There is no denying this has been an up and down year for the St. Louis Blues. With five games left to play, this team is finally starting to hit its stride.
When we look back on this season, whether it is with fondness or disappointment, one thing will always come to mind — the amount of obstacles this team has had to overcome. The major one being injuries.
In August, if you would have offered to bet me the St. Louis Blues were going to go the entire regular season without ever having a completely healthy roster and yet still make the playoffs, I would have taken that action in a heartbeat.
Until this year, I would have thought it almost impossible for a team to endure the amount of injuries to key players this team has had to go through and still produce a 100 point season.
I would have never guessed that this team would be led, in part, by a couple of rookie defensemen. Both of whom are not Petteri Lindbohm.
I would have never believed an unknown rookie in Robby Fabbri would have the third most goals on this team.
I might have guessed Paul Stastny would lead the team in assists, but probably not because he was on a line with the guy we traded Oshie for. Or that Troy Brouwer might prove to be the clutch goal scorer that this team desperately needed.
Although my heart would have wanted to believe it, the idea Brian Elliott would carry this team for over a month and for the last elven games would go 10-0-1 with a 1.41 goals against average and a .951 save percentage would have seemed like pure fantasy.
However, that’s exactly what happened.
After a season that was about as pretty as a Ken Hitchcock swimsuit calendar, the St. Louis Blues are starting to show signs of the team we all had hoped they would be. They have traveled through hell only to come out on the other side looking better than ever before.
The goaltending has been the best in the league these last couple months. When one goalie goes down the other picks up right where they left off. If used effectively, this could be one of the greatest tandems ever.
The Blues have a top line with one of the most dangerous goal scorers in the league, who can turn the tide of a game in an instant. As well as an energetic and tenacious young forward in Jaden Schwartz,who refuses to let past failures dictate future success.
Stastny is emerging as a top tier center, who elevates the play of everyone around him. He’s a smooth operator that can create opportunities when seemingly none exist.
Brouwer is playing like the veteran presence he was brought on board to be. I believe, whole heartedly, this aging forward will prove to be one of the St. Louis Blues greatest assets throughout the playoffs. His “I got this” attitude will be a huge boost to this teams confidence and his ability to finish a play when called upon is something this team has lacked in the past.
The Steen-Backes-Berglund line has the ability to become one of the most effective and feared lines of the entire Stanley Cup playoffs. Two big opposing wingers, who excel at puck possession and aren’t afraid to go to the dirty areas of the ice.
Centered by one of the smoothest two way centers in the league, who is coming into the playoffs with a full tank of gas and a chip on his shoulder. Not to mention the St. Louis Blues second ranked goal scorer. Some teams would kill to have this as their top line. This is our third.
And then there’s Scottie Upshall. The little engine that could. The St. Louis Blues version of Rudy. A player that earned his way into the lineup and in the process became one of the most well liked guys on the team. When I watch him I’m reminded of David Eckstein. Maybe not the most talented player, but one that plays with the heart of a champion and could be this teams MVP.
Last, but certainly not least, are our two rookie defenders. Colton Parayko, with the shot of Al MacInnis and the grace of Fred Astaire, has been an offensive machine from the blue line and there’s every reason to believe his stellar play will only get stronger as the intensity ramps up.
Meanwhile Joel Edmundson, who I affectionally call cousin Eddie, has been one of the best stay-at-home defensemen the entire season. This kid doesn’t care what your last name is or who you think you are. Stay out of his crease or he will usher you out with extreme prejudice.
Unfortunately this team just cannot catch a break. It has yet to be known how severe Fabbri’s injury is or when Jay Bouwmeester or Carl Gunnarsson will return. These are three key players that this team desperately needs to be healthy.
The only thing I can say is the St. Louis Blues have proven they can win despite injuries. No it wasn’t pretty, in fact it was down right maddening to watch. But they still found a way to get the job done. They fought hard and they never surrendered. I don’t know what more you could ask for.
Maybe they should take a few lines from history. “Ask not what your team can do for you but ask what you can do for your team” or “We have nothing to fear but fear itself” or (insert your own inspirational quote here). Whatever it takes.
Yeah they’ve been disappointing in the past. Get over it. This is a different time and a different team. This train is about to leave town and you’re either on board or left standing at the station. LET’S GO BLUES!
By the way if you like snarky, fairly obvious observations about the Blues then follow me on twitter @JMblues83.
