St. Louis Blues Pros And Cons From Game 49 Vs. Anaheim

The St. Louis Blues needed a big win in Anaheim to end the first half of their season on a high note. Things started off poorly, but the team rebounded for once.

The St. Louis Blues knew they needed a big win in Anaheim. Not only would it have capped off a so-so road trip with a W, but it would have put them in a solid mindset going into their break.

The Blues will have over a week without hockey, including practices or meetings, due to the All-Star break and the way the schedule played out. So, they needed to win and play convincingly.

The problem was that things never go the Blues way in Anaheim. They had only won nine games in almost 30 games played in the Pond of late.

Adding to that problem was the fact the Blues allowed the first goal of the game. Coming into this game, the Blues were 5-16-2 when their opponent scored first.

Thankfully, the Blues kicked it into full gear after that. St. Louis would score five unanswered goals and go on to win rather convincingly.

There were still some things that are worrisome. The team’s top two lines continue to do little or no scoring, while the bottom six is doing the work.

But, even though fans are allowed to worry about whatever, let us not look a gift horse in the mouth.

Pros: Blues Third Line

The entire bottom six had a fantastic game for the Blues. They were really the big reason the team managed to get a win.

The third line in particular, consisting of Oskar Sundqvist, Pat Maroon and Zach Sanford, showed a surprising amount of consistency and effort. Going into the game, this trio seemed puzzling at best. In my head, I even made the comment that it was not a good thing if Sundqvist is likely the fastest guy in there.

They proved me, and many, wrong with the game they played. They were physical enough, but showed a surprising amount of offensive flair. Sanford and Sundqvist scored the team’s first two goals in the second period, giving them a 3-1 lead.

That was huge for the Blues since they still only have one win all season when trailing after two periods.

They were just hard to play against. It was as though they had played all season together, even though you could probably count on one hand how many games they had played together at all. They ended the game with four points among all three. Also, Maroon’s assist was one to behold as he showed some stick handling that we have not seen from in since his days with the Bandits, at least not in St. Louis anyway.

On top of the third line, as mentioned, the entire bottom six played well. Sammy Blais got another goal and, if you want to throw him in there, Tyler Bozak scored as well. Technically he was on the second line due to injuries, but he’s been a third liner for the longest time.

Anyway, it is great to see the team getting contributions from all over.

Cons: Defensive Breakdown Leads To Goal

There really was not a whole lot to dislike about this game. However, the first and only goal for the Ducks has to be a big blip on the screen.

Maybe we are overly sensitive with how poorly the defense played in the early part of the season. It was still difficult not to cringe as you could sense what was coming.

The Blues had been playing great in the first period. They were dealing and buzzing and putting pressure in the first period. They had done just about everything right except score.

However, in true Blues fashion, despite their defensive pressure, they had a breakdown and it cost them. On the Ducks’ first shot of the game, they scored the first goal of the game.

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It was not just the goal getting scored on the first shot. For a reason only known to the guys on the ice, they all either stopped and stared at the shooter or actually backed off.

Upon looking at the replay, you could sort of explain some of it. Jay Bouwmeester got held at the blue line and Colton Parayko had to stay back to guard the potential pass.

Still, it just felt like anyone could have made a play toward the shooter and instead they were all stuck. It seemed like that was going to be the way the night would go.

It almost happened a second time later in the game. Cam Fowler came in, just as close as the actual goal scoring spot, in the third period but shot into the goaltender.

Luckily, the Blues shut the door after that.

Pros: Defensive Structure

For the first time in what feels like all season, the Blues defense was a huge reason they won the game. It might not have been the biggest reason since the offense was leading to easy defense, but it still played a big role.

The defensive structure smothered the Ducks at almost every opportunity. The time when the goal was scored and the one where Fowler got in close were really the only high-percentage chances given up all night.

St. Louis did not allow the Ducks into double-digit shots until 16 minutes left in the third period. That is almost unheard of in today’s NHL.

Usually, if shot totals are low, it is on both sides. This time, the Blues were getting pucks to the net and creating quality chances and keeping the Ducks at bay.

Jordan Binnington deserves credit as part of that. He kept his rebounds limited, which basically meant the Ducks were one and done each time in the zone, so it is not as though he did nothing.

He also had to have a good mental game. Goaltenders will tell you that low shot counts are not the best because there are such long periods between action, so he deserves praise there.

However, most of it has to go to the back checking abilities of the forwards and the good positioning of the defenders.

Overview

This is such an odd game to break down. I think most of the negative feelings have to do with the remnants of the Los Angeles game.

The fact the Blues are relying on their bottom six for so much scoring should not be a bad thing. Yet, when your best players are hit or miss, it makes you worry a little.

But, you cannot focus too much on that in this game. The team’s second line could probably be the third line when everyone is healthy, so that changes things.

Also, the top line did score to tie the game up. Vladimir Tarasenko finished off a fantastic effort play by Ryan O’Reilly. Beyond that, the top line looked really good together, even though Brayden Schenn has said he would rather be in the middle than the wing.

The bottom line is that the Blues needed this win. They needed it for the standings, but also just for themselves.

The loss against the Kings was not nearly as bad as so many they have had, but it could have sent the team on a downward spiral if they let it. If you took that performance and coupled it with a loss in Anaheim, the Blues could have just phoned it in for the second half of the season.

Instead, even with one small win over a struggling team, they have given themselves life and a chance to breathe during the break. Now, the Blues can relax a bit for their 10 days between games and just focus on the stretch run.