Blues Must Play Statement Game
It’s all over but the weeping. The Blues are down 0-3 in the best-of-seven series against the highly skilled and experienced Canucks.
They can’t win the series now. But they can still pound out an exciting Game 4 victory, give their fans something to cheer and remind the NHL that they are still on the climb.
Also, they have a chance to bruise give the Canucks a few more bruises. That team loves to talk on and off the ice, so Game 4 gives the Blues a chance to answer with some action.
The Canucks don’t like getting bumped. “Our guys have been [receiving] a lot of cheap shots in this series,” Canuck coach Alain Vigneault complained after Game 3.
Instead of hitting the Canucks for 25 to 30 minutes, the Blues need to hit them for 60 minutes to test their will.
To that end, Hockey Guy enjoyed watching Cam Janssen play. He threw a few huge body checks and had the Canucks on the run.
They weren’t going to fight him, of course, and Cam wasn’t going to take selfish penalties by getting overly aggressive. But he still had an impact.
B.J. Crombeen, on the other hand, let the Canucks goad him into a couple of needless penalties. This was his first rodeo, so he’ll learn from the experience.
The Canucks shrugged off the loss of Mats Sundin to a groin strain, largely because his on-ice impact hasn’t been all that great.
Steve Bernier showed why the Blues made a bid for him last summer. After missing a golden opportunity, he bounced back to score a classic playoff goal.
Shirsch, Whether Janssen played 3 mins or 4 mins is irrelevant. My point is, if he was a destructive force, 1) Hordichuck would have fought him, and neutralized any advantage the Blues were getting, or 2) Murray would have played him more.
The fact is, Janssen was not a force. In fact, he is a liability, and a threat to get scored against or to take a dumb penalty.
A team that is down 3-0 focuses on “retribution”, or things that have little to do with winning a hockey game. The team that is up 3-0 focuses on completing a sweep and moving on to the next round.
St. Louis will have a good team, down the road. This year is not their year.
Enjoy game 4. It’s been an entertaining series.
I was at game 3 and was surprised to hear some of my fellow Blues fans booing the Canadian national anthem. It was pretty embarrassing. However, those who booed weren’t in the majority (and some people cried out “RESPECT!” at the booers). It’s ridiculous to boo any national anthem at a sporting event, but especially when the sport you came to see was created in the country you are booing!!! Go Blues!
What does sweet, innocent Alain call the late hit on our player at the end of the second period? Crombeen was an idiot, but it was one of the cheap shots he was whining about. You’d think the team winning big would have some class and SHUT UP.
@tubastarr
Do you really expect Alain Vigneault to call out his own players on cheap shots? Seriously? He’s doing what any coach would do in his situation: trying to gain an advantage. It’s the same thing Andy Murray was doing when he complained about the shenanigans after game 2 (despite the fact that he’s the one who sent out BJ Crombeen in the first place).
Yes, there have been cheap shots on both sides of the ice. It’s a playoff game, tensions are high, and tempers flare from time to time. It’s to be expected. But to expect Alain Vigneault to be unbiased in his assessment of cheap shots is ludicrous.
Oh, there are boors all around the league. I have been in Canadian arenas where the US anthem was jeered. We have dolts up here too. It is nice to see some Americans feel embarassed by that behaviour as well. One should always respect any and every national anthem.
I guess I have to repeat this, as it can’t be said enough - the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs were down 3 games to 0 to the Detroit Red Wings (in the final no less!) and won the Stanley Cup, and the 1975 New York Islanders were down 3 games to 0 to the Pittsburgh Penguins in an early round of the playoffs and beat them, so it IS possible.
But… really folks. As they say… Slim has left town!
Still, a true blues fan has got to believe/hope. Hmmnn… Perhaps if they amend the rules so the Blues can have a 3 man advantage instead of a 2 man advantage they might get a power play goal.
Just kidding - it is too bad these teams are meeting in this round instead of the conference final. And Anaheim is doing the Canucks a huge favour, for Vancouver’s next opponent is looking like it is going to be the winner of Calgary/Chicago. If the Canucks look flat tomorrow check for drool on the front of their jerseys - they can taste a deep path into these playoffs.
As for the Blues, you have to like the way they played down the stretch and you have to like your chances for next year.
Keep the faith.
gordo,
you farcox for saying the series is over. we still got a chance
i hope we don’t have to bring the blues back to vancity!
I detest the practice of making any noise during any national anthem. This seems to have been popularized by the Blackhawk fans (need to say more?)
I’m sure there muight have been an idiot or two who were in fact, booing. Here’s an idea.. if you need to make noise, try singing the song. Just once I would love to hear what 20,000, 30,000, or more would sound like if they all sang the Star Spangled Banner in unison.
“Imagine”
The toughest game to win is a GAME4. Anybody who thinks they do not have a chance has not been watching them the last 100 days. They will win game 4 because they have pride and guts, and want nothing more than to hear that Blue Crew erupt.
They will win game 5 because Vancouver will tense up dreading the possibility of coming back here to an ultra-supercharged (now optimistic Blue Crew), and because they are a good road team. Their PP will wake up!
They will take game 6 because (hey, if Vancouver can win 3 in a row, why can’t we?) That Saturday crowd will be freakin’ jammin’!!!!!!
A Game 7? Hey all bets are off! Ask Da Cubs how hard it is to seal up a fouth win in a seven game series. ask a Padre.
I can’t believe how many people have just given up on the Blues! Please don’t go fair-weather on mme. Geez.
The Blue will win Game 7 because…….. the Canucks ARE NOT the Wings.
LET’S GO BLUES!!!!!!!! damn right!
As an American citizen with Canadian heritage and life-long Blues fan, I always love to hear O’ Canada when the Blues play Canadian teams. I was squirming too, hearing the scattered boos during its signing on Sunday evening. For all of the Canadian players — and for ourselves, to show some class — please join me in singing along to both anthems tonight.
ejc