After one period of  play, the Chicago Blackhawks have taken the game right to the St. Louis Blues. They scored on their first shot, in 12 seconds, and lead the game 1-0. The Blues managed to hold them off, but can't afford any more lapses like that first goal against.


Rodney N Eldridge
The Sportz Yak

R & R For The Blues

     The St. Louis Blues are enjoying some much needed time off this week, following their first home win in 6 tries. Once again, they struggled to score goals on home ice, but would only need 2 to gain the victory over the last place Columbus Blue Jackets Saturday night. Winning at Scottrade was a refreshing change, considering the way things have gone this month. These four days off will be their longest break of the season, and it couldn’t have come at a better time for the Blues.

     

     They began February by losing 5 straight games, 4 in a row on home ice, before taking their show on the road. They managed to win 3 in a row on the shoulders of Jake Allen. The rookie goalie carried the Blues to those victories, earning one win in overtime at Detroit, one in regulation at Calgary, and the third in a shoot-out, against Vancouver. Allen stepped up and played with youthful exuberance, if not ignorance to the fact that he was up against the best of the best in the NHL. He looked like he truly belonged, showing flashes of brilliance during his stay. He did not appear the least bit overwhelmed.

After dealing with a broken down plane ordeal that began Monday morning in Vancouver, and carried over well into Tuesday morning, the Blues took on San Jose Tuesday night, literally running on fumes. The Blues went on to drop their 5^th straight at home by a 2-1 margin to the Sharks. Jake Allen played well for the home fans, but could not get any scoring help from his offensive friends. No pun intended. Still, Allen put together a respectable 3-1 record in 4 starts. He was sent back to the Peoria Rivermen after the San Jose game. He suffered a 3-1 loss to the Chicago Wolves Saturday night, in his only start since rejoining the minor league affiliate.

Meanwhile, back in the Blues clubhouse, Jaroslav Halak made his return from a groin injury, just in time to face the Colorado Avalanche on the road Wednesday night. Halak blanked the Avs for 64 minutes and 44 seconds Wednesday night, before giving up the game winner with time winding down in overtime. The Blues played well enough to win in Colorado, but suffered a 1-0 defeat.

No time for complaining, the Blues were right back on a plane to St Louis. The exhausted Blues would finally have a couple days to regroup, before facing the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. Halak and the Blues finally broke the ice at home, defeating Columbus 2-1, on the strength of his 19 saves, including a highlight reel effort with time running down in the 3^rd period, while he was sprawled on his back. The play, saved the game for the Blues.

The scoring punch was provided by Chris Stewart(7), and David Perron(6), and Halak was helped by a solid defensive effort from everyone. The Jackets only goal came on a bad turnover during a Blues power play. The short handed effort from Matt Calvert(3) in the 2^nd period, tied the game 1-1, and suddenly the Scottrade crowd was apprehensive, wondering if they were about to witness another home loss. That would not happen, thanks to the Perron goal mid way through the 3^rd.

With the crowd once again energized, and the Blues back in front 2-1, it would come down to some big saves by Halak, who showed no ill effects from the groin since his return to action. There would still be some nervous moments, but none more dangerous than the save he made on his back, during a Columbus power play in the final 2 minutes, to preserve the victory.
 

This extended break should leave the Blues feeling refreshed, and hopefully afford them fresh legs for their next contest. That’s a good thing, because it gets no easier for the Blues. To close out a rough month, the Blues get to face the Red Hot Chicago Blackhawks! All they’ve done is win every game this season, currently sporting a 16-0-3 record, and sitting atop the NHL with an incredible 35 points.

The Rival Hawks are led by former Blues Head Coach, Joel Quenneville, and are the toast of the NHL right now. They’re on a record streak to start any season, and they’ve taken down everyone in their way, including the defending Stanley Cup Champion L.A. Kings twice. They were the only puzzle the Blues could not solve, during their very respectable 6-1 run in January, losing a close contest by a score of 3-2 in Chicago.

