WC Playoffs Round 1: St. Louis Blues vs Chicago Blackhawks (Blackhawks win 4-2).

[FireGilbert]

Wow this game changed quickly. Amazing play by Sharp to keep going after getting hooked in the face. I'm not sure what Miller was trying to do there though.

[Itse]

LOL Miller, terrible goal.

[nik-]

Imagine being awesome all year and then just losing in the first round?

I hated constant first round exits by the Flames, but other than the Anaheim one, we weren't expected to do much. Imagine being a Blues fan, waiting all 82 games for this?

[flamesfan1297]

Originally Posted by fleury

Ryan Miller has been crap this season. Both those goals were savable. St. Louis should let him walk in the offseason.

Their not going to do that

[FlamesFanInOilCountry]

Yeah, it was kind of disappointing to see the Blues completely outclass the hawks in the second, but have nothing to show for it due to their anaemic power play and lack of skill in the top 6.

[direwolf]

Well that sucks. Still lots of time left, but I'd say it's pretty much over at this point as the Blues don't seem to have any finish and their PP stinks. It's a damn shame. God I hate the Hawks.

[trackercowe]

I wonder what sort of changes we'll see in St. Louis. If Miller leaves they will potentially be a worse team next year without an actual starter signed as of yet. You'd expect some changes will be made with back-to-back first round exits (via 2-0 blown leads). They really need one of two franchise forwards, like all the other elite teams in the west have. The Blues definitely have nice depth, but don't have a Kane/Toews or Perry/Getzlaf to go to in big game situations like today.

[CalgaryFan1988]

I actually don't remember the Hawks taking so many penalties in a series before. I agree with you FFIOC, shows that the Blues have a very good team, but no real finish.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

The Blackhawks should be the template for what a team needs to win championships: skill and speed.

You are forgetting grit, big reason they have been able to come back from 2-0 is because they stopped getting pushed around and started pushing back after Seabrook nailed Backes.

[nik-]

Does this cost Hitchcock his job?

He hasn't been there a real long time, but this is the third year of high expectations and early exits. They won one playoff series 2 years ago. Seems to be unable to get them past that wall.

[flamesfan1297]

Who will the blackhawks play if they win this series ?

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

I wonder what sort of changes we'll see in St. Louis. If Miller leaves they will potentially be a worse team next year without an actual starter signed as of yet. You'd expect some changes will be made with back-to-back first round exits (via 2-0 blown leads). They really need one of two franchise forwards, like all the other elite teams in the west have.

I think they have a great model of a team game as it is. It's a game of inches, and their model doesn't require 1 or 2 high end stars. I do think they need a scoring veteran like they had in Andy McDonald, or Steve Sullivan, plus good goaltending. The goaltending is their biggest sore spot. Miller hasn't done anything for stealing a game or two when they needed it. Instead he's lost games they've played well in.

[Nufy]

Colorado or minny

[nik-]

Originally Posted by flamesfan1297

Who will the blackhawks play if they win this series ?

Winner of Colorado Minnesota no?

[trackercowe]

Originally Posted by nik-

Does this cost Hitchcock his job?

He hasn't been there a real long time, but this is the third year of high expectations and early exits. They won one playoff series 2 years ago. Seems to be unable to get them past that wall.

I doubt it, since they've made significant progress since he came in, they just ran into a better team after faltering late in the season. Crazier things have happened of course, but I think Hitch gets another shot.

[FlamesFanInOilCountry]

The Blues seem to fit the model for big and truculent (CP Burke Buzzword), but they haven't seem to have filled in some top end skill. I hope that Burke watches a series like this sees that you need to have some pure skill guys inserted with big power fowards.

I don't want to give the eulogy before the end of the game here, but I was hoping that the Blues could beat the Hawks as St. Louis fans have been pretty patient for a proper rebuild.

[FlamesFanInOilCountry]

Originally Posted by nik-

Does this cost Hitchcock his job?

He hasn't been there a real long time, but this is the third year of high expectations and early exits. They won one playoff series 2 years ago. Seems to be unable to get them past that wall.

I think they ship some pieces out, but I think Hitchcock keeps his job. I wonder who takes a flyer on Miller after this? Certainly won't be for 7 mill/year.

[OILFAN #81]

Originally Posted by nik-

Imagine being awesome all year and then just losing in the first round?

I hated constant first round exits by the Flames, but other than the Anaheim one, we weren't expected to do much. Imagine being a Blues fan, waiting all 82 games for this?

It's what the Blues do. Was pretty much expecting Chicago to beat them in 6. St. Louis with the way they build their team will never win. They are a good team but they don't have any star forwards. Backes, Oshie and Tarasenko are good players but they aren't stars. Chicago has Toews, Kane, Sharp and Hossa, and the Ducks have Getzlaf and Perry. St. Louis lacks a star forward. Chicago can play well for a few minutes with their stars and take a couple goal lead on the Blues.

[Yamer]

And that's the series.

[JurassicTunga12]

4-1 Hawks.