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!

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.

May the Schwartz Be With Us

Jaden Schwartz will join the Blues in Chicago.

The Blues were silent during the trade deadline mainly due to the ongoing ownership fiasco, but on Monday they added a player without giving up a thing. The Blues first round pick in 2010 and 14th overall, Jaden Schwartz has signed a three-year entry level contract. He will join the team in Chicago today and be available to play in Tuesday's game.

So the questions for fans to ponder become: Will he play? How much will he play? How big of a contribution is the team expecting from him down the stretch and into the playoffs? Can he make an impact? Who sits? (This is not a good sign for the return of Steen and D'agostini.)

The decision of how much Schwartz will contribute will be in the hands of his almighty, Ken Hitchcock.

"Ken knows hockey, does his research," Blues' GM Doug Armstrong said. "He will make those decisions."

By rule, a player who signs a contract this year has to play in the NHL, so Schwartz will not be shipped to the minors. He will be with the Note for the rest of the season.

Schwartz, 19, lead Colorado College with 41 points in 30 games. Their season came to a surprising end Saturday when they were upset by Michigan Tech in the WCHA playoffs.

More impressively, he was named the captain of team Canada's 2012 World Junior team. A rarity considering he was a college sophomore playing in the United States.

Armstong said that scouts were very impressed with Schwartz's play and thought he was ready for the NHL. Taking in the fact that the Blues are injury depleted, they felt that signing him was a benefit for the team.

There is a good chance Blues fans will see the NHL debut of Jaden Schwartz Tuesday in Chicago.


Que the jumbo tron: