The Blues have had an up-and-down start to their season so far. They went 1-1-0 in their first two games, an alright mark.
After watching the first game of action, there was a lot of ugly tape out there, and the panic level started to rise on the Blues. However, they bounced back in their second game and looked much more competent.
What does the second week hold? How can the team continue to improve on a shaky start to the season and become the contenders we all believe they can be?
Game three against Vancouver
The team is facing a big challenge in the Vancouver Canucks to prove they belong in the upper echelon of NHL teams.
Vancouver is not a bad team by any means; they are in the competitive middle of the league and will provide a good challenge for Jim Montgomery and the Blues. They are the right level to prove where the team is at, if they truly are one of the better teams in the league that can consistently beat out middling NHL teams.
Vancouver is right around the level the Blues are striving to beat, so that they can firmly be in the playoff race and not just on the outside looking in. This will be a good test to start things out.
Game four hosting Chicago
Next, the Blues have a test in how effectively they can not play down to their opponent's level.
The Blues are undoubtedly a better team than the Chicago Blackhawks and need to prove that they can beat their division rivals confidently on their home ice. Divisional games can always be tough and give complications as teams are more familiar and know how to play their opponents well, so the Blues have to prove they can rise above the mire and not play down to the level of the Hawks.
In the past, playing down to their opponent was a big problem in St. Louis. That hasn't been the case since Jim Montgomery took over, but he and the team have to prove they are a good hockey team that can consistently beat the NHL's lower class in their second game this week.
Game five hosting Dallas
The Blues finish their week with a big test against the Dallas Stars, one of the NHL's premier teams.
The central division is currently the best division in hockey, and Dallas is one of the reasons why. Dallas is one of the best teams not just in the division but in the NHL, and their matchup with the Blues is a tough one. They have certainly given the Blues their share of fits and challenges in the regular season as one of the regular season's best teams, and this game looks to be no different.
If the Blues really want to announce themselves to the NHL, a win over Dallas would be the way to do it. They will have several matchups against the contenders in the Western Conference, and this early game against Dallas might be one of the bigger ones all season.
The Blues have a lot to prove this season, and this week of hockey offers every level of team to beat. One below, one on the same level, and one clearly better. If they can snag 4-6 points this week, this will be a very impressive feat for the team and a way to announce themselves as firmly in the race for Lord Stanley.