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Jake Allen Clutch In Playoffs Preview Against Chicago

ByKate Cimini|

The St. Louis Blues took first place in the Central Division Sunday night in a real rivalry game between the Blues and Chicago Blackhawks. Not only was this a great win for the Blues, but it was likely a taste of a first-round matchup for our Blues in the postseason, which starts on April 15th.

The Blues and Chicago started their game Sunday night with an incredibly high-tempo first couple of shifts, the Blues doing a great job not only keeping up with, but putting pressure on, one of the fastest teams in the NHL.

The Play-By-Play

Blues goalie Jake Allen made a spectacular save on a Chicago rush with Brian Bickell at the front within the first ten minutes of the game, coming out and playing the puck enough to remind us of his months under Martin Brodeur’s mentorship. He kept that dynamic play up through the first and second, despite a collision or two with opposing players.

Chicago scored first on the Blues with 5:48 left in the first when the bounces simply didn’t go St. Louis’ way: first, Oshie’s clear did not make it through, reminding us that his usual center is a very physical player. Second, Bortuzzo’s skates got tangled underneath him, giving Kris Versteeg a shot under Jake Allen’s legs as he stretched wide to cover the net. And third, Chicago got a point.

The second period saw the same fast play right out the gate, with Chicago turning up the dial on their physicality. Chicago 3C Andrew Shaw went off for charging after he left his feet on a bad hit on Jackman, one he was very lucky didn’t end with Jackman taking a skate to the face.

The Blues went on a power play and committed to strong pressure, playing most of the time in the offensive zone. They couldn’t convert on the first and were awarded a second PP when Michael Roszival got a boarding minor against Pietrangelo. This, of course, played right to the Blues’ strength as a team, and they soon evened the score up with captain David Backes scoring a goal off assists from Shattenkirk and Stastny.

Chicago got even more aggressive, resulting in Reaves losing a tooth or two to Brent Seabrook’s desire to check him face-first into the glass. This game got so physical that even NBC Sports took notice.

Nice of you to notice, NBC Sports.

At 15:12 in the second Olli Jokinen netted his first goal for the St. Louis Blues, putting one in behind Crawford to bring the Blues ahead by one.

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The second ended with Chicago penning St. Louis in the defensive zone and taking shot after shot on Allen, who managed to block or catch all of them. As the teams headed off for the third, they took the opportunity to get in a few elbows and remind their opponents who, exactly, they were facing.

The Blues went into the third up 2-1 and determined to preserve that lead, and Chicago was determined to take them down.

Jake Allen had faced 31 shots on goal by the third minute of the third period, letting in only one and playing out as often as he stayed in net. He consistently played the top of the paint, cutting down on opportunities for Chicago’s forwards and snagging shot after shot.

Despite Chicago’s desperate attempts to net just one more goal, sending them to overtime (where they often excel) St. Louis managed to hold them off definitively, taking home two points and first place in the Central Division, leapfrogging the Predators while the Blackhawks remain at third in the division.

Apr 5, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; St. Louis Blues players celebrate a goal scored by center Olli Jokinen (13) during the second period of an NHL game at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

How They Played

The Blues were dominant in the first and second, despite losing the first to the Blackhawks. They won over the Hawks across the board in shots on goal, hits and faceoffs in the first. While they continued their streak of being scoreless in the first, this was one of the best first periods we have seen out of them in a long while.

They were the dominant team throughout the first and second. The Blackhawks won the third definitively in shots on goal, forcing the Blues to spend most of the period on the backcheck or on defense.

Jake Allen, however, was the standout of the night. He performed superbly Sunday, particularly for a goalie who hasn’t seen a lot of ice time since Brian Elliott came back from injury. Hitch is likely giving Allen playing time while he rests his postseason starter, but I’ll go out on a limb here and say that, while Elliott has the better save percentage, I wouldn’t be unhappy with Allen as the starting goalie. I’m not sure I’d stay that way, as he’s still a young goalie, with flashes of genius followed by subpar games, but his development this season has been tremendous.

In fact, he should start against the Blackhawks on Thursday. It makes all the sense in the world; it gives Elliott a longer rest, and Allen another opportunity to test himself against a strong rival. Elliott has had a difficult time in net of late, with the Blues losing three of the last four games. He can take the next week to reset while Hitch contemplates giving Allen a shot at starting a couple of postseason games.

While Elliott has dropped three of his last four, Allen has won the same percentage.

Why not continue the streak?

Next: Blues Should Bench Tarasenko For Rest Of Season

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