Anaheim Ducks vs St. Louis Blues - Game 33 Recap

Blues Drop 2nd in a Row at Home

Goals: Berglund (3)

Record 21-10-2

My Thoughts on Tonight's Game

• 114 minutes.  That's how long the Blues went without scoring. A shutout Tuesday against Tampa Bay and then 2 periods plus 14 more minutes tonight without a goal. 
• It doesn't look to me like we have been getting enough action in front of the net and we are allowing the opponents to get too many rebounds and second chances. All three of Anaheim's goals were inside of 3 or 4 feet in front of the net. 
• I felt like we did a good job keeping them to the outside for most of the game and not allowing them to generate a whole lot of offensive pressure. The few times they were able to keep the puck in the offensive zone and get some second chances they made us pay.
• The Blues continue to struggle on the power play.  They were 0 for 4 tonight and are now 0 for 11 in the last 4 games. Where is the guy who will just get down in front of the net and deflect pucks, stand his ground and stick rebounds back in the net? Somebody's got to do it. Who's it going to be? And when will he step into that role?
• On the other side of special teams, the penalty kill has killed off 20 of 21 in the past 8 games.
• The Blues were not totally without scoring chances. Paajarvi hit the crossbar early in the first period. Berglund missed a one-touch deflection into a fairly open net. Joel Edmundson had a nice breakaway after a good pass from Upshall, but couldn't manage to beat goalie, John Gibson. Tarasenko also hit the crossbar on a shot near the end of the second period during a power play.
• Berglund had the only goal on a nice no-look shot through the legs of Gibson.  It was his 300th career NHL point and he becomes only the 21st Blues player in history to achieve that mark.
• Some positives in my opinion were Brodziak's hustle.  He brought a lot of energy in the third period when the Blues needed a lift.
• Vince Dunn continues to show that he belongs in the NHL.  He wins battles, even after it looks like he is beat sometimes and his passing up ice to start the offense is very accurate.
• Dimitri Jaskin is best when the puck is on his backhand.  He is so strong, it looks like he is most in control when he's got the stick in one hand, the puck on the back side of his stick and holding off a defenseman with his other arm.  If someone could just follow him to the net when he skates in from the right side and could be there for a centering pass, maybe we could score a goal once in a while.
• I think the biggest issue the Blues are dealing with now is just chemistry and timing.  With the return of Berglund and Bouwmeester we knew it would take some time, and now with the injuries to Schwartz, Pietrangelo and Bouwmeester again it continues to be an issue.  Lots of times we are getting shots and then nobody is there for a rebound.  A pass into the slot in front of the net often slides right through without anyone there to receive it. The only thing that's going to fix it is just time. 
• The Blues remain in first place in the West and will face Winnipeg in back-to-back games this weekend as they wrap up the homestand on Saturday night and then travel to Winnipeg for a Sunday night game before heading on to Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver next week.

#AllTogetherNowStL #LGB