Blues Are Playing With House Money
With no expectations and ripening talent, the Blues may be dangerous
I am a Blues fan, and I am a Bad Hockey Prognosticator. Every year, I get suckered in, and think this year is THE YEAR. That the Blues finally have enough experience, talent and grit to finally hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup. “This goalie isn’t like our old goalie,” I lie to myself. “We’ll finally put it all together. Excellent coach, talented team, good defense and goal prevention. This is THE YEAR.” You idiot. Every time.
I sold on this team January 26th, 2017, after a 5–1 loss to the Minnesota Wild, in the midst of some truly terrible, uninspired hockey. Jake Allen was miserable, the defense was terrible, and the team seemingly never scored. Everything was sloppy, and the whole team seemed to lack energy and an identity. Ken Hitchcock was fired several days later.
They were sellers at the trade deadline, shipping excellent defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk to the Capitals, knowing they had no chance of resigning him in the offseason, and perhaps still smarting from losing David Backes (their long-time captain,) Brian Elliott (traded to the Flames), and Troy Brouwer to free agency with no compensation.
After starting 24–21–5 under Hitchcock, I fully expected the Blues to punt on this year and try to reload and prepare for next season as best as they could. I could not have been more wrong, and I’m delighted to admit it.
Once Yeo took over, everything changed. The Blues cleaned up their sloppy defensive play that had floundered since the loss of their veteran stalwarts. Jake Allen came out of his funk, perhaps because of Marty Brodeur whispering in his ear, or perhaps he was finally free of Hitchcock’s constant browbeating and criticism. I have the utmost respect for Hitch, but perhaps his style didn’t work with this batch of players anymore.
The rejuvenated Blues’ improved defense and goal prevention carried them to a 22–8–2 record under Yeo, and a spot in the playoffs facing the Minnesota Wild.
The series was one of profound importance to Blues fans, who watched the Wild boot a 2015 Blues team, that was heavily favored and extremely talented, right out of the quest for Lord Stanley’s cup. Mike Yeo got to face the team that fired him for no fault of his own.
Even after watching the Blues’ transformation under Yeo, I still wasn’t convinced this team was a contender, because I am a Bad Hockey Prognosticator. I picked the Wild to win in my office bracket. I also picked the Blackhawks to win it all. I’ve been really wrong about these playoffs, and it’s been great. (Sorry, Hawks fans. Go count your rings.)
Jake Allen was masterful in games 1 and 2, and the Blues’ goal prevention was good enough to take the series in 5, even if game 5 gave me heart palpitations after coughing up a 3–1 lead. History has taught me to wait for the Blues to choke and fail.
This series was a palate cleanser. These Blues are not the same Blues of old. The old Blues were regular season juggernauts, this team was miserable in the regular season. Maybe, just maybe, they’re playing loose and free because of the lack of expectations — they are talented, and dangerous. They have swagger. No one was talking about the Blues doing anything in the postseason back in February.
The core of this team, Alex Pietragelo, Alex Steen, Jaden Schwartz, Vlad Tarasenko, Paul Stastny and Jake Allen are all talented players, some of whom have played together in the playoffs for four consecutive postseason berths, and gotten the crap beat out of them, going 10–17, winning only one postseason series and losing four. The optimist in me wants to believe they’re learning how to win in the playoffs, to deal with setbacks and take what your opponent gives you.
Games 1 and 2 vs. the Wild showcased how brutal the Blues goal prevention can be, winning back to back 2–1 games while being out-shot by a wide margin. If they can maintain their confidence and keep playing their brand of hockey, they can give any opponent a run for their money.
The Predators are an excellent team whose strengths mirror the Blues in many ways. I hope we get to see just as good of a series as the one I just enjoyed, and these Blues just might surprise us with how far they can go.
