Friday, December 8, 2017

Dalls Stars vs St. Louis Blues - Game 29 Recap

Allen Posts Shutout, Blues Win 3-0

Goals: Schenn (14), Parayko (3) and Tarasenko (13)
Record 19-8-2


My Thoughts on the game

  • This game was a battle of two like-minded teams with Dallas managing 29 shots on goal and the Blues only 27, with the good guys coming out on top in the scoring column. Defense and good goal tending was the theme in this one. Both teams made it hard for the other to find space on the ice.
  • Dallas took 7 penalties, while St. Louis only took 2.  The Blues killed both of theirs off and were successful on the power play for 2 goals in their 7 tries. One Blues penalty came very late in the game as Upshall was whistled for slashing with only 23 seconds left on the clock. 
  • Schenn got the first power play goal at 16:39 of the first period for his 6th game winner of the season. Steen's shot from high in the slot rebounded in front where Jaskin put a stick on it and then Schenn slammed it inside the far post on the 3rd try. At that point, Schenn had scored 4 goals in his last 4 periods played, having scored the hat trick in the previous game at Montreal.
  • Dimitri Jaskin was rewarded for his efforts lately by being moved to the 3rd line tonight with Beglund and Paajarvi, as well as being given a spot on the power play unit.
  • Sammy Blais had been sent back down prior to the game and Oscar Sundqvist was a healthy scratch for this game. Other personnel moves included recalling goalie Ville Husso due to an issue with Carter Hutton who was also a healthy scratch. Bortuzzo watched from the press box tonight also, as Vince Dunn was back in the lineup.
  • The Husso callup was late and he wasn't able to make it in time for pregame warmups, so the Blues called season ticket holder, Tyler Stewart who suited up and skated with the Blues for warmups.  It must have been a dream come true. 
  • Although the Blues were 2 for 7 on the power play tonight, there were still some glaring issues. They had a 5 on 3 for a minute and 14 seconds late in the first and failed to score. On the season they are 0 for 5 with a two man advantage. Early in the second period they went without a shot on goal on another power play. The two goals were an improvement, but as Coach Yeo says, there is still room to get better.
  • Allen's shutout was his 16th of his career with the Blues. That's good enough for a tie in 3rd place with Glen Hall in Blues history. He also climbed ahead of Brian Elliot in wins as a Blue with 105.  To put Allen's record in a broader perspective, he won his 105th in just 8 more games started than Elliot.  He is now 3 wins behind Grant Fuhr and has played in 65 fewer games than Fuhr. Ahead of Fuhr are Curtis Joseph with 137 wins and Mike Liut with 151. 
  • Jake made some excellent saves throughout the game. The shutout was no gift. However, the Stars put on a lot of offensive pressure down the final stretch and had shots go off the post and the crossbar, as well as a shot that got through Allen's legs but rolled through the crease without a Dallas player there to poke it home behind him. That puck seemed to have eyes as it rolled out of the goal instead of into it.
  • Another close call came at the end of the 2nd period.  Under some heavy offensive pressure, Allen made a couple of nice saves and then found himself stretched out on his back across the goal crease. Dallas kept fighting to get the puck past Allen and finally did but it was a half second or so after the horn had sounded. Phew!
  • Paajarvi was more visible tonight for me. It looked to me like he was getting involved more and was hustling throughout the game.  His speed really showed up tonight. He had a steal early in the third period and had a good scoring chance as a result. He missed a few games recently and the depth we now have with Berglund and Bouwmeester back is creating some competition for spots.  When these guys get back on the ice, they want to secure that spot and not give the coaching staff any reason to change things. It's good for the Blues in the long run.
  • The Blues second goal came on a power play 5 minutes into the third period. Colton Parayko's slap shot from the point beat Dallas goalie, Kari Lehtonen low on the stick side. There was great traffic in front of the net that included a perfectly timed "skate by" from Paul Stastny. Lehtonen never saw the puck because on the replay he was reaching for it with his glove while it was in the net on the other side of him.
  • Parayko's goal was the first by a Blues defenseman in 9 games. 
  • One observation I wanted to share: When the puck goes back to center ice and a team tries to regroup before attacking again, if they "dilly-dally" around with the puck when the Blues are on their game, they are all over the other team like flies on a rib roast. They come at you with the forecheck and get after the puck and all of a sudden, instead of starting up ice with your offense, you're scrambling around just trying to keep possession and not let them have it. I love the way this team doesn't give the other guys space to operate or time to think what they're going to do next.
  • Tarasenko finished off the scoring with an empty-netter. Maybe it will help him get back on track. Everybody wants to see him score and he expects to score too. It's ok, Vladi. We are happy with wins and we'll be even happier when you are scoring too.
  • Next game is a Noon puck drop in Detroit on Saturday.
#AllTogetherNowStL #LGB

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