Canucks Beat Blues, Control Series
The Blues came out flying Sunday night and gave themselves a chance to beat the visiting Canucks.
Scottrade Center was packed. A standing-room-only crowd rocked the house.
The atmosphere was electric. The Blues took a quick 1-0 lead and looked capable to fighting their way back into the series.
Instead, they petered out. They lost 3-2 and fell into a hopeless 0-3 series deficit.
It’s over now. This was the Note’s chance to get back into the series and the home team failed.
The Blues didn’t get their must-have game. They took a good run at it, but fell short.
Now they will be relegated to playing for pride in Game 4. Now they will be fending off an embarrassing sweep on their home ice.
After entering the NHL playoffs as one of the NHL’s hottest teams, this is not the scenario they envisioned. But it is what it is.
The Canucks are the more experienced and more talented team (even with Mats Sundin sidelined) and the Blues couldn’t knock them off their game.
Had the Blues sustained their physical play against the Canucks, they would have won Game 3. In this hostile environment, the Canucks coughed up the puck when they get hit.
The Blues got goals from David Backes and Andy McDonald by making plays off the end boards. Their forecheck was very effective.
On the road, the Canucks weren’t combative – despite all their tough talk at home. The Canucks reminded us that they are a finesse team, albeit a very good one.
Playing Cam Janssen against them (due to Dan Hinote’s injury) was a very good idea. He made some big hits and the Blues fed off that.
Andy Murray’s team started fast but didn’t sustain that pressure for 60 minutes. At times they took the momentum back, but they couldn’t keep it.
Why not? Their special teams really let them down. They failed to convert a pair of two-man advantages at critical points in the game.
The Blues were the better team five on five Sunday night, but their power play was feckless and their penalty kill . . .. well, it didn’t kill.
And so the Blues fell short, again.
Jeff, the ‘Nucks are going to come out absolutely flying in Game 4, so the first period, at least, should be exciting as hell. If either team gets a two goal lead, look for the other to pack it in- the Blues for the season and the Canucks for the night.
Bottom line: Besides the PP killing us, Luongo was once again the difference. This guy just doesn’t let in any soft goals. Mason has been great for the Blues in their 2nd half run, but he has not been at his absolute best during the playoffs. Imagine the teams swapping goalies and this series has a completely different complexion.
Every time Jackman was on the ice tonight, it was a virtual Canucks PP — They may as well have been 5 on 3 when he was killing.
Well, I hate to say I told ya so, but I told ya so.
Well fought game, just came up a little short.
Carry this year’s success into next year.
Go Canucks Go
ST.LOUIS IS NOT SHOOTING THE PUCK …RATHER LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT SHOT . TO BEAT THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS ….IT’S NOT ABOUT HITTING . IT’S PLAYING THE PUCK AT A FASTER PACE . YOU ARE NOT GONNA MUSCLE THE CANUCKS OUT OF THE GAME . THEY HAVE SKILLED PLAYERS APLENTY . THE MOUTHING BY THE BLUES ON LINE CHANGES ONLY BRINGS OUT THE BEST FROM VANCOUVER ….ENOUGH WITH THE HEAD- GAMES …AND PLAY HOCKEY ….OR ELSE !
the playoffs are about being tough, disciplined and going into the dirty areas. the blues are learning what it takes, but right now, vancouver is clearly the better team.
First off, I hope that I heard wrong.
BUT, on the radio it sounded like St. Louis Blues fans actually booed the Canadian national anthem. This morning a friend actually told me that it was true. If so, just think what people from the United States would do and say if someone actually booed the Star Spangled Banner. Their would be riots. Why is it that the class level of citizens of my hometown goes straight into the toilet at Blues games? I am a Blues fan and a lifelong St. Louisian, but if what I heard were true, I might be happy if the Canucks continue to embarass us as much as our fans often do.
Ah, this stupid “booing the national anthem” thing that comes up every single year whether it happens or it doesn’t. If anyone was pointedly booing the national anthem, you couldn’t tell. There were people saying random things here and there, but that’ll happen with 19.5K people in a room. If you believe the stories you hear about the Canadian anthem getting booed, it’s because you’re either gullible or want it to be true because of your political desires.
By the way, Canada has a long and glorious history of booing the US anthem at least every couple of years. You don’t remember that because, again, it doesn’t fit your political desires.
DK,
Do I know you? What could you possibly know about my political beliefs?
What I know is what I heard. On the radio, it sounded very much like booing. Without prompting him, my friend told me that Blues fans booed throughout O Canada. That is what I know. I also know that I have been to numerious Blues games in my life and while most fans are good fans, MANY of them are very immature - more so than any other sporting events that I regularly go to.
The real question is why you are so defensive about this issue. How immature does one have to be to defend this behavior by pointing that they did it first? I don’t care who did it first. I am a St. Louisian and a Blues fan and I want to be proud of both.
IF it happened I can’t be proud of that.
These are my observations.
In peace.
I was @ the game last night, and addressing the whole Canadian National Anthem getting booed, i’d have to say that that’s somewhat inaccurate.
There was definitely a lot of comotion going on during their anthem. Our fans, albeit just some, were yelling random things during it, mostly a lot of “Go Blues” or “Let’s Go Blues”.
And even though I think one should be respectful during another country’s anthem, we haven’t had a playoff game here in 4-5 years, and I think the fans were just really jacked up, which led to the intermitent shouting of things during their anthem.
Will say, thought it was awesome how our fans sang their hearts out during the American National Anthem. Haven’t heard that song sung that loud in long time @ a sporting event, and I go to lots of hockey, football & baseball games. The fans @ the football & baseball games barely sing @ all, so thought it was really cool way everybody sang along last night. Reminded me of way things were back in the day.