33 Games - 39 Points. How Did We Get 39 Points?

When the season began, the St. Louis Blues, came out like gang busters. They won their first 3 games, fairly convincingly, and already appeared to be operating at a playoff level. To a fan base, that needed a shot in the arm, the Blues looked like they were picking up, right where they left off, in the 2015-16 Conference Finals. They looked dominant. They looked Fast! Jake Allen had been handed the keys to the "Bus." The "Heir Apparent" to Coach Hitchcock, Mike Yeo, was also on board. This Blues team was running like a well oiled machine, hitting on all cylinders.

It wasn't just any ol' cupcakes they beat that first week, either. On opening night we recall, they knocked off Chicago, at home. Then they came back to St. Louis, where they beat Minnesota, and the Rangers. They had the city buzzing, on the heels of the Cards missing the playoffs. While we were all forced to endure... **cough** **gag**... the Cubs, winning the World Series. The Blues, were playing good hockey. We fell right into this 2016-17 Hockey Season in St. Louis, with no distractions. Perhaps, we even started "Bleeding Blue," a little earlier than usual, this year. After 9 games, the Blues had 12, of a potential 18 points, and seemed to be steamrolling towards another 100 point season. The month of October, which is normally reserved for the Cardinals faithful, to either, win the World Series, or get it all out of their system, was actually a pretty darn good month, for the #Blues!

Then, November arrived, and without warning, the machine started running funny. Especially on the road. You could actually peek back into the last week of October, and see the engine misfiring. They suffered a bad loss at Vancouver, although they managed one point that night. Next, they dropped one at Edmonton. All of a sudden, things weren't feeling quite right. The Blues managed a win at Calgary, to semi-salvage the road trip, but things definitely appeared to be going in the wrong direction. (Insert, "Small sample size" comments, here.) All of a sudden, they looked slow. They started taking bad penalties. Couldn't score the puck. OH NO! "The Wheels Are Falling Off! Everybody PANIC!"

Playing well at home, was the one thing the Blues had going for them, winning every home contest in November. They needed every point too, because they certainly were not doing anything well, away from Scottrade Center. Around town, the grumblings began. "Where's the buy in?" "Has Hitch lost the team?" "Has the game passed him by?"

The Blues have managed to hang around the top of the Western Conference, into December. Even without the benefit of a single road win in November. The home heavy schedule, was proving to be their best asset. But for how long?

An overtime home loss to Winnipeg, seemed to be a mere blip on the radar, when they found a way to win the next game, against a strong non-conference opponent. They knocked off the Montreal Canadians 3-2, again in OT. The problem was, the Blues did not play well in that game. For the first time all season, they were looking vulnerable, at home. More Panic.

Back out on the road, the Blues dropped a 3-2 contest against the Islanders, but managed their first road win since October 22, the next night, in New Jersey. Ironically, that road win, and a home win against those same Devils, are 2 of their 4 wins on any ice, in December. Have the wheels truly fallen off? Blowing big leads, has become commonplace for this Blues team. Taking bad penalties, and putting far too much pressure on their net minder. Jake Allen has a 2.60 goals against average, while facing 681 shots. He can't do it alone. Where's the Defense?

In this "Lame Duck" season for Ken Hitchcock, who will pull this team, out of the current nose dive? Are the Blues "Stars," playing well enough? Well, lets see. Aside from Vladimir Tarasenko's 16 goals, and 22 assists, the answer would have to be No. Where is Alexander Steen's output? 3 goals? Sure, he has 14 helpers, but only 3 goals. That simply isn't good enough. Where is Patrik Berglund? 4 goals, 6 assists. Not exactly what Blues fans were expecting from #21.

Winger Jaden Schwartz, is second in scoring with 11 goals, and of all people, Defender Kevin Shattenkirk, is second in total points, with 23. There are several players, making strong contributions to the team's success. Robbi Fabbri, David Perron, Alex Pietrangelo, and Paul Stazny, are all playing very well. Still, if this team is going to find a way to stay relevant, they are going to need more, from their leaders. Guys will step up, but every team has certain individuals, they rely on, to be game changers. This team needs someone, to become That Guy, as soon as possible. 

