If you’re getting that feeling of deja vu, you’re not alone. It’s because the St. Louis Blues have put us through this before. Another series, another Game 7.
The St. Louis Blues refuse to do anything the easy way. Fans are paying the price for it. While we all love hockey and want more of it, there is only so much drama we can take without wondering why it has to be like this.
For the second series in a row the Blues could have ended things earlier than they did. For the second series, they did not and go to a do-or-die seventh game. For the second series in a row, fans must wring hands and sweat while they wait and see which Blues team shows up.
The St. Louis Blues had a chance to eliminate the Chicago Blackhawks twice before they actually did it. They were up 3-1 in that series and proceeded to lose Game 5 and Game 6, before eventually clinging to a 3-2 victory in Game 7.
That Game 7 was at home. This one against the Dallas Stars will not be. Does it really matter? Yes and no.
Yes, it matters because in a Game 7, where any little thing can make the biggest difference, you’d rather have that little difference of having the crowd behind you. Whether making a comeback attempt or urging you on for that final nail in the coffin goal, a crowd can have a big effect.
No, it doesn’t seem to matter for the Blues. Granted, they won Game 7 at home against the Chicago Blackhawks. However, the Blues have a sub .500 record at home in the playoffs this season. Conversely, the Blues are 4-2 on the road this postseason.
There are tons of numbers I can throw at you. Some are comforting, others not so much.
The Blues are 3-2 in Dallas this season, regular and postseason combined.
We’re going to compete like hell. I know one thing: We’re going to come and we’re going to come after them big time – Ken Hitchcock on Game 7
Blues beat writer, Jeremy Rutherford posted that the Blues and Stars have been in three Game 7’s together. All three have gone to overtime.
Home teams are historically 99-71 in Game 7’s, but 20-20 if the game goes to OT.
The Dallas Stars are 29-30 in elimination games in their history, 5-6 in Game 7’s, but 3-2 at home in Game 7’s. That’s not this Stars team though as they haven’t faced the pressure, as a group, in a Game 7 yet. The Stars as a franchise haven’t played a Game 7 since 2007 and haven’t won one since 2000.
The St. Louis Blues are 7-8, historically, in Game 7’s. Unfortunately, they are 3-6 when that final game has been on the road. That’s not this Blues team though as they are 1-0 in Game 7’s and haven’t faced one on the road yet.
More from Editorials
- St. Louis Blues Need Kasperi Kapanen To Be On Best Behavior
- Hayes’ Debut And Other Bold Predictions for the St. Louis Blues
- St. Louis Blues Captaincy Is Suddenly A Huge Problem For 2023-24
- St. Louis Blues National Games Cause More Problems Than They’re Worth
- St. Louis Blues Brayden Schenn Has To Be An Impact Player In 2023-24
Troy Brouwer is playing in his eighth consecutive Game 7 – maybe his teams need to sit him in a Game 6 just to try and break the streak. He is 3-4 in those games, but he used to be 2-4 and scored the game winner against Chicago.
The bottom line is numbers don’t really matter. Not in the grand scheme of things.
I can give you numbers to comfort you. I can give you numbers that will make you throw your hands in the air and say it’s hopeless.
None of it truly affects this game and these particular teams. It’s just historical data.
Historically, teams that can win an elimination game in Game 6 at home don’t. The Blues fell into that category, but the Pittsburgh Penguins didn’t. The winning percentages go even lower in overtime, but Pittsburgh pulled that one off too.
There’s no reason the Blues can’t win. Fans will say history isn’t behind them, but as much as many of us (myself included sometimes) believe in curses or karma or bad luck, it doesn’t matter. The Blues are the better team.
When they have played at their peak, they have dominated the Stars. When the Blues have played like the Blues, the Stars have had absolutely no answer. The problem has been, the Blues fail to show up sometimes and that’s when Dallas has capitalized.
Due to this, the Blues are putting us all through another Game 7.
The Blues are confident. They had better be. They had better show up and come out of the gates strong. Their coach says they will
Hitch on Game 7: "We’re going to compete like hell. I know one thing: We’re going to come and we’re going to come after them big time.”
— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) May 11, 2016
As fans, we’re in a different boat. We all have our superstitions and habits. We all have our lucky shirts, socks or what have you. In reality, it doesn’t matter. We still use them though because reality can’t convince us.
Some fans are pumped up and ready to burst through walls.
Game 7 is ours.
— Joey Palazzola (@Palazzola_RTN) May 11, 2016
Lets. Go. Blues. #RespectTheNote pic.twitter.com/OzLCaBm4Ja
Others are sweating buckets or ready to fill those buckets with whatever they had for lunch.
So if you’re nervous, be nervous. If you’re amped up, stay amped up. Soak it up. We can discuss disappointment if they lose. We can let the joy wash over us if they win.
Next: Elliott Needs To Stay In Goal
This might be the last game until October or there might be a game this weekend. The unknown is terrible, but this is what we signed up for when we got into sports (especially following the Blues). As famous St. Louisan, Yogi Berra said “It’s like deja vu all over again.”
It’s all happening again, just like it did against Chicago. As fans, we can only hope the outcome is the same as it was against Chicago.