It feels like a lost season for the St. Louis Blues, but still, they must play on. Injuries have been piling up, and it's beginning to feel like the season's unsalvageable. The Blues have a fairly normal schedule this week, with only three games on the docket, and one of them could have serious draft lottery implications (yes, we're already thinking about the draft lottery at this point). Let's dive in.
vs. the Boston Bruins, 12/9
The week starts with a rematch against the Boston Bruins, who routed the Blues last week in a lopsided 5-2 loss. The Bruins sit at second in the Atlantic Division, sporting a surprising 17-13-0 record that nobody would've predicted at the start of the season.
@ the Nashville Predators, 12/11
Boy, is this a cellar dweller matchup or what? If this game ends in regulation, it very well could decide who's the worst team in the league by standings points, depending on who loses. The Blues bought themselves a bit of cushion with the win over Ottawa, but it's still a tight race to the bottom. The Predators serve as something of a warning to the Blues, too: if Doug Armstrong (or, eventually, Alex Steen) decide to double down with their current core, they could end up like the Preds--old, expensive, and incapable of winning anything but the draft lottery.
vs. the Chicago Blackhawks, 12/12
Who would've guessed the Chicago Blackhawks would be vying for a playoff spot in the middle of December? While they're unlikely to snag one of the Central Division's three playoff spots (the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, and a resurgent Minnesota Wild practically have those locked up), a wildcard berth isn't too far out of the question.