Five Keys to Playoff Success

Jaybo, Backes, and Pietro must be prime playoff performers.

Well, here we are again. Another spring, another improbable journey that is the Stanley Cup Playoffs lies ahead of the St. Louis Blues. The first step in that journey: beating their most hated rivals and defending Stanley Cup Champions, Chicago Blackhawks.

Here are the five keys to the Blues hoisting the cup for the first time in franchise history:

1. The Defense. These guys have got to be a wall as well as a gateway. They have to keep the Blues defensive game in check and also provide some offense for a depleted forward group. Pietrangelo and Bouwmeester have got to be minute-munchers and play like the pairing that backed a defensive-minded Canadian team to Olympic gold. Shattenkirk must shake the demons of playoffs past and play great two-way hockey. Jackman and Polack have to avoid being over exposed, be warriors and minimize mistakes, while getting in the face of the opposition and shutting down their offense. Leopold, Colaiacovo, and Cole must step up when called upon. The Blues first step to the Cup starts with the backend.
2. Ryan Miller. Pretty simple: he’s got to be a deference- maker. Plain as can be.
   
3. Jaden Schwartz. A “Mr. Hockey” in the making. He is my pick to be the prime playoff performer in this lineup. With so many regulars down, he must continue his goal scoring ways and then some in the playoffs. He was arguably the Blues best forward last post-season. Now he has become a finisher, and for the Blues to finish on top, Schwartz has got to take control.
4. David Backes. He’s the leader, MVP, and heart and soul of this franchise that should be accepting his third Selke Trophy this summer. With all of the injuries, this is the one that the Blues can NOT afford to have extended into the playoffs. Backes must be in the lineup, making a difference, every shift, every game. He personifies what it means to wear the note.
5. Luck. It seems that in years past this has not been on the side of the Blues when it comes to the post-season. They’ll need a little to get through the playoffs and march down Market.

Thanks for reading and Let’s go Blues!

Western Conference Semifinals: Game 1

Blues, Pietrangelo go down in game one.

Highlights:

Playoff Bound!

The Blues become the first team in the NHL to clinch a playoff spot with their 100th point on the season.

With a 3-1 win at Tampa Bay Saturday night the Blues reached 100 points, and more importantly, clinched a playoff berth. They became the first team to reach those two milestones in the NHL. The New York Rangers are the next closest team with 95 points.

The game-winning goal came from Jaden Schwartz in his first NHL game. He became the 13th player in franchise history to score in his debut.

Schwartz got acclimated to the "loose Blues" in the warm up skate when the team had him lead them onto the ice, but they all stopped at the bench. Schwartz proceeded to the ice and did two laps alone while the rest of the guys got a good laugh from the tunnel.

Berglund opened the scoring with a short-handed goal in the first made possible by a fantastic set-up from Alex Pietrangelo. Perron added the third goal on a partial break. Halak made 22 saves.

Andy McDonald did not play and is "week to week" as Hitchcock puts it. David Backes left the game early with a foot injury, not great news.

Even with all the injuries, the Blues continue to win. They are surging and doing it on the road. All this is a great testament to the system that Hitchcock has sold to the team.

One and Done, Again

The Blues play "the way hockey was meant to be played," and for the second game in a row shutout an opponent and score late to win.

In dramatic fashion, the Blues got a late goal from Alex Pietrangelo to beat the Oilers 1-0 Thursday. He scored with just 5:14 remaining on a great wrap-around to finally beat Oiler goalie Nikolai Khabibulin. The Blues had the first 18 shots on goal and out shot Edmonton 38-15.


Facing those 15 shots was Jaro Halak, whose second shutout in a row improved his record to 10-0-3 in his last 13 games.

The Blues' record has improved to a league-best 20-3-3 at home and gives them 62 points, the second most in the Conference behind Detroit (63). The Central Division contains the Western Conference's three best teams (DET, STL, CHI).

The Scotty is becoming a nightmare for opponents and now they are starting to take notice:

"They came out with tremendous pressure and intensity, Edmonton Defensman Andy Sutton said. "That's the way hockey was meant to be played."

Highlights:

Monkey Off Their Back

The Blues win their first shootout of the season, hoisting them to first in the Central for another moment.

The Note defeated the Wild for the first time this season Saturday night, 3-2. It was also their first shootout victory on the season, moving their record in the "Shoot-em-ups" to 1-5. They were the last Western Conference team to have a shootout victory.

The Blues moved to first in the division with the win, but relinquished it today with a Chicago win. The Central Division is going to be a dogfight this year; glad the Blues will take part.

David Perron and Alex Pietrangelo scored just 2:35 apart in the second to erase a 1-0 deficit. Pietrangelo continues his fine play and was a beast all night long. It was as if he never left the ice, and made world-class moves while there.

Jaro Halak had another fine outing in net, including stopping all three Wild attempts in the shootout. That allowed for Kevin Shattenkirk's lone Blues' goal to seal the game. It was only their second shootout goal of the season, but enough for their first victory.

"I think this is a big weight off of everybody's shoulders, Coach Hitchcock said. "That's as much joy as I've seen on the bench in a long time."

Highlights:

Blues Begin 2012 with a Win

The Blues halted their longest winless streak at three games by defeating the Phoenix Coyotes 4-1 at home last night.

Christ Stewart is quietly heating up and scored the first goal of the game. Jamie Langenbrunner added a goal in the first on a tip in from Barret Jackman's shot from the point. Phoenix scored late on a power play making the score 2-1 at the end of one. Speaking of things heating up as of late, T.J. Oshie scored on the power play in the Second on a nice neutral zone transition. Berglund added an empty netter to close out the game's scoring.

Jaroslav Halak made 33 saves and was the games number one star. David Perron and Alex Pietrangelo both had 2 assists. Jackman had a notably strong game on defense, which is significant since the Blues are shorthanded in that department due to injuries and suspensions.

The Note improved to 15-3-2 at home, and have nabbed 32 of a possible 40 points. The Blues have become one of the league's best home teams, which should come in handy during January when they play 9 of 11 at Scottrade. In February and March the team goes on the road for 19 of 30. They were in playoff contention last year until an awful January. This team looks to have a great January and rack up the points at home.

Highlights: