I don't really have the time to spend on writing extensively about the Blues today, but I feel it necessary to post at least a bit of commentary before I leave town, or before their season ends.

This playoff series is one we should win. Being down 3 games to 1 makes that almost impossible at this point, but hey, it happened to us last year. All things considered the series has been very even. The Sharks have only scored one more goal than us in the 4 games we've played so far (they have 9 we have 8). It's just that their goals have been more timely. They are kicking our ass on the powerplay, but that may be due to the fact they've had almost twice as many as we have. Osgood for the most part has been more than steady, and sometimes pretty damn phenomenal. We're hitting hard and we're getting scoring from unexpected players on multiple lines (Sillinger, Danton, Cheyanek, etc.).

We've got two major problems though. First off, we're getting hemmed in our own zone too much and for way too long. It's really hard to score when you play a whole period in your own zone and can't even chip the puck out. We look like pee-wee hockey players dancing around in front of Osgood with the puck in our skates. Start getting to the puck faster on "D" boys. Second problem is discipline. I know the refs have a thing for us and that they have made some horrible calls against us, and some non-calls on San Jose. But most teams can say the same thing. Officiating is bad around the whole NHL, but you can't blame them for three losses (but I will blame them for game 2). A bit more veteran discipline and we could stay out of the box for a while. Oh and another thing..... you have to start banging in those open net rebounds. No more missing the net when the goalie is sprawled out on the ice or on the other side of the crease. We've had way to many missed chances there.

We should have one game one, that was anyone's game to win. They just got the good break. Game two we did play well below par, but what do you expect when your team only gets 4 minutes a period where no one is in the box. None of the Sharks goals that game were even strength so who knows what would have happened had the ref's just let the boys play like men. Game three we dominated all around, no surprise we won. Game four was again anyone's game to win. We only lost by a goal and we put so much pressure on in the last 3 minutes or so of the game I thought Nabakov's head was going to explode.

I still feel confident that the Blues can pull this one off although its not likely. If not, I'm not that worried. We made the playoffs again which is all I expected from a team that lost two of it's best players for the entire season. It's not like we ever make it past the first round anyway. So for what it's worth..........GO BLUES!!!

- these thoughts flowed through Jeff's fingers @ 11:35 AM