Hitchcock has a problem to solve as frustration builds among Blues
ST. LOUIS -- A listless performance brought out some brutal honesty and troubling concerns in the Blues' locker room Monday night.
Over the course of nearly four years, coach Ken Hitchcock and St. Louis have developed a reputation for producing great regular seasons, only to fade down the stretch and bow out early in the playoffs. Perhaps it shouldn't be surprising the same trajectory appears to be bringing out some frustration with the system, something Hitchcock must find a way to solve before history repeats itself.
Forward T.J. Oshie says St. Louis had some good moments in a 4-1 loss to Vancouver, the Blues' fifth in the last six games. But huge, costly mistakes overshadowed any positives and may point to a deeper problem.
"I know we're not (in the postseason) yet, but there's a lot of information going around, and guys are getting a little indecisive," Oshie says. "I'm not sure what it looks like from up top, but I think guys aren't really sticking with their gut and going with their first instinct."
That's as close to a direct repudiation of Hitchcock's coaching philosophy as you're likely to hear from his players, and he says he'll talk to them and adapt if he determines information overload really is the problem. But Hitchcock mostly dismisses the notion while lamenting a lack of consistent effort.
He's not wrong when he points out St. Louis has lost far too many loose pucks and board battles, particularly in the last two games. Hitchcock always says the Blues must find a way to play hard and match their opponents' intensity to have a chance, leaving little room for egos or individual stars.
"We're very much a group that needs to be alert together on the ice and we're not alert, not on a consistent basis," Hitchcock says. "We're not desperate. The other teams are fighting for their lives and trying to get in (to the playoffs), and we're not matching that."
Clearly, though, the message isn't getting across in the team's meetings and practices. In fact, Oshie says even though he wasn't 100 percent physically against Vancouver following a rough case of the stomach flu, he felt "mentally fresh" after missing the last two days of meetings, as well as Sunday's practice and Saturday's loss to Columbus.
He was looking forward to another day away from hockey on Tuesday, one goaltender Brian Elliott says players should use to regroup and do some "soul-searching" before their final six games. Perhaps that's all the Blues need to regain their intensity and determination that carried them through their most successful periods this season, when they fully utilized their depth and talent to wear down opponents.
Unless injuries to Alexander Steen and Vladimir Tarasenko turn out to be serious, it's still too early to panic. But if Hitchcock can't connect with his players, especially the veterans, St. Louis doesn't stand much of a chance.
Even the STL line of relative newcomers Tarasenko, Jaden Schwartz and Jori Lehtera has struggled lately, especially on defense. Tarasenko and Schwartz posted a minus 4 rating the last two games despite a Tarasenko goal against Columbus, and Lehtera came in at minus 3.
Third-line center Paul Stastny has no points and a minus 4 rating in his last three games, and he has spoken in the past about difficulties earning the trust of his new coaching staff. An early-season shoulder injury certainly played a factor, but the Blues' biggest free-agent signing has played 68 games and is on pace for the lowest goals and assists totals of his career in seven seasons of at least 50 games.
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A disturbing lack of chemistry among the Blues is evident to defenseman Zbynek Michalek, one of the team's key trade deadline additions. He says they weren't even close to good enough against the Canucks, and they're headed in the wrong direction as the playoffs approach.
"Right now it just seems like everybody's doing a different thing and we need to get on the same page, play for one another," Michalek says. "We gave up so many chances and so many breakaways and odd-man rushes that it's ugly to look at."
Oshie even compared a Vancouver goal off of a poor line change to one Chicago scored in last year's playoffs.
For those who have been here before, the feeling is all too familiar.
You can follow Luke Thompson on Twitter at @FS_LukeT or email him at lukegthompson87@gmail.com.
