If the St. Louis Blues played Canadian teams all year, maybe they'd be in a playoff position. Regardless of their opponent, they continue to find ways to make fans sweat instead of finishing games off confidently.
The Blues came into their game against the Calgary Flames after one of the most disheartening losses of the season. After allowing a last-second goal and falling in overtime to Seattle, the Blues needed a pick-me-up.
Like the Seattle game, things started well. The Blues had some good jump, and the jumbled lines seemed to be working pretty well.
St. Louis got the scoring going with a power play goal at 10:59. Dylan Holloway got a tip on a Justin Faulk shot, and it was 1-0 Blues.
About three minutes later, the Blues doubled the lead. Oskar Sundqvist hit a nice, long pass to Matthew Kessel, who was streaking in on the right. The defenseman wired a shot in on the break to make it 2-0.
The Blues defended well in the first, too. Jordan Binnington had to make some key saves, but the Blues were limiting most shots to one and done and only allowed 10 overall.
Things were a bit shakier in the second period, but the Blues managed to get a three-goal lead. On an odd play in front, the Calgary goalie got knocked out of the crease, and Nathan Walker took the loose puck and put it into an empty net. The live crowd was worried about goalie interference, but it was the Flames player who took his own netminder out, so it remained 3-0.
Things went downhill from there. Calgary got a push with about six minutes left. St. Louis was trying a partial change on a dump-in, but the Flames sent it up the right wall and sprung a partial break. Justin Faulk and Alexey Toropchenko were both closing in, but the shot was ripped in stride and beat Binnington over the shoulder, where nobody could save it.
That wouldn't have been so bad if the Blues had found a way to stop the bleeding there. Instead, they allowed a Rasmus Andersson wrister from the point to go bar down to make it 3-2 just 25 seconds later.
The shot was unstoppable. However, it came off a soft clearance because the Blues somehow always get forced onto the backhand when they're trying to get the puck out.
The third period was not good at all. The final stats show the Blues with seven shots, but those were all long range and often just dump-ins that ended up being played by the goalie. St. Louis barely had any real scoring chances.
Meanwhile, the Flames had 16 shots on goal in the third period alone. Many were scoring chances that forced blocks, scramble plays, or saves from Binnington.
The Blues did hold on for a 3-2 lead. It felt like hanging on for dear life instead of actually winning a game.
Pro: Binnington
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I find the amount of dislike for Binnington online rather distasteful. He now has the most games played for the Blues, the most wins, and also that Stanley Cup ring.
He came up big in this game. While he only had 10 saves in the first, there were still some big plays. He even did a modern-day version of the double-pad stack near the right post.
The third period was where he was key. The saves weren't highlight reel, but he was a calming influence for the team.
We'd all like a shutout or comfortable win, but this was big for Binner. 38 saves on 40 shots is a good amount of work, but not enough to think he might burn out.
Con: Faceoffs
The official stats list the draws in a razor-thin margin to the Flames of 51.9% to 48.1%. The problem was that the Blues literally lost every faceoff late in the third period.
That may not be statistically true. Maybe a Blues player "won" a faceoff, but Calgary came up with the puck. Regardless, that's a huge problem when you're not winning faceoffs in your own zone in late-game scenarios.
The Blues could've just kicked the puck to the corner and tied things up. Instead, they had to defend the last two or three minutes because the Flames kept winning those late.
Pro/Con: Fourth line
Yet again, this line was probably the most dependable for the Blues from start to finish. That's great from the perspective of having guys you can trust.
However, when you can't count on your top guys to be those energy guys, that's a problem. The Blues need guys like Robert Thomas, Pavel Buchnevich, and Jordan Kyrou to be those energy guys that really find that next gear to see out games.
Instead, the Blues are relying a little too heavily on guys who are only playing about six or seven minutes a night.
Overview:
The way this season has gone, a win is a win. The Blues need points, and if they can get two points in regulation, it doesn't matter how it happens.
That said, this was not it. You can't continue to just hold on instead of winning games with anything resembling confidence.
You're up 3-0 on one of the worst teams in hockey - yes, I realize the irony saying that since the Blues are barely any better than the Flames - but you allow them right back into the game and to basically dominate you in the third. Your goalie and some rare luck got you this win.
I'm happy the team won, and they're not undeserving of a win. But you can't just hold on every time. You cannot continue to eek out points instead of grabbing the win and making it your b...I digress.
I want to be my positive self. I want to be on board with what the broadcast crew is selling. I don't see it, though.
I don't see corners being turned. I see the same issues popping up game after game.
There's no confidence, even when they have a lead. Guys let up, don't want to make that extra effort to really put a boot on the throat, and they sit back.
You have a team that is almost never proactive. There is skill on this team, but where is the guy who says I'm going to put everyone on my shoulders and finish this one off. You need the five skaters to be one of those guys, not just the goalie.
Seven shots in the third were just stats. The Blues never had possession in the offensive zone for the last five minutes and probably longer than that.
I was at the game, and it was barely even fun at the end. The crowd didn't want to cheer or make noise at the end when the clock ticked down. They just kept expecting the Flames to tie it.
Thankfully, that didn't happen, but it was primarily because of Binnington and 18 blocked shots. Fingers and toes are crossed, this win will be a springboard. The Blues have only won two games in a row once and no longer streak than that. They need wins.