The St. Louis Blues have found some new life after their 7-2 dismantling of the Winnipeg Jets in game three on Thursday night. The series, now at 2 games to one in favor of the Jets, has one more meeting at the Enterprise Center before going back up north for game five.
There is something about that building that seems to give the Blues superpowers. They are a completely different team, up and down the roster. Is it the vibe? The comfort of home? The 18,000 Blues fans blowing the roof off the place?
Feels good to be home
The Blues have been unstoppable at home, with a franchise record 12-game winning streak to end the regular season. Add game three’s onslaught, and we are at 13 straight wins.
From the opening whistle, the team feeds off the energy of the home crowd. The building is loud, and there is a sea of blue in the stands, rooting and cheering for the Blues. The goal song blasting through the speakers high above the ice and the chorus from the fans are nearly identical in terms of volume.
This team does not feel the pressure to put on a show for its fans. Instead, it feels their support and uses it to boost its confidence.
Won’t ever lose again... at home
There is a chance the Blues will never lose another home game again. You can make the case that the Jets will take game five, and then the Blues can force game seven at home in game six, but they must make it through game four first. That’s a bit of a tongue-twister.
It is odd that the Blues could not show what they did at home and on the road in games one and two. They were not a terrible team in the opposing team’s barn, with a record of 20-16-5. They actually defeated the Jets at the Canada Life Centre on December 3, 4-1.
But that was a regular-season game in December, and this is the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs—two completely different seasons at this point.
The Blues have been granted a rare gift, one that is given to every team in the NHL during the postseason, but only this team has earned it. The Blues faithful have given it every member on this roster, and every coach behind the bench, superpowers.