weve been requesting, Richards, who sits on the AFL Play

ST. LOUIS -- Mouth agape, Ken Hitchcock struggled to process the buzzer-beater that crushed the St. Louis Blues season. Goalie Brian Elliott sank to his knees in disbelief. For the second straight playoffs, the Blues finished with four straight losses to the Los Angeles Kings. They didnt get swept this time, it just felt that way. Especially to Hitchcock, who called out the cluster of high draft picks that have had several chances without making a splash in the post-season for a franchise still awaiting its first Stanley Cup. The roll call of first-rounders found wanting on the latest fade-out would be a long one. "What Im going to tell them is its not good enough," Hitchcock said after the 2-1 eliminating loss in Game 6 Friday night. "If you want to be a champion, its not good enough. "If you want to be a champion, youre going to have to find a way." T.J. Oshie, a first-rounder in 2005, was minus-3 in a game that included his first two career playoff goals. Patrik Berglund (06) had one goal and David Perron (07) none. Rookie Vladimir Tarasenko (10) was not a factor in his single appearance. Berglund had the best chance to tie it in the third but came up empty on a break-in, then was seen head in hands on the bench. Theyll carry the memory of Dustin Penners game-decider for months. "On that play youre just kicking yourself," said captain David Backes, a second-rounder in 2003 who has delivered leadership and gritty play. "Those are the little things that get magnified. They dug deeper than we did, the fate is were going home and theyre continuing on." While quick to credit Conn Smythe-winning goalie Jonathan Quick as the best player in the series, Hitchcock said the window of opportunity remained open for the Blues. But only, he was quick to add, if the core steps up. "Quite frankly, we need more from the people that are homegrown," Hitchcock said. "And thats something well address the off-season and in conversations with each individual. "We need the boys we built around." The ones they traded for, too. Among the disappointments they didnt draft were Chris Stewart, held to one assist after leading the team with 18 goals, and Andy McDonald, held scoreless. Alex Steen and Vladimir Sobotka were among the few standouts at forward, Steen with a handful of clutch goals and Sobotka with consistent play all over the ice. The checking line of Adam Cracknell, Chris Porter and Ryan Reaves lived up to its "CPR" nickname. Goaltending and improved defence led the April surge. Elliott led the NHL with 11 wins in April and before Game 5 had allowed a single goal in eight consecutive games. Trade-deadline pickups Jay Bouwmeester and Jordan Leopold provided needed stability and composure to the back line, to the benefit of another former first-rounder, Alex Pietrangelo (08). The Blues had won 14 of 17 after taking the first two games of a physical series that featured three goals in the final minute of regulation, two overtimes and every game decided by a single goal. With no margin for error against the defending Stanley Cup champions, they paid for their lapses. Up 2-0 in the series and 2-0 in Game 3, they relaxed and lost. They failed to take advantage of several opportunities in Jonathan Quicks 1-0 shutout in Game 4. After carrying play most of the second period in the 2-1 Game 6 loss on Friday night, they let up in the closing seconds. "We hit a few posts and a couple sitting right there in the crease," Backes said. "Its beginning to be a broken record." Hitchcock absolved Elliott of blame on the deciding goal, just as he did after Slava Voynovs overtime goal in Game 5 because a Blues stick interfered with the flight of the puck both times. On Penners goal, he judged the puck jumped 4 feet. He blamed everyone else. "We didnt get the puck deep twice when we had a chance to clear, we didnt check the right player and then it went off our stick," Hitchcock said. "We panicked with the puck and it ended up in our net." Players, who planned to clear out lockers Sunday, know theres room for improvement. "This team was hot going into the playoffs, added pieces at the deadline," Backes said. "We took on some big players and we were expecting better than this. "I dont know what the next step is, but right now its just sour." Nike Air Force 1 Schweiz Outlet . The Cincinnati Reds remain perfect with their speedy rookie outfielder in the starting lineup. Nike Schuhe Schweiz Outlet . Duchene scored two goals and had an assist, helping the Colorado Avalanche beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Friday night to match the best 10-game start in team history. http://www.nikeairfoce1schweiz.ch/ . The Masters champion and winner of last weeks Australian PGA has a three-round total of 14-under 199 at Royal Melbourne. "Im in a really good position for tomorrow," Scott said. Nike Air Force 1 Schweiz Online . The Canadian squad, skipped by Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg, got on the board first with two in the second end, and followed that with two more apiece in the fourth and sixth ends. Nike Air Force 1 Schweiz Schuhe . After Martin Skrtel put the Reds in front from close range at Stamford Bridge after only four minutes, Hazard hit back in the 17th with a superb strike. Etoo gave Jose Mourinhos team a decisive lead from Oscars back pass in the 34th. AFL players are quietly resenting the lack of intra-season rest time after the league decided against reintroducing two byes for 2016, Sydney defender Ted Richards says.The AFL dropped one of the two bye rounds at the end of 2014 having had to shorten the 2015 season to cater for the cricket World Cup.But it decided against reintroducing the double-bye season for this year.Were quietly filthy that the AFL hasnt given us the two byes that weve been requesting, Richards, who sits on the AFL Players Association board, told Melbourne radio station RSN on Wednesday.Instead, the eight teams who make the finals will get a weeks rest after the final round 23.But Richards argues all teams should be entitled to two weeks off, with the physical and mental reprieve invaluable.From a players perspective, theres a lot of merit to having two byes evenly scattered tthroughout the season for all teams, he said.ddddddddddddhe 33-year-old himself was eased back into competitive action with the reserves during the Swans bye last weekend after a month out with concussion.He rates himself a 50-50 chance to make his AFL return against the Bulldogs at the SCG on Saturday.Itll be a full game this week, its just a matter of which team, he said.Richards also backed a call by Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge to do away with rookie lists, with one list of 44 players at each club a better option.Rookie lists have served their purpose, Richards said.(Its) time to scrap them and give those guys an opportunity to be rewarded if theyre playing good enough football in the reserves to be selected. 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