Blues Had been Horrendous, Embarrassing All Round In 8-1 Loss In opposition to Senators

It began with a turnover. After which one other. And one other. And one other.

Earlier than they knew it, the St. Louis Blues have been out of it earlier than the puck even dropped, it appeared.

The sport began half-hour late attributable to an influence outage at Canadian Tire Centre, however the Blues mush have thought the sport was later.

The Blues have been missing compete, execution, and worst of all, effort and it resulted in a 8-1 pasting by the hands of the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, their worst loss since an 8-0 beating in opposition to the Colorado Avalanche on Jan. 15, 2021.

The Blues (5-5-0), who have been coming off a troublesome 5-2 loss in opposition to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, ought to have had no excuses about being drained. They should not — and will not — make excuses concerning accidents, they usually have been taking part in the sport with out Robert Thomas (ankle), Mathieu Joseph (decrease physique) and Nick Leddy (decrease physique), however once they began this four-game street journey with a formidable 5-1 win in opposition to the Toronto Maple Leafs, they’ve dropped two straight duds and been outscored 13-3.

Joel Hofer was the starter and was the sacrificial lamb in objective however was pulled after permitting 5 objectives on 21 photographs. However as unhealthy as his teammates have been in entrance of him, he did not assist himself both on this night time. Jordan Binnington allowed three objectives on 14 photographs.

It was unhealthy throughout.

It began with three mis-management of pucks within the offensive zone that led to 3 Ottawa objectives, and by a few of what are alleged to be the Blues’ higher gamers.

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It was turnovers, lack of expertise, dedication to defending … you title it, it wasn’t there, and that is a difficulty. It is also a disturbing side when effort comes into query, and that is not often, if ever, accomplished.

And coach Drew Bannister, who rightfully took the blame from a training workers perspective, mirrored on these very points right here:

There isn’t any have to establish each single objective, as a result of the one hiccup by Zack Bolduc was merely an unlucky one by a younger participant that merely tousled on the eighth objective. Plain and easy.

However within the first interval, it was a whole lack of puck administration within the offensive zone.

Pavel Buchnevich, who by the best way was 1-for-9 (!) on face-offs on this recreation, good for a whopping 11 %, turned the puck over with the puck on his stick within the offensive zone making a nasty cross to the purpose that changed into a Josh Norris redirection in entrance with Buchnevich trailing simply behind not making the play simply 1:04 in.

When Noah Gregor made it 2-0 at 4:44 of the primary interval, it was Brandon Saad, puck rolled off his stick within the slot attempting to shoot it, cross it, however one other turnover led to a different rush by which Brayden Schenn, as a substitute of perhaps taking the physique of Gregor, misplaced his mad and tried to make a stick play and as a substitute, the slot shot caromed off the stick and over Hofer for one more multi-goal deficit, the fourth in 10 video games already this season.

And on the third objective, the outdated, dreaded drop cross contained in the blue line. Jake Neighbours tried making it to Saad, it wasn’t a great one, and off to the races the Senators went. And Tim Stutzle scored considered one of his two objectives at 15:04 to make it 3-0.

Actually recreation over at the moment.

One would suppose the Blues would come out with an indignant mindset and work within the second interval, however this Brady Tkachuk power-play objective, considered one of two for the St. Louis native, there’s simply little compete and it was 4-0. Oskar Sundqvist tried to win a puck however does not and there simply does not seem like a lot of any urgency the remainder of the best way. And eve in saying that, Hofer seemed like he ought to have made a save there.

And on Tkachuk’s second of the sport that chased Hofer, it was one other power-play objective at 11:08 that made it 5-0, the Blues sat again in protection, however it was a shot Hofer would need again and he was accomplished for the night time.

So as to add insult to damage, former Blues farmhand Adam Gaudette, who scored 44 objectives for Springfield of the American Hockey League final season, scored twice on Tuesday for the Senators, his third and fourth objectives the previous two video games.

The Blues did get a power-play objective from Dylan Holloway and it was a pleasant objective, a direct play from the circle to the purpose, again to the half wall, Alexandre Texier made a cross seam cross from the left circle for a one-timer previous Linus Ullmark at 9:02 of the third interval.

Kasperi Kapanen left the sport after two durations with an upper-body damage. He was checked by Zack MacEwen late within the first interval and was shaken up coming off the ice and performed within the second interval however couldn’t end.

The Blues will attempt to salvage a .500 journey on Thursday once they shut it out in opposition to the Philadelphia Flyers earlier than coming dwelling to embark on a five-game homestand.