The St. Louis Blues have strung together a few solid performances. They are currently on a three-game point streak, notching four of a possible six points. They also snapped a four-game losing streak with their 2-1 win over the New York Islanders. With how they have played, it's starting to look like they are about to turn a corner. This can be a turning point and something for the team to build off of.
One of the biggest reasons for this recent success has been goaltender Jordan Binnington's play. During this stretch, he has gone 1-0-1 and has stopped 56 of the 60 shots he has faced. He's beginning to look more like the goalie fans have grown accustomed to watching. The player who has been one of the league's elite goalies. If he can keep playing like this, it will put the Blues back into playoff contention.
Blues fans should hope this is stretch gets Jordan Binnington going
So far this season, Binnington has not been the elite goalie we are used to seeing. In 15 games this season, he has a 3.13 goals against average and a .880 save percentage. These numbers are a far cry from his career stats. Over his nine seasons in the NHL, he has registered a 2.79 goals against average and a .906 save percentage. Binnington's less-than-stellar play has been a significant reason the Blues have struggled to find consistency this season.
This season has been the Blues fans' worst nightmare come true. While he has always been an integral part of the Blues' roster, his play has dipped over the last few seasons. Over the previous four seasons, he has a goals-against average of 2.99 and a save percentage of 0.902%. Compare that to his first three seasons, and you understand the concerns. From 2018-21, he had a goals-against average of 2.42 and a save percentage of 0.915%.
This shows clear regression in Binnington's game, and these fears were amplified by his dreadful start to the season. It was no longer a certainty that he could carry a team by himself. And with how inexperienced the Blues' lineup was, they needed this more than ever. But this recent stretch of games should give fans hope. Binnington has started to look more like the goalie he was at the start of his career.
Goaltending and defense have been the Blues' most significant problems this season. Not only was Binnington struggling, but backup Jofer Hofer has as well. It's hard to win games when both goalies are struggling to stop the puck. However, if this stretch can get Binnington going, these problems will become less of a concern. His play will make Hofer play less significance, and mask some of the lapses on defense. Thus, allowing the Blues to win games, they used to lose.
While it's only two games, it still should give Blues fans hoped Binnington still has something left in the tank. With how good we known Binnington can be it's hard to bet against him.