St. Louis Blues Open The Door For A Blackhawks Team Trying To Break It Down

The St. Louis Blues were on the verge of getting multiple monkeys off their back in game 5 with the Chicago Blackhawks. By not finishing it off, they might have left the door wide open for the ‘Hawks.

This was supposed to be the team that was different. This was supposed to be the game where they proved it and as their general manager said, insert the knife in the eye and kill them.

Instead, the St. Louis Blues failed to put the nail in the coffin.

The game got off to a somewhat slower pace than normal, but the Blues were getting shots on net. They outshot the Blackhawks 6-4 in the opening period, but neither team could get a goal. Despite the scoreless period, the Blues were doing the right things.

They were getting in Corey Crawford‘s grill. They were getting pucks to the net. They were doing their fair share of hitting. Yet, again, despite the scoreless period there was just something not quite right.

The passing was off. They would either send it too long or the puck receiver would fumble it. The defense kept getting out of position or would turn the puck over or just looked a little slow footed.

In spite of all that, the Blues managed to create a little and hold Chicago down – for a period anyway.

In the second period, it all caught up to the Blues. They had been playing a bit like we’ve seen earlier in the year when they expect to win by showing up and that wasn’t going to happen.

The lack of precision cost St. Louis as they gave up a shorthanded goal to Marian Hossa in the second period at 11:39.

The Blues managed to answer right back with an angry rip of a shot by Jaden Schwartz only 57 seconds later.

However, the Blues failed to get the game tied into the intermission as the Blackhawks struck with two late tallies. The defense fell asleep a little on both, the third Chicago goal in particular.

Artem Anisimov scored to make it 2-1 with 5:36 remaining in the period and that was bad enough going into the break. However, failing to win the faceoff at the end of the period again and failing to track Artemi Panarin to the backside allowed the Russian to score with 0.4 seconds on the clock and what appeared to be a backbreaking goal.

Giving credit where credit is due, the Blues failed to give up as well. They persevered and outshot Chicago by a 14-6 margin in the third and it was the young buck Robby Fabbri who got the ball rolling almost seven minutes in.

The Blues weren’t creating many opportunities following Fabbri’s goal, but they weren’t showing much quit either. They kept plugging away and then finally the crack was found in the Chicago defense. It was a shot from the point that was deflected by David Backes.

The captain got the tying goal and the Blues were flying. They were trying everything to end it in regulation, but it would not come.

Overtime was on the horizon. The only other overtime game was game 1 of this series and the Blues won that one on a lucky deflection from a Backes shot. No such fortune befell the team on this night.

They kept pounding away in overtime, but could not solve the puzzle that was Crawford. Both sides appeared to be having the energy sapped from them, but never made that fatal mistake either.

Then, the Blackhawks pounced in the second overtime.

The Blues, who had held Patrick Kane off the scoreboard for four complete games and much of a fifth failed to keep him from scoring in the end. Kane put the puck on a string, danced around two defenders and then picked up his own loose puck for the goal.

It was a disappointing way to end the game that had so much promise at the start, had so much energy after the comeback and seemed like a Hollywood script written for the Blues to finish it off.

Instead, it’s back to Chicago. Now (hopefully only for fans and not the players) the fear creeps back in. St. Louis must win on the road for a third time this series or else face a do-or-die game 7 at home.

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Negatives

Not everyone agrees with my assessment, but even in the first period when the Blues played ok there was just an air of the team thinking Chicago would just pass them the torch. They did not play bad, but there didn’t seem to be that fire we’ve seen in previous game. Both sides looked a bit sluggish compared to other starts and the Blues not scoring the early goal allowed Chicago a chance to believe.

The passing was just off too much and the turnovers were in bad areas. The Blues didn’t make a bunch of errors, but the ones they made were at bad times. Alex Pietrangelo turned one over right at the blue line that almost cost them and Kevin Shattenkirk was careless several times as well. That must be cleaned up to steal another game on the road.

The loss really opens the door. If St. Louis can play as well as they have all series, then this is still a different feeling playoff. However, this is still Chicago. It doesn’t matter who they’ve traded away or let go in free agency, they find a way to get it done. They still have Toews and Kane. The Blues needed to slam the door, lock it tight and board it up. Now, it’s unlocked and gaping wide open for the ‘Hawks to do something terrible to the Blues.

Positives

Brian Elliott still played well. He looked a little off in the overtime period, but he wasn’t at fault on any of the goals. He’s done what every Blues fan and pundit has always asked of the goaltender and give his team a chance.

The ability of this team to never give up is impressive. They weren’t able to finish it off, but the sheer will to come back against the defending champions, who had their backs to the wall and tie up the game when down by two is astounding. People can make the case that the Blues should never have been in that position and they would have a great point, but you have to take the game as it is and the Blues managed to fight their way back and not get their heads down at any time.

The Blues are still up by a game, they’ve won more games on the road than at home and have won four games at Chicago this season alone. Before Blues fans all plan out their wills and think about the end, this team (for whatever reason) seems to thrive away from home. Nobody wanted them to need to win three playoff games in Chicago, but that’s the hand the Blues have been dealt and they still have the cards to win.

Next: Steve Ott Impresses With Pep Talk

Looking Forward

Game 6 will be in Chicago on Saturday, April 23 at 7 p.m. CST. On a side note, it seems unfair that St. Louis gets saddled with two 8:30 start times and Chicago only has to deal with one, but I digress.

As mentioned, the Blues won two games in Chicago in this series already and took two of three in Chicago in the regular season.

Let us all hope that Bernie Federko was right in his postgame assessment when he said Chicago still looks tired, despite their win due to their over reliance on their star players. St. Louis, in theory, should still be the fresher team since they rolled out four lines even in overtime. Time will tell though.