(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
It’s quite obvious the St. Louis Blues botched a perfect chance to move onto the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Saturday night.
When they lost in St. Louis in Game 5 in the double-overtime thriller, there was a true sense of fight the team showed, coming back from 3-1 in the third period to tie the game up at 3-3, though eventually losing in the end after an over four-hour game.
On Saturday night, they went up 3-1 before the second period even started. Chicago, however, scored five unanswered goals to win the game 6-3.
Five. Unanswered. Goals.
Game Seven returns to St. Louis on Monday night, and the Blues couldn’t be under any more pressure.
Not just because now they’re on the brink of elimination as well, but because the entire city of St. Louis is breathing down their necks expecting them to win… yet preparing for them to lose. They’ve had a history of first-round eliminations over the past few years, and are looking to avoid that disappointing finish once again.
But there’s still more to it.
When the Rams left earlier this year, the city of St. Louis was left with just two professional sports teams: the Cardinals and Blues. The Cardinals have 11 World Series to their names. Meanwhile, the St. Louis Blues have zero Stanley Cups.
Next season will be the 50th anniversary of the Blues franchise, and they would love to have one Stanley Cup before then. Not just for themselves. Not just for the franchise. But for the city that has been through so much, and has stuck with them through it all.
The Scottrade Center will be wild tomorrow night, and the Blues will lay everything on the line in order to knock their heated rivals out of the playoffs once and for all.
