The St. Louis Blues almost never have a situation where their goaltending situation is a no-brainer going into the playoffs. However, apparently there are recent postseason runs that are completely devoid from the memory of many fans and talk radio hosts.
Goaltending controversy aside, there is a problem with the way people remember the recent past. There is a very vocal group among the media and Blues fans that keep using the line “Give Brian Elliott a chance in the playoffs.” Sometimes that sentence ends in an exclamation point or two. Or three or four.
All that group really ever focuses on is the last two playoff runs when the team traded for Ryan Miller and then last year when the team chose to go with Jake Allen. This is especially true in the media where the local talk hosts keep saying Elliott has always been passed over. What? Really? It’s on the radio, so it must be true. As a broadcaster and someone in print media as well, I get it. If the coach doesn’t talk about it, you do and you give a strong opinion. C’mon though.
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Not only does this group apparently forget the two years Elliott played against the Los Angeles Kings and got spanked, they completely go against the arguments that have been bandied about for years regarding the goaltending situation. For years, fans either wanted the club to trade for a big name netminder or make a decision and ride that goalie into the playoffs.
The Blues made the trade for Miller and made the decision to ride Allen. That’s not good enough though because poor Brian Elliott somehow never got his fair shake. Apparently two subpar performances in the playoffs weren’t a fair shake. Apparently almost disappearing into obscurity and having to be sent to the minors because his play was so bad in 2012-13 – a year he got his fairest shake in the playoffs by the way – doesn’t enter into the equation.
Don’t get the wrong impression. This isn’t anything personal against Elliott. If the Blues did not have him on the roster, they would almost surely be in the same boat as the Montreal Canadiens when Carey Price went down. It would not be a pretty picture.
Elliott has had a fantastic showing since Allen went down with his injury and was pretty good even before that. He’s stonewalled his way to the best save percentage in the league. Contrary to popular belief though, stats aren’t everything.
Jamie McLennan had a great run for the Blues in relief in 1997-98 and some thought he should be given the reigns. His career did not amount to much other than being a good backup. Patrick Lalime is a prime example. He had, to that point, the hottest start of any rookie goaltender when he was brought up by the Pittsburgh Penguins and went 21-12-2. His name is not known by many outside of hardcore hockey fans. Scott Darling was a huge reason the Blackhawks won the Cup last year, but just because he had a great run of form didn’t translate to him becoming THE guy.
Elliott is a great competitor, a good person and a good goaltender. Yet, with this year as the exception, he has almost always faltered when he was THE guy. He only made the playoffs once in his time in Ottawa and allowed 14 goals in four games. He could only mount a 2-8-1 record in his time in Colorado. Granted, those teams weren’t the best but neither was Elliott. Even with the Blues, when he did not have Jaroslav Halak or Jake Allen pushing him, he hasn’t always played the way he has the last 16 games.
Elliott was brought in as a backup for Halak and has shined when given the opportunity. That doesn’t automatically mean he should be the starter from here on out when, if not for the injury, Allen would still be the starter. If the team decides to let Elliott ride this hot streak into the playoffs, then so be it. There won’t be massive complaints in this space. I’m not personally against the man.
It’s the people who blindly whine and complain for him that make anyone who doesn’t agree come off as anti-Elliott. The people that say he deserves it, get under the skin. As William Munny said in Unforgiven:
Elliott had his shot against Los Angeles. People usually use the argument that it wasn’t his fault the team lost and no goaltender would have made the difference in those series. Perhaps that’s true, but despite what that vocal group wants to think, Miller was not the only reason the Blues lost to Chicago. Allen was not the reason the Blues lost to Minnesota.
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The bottom line is if you want Elliott to be in net, that’s OK. If you honestly think he gives the Blues a better shot to win, fine. He’s had his shots though and, like the Blues teams in front of him, didn’t do anything with it. So please, stop crying for Brian Elliott. He’s a big boy and has made his case as best he can.