Blues hit road under new coach
The St Louis Blues abysmal home record got coach Andy Murray fired last week. Now they hit the road, where theyve played very well, for three straight under interim coach Davis Payne.
The Blues have been a confounding team. Theyre an NHL-worst 6-14-3 at home after losing 6-3 in Paynes first game Saturday only hours after Murray was fired, but theyre one of the leagues better teams on enemy ice at 11-4-3.
Theyll play at San Jose on Wednesday, at Anaheim on Thursday and at Los Angeles this weekend. Thatll give them time to adjust to the new guy, and perhaps find a solution to their schizophrenic season.
In 23 home games, the Blues have been outscored 76-55. In 18 road games, theyve outscored the opposition 53-44. The power play is 10th on the road, 28th at home.
“It seems like its more of a mental thing than anything else, team president John Davidson said. “How that happens, people that have never really played sports probably dont have that understanding.
“We have to find a way to get our players to believe in playing better on home ice and believe in themselves at home.
The 39-year-old Payne had been coaching at the Blues AHL affiliate in Peoria, Ill., and was confident the team could get rid of the home-ice disadvantage.
“Well deal with whats here and now and take steps to make progress, Payne said after the Blues fifth straight loss at home. “Well win again in this building, theres no question about that. I think we have to make sure we understand a road record like that doesnt get accomplished by mistake, either.
Players already have a rapport with Payne from training camp.
“Right now its not about Xs and Os, defenseman Barret Jackman said. “Its about the commitment on the ice, and getting guys ready to play and playing a full 60 minutes.
Players werent using a new system as an excuse on their failures during Paynes NHL debut. Many blamed themselves for Murrays firing and for the unfavorable first impression they gave the new coach.
“He doesnt have a magic wand to wave, weve still got to have 20 guys on the ice doing their job and executing their game plan, forward David Backes said. “He didnt come in and change the forecheck, the breakouts.
“It wasnt like he came in here and tried to build Rome in one day.
At the midway point of the season, the Blues were 12th in the Western Conference at 17-18-6 and with 40 points - 11 points out of a playoff spot. Theyre near the bottom of the league in scoring, getting inconsistent production from young talent that includes forwards David Perron, Patrik Berglund and T.J Oshie, and defenseman Erik Johnson.
Murray was criticized for treating some of the young players, particularly Perron and Berglund, with “tough love.
“Itll be up to Davis to figure out if a kid is not practicing hard or making redundant mistakes, then maybe he deserves to sit on his butt, Davidson said. “But if the kids making the mistake out of passion and hes worked his butt off in practice, stick him back on the ice and let him play.
Before the current five-game skid, the Blues won three in a row on the road with impressive outings at Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary. The day before Murray was fired, Backes and Johnson were named to the U.S. Olympic team.
“Weve shown that with the talent in this room and the work ethic, when its there, we can play with anyone, Backes said. “I think thats whats so frustrating, you see the potential but also the letdowns.