The St. Louis Blues had had quite a week and change. After getting their doors blown off by a worse standings-wise Nashville Predators, the Central Division got a generational talent, and then this team played their best game of the season in the 3-2 win against Chicago. Follow that up with more injury news out of practice, with Dylan Holloway limping off the ice, it is crazytown in the 'Lou.
Now, with redemption on the horizon against the Predators on Monday night, the vibes are high following their recent win. There is one player who has put on a clinic with all of these pesky injuries piling up, and he will have to be fantastic once again.
That player is Robert Thomas, who is arguably this team's MVP so far this season. Let's talk about how he has been a key player as of late, and why he has to continue to do so when this team is 100% healthy, if that ever happens.
Thomas has been putting the Blues on his back
Before dropping the puck against Nashville on Monday, Thomas is riding a four-game point streak. He has been all over the ice, and a big reason why the Blues were able to stay in and win some of those games on this point streak.
Known as a bona fide playmaker, he has had to put on a slightly different hat during this stretch, as a pure goal-scorer. Over this point streak, three goals and three assists for six points. He had a multi-goal game in the loss against Boston and registered a multi-assist game against the Blackhawks in the most recent win.
Gotta keep it up
When Jordan Kyrou, Jimmy Snuggerud, Nathan Walker, and Nick Bjugstad return from injury, Thomas has to still be the best skater out there. When the puck touches his stick, it has to send a red alert to the opposition that this guy is going to use his speed and creativity to create a scoring chance. Whether it is by a pass or a shot, Thomas has to become one of those players who change the trajectory of the game with his ice time.
Alexey Toropchenko, who is skating and likely back in the lineup soon, will be a nice help in the bottom-six forward group. That group has been highlighted by the play from Robby Fabbri and his re-emergence with the Blues.
Even still, Thomas has to keep this streak going. He has to continue to be a difference-maker, and hopefully, this team will follow his lead.