11WSChamps wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 23:07 pm
So is this what tanking looks like?
Not really....they're just horrid and the coaching is creating more problems than they solve.
Define creating more problems than they solve? What do you suggest they do differently if nothing is getting results?
If anything I would encourage them to explore literally every possible tweak they could imagine to get this group to figure out their identity. Don't understand this sentiment at all, until midway through the game last night the Blues were the superior 5v5 team for 5-6 games straight which was definitely progress given how the season has unfolded so far.
I couldn't watch the game yesterday, So I am not speaking from what happened yesterday. But earlier in the year, when they made the switch. They had 1 decent defensive performance and then the next game were getting absolutely shelled in the 1st. They flipped back to zone and the game became manageable. I have seen them flip into the man multiple times and then flip back. Never seen them do it and stick with it the whole time because it doesn't seem to be a system the guys are comfortable with. If I recall, the last defensive coach got fired because of the man defense. Monty was here during that period. They decided they wanted to go in a new direction and go zone to be a better defensive team.
Again, I have not seen yesterday's game. And have no reason to make this assumption. Are we sure they weren't running the man the whole game? and that's what led to the high goal turnout? I think there is correlation between our zone defense and our low scoring games. Maybe they were tired of losing 3-2. If that is the case, I don't think that's a problem. The season is lost anyways. I don't understand how you tankers want to keep complaining of poor results when the team tries something new and it doesn't work. Isn't that what you are supposed to do? Now if he indeed did switch it mid game, then AGAIN you tankers should be happy. Monty intentionally flipped the defense to something they aren't comfortable with and told them to practice and and we lost. Leads to the Tank. Can't win with you doomers.
11WSChamps wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 23:07 pm
So is this what tanking looks like?
Not really....they're just horrid and the coaching is creating more problems than they solve.
Define creating more problems than they solve? What do you suggest they do differently if nothing is getting results?
If anything I would encourage them to explore literally every possible tweak they could imagine to get this group to figure out their identity. Don't understand this sentiment at all, until midway through the game last night the Blues were the superior 5v5 team for 5-6 games straight which was definitely progress given how the season has unfolded so far.
I have to preface I didn't see yesterdays game so I can't include 13. But for sure 9 of the last 12, maybe 10, the Blues were the superior 5 on 5 team on the ice. Their special teams were the wrong kind of special which allowed multiple W's to be flipped to L's and a couple games where the ice was tilted because of it.
Kilokaai wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 09:51 am
Define creating more problems than they solve? What do you suggest they do differently if nothing is getting results?
Explain not pulling the goalie after giving up four unanswered. Is he afraid the goalies will say no again?
Kilokaai wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 09:51 am
Define creating more problems than they solve? What do you suggest they do differently if nothing is getting results?
Explain not pulling the goalie after giving up four unanswered. Is he afraid the goalies will say no again?
If I'm Montgomery, I have 26 games to experiment with strategies, tactics, personnel, etc. This is essentially preseason for 2026-27
Kilokaai wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 09:51 am
Define creating more problems than they solve? What do you suggest they do differently if nothing is getting results?
Explain not pulling the goalie after giving up four unanswered. Is he afraid the goalies will say no again?
If I'm Montgomery, I have 26 games to experiment with strategies, tactics, personnel, etc. This is essentially preseason for 2026-27
That's fair - they need to move pieces sooner than later...
Kilokaai wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 09:51 am
Define creating more problems than they solve? What do you suggest they do differently if nothing is getting results?
Explain not pulling the goalie after giving up four unanswered. Is he afraid the goalies will say no again?
Binnington has only been league worst goalie by most normalized goalie metrics this season, sounds like rearranging chairs on the Titanic. I can see a lot of reasons why it doesn't matter. We hooked Binnington after two goals and everyone freaked out, we left him in for 7 people freaked out.
If Joel is your guy going forward and the team seems to trust him more than Binny, I'd be utterly shocked if there wasn't a discussion about making the swap heading into the 3rd. This to me a pure testament to "this is Joel's net to lose", it didn't work out last night. Happens, team didn't do him a lot of favors but that happens in random games every season.
After watching the 10 minute nhl youtube highlight, it appeared to me the swap didnt happen until the 3rd period. So the wheels were already starting to fall off before they made the switch. But, hard to tell as you only get to see the goal scoring opportunities on those highlights. They have to be either big saves or goals for them to usually show up.
Kilokaai wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 09:51 am
Define creating more problems than they solve? What do you suggest they do differently if nothing is getting results?
Explain not pulling the goalie after giving up four unanswered. Is he afraid the goalies will say no again?
If I'm Montgomery, I have 26 games to experiment with strategies, tactics, personnel, etc. This is essentially preseason for 2026-27
yeah last night was the nail in the coffin. After the olympic break it's time to plan for next season.
callitwhatyouwant wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 10:32 am
After watching the 10 minute nhl youtube highlight, it appeared to me the swap didnt happen until the 3rd period. So the wheels were already starting to fall off before they made the switch. But, hard to tell as you only get to see the goal scoring opportunities on those highlights. They have to be either big saves or goals for them to usually show up.
