The St. Louis Blues took care of business against the star-studded Chicago Blackhawks in a much-needed bounce-back win, 3-2. This team was shockingly good, and whatever happened on the plane ride home from Nashville 24 hours earlier really shook this team up.
Let's go over the three biggest takeaways from the night.
Complete 180-degree turnaround
The last two games before returning home against Chicago were utterly disappointing. The Blues were flat-footed and downright confused against both Boston and Nashville.
But either head coach Jim Montgomery or captain Brayden Schenn must have stepped up on that plane ride home from Tennessee to Missouri and motivated this group. The turnaround once the puck dropped at the Enterprise Center on Friday night was a complete 180.
Mailloux showed a glimpse of his future-self
Defenseman Logan Mailloux played his best game of the 2025-26 season, and it might have been like looking into a crystal ball. Is this the kind of player he can be in the future, and if so, the Blues' blueline is in very good hands.
One of the reasons why General Manager Doug Armstrong traded for Mailloux was not only to patch up the holes in the defense, but also the possibility of his true potential. He has an innate ability to be crafty with the puck and can provide a complete 200-foot game, much like Colton Parayko.
Could this finally be the start of what everyone expects Mailloux to be?
Home-stand is off to a great start
The Blues have not been great on home ice this season. They haven't been much better on the road either, but certainly better. However, this win against Chicago was the first of four-straight home games, and it could definitely make-or-break this season right open.
After the victory, there is a sense that this homestand could be very beneficial for the Blues. The building was electric for the first time, seemingly, since opening night, and the team fed right off of that energy. Expect that to remain the same as they host a big rematch with Nashville, Winnipeg, and the New York Rangers in the next three games.