The Blackhawks are led by Patrick Kane, with 10 goals and 14 assists. Marian Hossa has 9 goals, and Jonathan Toews has 7 goals to his credit. Other notables include Patrick Sharp with 4 goals and 11 assists, and defenseman Duncan Keith, who only has 1 goal, but has also added 11 helpers. Goalie Corey Crawford is a perfect 11-0, with a .941 save percentage, and 2 shutouts to his credit. The Hawks other goalie Ray Emery, not to be outdone, sports an 8-0 record, and a .927 save percentage. With the Blues struggling to score goals at home, it would seem that they will truly have their work cut out for them, no matter which guy gets the nod from Coach Q.

For the Blues to end the arch rival Hawks run, they’re going to need continued outstanding play from T.J. Oshie who has 5 goals and 8 assists on the season. Scoring leader Patrick Berglund has 9 goals, and Chris Stewart is close behind with 7. Perhaps the biggest surprise has been Alex Steen, who leads the Blues with 16 total points, 4 goals, and 12 assists. Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk is right behind Steen with 15 points, on 1 goal, and 14 assists. Vladimir Terasenko has 12 points on 6 goals and 6 assists, but hasn’t put the biscuit in the basket since Feb 13^th at Detroit.

Whoever does the scoring, the Blues are going to have to find some way to score more goals at home period. And they need to figure it out real fast if they want to end the Blackhawk’s run on Thursday. The Blues are expecting a sell out crowd Thursday night, and they’re going to need that energy, if they have any hopes of corralling this seemingly unstoppable Blackhawks team.

One other note. The Blues have recalled Chris Porter from Peoria. No word yet on whether he will suit up Thursday against Chicago.

Rodney N Eldridge

The Sportz Yak

Who Are The Missouri Tigers

Frank Haith has a talented group of young men on his roster, led by stand-out junior point guard Phil Pressey, and senior forwards Laurence Bowers and Alex Oriakhi. The supporting cast includes senior guard Keion Bell, junior guard Earnest Ross, and sophomore guard Jabari Brown. All of them are averaging double figures in scoring, and Mizzou is first in all of college basketball in rebounding. Suffice to say when the team is playing well they’re difficult to beat. It’s also safe to say, Coach Haith himself would probably have a difficult time describing his team’s identity, as we grind down to March Madness. So who are the Missouri Tigers?

After upsetting the Florida Gators 63-60 last Tuesday at home, the schedule took the Tigers away from their comfort zone, for a date with Kentucky. It was a big time Saturday night affair, in the national spotlight, at Rupp Arena. Clearly the Tigers, (19-8, 8-6) are hoping to avoid the embarrassment of settling for an NIT bid. With Dick Vitale in the house, and all the hype his mere presence brings to any raucous college atmosphere, embarrassing is just one word that accurately describes Mizzou’s play against the Wildcats. Disappointing is another. Erratic also comes to mind. Ironically, the same adjectives can describe Phil Pressey’s play at times too.

The Tigers jumped in front of Kentucky early, and would lead by as many as 13 points in the first half. Rupp Arena was subdued but you could feel them just itching to explode. Mizzou looked like they could control the flow of the game, taking advantage of their quickness and their size inside. They took it right to the Wildcats in the early going. Pressey was able to penetrate with relative ease, and find his big men down low for several easy buckets. The Tigers would begin to pull away. Maybe they learned something about themselves in the Florida game. They appeared to be well on their way to a much needed conference road win

Unfortunately, or maybe inevitably, the momentum would swing in Kentucky’s favor. As time ran down, they started to close the gap, getting their fans back involved, while the wheels began to fall off for the Tigers. Kentucky cut the lead to 9, then 6, then 4 points, with 3 minutes to play in the half. The Wildcats smelled blood, and as we’ve seen so many times this season on the road from Mizzou, players started getting rattled, and making critical mistakes including poor shot selection and turnovers.

Then came the moment Rupp Arena was waiting for, a Missouri mental lapse. Phil Pressey hit a long 3 pointer with roughly 6 seconds on the clock, extending the Mizzou lead to 6. The Tigers decided the half was over at that point. Did I mention the 6 seconds on the clock? Pressey admired his shot, and back peddled casually down the floor, completely unaware of the man drifting behind him. Dick Vitale immediately pointed out that there was “nobody back.” The Wildcats in-bounded the ball, and raced up the floor, while the Tiger players loafed. Yes Mizzou fans, you’ve seen this one before. Does the name Tyus Edney ring any bells?

