coverage being too passive with the whole team. I still think Buch played well overall. I saw good backchecking and forechecking from him tonight. The fact that Prongs praised him makes me think I'm not crazy. But again I appreciating you sharing more than "he sucked".

[xweazel75]

Its more than scoring. On defense, for the most part this game, the forwards were caught puck watching and not marking up. 89 was ALSO guilty of this. Hes not the only one.

For example, on the game tying 3rd goal, 89 is the extra forward that should have coverage at the point. Hes puck watching (with Thomas). Nobody marks the man up front (broberg, parayko), but still too much wood on a 3 on 5 from a defenseman. He should be at least close to contest the shot.

On anpther one of the goals againat buch has a break, misses the net, turns the puck over and it ends up in the back of the net. He had a chance to get it deep, but he softly loses it on the half boards and doesn't leg it out to the defensive end and body up.

Soft. Too soft. Veterans should be better than this. They get paid millions of dollars to be difference makers. Time to prove it.

-x

Thanks for pointing those things out. At least I have some idea about specific plays that frustrated people tonight. I'm always honest about not understanding hockey strategy. I was a goalie and never learned it. Still my eyes tell me that there is an overall issue in the defensive zone coverage being too passive with the whole team. I still think Buch played well overall. I saw good backchecking and forechecking from him tonight. The fact that Prongs praised him makes me think I'm not crazy. But again I appreciating you sharing more than "he sucked".

I do think you're right Sudsy. Buch did play better than he has in prior games. Its a good thing to be trending in the right direction. Im not going to disagree with you or pronger on that one. Dude knows the game, but 89 needs to be a difference maker. Top 6 type of difference. I think its fair to have high expectations of those players.

Truth is, we are almost 1/4 into the season here and the team can't afford to have a few of their players giving up the center of the ice, not backchecking, puck watching, and waving their sticks instead of finishing their checks. Night after night. Maybe not the same players, but some. Total team effort starts at the top. Kyrou was benched for it. Others are getting a pass. Undeserved in my opinion. A stronger message needs to be sent.

-x

[juan good eye]

This team is lacking in something (coaching, confidence, chemistry?) in addition to elite talent and solid fundamentals.

[11WSChamps]

We're almost a quarter into the season and the Blues still haven't got their third defensive pairing figured out yet.

Its killing this team.

[Bacchk29]

This team is lacking in something (coaching, confidence, chemistry?) in addition to elite talent and solid fundamentals.

It’s called goaltending. The elephant in the room no one wants to talk about. .860 SP isn’t good enough.

[seattleblue]

Keep (bleep) about Buchy you bunch of Boneheads. He's one guy.

oh sweet the imbecile logic of can't say anything unless comprehensive, what a deep moron comment

[succinct712]

Being outshot 31-17 on home ice points to a bit more than goaltending. This team is just not very good defensively.

[hotrivets]

Keep (bleep) about Buchy you bunch of Boneheads. He's one guy.

oh sweet the imbecile logic of can't say anything unless comprehensive, what a deep moron comment

If you really watch he still makes a lot of good plays and some good passes. He just cannot finish at this point so he is hurting the team. About all Monty can do is limit his minutes and try to shoehorn him into situations where he can help versus hurt. That is not a good long term strategy but about all we have until he gets it together.

[hotrivets]

Being outshot 31-17 on home ice points to a bit more than goaltending. This team is just not very good defensively.

They were and then just stopped boxing out- maybe they got lazy with the leads. If Kessel does not fall down maybe they save one goal. Did not see any softies allowed by Binner although some apparently did or maybe they don't get it. I think it was the last regular time goal that 3 Blues were screening him.

[succinct712]

Being outshot 31-17 on home ice points to a bit more than goaltending. This team is just not very good defensively.

They were and then just stopped boxing out- maybe they got lazy with the leads. If Kessel does not fall down maybe they save one goal. Did not see any softies allowed by Binner although some apparently did or maybe they don't get it. I think it was the last regular time goal that 3 Blues were screening him.

This team seems to relax too much with the lead. It happened against Calgary the other night too where they were outshooting them and after they got up 3-0 the ice tilted against them with the Flames pretty much outplaying them the rest of the game. Then you have the 4-0 lead against Detroit that ended in a regulation loss. There seems to be something lacking after they take leads in games going back to the Jets series in the playoffs last year. Lacking intensity maybe, I don't know.

[DawgDad]

Being outshot 31-17 on home ice points to a bit more than goaltending. This team is just not very good defensively.

They were and then just stopped boxing out- maybe they got lazy with the leads. If Kessel does not fall down maybe they save one goal. Did not see any softies allowed by Binner although some apparently did or maybe they don't get it. I think it was the last regular time goal that 3 Blues were screening him.

This team seems to relax too much with the lead. It happened against Calgary the other night too where they were outshooting them and after they got up 3-0 the ice tilted against them with the Flames pretty much outplaying them the rest of the game. Then you have the 4-0 lead against Detroit that ended in a regulation loss. There seems to be something lacking after they take leads in games going back to the Jets series in the playoffs last year. Lacking intensity maybe, I don't know.

Aside from the d-zone issues they went WAY too conservative offensively. Monty needs to rethink his line collapses. The team becomes too passive about midway through second periods.

Much of this seems mental but there is still a BOATLOAD of dysfunction to cure. Kyrou last night TIED Neighbours for the team lead in goals, in more than twice as many games. Veteran forwards are leaving tons of opportunities goal-less, Buchnevich, Holloway, and Schenn are just names on inceasingly empty jerseys. Defensmen who should be putting up points (Fowler, Parayko, Broberg) generally aren't, and they aren't netting goals. Dvorsky remains completely MIA at even strength despite playing with guys who should be scoring wingers. It's still a shell of the team they SHOULD be.

[Blues Dave]

Changes have been happening a lot lately, for good reason. The boys are looking better, but very slowly. If that's how it goes but we become a better team, I can handel it. Ya just can't cram too many changes into things and expect it to be an automatic fix. I love bringing in the kids rather than getting this or that guy who used to be really good. And I agree that two guys are not the blame for everything with this team, meaning that Binner and Hoffer have to adjust to all the changes too. Among some other things, we still have two good goalies.

[slimjay63801]

Keep (bleep) about Buchy you bunch of Boneheads. He's one guy.

oh sweet the imbecile logic of can't say anything unless comprehensive, what a deep moron comment

Speaking of Imbeciles..

[smilinjoefission]

This team is lacking in something (coaching, confidence, chemistry?) in addition to elite talent and solid fundamentals.

It’s called goaltending. The elephant in the room no one wants to talk about. .860 SP isn’t good enough.

Goaltending, defense, team defense, vet leadership, coaching...everything is off, and its time to start treating this team like it.

[stlblue06]

Lots of things to point to but it’s the same story, goaltending is not getting the job done.

Yes these weren’t soft goals but all of these were stoppable shots. I just saw the replay for the 5th Philly goal. It was a 5 on 2 from where the Flyer was that got the primary assist. 2 Blues spaced out on coverage but just watch Binnington’s reaction time to pass to the high slot.

He barely moved by the time the shot was released. It went in the middle of the net, not far side from where he started. He NEEDS to make that stop. The Blues have not been getting those types of stops this season

[seattleblue]

Keep (bleep) about Buchy you bunch of Boneheads. He's one guy.

oh sweet the imbecile logic of can't say anything unless comprehensive, what a deep moron comment

Speaking of Imbeciles..

your logic is pitiful and it's the best you can do. you're like Buch - a failure