The St. Louis Blues came into their 17th game of the season having won ever single time they were in the second game of a back-to-back. However, facing a red-hot Edmonton Oilers team was always going to put that to the test.
The St. Louis Blues knew they had some prior success in the second game of back-to-backs, having won both of their prior attempts. They also knew they had some success against the Oilers, going 2-0-1 last season.
This season has been something different entirely. The Oilers were actually the top team in the Western Conference until the Blues’ win in Vancouver leap frogged them.
So, this was a battle of unexpected division leaders for conference supremacy. Unfortunately, it did not start much different for the Blues.
Apparently, Craig Berube needs to tell the team the game start 10 minutes before it does or they need to pretend there is only 15 minutes on the clock at the start of the period. St. Louis does not seem to kick anything into gear until at least five minutes have elapsed.
The Blues flat play cost them as they took a penalty in the first two minutes of the game. The goal that scored was a bad goal too, which only compounded things.
On the plus side, the Oilers’ lead lasted less than four minutes. St. Louis would answer Edmonton’s power play with a score on special teams themselves.
From then on, the Blues took some control. They scored another power play goal in the second period and then added some insurance with a strong rush down the ice.
The good thing was the Blues offense was so decisive. You will have times where you pass too much any game, but the Blues were taking the shots presented to them for the most part and were successful in getting them through.
In a strange turn of events, the Blues actually got some good bounces. Edmonton hit at least two posts and the Blues had one of the luckiest goals when Tyler Bozak scored on an empty net when the puck was originally heading well wide and then bounced into the net.
The Blues ultimately won 5-2 in a game that was much closer than that.
Cons: Early blunders
We will just get this out of the way. The first goal for the Oilers scored in this contest really had no business going in.
Even those of us that support Jake Allen were wondering how in the world that goal went in. Sadly, it has just become one of those things that you expect one to squeak by him in a way that makes you scratch your head.
This was one of those goals. You do have to give credit to Connor McDavid for finding the right spot, but Allen needed to square up against the post and take away those odd, little gaps. Instead, he might have been worried about McDavid cutting through the middle, so kept the leg low to push off, but you have to worry about the shot and take the rest as it comes.
That said, you could also make a case that shot should never have come. Robert Thomas took an unnecessary penalty. It was not necessarily bad on his part, but the Blues had their usual early breakdown and Thomas had to hold to avoid a potential breakaway.
These were all things that could have been avoided. The defense could have avoided the rush if they were better positioned and on their toes.
Thomas could have avoided the penalty if his teammates did not force him to or if he was better positioned himself. Allen could have avoided the goal if he was sealed to the post a little better.
Everything just seemed to snowball. You cannot give a talented power play like Edmonton’s many chances and if you gift them a goal, you might be hurting later on.
Pros: Power play Pietrangelo
Speaking of power plays, the Blues need to feed the entire team whatever Alex Pietrangelo had for a pregame meal. The guy was on fire.
Pietrangelo was originally credited with the team’s first goal. It would eventually be changed to Jaden Schwartz, but Pietrangelo was feeling the offense and just whipped one toward goal and good things happened. His shot came from near the point and put it right where it needed to be.
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Later in the game, Pietrangelo would get the goal on the power play after a nice setup from Ryan O’Reilly. This time, he pinched in toward the slot and just snapped it in. Based on the goaltender’s reaction, maybe it hit someone in front, but Pietrangelo was on fire.
He had a goal and two points on the team’s first two power plays. The decisiveness is just as impressive as the finishing.
In the past, Pietrangelo was one of the worst offenders at passing far too much. Now, he is actively looking to get the shot on the man advantage.
At this rate, it would be shocking if Petro did not set a career record for goals. Time will tell, but he is setting himself up for a fat contract. Whether that is in St. Louis or not is another matter.
Pros: Allen after the goal
Make no mistake, Allen was not making spectacular saves that will make the highlight reels. He was good though and a key part in the Blues success in this game.
I’m still trying to figure out how the first goal got in. After that, Allen was on point and looked confident, which might be just as important.
Allen was making the necessary saves and also a few other ones. He was square to the shooters and solid on the rebound chances in close.
On Robert Thomas’ goal, Allen actually made a good save that helped spring the counter attack. He was steady on the Blues penalty kill too
In the third, Allen really came up big. The Snake was put slightly out of position after a blocked shot in front, but he sprawled out and snared a huge glove save on Alex Chiasson to keep the score 3-1 at the time.
Midway through the period, Allen stuck out the left leg and sealed the pad to the ice on a stuff play and made another good stop to preserve the two-goal lead.
Cons: Injuries
One of the interesting things heard on 101 ESPN prior to the game was how Randy Karraker said a member of the Blues staff said they could absorb one injury – talking about the injury to Vladimir Tarasenko. The worry is what happens if they have another injury.
Well, St. Louis might have to figure that out. For a game in early November, this one took a heavy toll on the Blues.
They were constantly having guys go back to the bench in pain. Either they blocked a shot or took a puck off an ankle or got run into. The Blues managed to get that playoff mentality to just shrug it off and keep coming back for the most part. However, ther was one they could not shrug off.
Late in the second period, Alex Steen got clipped from the side during a penalty kill. It appeared as though his toe stuck in the ice and the rest of his leg went the other way. Whether it was a knee or an ankle, Steen could not put any weight on that leg as he exited the ice.
Steen missed the rest of the game. The announcers hoped it was just precautionary, but I would not be shocked if Steen is out for some time.
Pietrangelo got banged up up trying to block a shot late in the game too. He would stay in there, but the Blues were definitely the walking wounded.
Overview
As poorly as this game started, it seemed like it was all going to go south in a hurry. The Blues allowed a bad goal and were getting blown by with Edmonton’s speed.
However, once they found their game, they all found their game. The offense started clicking, the defense was blocking shots and taking guys out with timely hits and the goaltending settled in and made some good saves.
Allen had to be big in the third period, but the team was not hanging him out to dry. They were going all out to get the Snake the win in this one, putting their bodies on the line a lot more than you would normally see in an early November game.
Robert Thomas proved he needs to shoot more often by sniping a goal. He also passed up a sure shot trying to be unselfish in the second period. He is young, but you need to realize when the pass just is not there.
Offensively, the Blues might have put five goals on the board, but this was not a 5-2 game. St. Louis took advantage of their power plays, but in a rare turn of events, they were not really the better team five-on-five.
Especially in the third period, the Blues got hemmed into their defensive zone for long stretches. They absorbed a lot of pressure and did not break.
It was nice to get the win for Allen too. He needed a bounce-back win where he contributed heavily to the performance and the team played hard for him in front.
Overall, the Blues just keep finding ways to win. They continue to have different guys step up in different situations and nothing seems to phase them.
We will see whether Steen is out for any length of time or not, but if the entire unite keeps taking the next man up mentality, we should have confidence in whomever Berube sticks into the lineup.
The Blues will never silence the naysayers, but they really do look like the team that belongs on top of the conference. Who knows and who cares if that lasts the entire season, but it is a fact for now.