The Good News is, there is a lot more hockey left to play. The Blues have 49 games remaining. The problem is, 27 of those games, are on the road. The struggles cannot continue, if the Blues want to stay in the playoff picture. This team has got to figure it out, on the road. Especially when February and March arrive. There are no more excuses, and we can stop using the "Small Sample Size" argument. This team has been under the same Head Coach, for 5 1/3 seasons. When does it just become, "Who you are?" This team has developed some disturbing traits, such as blowing big leads, and taking horrible penalties. Championship caliber teams, don't routinely take Delay of Game, and Too Many Men On The Ice penalties. Yet, they are regular occurrences, on this Ken Hitchcock led team. So is it the Coaching, or are the Players, not doing their job? Something has got to change, and change quickly.

One thing Hitchcock defenders point out, is the 5 straight playoff appearances, and of course, the Conference Finals run, a year ago. "Hitch" is definitely a quality #NHL Coach. Could it be however, that he is simply not prepared to win, in today's NHL? Why does this team seem to be so satisfied with just "getting a point?" Points are great, in the regular season. But the teams that succeed in the playoffs, know how to WIN games. They know how to FINISH games, in regulation. The Blues, and this fan base, have been force fed, "Points" for so long, we've come to simply accept mediocrity. 

We can no longer be satisfied. If you look at the "Regular Season," Ken Hitchcock has been among the top Head Coaches, in the League, in St. Louis. That said, we can no longer accept being one of the best teams in the Conference. This town is ready to taste the ultimate victory, that Hockey has to offer. If it's Ken Hitchcock, or Mike Yeo, or The Easter Bunny, somebody has to change the "Point" culture around this organization.

Winning teams, WIN games. There's no 3-on-3 in the playoffs. There's no shoot-out, in the playoffs. This is one rule, that has never made much sense, to The SPortz Yak. Sure, it's great for the Fans! Who doesn't like to see the wide open ice, and the speed, of 3-on-3 competition? They don't use this format in the playoffs though, and in the humble opinion of this Blues enthusiast, the overtime and shootout, which are strictly in place to increase fan participation, and ticket sales, have become the St. Louis Blues' "Achilles Heel." 

In the past, when games ended in a tie, both teams earned a point. There was no extra point available, which placed a higher premium on winning games, in Regulation Time! The St. Louis Blues, have completely forgotten how to win games, in regulation time, under Ken Hitchcock. Again, points are great, for Division and Conference standings. In fact, some teams, seem to actually play for the tie, these days. The difference between our beloved Blues, and the elite organizations, is a killer instinct. An ability to win in 60 minutes. Yes. There is overtime in the playoffs. But it's a 5-on-5 format, first goal wins. There are no "Points," for getting to overtime, in the playoffs. Until everyone in "The Room," decides that playing better hockey for the first 60 minutes, is the most important thing they can do, it's safe to assume that Blues fans can probably expect another fruitless trip to the playoffs.

The future is NOW, for this organization. The pieces seem to be in place. The City is primed and ready. We've been ready for 50 years. Ownership is present, and engaged. We all know how important that is. #KroenkeSucks. On paper, the Blues have everything they need, to finally win a Stanley Cup, except seemingly, the actual desire and drive, to go out and win it.

Who instills the desire? Where does the drive originate? Does it come from within each player? Or is that the Coach's job? Wherever the answer lies, this team is in a very transitional position, as we approach the end of 2016. There's still plenty of time to get it together, and play the kind of quality hockey, that we have become accustomed to. There is also another direction this season could go, and nobody wants to be a part of that. This is supposed to be the Blues' "Cinderella Season." If I may paraphrase the great Bum Phillips, "The Blues have knocked on the door, and beat on the door." This year they need to, "Kick the SOB in."

We're waiting for some magic. Can somebody please pull a rabbit out of their hat? Or maybe wave a wand, and make the Blackhawks disappear?

Let's Go Blues!

SPzY