Bleedin' Blue
Fansided

Three St. Louis Blues Who Can Surprise In the 2020 Playoffs

By Todd Panula

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 11: Ryan O'Reilly #90, Sammy Blais #9, Justin Faulk #72 and David Perron #57 congratulate Zach Sanford #12 of the St. Louis Blues after he scored a goal during the second period of a game against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on March 11, 2020 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 11: Ryan O'Reilly #90, Sammy Blais #9, Justin Faulk #72 and David Perron #57 congratulate Zach Sanford #12 of the St. Louis Blues after he scored a goal during the second period of a game against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on March 11, 2020 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
St. Louis Blues
DALLAS, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 21: Marco Scandella #6 of the St. Louis Blues controls the puck against the Dallas Stars in the third period at American Airlines Center on February 21, 2020 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

Marco Scandella

Some people might be scratching their heads about this one. Marco Scandella doesn’t play the type of game to where he will be a big time playoff producer.

That is true, from an offensive standpoint. Scandella is not a goal scorer, having hit double digits once in his 10 year career.

He is going to do things elsewhere that free up other teammates to do the offensive work though. Scandella is going to be the steady presence the Blues need to solidify the back end and let the offensive players focus on that side of the ice.

More from Editorials

Jay Bouwmeester got a lot of flack from Blues fans in recent years. However, without his goal line stop against the Dallas Stars in Game 7, there would have been no hometown hero and there would have been no Stanley Cup down Market Street.

I expect something similar from Scandella during this playoff run. That is not to say he will make a specific play we can all point to that saved the entire thing. You don’t always need something so eye catching.

He is going to make plays, make stops and just be a solid, defensive presence. His immediate connection with Colton Parayko is going to benefit the team in immense ways.

Parayko has become a defense-first player. If Scandella can take any bit of that pressure off of him, Parayko becomes freer to unleash on the offensive end.

Additionally, since he is not expected to do much offensively, any contribution on the offensive end will be a welcome one from Scandella. It’s not as though he is incapable either.

When with the Minnesota Wild, Scandella scored two goals in each of the team’s longest playoff runs. Four goals is not a lot, but four goals in 23 games from a defensive defenseman is welcome production.

Home/Editorials