The St. Louis Blues best offensive player has put together quite a streak. However, despite coming up big for his team, his accomplishment has been rather quiet.
The St. Louis Blues have introduced themselves to the hockey world in their first trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 49 years. They showed what they were made of tying up the series 1-1 after the analysts said the series was over.
A big part of the reason why the series is so tight is the Blues best scorer has been just what the team needs. Vladimir Tarasenko has been a star scorer in the playoffs and in this final series. You might not know that though as his accomplishment is slipping by rather quietly.
If you haven’t been paying attention 100% of the time with eagle eyes, you might not know Tarasenko is riding a career best eight-game playoff point streak. That ties him for the second longest in Blues history.
With the streak hitting eight games, Tarasenko puts his name with some of the greatest in Blues history, like Brett Hull, who also had an eight-game streak. Tarasenko just needs one more point to tie the team record.
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However, as mentioned, the odd thing about this streak is how quietly it has come about. It seemed as though everyone found a focus on other things.
We have all been captivated by Pat Maroon‘s physical play and chirpiness. Fans have been quick, and right, to give Jordan Binnington tons of credit for saving the Blues’ bacon several times. There was a lot more attention given to point streaks by David Perron.
There just does not seem like as much discussion over the Blues best scorer. He has points in eight games, points in nine of the last 12 and 15 points in 21 playoff games thus far. Tarasenko is far from done too.
The Blues superstar is not just picking up second assists or charity points either. Tarasenko has a four-game goal scoring streak and has five goals in his last six games.
Both of his goals against Boston have been huge. He gave the team a two goal lead in Game 1 by burying a one-time shot in the slot. He scored the second goal for the Blues again in Game 2, this time with a great effort play, following up his own blocked first attempt.
That is the mark of a star player. Tarasenko has been blamed for being lazy and passive and hiding in the shadows in the past.
Those assessments have been correct at various times in his career, but not now. Tarasenko, whether he admits it or not, is rising to the occasion of being a team’s best player and most valuable offensive asset.
Fans in St. Louis have known how good he could be for a long time. Now, the world is seeing it first hand because he is doing it in big moments.
His shots seem almost effortless at times, but they have a sneaky power behind them. Perhaps that is part of the reason Tarasenko’s accomplishments go by without notice.
He is not one to seek out the limelight. He is not making flashy moves or agitating opponents with childish antics like someone on the opposite side of the rink.
If the Blues continue on their current pace, much of their success will be due to Tarasenko. He might not get all the credit, since he is a quiet, unassuming star, but he deserves a lot of it.
In the end, it does not matter if he gets credit or not. All that matters is the Blues best scorer is coming up big when it matters most and that is not something we have been able to say over his career or the career of other stars.