Nashville made their goaler change after the fifth goal early in the second. He immediately stops a breakaway by Neighbours, and then soon after they score their 2nd goal, and then the momentum completely changed and we never got it back.
It seems to me every time in the past 5-6 years this team has tried man to man they have sucked at it. I'm not sure why we keep trying to go back because with the zone we seem to put up pretty good stats defensively as a team. Frankly I don't think Parayko is a good man to man defender, but with his size and reach is a excellent zone guy. Pack it in, let the other team get off low % outside shots, have the backdoor covered by a defenseman and have guys positioned to take care of the rebound. Seems like it's worked for us pretty well in the past so what's with changing it.
11WSChamps wrote: ↑02 Feb 2026 23:07 pm
So is this what tanking looks like?
Not really....they're just horrid and the coaching is creating more problems than they solve.
Define creating more problems than they solve? What do you suggest they do differently if nothing is getting results?
If anything I would encourage them to explore literally every possible tweak they could imagine to get this group to figure out their identity. Don't understand this sentiment at all, until midway through the game last night the Blues were the superior 5v5 team for 5-6 games straight which was definitely progress given how the season has unfolded so far.
I have to preface I didn't see yesterdays game so I can't include 13. But for sure 9 of the last 12, maybe 10, the Blues were the superior 5 on 5 team on the ice. Their special teams were the wrong kind of special which allowed multiple W's to be flipped to L's and a couple games where the ice was tilted because of it.
Exactly! This is what drives me and I assume many other Blues fan crazy. We see a good team that SHOULD be winning more than they are losing, really all season long. It would be easy to check out and not care if they were simply hopeless every season like the Blackhawks.
Then when we all knew the season was officially on the line entering January unless they started winning, the Blues have actually played their most consistent and “winning” hockey of the season.
It’s the same problems resurfacing. The same players making mistakes and so on. To blow a 5-1 lead to a rival that is in a playoff hunt and just gave us 2 bad “goaltending” losses last month…..let’s just say last night didn’t feel good because of a better draft position
Monty has turtled all season long. Whether a one goal lead after one and a half periods, or if losing by one. through two and a half. It's been defense till there's two minutes left.
For me. This guy wants to coach wins more then he wants the team to win. He has different lines each game, for no reason. Changes lines that are creating offense to "limit" other teams offensive opportunities, with defensive forwards. Which only moves the game from opponents offensive zone, to our defensive zone.
But since Buch was moved to center. It look like that line was given permission to play a more offensive game. The next game Schenns line moved more towards the net. Last night started the same. Then coaching happened and you could see it on the players faces.
callitwhatyouwant wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 10:32 am
After watching the 10 minute nhl youtube highlight, it appeared to me the swap didnt happen until the 3rd period. So the wheels were already starting to fall off before they made the switch. But, hard to tell as you only get to see the goal scoring opportunities on those highlights. They have to be either big saves or goals for them to usually show up.
Nashville made their goaler change after the fifth goal early in the second. He immediately stops a breakaway by Neighbours, and then soon after they score their 2nd goal, and then the momentum completely changed and we never got it back.
I'm merely stating the switch from zone to man defense like OP posted. I think the wheels had already begun to fall off by the replay before they made the switch. It wasn't the catalyst for the switch. Some of the fans seem to be blaming Monty for this debacle. I'll hold Monty accountable to 1 thing maybe 2 but they are similar early in the year. He didn't put together a known quantity line to start the year in Hollywood/Schenn/Kyrou, which was his best line for 35 games last year. He then jumbled up lines whenever we weren't producing which was nearly every game. He owned the cohesiveness problem by jumbling up lines.
I just think it's silly for fans to blame this on the coach, when it's clearly a player or GM problem first. You can't fire 3 coaches and have the same players and GM be responsible for all 3. That is on one of them, not the coach. Certainly not the coach that has only ever won his whole career.
callitwhatyouwant wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 11:44 am
I'm merely stating the switch from zone to man defense like OP posted. I think the wheels had already begun to fall off by the replay before they made the switch. It wasn't the catalyst for the switch. Some of the fans seem to be blaming Monty for this debacle. I'll hold Monty accountable to 1 thing maybe 2 but they are similar early in the year. He didn't put together a known quantity line to start the year in Hollywood/Schenn/Kyrou, which was his best line for 35 games last year. He then jumbled up lines whenever we weren't producing which was nearly every game. He owned the cohesiveness problem by jumbling up lines.
I just think it's silly for fans to blame this on the coach, when it's clearly a player or GM problem first. You can't fire 3 coaches and have the same players and GM be responsible for all 3. That is on one of them, not the coach. Certainly not the coach that has only ever won his whole career.
Montgomery is smart, and those three are good players, so it's weird he would bust them up.