They allowed a Kentucky player to slip away all by himself. The end result was a long pass to the wide open Willie Cauley-Stein for a monster dunk, as time expired. Kentucky would trot off the floor energized, exalting with a packed house of screaming fans. They trailed 35-31, but delivered a clear message that they came to play for the entire 40 minutes. The Tigers apparently did not. Mizzou lost the game right then and there. Never mind the remaining 20 minutes of regulation time, or the 5 additional overtime minutes, Mizzou gave this game away right before half time.

The Wildcats finished the first half on a 16-7 run. They would then score the first 5 points in the second half, to go ahead 36-35. The game would see-saw the rest of the way, with neither team able to gain any separation, but the Wildcats played with much more confidence, while Mizzou seemed to be frantic at times, Pressey in particular. Kentucky’s Archie Goodwin was held scoreless in the first half, but went off in the second half and overtime, dropping in 18. The Cats were led by Julius Mays with 24 points and Alex Poythress with 21.

The Tigers were led by Pressey’s 27 points and 10 assists. On the surface, those are impressive numbers, worthy of the praise that Vitale would heap upon him throughout the game. However, Pressey also had 4 turnovers, and he missed several out of control running lay ups, as he continuously tried to drive to the basket and score in the land of the giants. He had several of those shots blocked, including one very late in the second half, when it looked like he had a man wide open waiting for a dish.

Pressey sometimes gets away from his many strengths, and tries to do too much. Those blocked shots don’t go down as turnovers, but any time you block a shot on your home floor, it ignites the crowd, and energizes your team. Kentucky would feed off that energy the rest of the way. They went on to win the game in overtime, outscoring Mizzou 15-8 in the extra frame, finally cutting Mizzou down, 90-83. Again, the game was lost long before it went into overtime. It was the same old story on the road for Mizzou, another heart breaking loss. They just can’t close the deal away from Columbia Mo.

This game may have been their last and best opportunity to really impress the selection committee down the stretch. They needed a big time road win, but more importantly the Tigers simply needed a road win. Mizzou could have greatly benefited from a nice 6 game run to close the season, picking up some quality wins when people are paying close attention.

Had they won at Kentucky, the Tigers had an opportunity to improve their conference road record to a more respectable 4-6, with additional road wins to be had at South Carolina, and in their final game at Tennessee. Toss in a couple of “pay-back” wins over LSU & Arkansas at home, which would make them a perfect 17-0 on their own floor, and all of a sudden the Tigers are a solid 6, 7, or 8 seed in the Big Dance. Mizzou shot itself in the foot against a Kentucky team that proved themselves beatable, if not resilient in the win over the Tigers.

Mizzou may still be an at large consideration, but that 1-7 conference road record with two more to play, hangs over their heads like a dark cloud. A split of their final four games at this point, would give them a 21-10 record. Can anyone say bubble? When the committee starts looking at RPI, BPI, and all the other checks & balances that go into granting at large bids, Mizzou may very well find themselves out of the big picture. Their bubble is leaking to say the least. Kentucky was considered to be on the outside looking in before this game. Now it appears they have greatly improved their stock to crack the field of 68.

Should Mizzou do the improbable, and end the year with a little 4 game win streak, they would finish 23-8. They would get into the NCAA tournament in spite of themselves. The next question becomes, where would they have to play? The committee would very likely send them somewhere far from home, like Utah, or Washington, making it at the very least, inconvenient for fans to travel and support the team.

Anything can happen during March Madness, but considering the hot and cold play of Mizzou it’s not unfair to believe they would be an early out. Thanks for coming folks. Enjoy your trip back to Columbia. If Mizzou happens to be left out of the NCAA tourney, don’t consider it a “snub.” They haven’t exactly shown the kind of consistency it takes to win it all to this point.

Mizzou has the talent to play with anyone in the country. Ability to win under pressure is what teams must have, if they hope to win the final game of the year. Mizzou does not have that right now. Hopefully, they can get hot at the right time, and go on one of those storybook runs we hear about so often. It will take grit and determination, and a ton of unselfish play from Phil Pressey, for Mizzou to cut down the nets at any point in the tourney. The time is now for Mizzou. They’re still floating on a bubble, and cannot afford any more losses, or we will see them in the NIT.

