St. Louis Blues Top 5 Playoff Games of 2016

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May 23, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Blues center Robby Fabbri (15) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the San Jose Sharks in the second period in game five of the Western Conference Final of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Game 4 vs Chicago

This game was a slower burn despite the fact it had more goals in the end than Game 3. It was a huge statement game for St. Louis though.

The Blues opened up the scoring in the first period with their superstar, Tarasenko scoring late in the period. The Blues were badly outshot (14-5), but again made the most of their chances and Elliott was also the star of the period.

Chicago, not to be outdone or go quietly, came back with a strong second period. They scored two goals within four minutes to take the lead in the game. However, the Blues were not done either as Tarasenko stood tall and came up with the tying goal on the powerplay, late in the period.

The Blues then copied the Blackhawks’ performance and exceeded it by scoring two goals within three minutes at the start of the third. They took a 4-2 lead and Elliott made it hold up despite allowing a goal with 6 minutes to go and the team getting outshot 14-5 again. The 4-3 win was a huge marker in this series.

You could argue about the order of Game 4 and 3 on this list and there is no huge argument that makes either side right. The reason it’s at second on this list is the factors that went into it.

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The Blues had already proven they could win on the road, but they hadn’t proven they could maintain a series lead yet. They were playing against a Chicago team that was going to throw their best at you, not wanting to go down 3-1 and having lost two straight at home.

Similarly to the prior game, this one provided them further confidence that they could actually get out of the first round. The team hadn’t won three games in a series since their opening round win against San Jose in 2012.

They gave themselves a cushion to have a bad game – they would have two in a row, forcing a seventh game – and still win the series. The ability to steal two games on the road, knowing Chicago would give them their best, was huge and set the table for future success, especially since the Blues had such struggles at home throughout the postseason.

1. Game 7 vs Chicago

This one was the easiest choice for the entire list. This game was the reason for this entire list. It was all about working backwards from this game.

The Blues had thrown away a two game series lead and were forced to play a do-or-die seventh game against the defending champions. It was about as storybook a game as you could plan.

The Blues came out, with the game at home and their seasons on the line, and scored the first two goals of the game. The first one game just one minute into the game with Jori Lehtera setting the tone and then Parayko would toss one in almost 13 minutes later.

Chicago grabbed some late momentum when Marian Hossa scored with 90 seconds remaining in the opening period, stealing a bit of the Blues’ thunder. They would really grab the game by the scruff when they scored on a powerplay in the second period to tie it all up.

It set up the dream scenario. Any kid who plays any sport dreams of having a tie game and being able to score the game winner. The Blues faced just that reality when they entered the third period of this deciding game all square at two goals a piece.

While it wasn’t an overtime winner and the winning goal didn’t end the game right then and there, it was no less special. Troy Brouwer, a former Blackhawk, stuck the knife into his old club by scoring what would prove to be the game winner not quite halfway through the third period.

It wasn’t the prettiest of goals, but they all count in the end. On a personal level, the goal also somewhat vindicated the trade made prior to the season that brought in Brouwer for the very popular TJ Oshie.

The Blues defense went to work after that and shut down Chicago. Elliott did not have to face his usual number of shots as the Blues stepped in front of everything they could and held the desperate champs to only nine shots on goal the entire period.

When the final buzzer went, an entire city rejoiced with the team. The Blues had won Game 7 against the defending Stanley Cup champions by a final of 3-2.

More importantly than just the win, the Blues had signaled they were for real. They could have and should have ended the series in five or six games, but instead of crumbling as they had in years past, they found a way to get it done.

They ended the drought of playoff wins too. The team had not been out of the first round in four years and had been knocked off in convincing fashion each time as well. This time they played their game and figured out a way to win when it mattered most.

Blackhawks fans will make fun of their Blues counterparts for making too much of this game and maybe they are right. We treated it as though it was our championship, because it was for at least the moment.

Blues fans had to spend the last six years watching their main rival win three championships. They had to sit and watch a team that came into the league the same year they did win two championships in between each Chicago win. The Blues fans had to endure year after year of heartbreak after going up two games to none in almost every series.

So, perhaps too much was made of defeating Chicago, but that doesn’t make it a bad thing. The way this series played out, it would have been spectacular drama and deserving of being a Western Conference Final or even a Stanley Cup Final. The fact that it was in the first round should not water down the significance.

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The St. Louis Blues defeating Chicago in that game signaled they were for real. They signaled they might be a team to contend with for the future. They proved to themselves and to their doubters they could beat some of the best in the game.

The Blues ran out of gas by the end of their playoff run. Playing too many games against Chicago and Dallas had a lot to play in that. However, the Game 7 win against Chicago will be a fond memory for many years for Blues Nation and it should be.

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