darksabre

Gritty... Gritty... Gritty!

I'm agreeing with you a more than I would like to be today. What I see when players aren't giving their best effort is: -players not skating hard enough to create space for themselves -players not looking around and assessing changing situations with urgency -players not using their bodies to protect the puck The result is soft one on one turnovers, bad passes because teammates aren't making the effort to get open, and blown coverage.

Good news!

I was just providing counter. If the Sabres are struggling right now because ROR is gone, then surely the Blues should be better right now with him? It's nice to see the Sabres at 3-3. I just want to see more from them that will let me feel better about being 3-3. Maybe Blues fans are more optimistic at 1-2-2.

That seems... convoluted. I feel like taking the shot and letting Reinhart screen/tip would be preferable to more passing. Especially given Reinhart's skill with tips. Passing to Reinhart there seems like a good way to turn the puck over.

If I remember the play correctly, Reinhart came across in front of the net and instead of stopping to screen Okposo's shot he continued to the side of the net which let the goalie see the shot perfectly.

That sucks. He was the only thing worth watching there.

Yup.

I mean, it's not like O'Reilly has elevated the Blues to any appreciable level. He put up 4 points in the first 2 games and hasn't done squat since. The Blues are second last in the Western Conference.

I think Okposo could belong on the PP if the other guys on his unit would stick to the game plan.

Ah, yes, intertextuality.

Remembering Gord today

I suspect Dahlin, if he's strong hearted enough to withstand the peer pressure, will become the defacto leader of this team in time. He's thumped a few guys in practice already and I said when we drafted him that he could be the guy who actually challenges Jack. I think Jack needs someone to challenge him.

It's a problem that goes back quite a few years now. They just don't appear physically or mentally ready to play, and a lot of times it carries over throughout the entire game. Soft on pucks, not paying attention to where other players are on the ice, egregious giveaways. The too many men penalty last night was a perfect example. They're getting their butts handed to them and Thompson can't be bothered to skate hard to the bench for a change. Wouldn't want to break a sweat. ? They aren't skating hard enough to give themselves any time or space, and they're trying to cover it up with fancy/high risk playmaking. But that keeps backfiring because when you screw up you have to be aware enough to recover. Which they aren't. If you aren't ready to skate you need to at least stick to making simple heads-up plays. These guys think they're too good for simple plays. They'd rather cough it up at the blue line than chip it in and go get it.

Okposo is trying, bless him. He's trying. Dahlin was already sick of them when he decided to take the puck coast to coast just to get a zone entry on the PP. Since no one else could be f*vked to pull it off.

It's got nothing to do with Housley. This goes back to Bylsma too. It's the players and their inability to recognize that they need to give a better effort. They've all convinced themselves that they're trying as hard as they can and it shows in their lackadaisical play. They can talk all they want after the game about "needing to be better", but it means nothing it they don't recognize it *during* the game.

This is some lackadaisical hockey. Would it kill them to actually try rather than feigning it?

Heads in the clouds.

Everyone needs to go to the locker room, re-tie their skates, and try again.

Little too soft on the puck

Good back check by Thompson

Suck it Vegas

I didn't manage a nap so I'm running on War Emergency Power right now.

That's the red flag right there. That limited pre-season action was enough to make them completely change the plan? Things that make you go "hmm".

Amen.