Rodney N Eldridge

The Sportz Yak

Murphy's Law vs The St. Louis Blues

     Murphy’s Law, “Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong.” It’s simply stated here, but it accurately describes what is going on with the St. Louis Blues right now. Just when it appeared the Blues were almost unbeatable in January, Jaroslav Halak suffers a groin injury, forcing Brian Elliott into the starting role. Suddenly, the team falls into a fairly significant slump, which included 4 straight losses on home ice. Coincidence? Maybe. Let’s dig a little deeper.

    

     Next they hit the road with a few wounds exposed, and inexplicably, win 3 straight games in Detroit, Calgary, and Vancouver. Riding the coattails of rookie goaltender Jake Allen, the team got a much needed shot of adrenaline, and fed off the rookie’s youthful energy. Allen quickly became a household name back home with a few highlight reel plays, and 3 wins in his first 3 NHL starts.

Suddenly, the slump was over, and with Brian Elliott’s psyche in question, there were actually rumblings around town about who would back up Halak, when he returned? It was fairly obvious to anyone who understands how sports work, that the rookie would eventually have to step aside. Still, it made for compelling theater on the St. Louis airwaves. All of a sudden, the Blues were dealing with a good problem, if there is such a thing, too much goal tending. Ol’ Murphy dropped by again Monday morning, when the team’s chartered plane had mechanical difficulties.

All dressed up and nowhere to go, the Blues waited over 15 hours for a flight out of Vancouver. Anyone who has had a flight delayed or cancelled knows how exhausting it can be just hanging around the airport, waiting… waiting… asking questions only to be frustrated by the reply. We’ve all been there. Thanks a lot Murphy.

The Blues should have been home Monday afternoon, but did not arrive in St. Louis until around 6am Tuesday morning. No excuses would be made, but it’s safe to say, the team was road weary, if not leg weary, Tuesday night against the San Jose Sharks. It would be a factor.

Coach Ken Hitchcock would thrill the home crowd, giving rookie Jake Allen his fourth straight start, and why not? They were looking for a much needed a home win, and the kid was on a hot streak. Unfortunately, the Blues were unable to muster much offense, and the Sharks were simply a step quicker all night. Even the Blues vaunted power play, currently ranked #1 in the NHL, could not produce in this game. The Blues would still strike first on a Patrick Berglund(9) goal, and Allen would keep the team in the game right to the end.

Joe Thornton would bang in a 2^nd period rebound, and tie the game at 1, where it would remain until Tim Kennedy slipped behind the Blues defense in the 3^rd period, picked up a long pass, and somehow crammed a slapper through Allen’s pads, that trickled into the net. Whether it was tired legs, or just Murphy at work, the Blues suffered another tough loss at home. 

Curiously, the Blues continue to struggle at home. There was no rest for the weary, as the Blues would head right back to the airport, and board a plane to Colorado, for a Wednesday night skate with the Avs.

Welcome back Jaroslav Halak, who was not exactly tested, but looked comfortable in net, and showed no ill effects from the groin. He wasn’t exactly spectacular, but he didn’t need to be last night. The Blues held the Avs to 20 shots Wednesday night, as both teams played a tight, solid checking game.

The officials accommodated by letting a few things go as well. In fact, the NHL will likely be reviewing a hit on Vladimir Tarasenko that sent him to the locker room for the rest of the game, yet drew no call. Another Blues player took a high stick to the back of his head, and he took the walk down the runway as well. Again, there was no call. Last night’s game had a playoff feel, but there doesn’t seem to be much uniformity among the refs from crew to crew. A penalty today may be overlooked tomorrow. Was Murphy wearing stripes last night?

There was no scoring in regulation, though the Blues threw puck after puck at Semyon Varlamov, who stopped all 33 shots he faced, earning his 10^th career shutout. The game went to overtime tied 0-0, earning the Blues a point on weary legs. But with 16.4 seconds left in overtime, Murphy got involved again.

