The Blues Roller Coaster

 You're about to get on your favorite roller coaster. You wait a whole hour, while the line creeps forward so slowly you consider walking away. But every few moments, another tram speeds by loaded with shrieking riders, reminding you why you chose this specific ride in the first place. You’ve waited this long, so you press on. You finally reach the platform, and filter into a boarding lane, knowing there’s no looking back now, your heart races.

The next tram pulls in and unloads passengers still trying to catch their breath. Before you know it, you’re sliding into your seat filled with anticipation. I like to sit up front on roller coasters, but I can’t really explain why. It seems like you get tossed around a bit more in those back cars. Plus, I like the rush of being up close and personal with the track, at breakneck speeds.

If you haven’t already done so Blues fans, fasten your seat belts. This is your thrill ride. The Blues shot out of the gate on fire, blazing to a 6-1 record in January, and climbing to the top of the Western Conference. Then, the bottom fell out. The Blues plummeted with such great haste, many people wondered if the tram could survive the fall.

After a tough loss at Detroit, the unthinkable became reality, when the team dropped four straight games on home ice, playing very poorly in doing so. They twisted and spun out of control, during the 5 game free fall, showing very little heart on the way down.

Arguably the weakest pulse in the room belonged to goaltender Brian Elliott. Elliott has not been the number one guy, but has shown flashes of brilliance at times, occasionally raising questions about who would be the starter between himself, and Jaroslav Halak. The debate ended abruptly when Halak went down with a groin injury, and Elliott was thrust into the starting role. Unfortunately, he didn’t respond very well, looking like a deer in headlights at times, and allowing several soft goals by any standards. He heard if from the home crowd more than once during the home stand.

It wasn’t all his fault however. The Blues lit the lamp 28 times during their 6–1 run in January, but only scored an anemic 11 goals over the 5 game losing streak, while allowing 25, all on Elliott. Not exactly a recipe for success. The power play unit was really the only positive thing to speak of, and they continue to produce, although they were shut out last night in Vancouver.

With Halak's groin still in question, and Elliott’s confidence shot, Coach Ken Hitchcock looked to his farm team for a savior, while the St. Louis faithful held on for dear life.

Enter Jake Allen. Every athlete dreams of the moment they’re finally able to go on the Big Ride. Allen got his shot last Wednesday. Oh, and no pressure kid, it’s only the Red Wings, at The Joe. Go get em.

How would he respond? It’s safe to say that Jake Allen saved the season for the St. Louis Blues. Behind Allen, the Blues went into Detroit, and earned a 4–3 overtime win, that may turn out to be the biggest win of the season in retrospect.

After almost a full period of the same old lethargic Blues, TJ Oshie made a tremendous play along the boards, raced up ice with the puck, cut to his right, and found Patrick Berglund, who banged home a shot, cutting the Redwings lead to 2–1.

The game and perhaps the season, was slipping away until that moment, and it looked like the kid’s debut would end badly. That would not be the case. The Blues regrouped, and went on to shock Detroit in overtime, picking up a 4–3 win, ending their slump.

The Blues have now won 3 straight, all on the road, and all behind the inspired play of Jake Allen. They’ve found new life and it stems from the play of this confident young goaltender.

By now we’ve all seen the amazing save he made in Calgary last Friday night, swatting at a sure goal with his stick, and then snatching the puck from mid air with his trapper, as if it were all no big deal. I believe it was a very big deal.

There was a sense that the free fall was over at that moment. A collective attitude adjustment took place, almost as if the guys simply decided they could not ruin this moment for the “kid,” with continued poor play. The Blues went on to gain a 5-2 victory in Calgary, and all of a sudden, Jake Allen was 2–0 in his young career.

When the Blues dropped in on Vancouver last night, they looked a bit leg weary in the first period, spending far too much time pinned in their own zone, and letting the Canucks dictate the action. They fell behind 2-1 after 20 minutes. Still, Jake Allen was cool and calm. It felt like all they needed was a spark, to turn things around. That spark was provided on a second period goal by Andy McDonald, who tied the game at 2, on assists from Tarasenko and Jackman.

Another Patrick Berglund goal, his 8th of the season, and 3rd in as many games, put the Blues ahead in the third. The Canucks just would not go away. Their sustained pressure caused the Blues to take a couple of bad penalties, and forced them to kill off a late 5 on 3 Canuck power play. With that mission accomplished, the Zebras dropped their final two cents in the mix, and the Blues were back on the penalty kill with just under 3 minutes to play.

Mason Raymond scored a late power play goal behind intense pressure, and helped the Canucks gain one point as they sent the game into overtime, tied at 3. It would be Allen’s second taste of free hockey, in three starts, but again, it would prove to be no problem for the kid.

After an uneventful overtime, it would be up to Allen to prove himself in the shootout. He calmly turned away both Ryan Kesler and Alexandre Burrows attempts, never biting on any fakes, and never giving either man anything to shoot at. He looked like a seasoned vet instead of a rookie.

The Blues TJ Oshie and Andy McDonald, who both scored in regulation, each cruised in on Roberto Luongo, and beat him like a rented goalie. Oshie went five hole with a quick wrist shot that baffled Luongo, while McDonald flipped an impossible shot over Luongo’s stick side shoulder, and just under the crossbar. The Blues would complete the win, and the 3 game road sweep in grand style, picking up all 6 possible points. Meanwhile, rookie Jake Allen walked off the ice with his 3^rd NHL win in as many outings. Not a bad way to start a career.

All of a sudden, this ride is ascending again. The Blues now sit in a three way tie for 3^rd place in the Western Conference, with 19 points, and are once again turning heads across the NHL. 

The Blues will drop the puck on home ice tomorrow night, when the San Jose Sharks pay a visit to Scottrade, and then they will fly out to Colorado, for a Wednesday night skate with the Avs. 

Allen has been nothing short of spectacular in his first 3 starts, and even with the news that Jaroslav Halak is “ready to go,” you have to wonder if the St. Louis fans deserve a peek at the rookie tomorrow night. I think Hitch will give the people what they want, and keep riding the wave with Allen, and I'm certain the fans will appreciate it.

He will eventually be sent back to Peoria, but it’s a very nice luxury to have this kind of commodity, while Elliott takes some much needed time off, and Halak, who is still the number 1 goalie, continues to rest his groin.

Up and down we go Blues fans. Please keep your arms and legs inside the ride at all times, and do not attempt to get off until the ride has come to a complete stop.

Rodney Eldridge
The Sportz Yak