The Blues’ dismantling of the NHL’s laughing stock on Tuesday night was quite entertaining. Jori Lehtera scored a hat trick as the Blues crushed Buffalo, 6-1. The game featured a combined 16 penalties worth 52 minutes of sin-bin time. I went to catch a boxing match and a hockey game broke out.
Lehtera’s chemistry with linemates Jaden Schwartz and scoring Phenom Vladimir Tarasenko will make your head spin. Lehtera and Tarasenko, who played together in Russia, know exactly where the other is on the ice–without even needing to look. All I know is when the foghorn blows I immediately turn to the TV monitor to ensure I’m not seeing things. Initial reports are inconclusive.
It’s been so long since the team featured pure scorers, and, wow, it’s a beautiful thing. Their quick release, accurate shots give them the ability to score from any angle. Sabres goaltender Michal Neuvirth might never recover from this clinic.
The “STL” line has produced over 60% of the entire team’s goals.
Quick Hits
The Blues need faster starts. This has plagued them for years. Buffalo played a relatively clean 1st period, outshooting the Blues 15-10, but went into the room down 1-0 when Lehtera banged home his 1st goal of the evening at 17:08. I think the Sabres thought they were playing at home in the dull, quiet Scottrade Center. That place needs an overhaul. Actually, that place needed an overhaul a decade ago.
Former Blue Chris Stewart was on the ice for all three of Lehtera’s goals.
Bad habits can ensue any time a team faces a bottom feeder like Buffalo. We’ll learn real quick if any formed when Nashville returns for the second time in six days on Thursday. Smashville currently sits atop the Central Division, and came back to defeat St. Louis last Saturday, 2-1.
Paging Paul Stastny. 7 games, 1 goal, 4 points
Calling Patrik Berglund, twice. 14 games, 1 goal, 2 points
Why did Ken Hitchcock think sitting enforcer Ryan Reaves was a good idea against Buffalo?
The Blues are hot, having won eight of nine. I’d like to see Jake Allen in net against the Predators.
Ring$
This next story pisses me off.
Former Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel had his Texas home ransacked last week and the thefts stole Vrabel’s three Super Bowl rings.
I’m so tired of pathetic pukes that steal. In what seems like an annual occurrence, I’ve had so much stuff stolen–several thousands of dollars worth. As recently as last month, some piece of sh*t took a backpack of broadcast equipment out of my car while parked at my parents’ house in Warson Woods, a neighborhood more known for this:
A caller complained of noise at 3:45 a.m. in the 600 block of Garland Place, reporting teens partying in the woods nearby. An officer located two adult males talking near a small fire pit in the rear of the property. The subjects were advised of the complaint and went inside for the evening.
The complaining neighbor moved, and so did I. Good riddance.
The point is I don’t care if you steal a Super Bowl ring or a soda from Hucks; any person who steals is the scum of the earth and should promptly have one hand cutoff.
Not sorry–End of rant.
Police are looking for two suspects who were dumb enough to steal three Super Bowl rings. Good luck concealing those. Morons.
10 Opinions
Sign LHP Andrew Miller. I would seriously consider signing Miller as the closer, and inserting Trevor Rosenthal to the starting rotation. Miller, 29, went 5-5 with a 2.02 ERA and struck out 103 batters in 62 1/3 innings with Boston and Baltimore last season. Though primarily a setup guy, his agent is marketing him as a “Randy Johnson type closer”. That’s ridiculous, but he does have an electric arm.
Acquire the big fish, Giancarlo Stanton. I don’t care what Miami asks in return. Package Shelby Miller and Lance Lynn and throw in Jon Jay. Get Stanton in the lineup.
Gregg Williams looks like he rediscovered the insane, crazy coordinator I thought the team brought back this offseason.
9: number of career forced fumbles by Alec Ogletree, which is tied for most in the NFL over the last two seasons. Ogletree has been much better the last two games because Williams is letting him anticipate and recognize the play. Ogletree needs a prominent presence in this defense.
12: number of tackles for loss by rookie DT Aaron Donald. Donald led all of NCAA with 28.5 last year at Pittsburgh.
21: number of quarterback pressures for William Hayes this season–most among all Rams.
0: seemingly the IQ of Rams offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer
T.J. McDonald shows flashes of greatness. Sunday at Arizona may be his best game as a pro. McDonald and newly acquired Mark Barron could solidify the safety position, which still has lingering demons of Jason Sehorn and Craig Dahl.
Peyton Manning is 13-6 against Jeff Fisher coached team’s. But, Manning lost their only playoff matchup: round one in 1999-2000, the year Fisher lost SB XXXIV to STL. Manning last played St. Louis in 2009, winning a 42-6 thriller. Chris Long and James Laurinaitis are the only two remaining players from that 1-15 team.
Don’t look now, but the Lebron-less Miami Heat are 5-2. Lebron’s Cavaliers are 3-3. The world is ending, evident by the Cleveland Browns’ 6-3 record. Gulp.
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