After Halak thwarted a 2 on 1 breakaway with roughly a minute and a half left in overtime, and a shoot-out looming, the puck was sent down behind Varlamov. Avalanche defenseman Matt Hunwick picked it up behind his net, and raced all the way up the ice lugging the mail. He gained the blue line, and then dropped a neat pass to trailer David Jones. Jones, who had been struggling in his own right, cut to his right, and using a screen provided by a Blues player, he fired a shot that appeared to tip off the blade of a Blues stick, and then whipped past Halak for a 1-0 Colorado win. You’re KILLING me Murphy! You’re KILLING me!

The Blues currently have 20 points good enough for 5^th place in the Western Conference. They also have a home game Saturday night against the last place Columbus Blue Jackets. If there were ever a best case scenario for the Blues to remember how to win at home, this would be it. They will also get their longest break of the lock-out shortened season, before they host the red hot Chicago Blackhawks, Thursday February 28^th. Even with Murphy doing his thing, this is possibly the best time for the mishaps. Four days off will do everyone some good; especially with the 1^st place Hawks coming to town.

As expected, Jake Allen was moved back to Peoria, and Brian Elliott once again takes over his role as back up. The Blues need to find a way to recapture their home ice advantage. Winning on the road is always a plus, but any athlete will tell you, it’s no good to lose games in front of your home fans. The Blues will have a chance to right the ship Saturday night. No word yet on who will start in goal, but don’t be surprised if Ken Hitchcock gives Brian Elliott a start against a Jackets team that is struggling to score goals, and sitting in last place overall in the West.

Rodney N Eldridge
The Sportz Yak

Mizzou Floating On A Bubble

      Mizzou Basketball fans should get used to hearing the word bubble for the next few weeks. In fact, they might want to start searching the internet travel sites for potential NIT venues, when planning their spring trips. The team is currently sitting at 18-7 overall, and 7-5 in conference play. While not exactly disrespectful, they haven’t even come close to reaching the lofty expectations they had at the beginning of the season. The Tigers have managed to dribble themselves right out of the Top 25 and perhaps out of the Big Dance as well.

     It wasn’t supposed to be this way for Mizzou. The football program was expected to struggle in the SEC, but Mizzou Hoops has been something of a national power for several years, regularly ranked in the top 25, and a familiar guest at the NCAA tourney. They were predicted by some, to compete with Florida and Kentucky for an SEC title. At the very least, they were expected to hold their own in the conference known more for its football prowess. Apparently the conference is not impressed. Welcome to the SEC.

The Tigers began the season ranked 14 or 15, depending on which poll you believe, but currently Mizzou has fallen out of the top 25 in both the AP and the Coaches polls. With #5 Florida in Columbia tonight, their fall from NCAA grace could accelerate quickly. Should they drop their next two games to Florida and Kentucky, it’s safe to say, Mizzou’s “bubble” would burst long before their final game at Tennessee, March 9^th. Yes, Mizzou fans, you absolutely should be concerned about your NCAA chances at this point, and here’s why.

     The Tigers have won a grand total of one game against a top 25 opponent. It was an 82-73 victory over then #10 Illinois, on a neutral floor. Conversely, they have suffered blowout losses to then #1 Florida(5), and to then #2 Louisville(10). It wasn’t just that they lost those games, they were dismantled both times, and exposed as a team lacking the physicality and the guard play, to run with the NCAA big dogs. I know they can only play the games on the schedule, but to be a national contender, you have to win the games you're supposed to win, and you have to surprise a few people along the way. It's time for Mizzou to surprise some people tonight.

     Speaking of guard play, what’s up with Phil Pressey? Coach Frank Haith must be wondering that himself. Pressey was highly touted as a premier point guard when the season began, but as the season has progressed, we’ve seen him go through several shooting slumps, and we’ve watched erratic play from the 5’11” Jr point guard.

When Pressey looks to involve his teammates, Mizzou is at times, unstoppable. But Pressey seems to be channeling his inner Allen Iverson at other times. It appears that he has decided he needs to be a scorer. Forcing plays that aren’t there, throwing up wild shots at bad times, and turning the ball over at the worst possible moments. Pressey is much more effective, when he looks to penetrate and then dish the ball off, taking shots when they are there for him. The kid can shoot the ball, but when he’s off his game, Mizzou is off its game too. Proving that old adage, “You’re only as good as your guard play.”

