The Stanley Cup playoffs really feel as large open as they’ve in any current season. Whereas there are numerous glorious groups within the subject, there isn’t any one really dominant crew that stands out as a transparent favourite. Nearly each crew has a significant flaw or query that would find yourself holding it again.
That additionally means it’s completely potential for an sudden crew, or maybe even a bottom-seeded crew, to go on a run.
The St. Louis Blues, the second wild-card crew within the Western Convention, are a type of groups that would go on a surprisingly deep run at a championship.
There are a few components working of their favor going into their first-round matchup towards the Presidents’ Trophy-winning, top-seeded Winnipeg Jets.
The Blues are going into the playoffs as one of many hottest groups within the league and clearly enjoying their greatest hockey of the season. Since Feb. 1, their 21-5-4 report is the most effective within the NHL, and there may be nothing of their play to counsel it’s any sort of a fluke.
So, how did they flip right into a juggernaut greater than midway via the season?
The primary improvement was the hiring of head coach Jim Montgomery virtually as quickly as he turned out there. When the Boston Bruins fired Montgomery, the Blues wasted no time in firing their very own coach (Drew Bannister, who had simply been employed on a full-time foundation previous to the season) to deliver him in.
The change behind the bench was not the one important transfer.
In addition they made among the best in-season trades after they acquired veteran defenseman Cam Fowler from the Anaheim Geese. Fowler has been an enormous addition to the Blues’ protection, and together with the offseason addition of Philip Broberg (restricted free agent provide sheet from the Edmonton Oilers), has helped utterly rework a unit that had change into a critical weak spot lately.
With Montgomery behind the bench and the revamped protection, the Blues have virtually in a single day change into one of many stingiest defensive groups within the league. Throughout their 30-game run to shut out the season, the Blues rank third within the NHL when it comes to anticipated objectives towards per 60 minutes during 5-on-5 play whereas additionally proudly owning the league’s greatest 5-on-5 purpose differential. They suppress opponents scoring possibilities and have considerably outplayed everyone at even-strength.
That alone makes them a crew that playoff groups may need to keep away from.
However it’s not simply their protection that has improved. They’ve additionally change into one of many high offensive groups within the league through the second-half. Dylan Holloway (the opposite restricted free agent they signed away from Edmonton) has been a breakout star in his first 12 months with the crew, whereas returning core gamers Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas have had large years.
They’re second in the NHL in goals per 60 minutes during 5-on-5 play since Feb. 1.
They’re additionally enjoying a Winnipeg crew that, for all of its strengths this season, has had some disappointing playoff showings lately. Particularly because it pertains to beginning goalie Connor Hellebuyck. If Hellebuyck falters once more, even a bit of bit, the door could be open for the Blues to drag off the upset and probably begin a run.
An in-season teaching change helped flip a disappointing Blues crew right into a Stanley Cup champion through the 2018-19 season. The identical recipe is in place this season.
