St. Louis Blues: The Key to a Successful Playoff Run

The last five years postsesaons have not been very good for the St. Louis Blues. However, do they currently have the key to a successful playoff run?

Look, the last three seasons have ended extremely painful for the St. Louis Blues, with three consecutive first round losses in six games to the Chicago Blackhawks, Minnesota Wild, and LA Kings. Right when it seems that this team has been ready to take the next step towards a Stanley Cup Championship they get knocked right back down, wondering what to do next.

It’s hard not to expect the same type of performance next season, as the St. Louis Blues have been at times very inconsistent this season, despite currently sitting third in points in the Western Conference. The Trade Deadline came and went yesterday with the Blues ultimately deciding to go with the players they have, despite having room for a top nine forward to come in and help this team.

So, with that out of the way, our focus is solely turned to the St. Louis Blues upcoming appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in about a month and a half’s time. The one thing the Blues have been lacking is consistent goal scoring in these playoff series’, which is why everyone expected the team to make a move ahead of the deadline.

However, maybe this isn’t the key to a strong run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. What I want to attempt to look at today is the similarities between the Blues and the last five Stanley Cup Champions.

2014-2015 Chicago Blackhawks

We will start with last season’s champs, the Chicago Blackhawks and their most recent championship.

In the regular season last season, the Blackhwaks were 16th of 30 in Goals For and 1st in Goals Against. So, it’s clear that the Blackhawks had a really good D last season. However, their offense wasn’t as good as you would think, granted they were without Patrick Kane for a good amount of the season.

The Blackhawks actually were 17th in the league in GF/GP (Goals For Per Game) at 2.68. The highest scoring Western Conference team last season was actually the Dallas Stars, a team that as you know missed the Playoffs. While the Blues were 2nd in the conference in both areas, they went up against the team that was 4th in GA/GP (Goals Against Per Game) and and 6th in GF/GP.

Meanwhile, your leaders at GA/GP were the Chicago Blackhawks in the West, and the Montreal Canadiens in the East. The Canadiens were eliminated in the second round by the Tampa Bay Lightning who were the highest scoring team in the East.

2013-2014 Los Angeles Kings

In 2013-2014, the Kings were the 13th best team in the Western Conference and 26th in the entire NHL in GF, the Kings were also 13th and 26th in GF/GP. On the flip side of things, the Kings were the best team in the league in terms of GA/GP and GA. So, in 2013-14 the Kings also had the best defense and lived with the offense they got in the playoffs.

In those playoffs the Kings beat the three best Western Conference teams in terms of GF/GP and GF in the Colorado Avalanche, Anaheim Ducks, and Chicago Blackhawks — who were #1, #2, and #4 in the league. The Kings then managed to beat the league’s fourth best defensive team in the New York Rangers in the Stanley Cup Finals.

2012-2013 Chicago Blackhawks

In 2012-2013, the Chicago Blackhawks were second in the league (first in West) GF/GP and GF, but were the best team in the league in GA/GP and GA. To get to the Finals the Blackhawks beat a weak Minnesota Wild team in terms of GA and GF, but it wasn’t easy after that, as they then beat the West’s second and fourth best defensive teams in terms of GA/GP and GA.

This was including beating the Detroit Red Wings in the second round who were the 10th best offensive team in the league. The Blackhawks then took care of the league’s third best defensive team (Boston Bruins) in the Stanley Cup Finals.

2011-2012 Los Angeles Kings

This version of the LA Kings was only the seventh best team (tied with Blues) in the league as far as GA/GP and GA are concerned, and the tenth best in terms of GF/GP and GF. Your Western Conference leader in both categories was the Chicago Blackhawks, but they were ousted in the first round against the then Phoenix Coyotes.

Their opponent in the Stanley Cup Finals was the unimpressive New Jersey Devils, who were 28th in GF/GP and 18th in GA/GP.

2010-2011 Boston Bruins

Yet again, we have another defensive juggernaut making the run to win the Cup, as the Boston Bruins were the second best defensive team in terms of GA/GP and were the best in the Eastern Conference. In terms of GF/GP and GF the Bruins were the fifth best team in the league. The Bruins moved through two top ten offensive teams in the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Bruins ran up against the Vancouver Canucks who were the league’s best offensive and defensive team in terms of GA/GP and GF/GP. They beat the Canucks in seven games, setting a trend for the next four seasons.

What does all of this mean?

Currently the Blues sit as the 24th best team in terms of GF/GP and GF with 2.45. While this number is not great, you have to take into account the injuries the team has gone through this season to impact forwards like Jaden Schwartz and Paul Stastny. Two very important players to this team’s offense.

In terms of defense the Blues stand as the seventh best team (third best in the West), with 2.38 GA/GP and 10th in terms of GA with 155. However, they are currently just .07 behind the Panthers, Capitals, and Kings, who are tied for the lead. So, it is conceivable that the Blues could finish at or around the top of the league in GA and GA/GP, which if history is right, will set them up for a strong run.

You may be saying, “They have had a good defense the past three seasons and look where it has got them!” While you are right, you are forgetting one thing that goes along with any playoff series. That is luck, the Blues have had rotten luck the past few seasons going up against the red hot Minnesota Wild last season, the high powered Blackhawks the year before, and the Kings the two years prior. All of these teams were near the top in the league in GA.

So, couple that with the Blues not getting a bounce here or there and playing flat in a few periods, and you have what we had — three first round exits.

Look, I am trying to make this not be a “Ra Ra, the Blues will be fine” article. But, the fact remains that if you have a good defense and a good goaltender, you can go far in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The scoring can come, and this team definitely has the potential to do it.

Next: No Moves to be Made at the Deadline

So, Blues fans, let’s take a collective breath and just let things play out. Let me know what you think about this team’s chances in the playoffs! I’d love to hear more than one Blues’ fan who thinks this team has the chance to make a deep run this year.

*Stats courtesy of NHL.com

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