The Blues failed to show up offensively in their Game 5 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, and it leaves them on the ropes. But one line played a phenomenal game. The WTF line may not have the scoring prowess as the top six, but if the Jets made one mistake on Wednesday, it was that they underestimated them.
The line combined for four points on Wednesday, with Alexey Toropchenko and Radek Faksa logging an assist while Nate Walker pitched in with two goals. The trio also stepped up defensively, and they ended their night with a combined plus-6 rating in which each member of the line ended with a plus-2.
If that doesn’t inspire Blues fans of what this team can do if the top six decides to show up tonight, then nothing will. This would show us that the bottom six, or at least one line in the bottom six, can fare just as well as the top two lines, something the Jets don’t want to see, given Connor Hellebuyck’s repeated struggles.
If the WTF line gets hot for the Blues, the Jets are in trouble
I don’t want to say, “Game, set, and match,” for the Blues if the WTF line shows up again tonight. But here’s what I’d like to think will occur: From the opening faceoff, the Blues, who’ve dominated the Jets at home throughout this series, will get hot early and often, score six goals, and force a Game 7 in Winnipeg.
The WTF line will account for two of those goals, leaving the Jets in a panic as the Blues retake momentum…if only they can win a game in Manitoba. Now, in reality, things are more complicated than just one hot line showing up.
The Blues still need their top six to play better hockey than what we saw the other night. And when the stakes are at the highest they’ve been all season, they don’t got a choice. It’s either sink or swim, and every fan in Gateway City knows what will happen if the Blues don’t win tonight.
The WTF line can’t make up for the rest of the team’s shortcomings
Fortunately, the Blues have few, if any shortcomings, at home throughout the opening round. When you score 12 goals on the best team in hockey and they put up only three across two home games, it should give you a sense of confidence needed to put together one more big outing.
But, we’ve all seen what happens when the Blues falter: they can’t get shots off. And while Connor Hellebuyck’s been terrible throughout this entire series, if the Blues get between 17 and 19 shots on goal and Hellebuyck allows three of them, they better hope Jordan Binnington enjoys a big game.
Because the WTF line isn’t bailing the team out, something they made crystal clear on Wednesday. So, the Blues need to play at least a solid game tonight even if the WTF line puts together another grand performance. The trio of Nathan Walker, Alexey Toropchenko, and Nate Walker will put up points, but they won’t ice games.