The Stanley Cup playoffs really feel as broad open as they’ve in any latest season. Whereas there are lots of wonderful groups within the discipline, there is no such thing as a one actually dominant staff that stands out as a transparent favourite. Nearly each staff has a serious flaw or query that might find yourself holding it again.
That additionally means it’s fully doable for an sudden staff, or even perhaps a bottom-seeded staff, to go on a run.
The St. Louis Blues, the second wild-card staff within the Western Convention, are a type of groups that might go on a surprisingly deep run at a championship.
There are a few elements working of their favor going into their first-round matchup in opposition to the Presidents’ Trophy-winning, top-seeded Winnipeg Jets.
The Blues are going into the playoffs as one of many hottest groups within the league and clearly enjoying their finest hockey of the season. Since Feb. 1, their 21-5-4 report is the most effective within the NHL, and there may be nothing of their play to counsel it’s any type of a fluke.
So, how did they flip right into a juggernaut greater than midway by the season?
The primary growth was the hiring of head coach Jim Montgomery nearly as quickly as he turned accessible. When the Boston Bruins fired Montgomery, the Blues wasted no time in firing their very own coach (Drew Bannister, who had simply been employed on a full-time foundation previous to the season) to convey him in.
The change behind the bench was not the one important transfer.
Additionally they made top-of-the-line in-season trades once they acquired veteran defenseman Cam Fowler from the Anaheim Geese. Fowler has been an enormous addition to the Blues’ protection, and together with the offseason addition of Philip Broberg (restricted free agent supply sheet from the Edmonton Oilers), has helped utterly remodel a unit that had turn into a severe weak point in recent times.
With Montgomery behind the bench and the revamped protection, the Blues have nearly in a single day turn into one of many stingiest defensive groups within the league. Throughout their 30-game run to shut out the season, the Blues rank third within the NHL by way of anticipated targets in opposition to per 60 minutes during 5-on-5 play whereas additionally proudly owning the league’s finest 5-on-5 aim differential. They suppress opponents scoring possibilities and have considerably outplayed all people at even-strength.
That alone makes them a staff that playoff groups may need to keep away from.
However it’s not simply their protection that has improved. They’ve additionally turn into one of many high offensive groups within the league in the course of the second-half. Dylan Holloway (the opposite restricted free agent they signed away from Edmonton) has been a breakout star in his first yr with the staff, whereas returning core gamers Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas have had large years.
They’re second in the NHL in goals per 60 minutes during 5-on-5 play since Feb. 1.
They’re additionally enjoying a Winnipeg staff that, for all of its strengths this season, has had some disappointing playoff showings in recent times. Particularly because it pertains to beginning goalie Connor Hellebuyck. If Hellebuyck falters once more, even slightly bit, the door could be open for the Blues to drag off the upset and doubtlessly begin a run.
An in-season teaching change helped flip a disappointing Blues staff right into a Stanley Cup champion in the course of the 2018-19 season. The identical recipe is in place this season.
