The St. Louis Blues dropped another overtime loss, dropping them to a staggering 0-6 in the extra frame or the shootout. With skill players like Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, Dylan Holloway, and Cam Fowler, it seems like that should be impossible to do.
But this is the situation for the Blues, and it doesn't seem like it is getting any better. Why does this keep happening?
No clutch players...
As I labeled above, the Blues have enough skill players to at least a couple of those overtime and shootouts. Looking back at the 2024-25 season, with relatively the same kind of core group on the Blues, this team was 12-8 in overtime and shootouts, which is a respectable number.
But it just has not been the same kind of run this season. As bad as the overtime losses have been, it has been even worse when the Blues go one-on-one against the opposing goaltender in the shootout. Not a single player has gotten one in the back of the net in six chances. Jimmy Snuggerud has two misses, and then Brayde Schenn, Thomas, Kyrou, and Holloway all missed their only attempt this season.
That is a lack of the clutch gene. With the game on their stick, including the 3-on-3 period, there needs to be a player to step up and take a shot at ending the game. A killer instinct, if you will. They had it in 2024-25, but lost it over the summer.
Or just bad luck?
An argument can be made that it is just bad luck as well. There have been several occasions where the reason the game went into the extra period is because the opposing team mounted an incredible comeback to tie the game. Namely, the last two games, with Toronto and Philadelphia following that model when they bested the Blues.
Both Jordan Binnington and Joel Hofer have fallen victim to overtime losses. Grabbing the point is not a bad thing, but this team needs to win hockey games. The Central Division playoff race is already starting to run away from this team, and at the quarter-season mark, time is flying by.