The Blues Come Out Like Lambs

You know what? I don't feel too very bad about being confused, because apparently the Blues are too.

In their first game following the All-Star break last night, the Blues did their level-best to come out of the break and see February in in the most lamb-like fashion possible. Playing in Ottawa, the Blues laid an absolute egg, posting a lifeless 3-1 loss that pretty much killed all the good feeling they were beginning to gather with their solid run of play prior to the break.

What really concerns me about the Blues is that they simply don't seem to be able to win the close, low-scoring games. When they beat Boston a couple of weeks ago (a victory that could really be a signature win for this young team, if they could figure out some way of keeping the positive momentum going), it was in a wild, shootout-style game. Trailing by two late, already having given up four goals. Suddenly, they storm back and score a couple in rapid succession. It's exciting, yes, but a team that only seems to be able to win games 6-5 or 5-4 isn't going to do too very well.
 

Plus, you just have to feel bad for Chris Mason. The guy sucked out loud the first month or two of the season, then turned it on in a big way. Mason's goals against is actually lower than Manny Legace's now, at 2.94 to 3.12, yet Mason's record stands at 5-14. Five. And Fourteen. That's not so good. 

It's kind of funny; I was talking to my friend Jeff about the game, and his analysis was, I thought, spot on. Blues hang around all game, failing to generate many scoring chances, then give up a late goal, forcing them to pull the goalie, leading to an empty-netter to put it out of reach. 

Jeff's analysis: "Sounds like a rerun." 

I couldn't have said it better myself.