The 2011-2012 Blues (home, layoffs, cost)

[stlouisan]

This is a continuation of Shadowcaver's famous blues threads. I just got done watching the Blues play the Blackhawks, and I have to say, I'm seeing certain weaknesses on the part of the Blues that could end up proving fatal if we ever hope to land our first Stanley Cup this year.

First, we are not doing very well as a road team. Today's game was a prime example...1-0 lead through two periods, the Blackhawks come back with a tying goal, then Backes kicks the puck into his own net, then the empty net goal (which doesn't bother me as much because it's empty net). In regulation, we are 10-13 on the road, despite being 26-3 at home.

Against our own conference thus far, we are 5-8 in regulation. I realize we are a great home team, but if we don't start playing better on the road, it's going to cost us. We're not scoring enough goals on the road and we're making careless mistakes. If the Blues are a Stanley Cup contending team, it shouldn't bother them what rink they're playing on. And while we are putting up better numbers against the good teams then ever before, we need to start dominating in our own conference more. Thus far, I think we've lost every time to Nashville, we're 2-3 against Detroit, and 1-2 against Chicago. Almost all of our regulation losses have primarily been on the road.

If we can improve on the road and start winning on the road against Nashville, Chicago, and Detroit, then I believe we are potentially unstoppable.

Your thoughts and input would be appreciated.

[MissouriIsSouthern]

I'm a season ticket holder so I see a lot of hockey.

The biggest problem is the Blues don't score a lot of goals. Which is what worries me about the Western Conference in the playoffs.

If the goaltending can play like it has then the Blues can go deep in the playoffs. However the Blues are crap on the road this year and what worries me is the hard schedule the Blues have the rest of the season with most of their remaining games on the road. While it would take a totally epic collapse for the Blues to miss the playoffs at this point, and they wont miss the playoffs what I am concerned about though is the Blues finishing like 5th or 6th or place and having to play on the road for at least the first round.

I don't see the Blues catching Detroit now. Detroit has a more favorable schedule with more games at home. the Blues should be going for the 4th spot, and Nashville isn't far behind. If not for the goaltending this season, right now the Blues would probably be in 8th place or the outside looking in.

That Columbus loss sucked the other day though. So close to at least getting a point there at least but the goal didn't count.