Keion Bell has been a bright spot for the Tigers at guard, but he is not a true point player. Pressey is the best ball handler Mizzou has, but he tends to dribble himself into too many problems. Again, he’s much more effective when he looks to distribute. Bell can slash and score the basketball, and he can shoot the spot up J very well. However, it’s not really in his arsenal to create his own opportunities. Jabari Brown is a steady player, but the sophomore needs to see more action, to develop confidence. Coach Haith might need to consider playing Brown more often down the stretch, particularly when Pressey is struggling to make plays.

Big man Alex Oriakhi, has shown flashes, but hasn’t really lived up to the hype he brought from the Big East. He will need to assert himself further, particularly on the defensive end, and on the boards, if Mizzou is to have any hopes of beating Florida tonight, and Kentucky later this week. Injury ridden Lawrence Bowers also needs to wake up the All Big 12 Defensive Player sleeping inside. Bowers can be dominant, and he will need to bring that to the floor, if Mizzou wants to sniff the NCAA tourney, and avoid being cast off into the salty NIT waters.

There is a bright side however. Do not write off your Tigers just yet. Mizzou still has an opportunity to impress the voters tonight against the Florida Gators. A perfect 14-0 at home, the Tigers will need to use every inch of that home court advantage tonight. They need to get off to a fast start, and they need to avoid turnovers. If the Tigers can dictate the flow of the game, and stay out of a track meet with the Gators, they still have a chance to earn a much needed win against a top 25 opponent. Should the Tigers find a way to knock off both Florida and Kentucky this week, it’s conceivable they could also slip back into the top 25, and keep their “bubble” afloat.

The Gators are fresh off an 83-52 drubbing of Auburn, and they handled Kentucky 69-52 before that. The Gators are a potential #1 seed in the NCAAs, and they are one of the best teams in the country right now. Their last loss came at Arkansas on February 5^th. Then again, the Tigers know all too well about the difficulties of winning in Fayetteville, after dropping a heart breaker there on Saturday, 73-71. A game they not only needed to win on the road, but should have won.

Florida is led by senior guard Kenny Boynton, who is really good, and presents a difficult physical match up for Phil Pressey. Boynton is averaging 13 points per game, and shoots about 34% from beyond the ark. He is also an 83% free throw shooter, so the Tigers cannot foul him. Senior Mike Rosario is a 6’3” guard who is also averaging right at 13ppg. The Florida guards have size and quickness that is difficult to contend with, but the Tigers can hang with them, if they can avoid bad decisions and turnovers.

If there is a weakness in the Florida game, it may be inside. The Tigers are bigger down low, and they will need to take advantage of that tonight. If Paul Pressey can commit to using his big men, and stop thinking he needs to score as much, the Tigers have a chance to upset the #5 Gators, and breathe a little air into their “bubble.”

The Gators big men are Erik Murphy, and Patrick Young. Murphy is averaging just under 13ppg, and Young is averaging 10ppg himself. Murphy is an excellent free throw shooter, at 83%, so the Tigers cannot allow him to float through the painted area, and get easy looks at the basket. If they need to foul anybody, Young is only shooting a dismal 51% from the stripe.

The Gators are a deeper team than Mizzou, so it’s going to fall on the Mizzou stars, to win this game, and Paul Pressey needs to help his star teammates shine with unselfish play. If he could have as many assists as points tonight, say 15 and 15, I think the Tigers can win this game. Hopefully Coach Haith can compel the young man to share the basketball with his friends. However, if the Tigers, Pressey in particular, fall in love with the 3 point shot, it could be a long night for the Black & Gold. Mizzou is shooting about 35% from three, while the Gators are averaging slightly less than 40% from beyond the ark.

So there you have it Mizzou faithful. Your bubble is fragile, but it’s still hanging around for now. The Tigers have two huge challenges this week, and it will take maximum effort to keep their season from being an early “bubble" wrap.

Rodney Eldridge

The Sportz Yak

 

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