(HockeyStL) – It’s hard to stop a goal from being scored when the other team attacks your net with a three-on-none break -- just ask Blues goalie Brian Elliott.
It wouldn’t be the only goal that he allowed, but it has to be the most frustrating one for Elliott. Patrick Kane scored with two other Blackhawks nearby and no Blues defender in sight.
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Elliott would tell you that he should have made the save, but I’m going to tell you that the Blues shouldn’t have been caught that off-guard so early against a speedy Blackhawks team. If there is one team better at the transition game than the Blues it would be the Blackhawks.
The goal occurred seven minutes into the game. There was no need for a desperate push that early in the game. I understand that if there isn’t a turnover then the Blues likely have a five-on-two chance, but teams should be focused on defense first and let the offense happen – especially against the high-scoring Blackhawks.
Ken Hitchcock won’t be happy and the problem was likely addressed right there on the bench. The reality of the problem is that if the Blues plan on winning the Western Conference they will need to beat teams like the Blackhawks, who took four of six games against St. Louis last season. The poor effort shown on this goal will not suffice.
