“We completely turned that around”. The Stars have used both goalies all season, including the first round against Minnesota, but this was the first time coach Lindy Ruff made an in-game switch during the playoffs.
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And if you’re thinking ‘no, he should’ve started Niemi in the first place, ‘ you’re wrong.
There seems to be only two possibilities. With ultra short shifts coupled with a dump and retreat style of entry into the offensive zone. He faced power plays.
The sharp power play helped the Sharks shake off some early rust after having six days off before Game 1. Though he’s been pretty stellar in the face-off circle so far (56.7% in the playoffs), he’s not given the Blues the scoring support they need to truly put teams away in the postseason, which is a big reason he was brought on two summers ago. We got this series tied back up. He dictates when the line changes occur and who jumps over the boards. Neither team played the way they have to play in order to wrestle home ice. But the Stars were 0 for 4 with the extra man, and are now 1 for 20 on power plays at home this postseason. This should create more goals for, and less against, for the Note club.
But hold on, I mean these are professional athletes we are talking about.
The Sharks are playing with the cards they’ve been dealt, and it’s working. To wit, Roussel had the dubious distinction of being called for three penalties.
It has become a proven fact in sports that a passive prevent style of defense does not work. They have to get past their thrilling seven-game opening series against the defending Stanley Cup champions. The coaches also went head-to-head in the 2006 playoffs, when the Sabres beat Hitchcock’s Philadelphia Flyers.
So if its not the coaches and its not the players than what is it? Neither team had any real domination of the game. “We’re going to have find different energy, a different gear”. “I think we were able to play good games on the road, so that’s going to be huge for us now”. Goligoski didn’t hesitate snapping the puck past Elliott and giving the Stars a deserved 1-0 lead.
“Take the officials out of the equation”, Ruff said. They also keep turning the puck over with careless passes. Yet they failed to take that next step and the Blues succeeded.
The Blues looked much more aggressive out of the gates in Game 2. He’s a big guy down the middle who doesn’t cheat, ever. But despite his 40 saves, the Dallas Stars took the victory. The Blues won four of five meetings – three beyond regulation – during the regular season and finished two points behind Dallas for the best record in the Western Conference. “Figured it was a little air-conditioning for the playoffs in these hot climates, and my wife signed off on it, so I’m still married”. Here’s the updated bracket and when you can catch the next set of games. That’s why you will only see these videos during the Blues playoff run.
I’ll snag the value and root against the team on home ice for a second day in a row.
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But the constant between videos has been the “Blues Go Marching In” theme.
