System Malfunction.

St. Louis looked to be on the verge of a breakthrough.  Two wins, back to back, and everything was set for the third.

And then Boston shows up, and spoils the party.  Not only does it spoil the contact high that the Blues and their fans had from seeing their team do well, it also telestrated the holes in the Blues’ plan – and is leaving people wondering about if their system’s effective.

Of course, to see if the Blues’ system is effective, you need to figure out what the system is to begin with.  In what used to be a team who had an identity as blue collar, chippy, and rough-n-tumble, you see a lighter style emerging.  I’m not sure if it’s because of speedsters like Perron and Kariya, or accurate passers like Johnson, but the wide-open style of play’s been seen a few times out there.  The issue with the tape to tape, open ice passes that the Blues have been trying to make, though, is that most of their opponents can see what’s happening – the play develops very obviously.  If the opposition is gathered up the middle, there’s no point in making that pass, and other teams have been reading our plans loud and clear,  breaking up the play left and right.

Dump-and-chase (or the system of desperation) has been creeping into our play too.  We don’t have a bunch of people on the team fast enough to get to the puck every time.  Even when someone gets there right after the opposition, we have a heck of a time getting control of the puck.  We’re trying to play rough along the boards, which can work, but when someone’s already there controlling, and other guys are there for him to pass to, it’s rough.

We have a solid D.  We have great goaltending.  Our penalty kill is doing pretty well… but the power play is awful.  12.2%?  There’s no excuse for that.  There is, however, a reason, which Andy Strickland over on Hockeybuzz does a fantastic job of breaking down:

Last season the Blues used what’s called an umbrella or a 1-3-1 with four forwards on the ice. This was when the Blues were at their best and had little problem directing pucks on net and generating quality chances.

When you watch the PP this season it looks unorganized, chaotic, and predictable. Guys are really having a hard time reading off one another and you can tell they have no clue what the person with the puck is about to do and where the support is coming from.

You can’t get much more spot on than that.  Our power play system, as well as our overall system of play is getting predictable.  You need to mix it up – not just the lines, but the whole thing.  It’s getting obvious that whatever it is we’re doing on the ice isn’t working at all.  Changes need to be made – there’s no reason we should be last in the league with goals scored.  Thank goodness for the people behind the offense, or we’d be up a creek.

Some Other Articles That You May Enjoy:
Scott Gordon’s System Catching On
You Can Call It a Slump
Blues drop off after strong start.
Let the Spoiling Begin
As Spring Turns To Summer, Wild House Cleaning Continues
Wild Notes: What Have We Learned?

We hope you enjoyed this post. As always, leaving a comment below is both appreciated and encouraged. Thanks!