The St. Louis Blues have been sailing on smooth waters for their previous 10 wins. They hit some stormy seas against Toronto, but still managed to stay afloat.
The St. Louis Blues had not shown any weakness against their previous nine opponents (they played Nashville twice). We actually saw some cracks in the foundation against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Fortunately, they were vertical cracks that are much easier to overcome than the horizontal ones earlier in the year (my apologies for the basement wall talk). The Blues took their foot off the gas for the first time in this streak and looked in serious jeopardy of dropping their first game in forever.
St. Louis came out strong in the first period. They would get the first two goals of the game.
After that, there was a lot of poor play, especially compared to what we have gotten used to. The Blues got very sloppy in the second period, but got through that rough patch.
However, instead of fixing all the issues, we saw much of the same through the first half of the third period. That allowed the Maple Leafs to get back into things.
They scored two goals in the third to tie up the game and there were enough chances that Toronto could have easily won in regulation. Thankfully, the Blues got great goaltending that kept them in it.
The Blues would get it done in overtime, which is fine against an Eastern Conference team that has no bearing on your own standings. It was a fantastic finish with a transition goal and a solid effort. It should not have needed to go to overtime, but we saw a new franchise record set.
Pros: 1st Period
This is how the Blues needed to play the entire 60 games. They were on their toes, taking the game to Toronto and looking every bit like the team that was going to get the win.
Obviously, it was all highlighted by the two goals. Like so many other games in this streak, the Blues got on the board first.
Former Leaf Tyler Bozak found Jaden Schwartz on the backdoor play to score a fantastic goal. It was great to have Schwartz play such a big part in this game. We kept saying that he just needed those couple easy ones to go in, which he got a few games ago and now he’s getting the real goals.
After that, you got the Colton Parayko power play goal. What can you say about that laser beam other than wow.
Watching the live broadcast, it looked like it clearly went out straight off the post since it came off so quickly. However, it went off the post, sprung off the net and went out. It was an amazing goal.
I remember clearly thinking Toronto was making a mistake by allowing Parayko such a wide shooting lane through the middle. But, it ended up as the team’s 35th defensive goal, putting them at second in the league.
Beyond just the goals, the Blues were getting things done in all facets. They were getting in the shooting lanes and playing physical.
Vince Dunn’s explosive hit on Nazem Kadri got the fans on their feet too. It was an old-school type of hit that really encapsulated how much positive energy the team has going right now.
Cons: 2nd Period Thru Half The 3rd Period
The positive part of the Blues game right now is that their bad play is better than most of the teams in the league at the moment. However, that does not give them a pass for getting sloppy.
The Blues did not play poorly overall in the second period. You have to give Toronto a lot of credit for getting their feat under them and making a big push.
The disappointing thing is the Blues were not ready for it. Within the first three minutes of the second period, the Blues forced their goaltender to make, at least, four quality stops.
Things just sort of progressed from their, or regressed if you will.
The Blues got sloppy with their passes. Their offense was not as sharp either, despite posting 13 shots in the period.
St. Louis allowed 16 shots in the second, which just is not good enough. Then, things got worse in the third.
While the Blues clamped down a little, they started looking like their early season selves. Despite the low shot total in the third, the Blues actually deflected in or deflected the puck to the opponent on both goals against. It was all bad luck.
Pros: Jordan Binnington
If we ended the game after the first period, Jordan Binnington probably would not be in this spot. However, the Blues relied heavily on their goaltender in the 40 minutes that followed that.
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Binnington had an answer for everything that was not helped out by his own players. Things were not nearly as bad as they were earlier in the year, but he could have honestly had another shutout if the puck didn’t bounce so oddly off the Blues players.
Binnington did not just make standard saves either. In fact, he probably deserved a spot in the pros section based on his game-saving stop all by itself.
The Maple Leafs got a partial break with 3:30 left in the third and Mitch Marner swatted the cross out of the air. Binnington slapped the five hole shut and allowed the game to go to OT.
Beyond that, he was just really good in this game. He made several saves that bailed the Blues out for their turnovers or mental lapses.
While there were few clear odd-man rushes, the Blues gave up a lot of breaks where the defenders were just a step or two behind. Binnington was strong going post to post or across the crease and coming up with the big saves when called upon.
For the first time in this streak, Binnington probably truly won this game. Yes, they needed the offense from other guys but this one is a goalie win whereas some of his others had little to nothing to do with him.
Pros: Ryan O’Reilly
Speaking of guys that manage to do it all, that has got to be the case for Ryan O’Reilly. He is just a pure force of will for the Blues and has been throughout the season.
O’Reilly has been the team’s only consistent player from the get-go. He has taken almost no games off and was just waiting for everyone else to get up to his level.
The team finally got up there, but O’Reilly has not taken his foot off the gas. If anything, he seems to be looking for his own second level.
If Binnington was the reason the game got to OT, O’Reilly won it and not just because of his goal. He saved the game too.
O’Reilly was able to get to the front of the net, thinking he would need to help stop a wrap around. Instead, he intercepted a pass and was able to take it coast to coast.
O’Reilly was also big in the physical department. He was not credited with any hits, but he was putting a body on a man all night.
No, they were not hits or even something that would give the opponent a bruise, but he’s in the way and being a nuisance. His defense was just on point throughout, coming up with two takeaways.
Then, there is the goal itself. So many Blues players in recent history would have been looking pass the entire way, especially since Vladimir Tarasenko was the one coming along.
However, the shot was always the best option. O’Reilly smartly recognized this and snapped it and got the reward.
At this point, I don’t care who wears the C. I fully believe this is O’Reilly’s team now.
Overview
What a game to set a new franchise record for the number of wins in a row. This one had bits and pieces of what has happened throughout the entire 2018-19 season.
You had the fantastic play of the first period and overtime that showed why they have won 11 in a row. But, you had sloppy play and lackluster defending, reminiscent of what got the Blues in the hole.
You had some bad luck too. Both Toronto goals were lucky at best and the Blues fault at worst.
There was bad luck individually too. Robert Thomas probably could have had two goals, but hit the shaft of the goaltender’s stick on one and a post on another.
The Blues relied far too heavily on Binnington in this game even though they kept the Maple Leafs to 33 shots in total.
All in all, it was a good game though. It was nowhere near perfect, but you are going to have those games. You cannot play perfectly every time out.
However, if you keep on winning, then that is what is most important. This streak will end eventually, but it did not on this night.
If, by some magical situation, the Blues found themselves in the final, we should hope for Toronto to make it there too. The Blues are now 2-0-0 against the Maple Leafs this year and outscored them 7-3. Just sayin’.