If the Blues are going to make the playoffs in April, the playoff berth must be earned in March.
With the way the schedule plays out, the boys better pounce on some points in the next nine games — seven of the games, including Thursday at Pittsburgh, are against teams outside of a playoff spot ... while the other two are against teams in the same wild-card hunt as 51.
After that, the Blues play four of six against elite teams, unfurling into the final week.
Indeed, since the 4 Nations Face-Off break, the Blues have established an identity.
Now, the Blues have to harness an urgency.
“Since the break, every game has been important for us to get in the (positive) situation we are,” said Blues coach Jim Montgomery, whose team is 6-1-2 since 4 Nations and is right on the cusp of the final wild-card spot. “So we had to do the job early. Now we just need to continue on that path. And it doesn’t matter who we’re playing. Like our next opponent, Pittsburgh, just beat Vegas. So we’ve got to be focused on that next task at hand and bring that same attitude of — we’re going to stay in the moment. We’re going to have a great start, then we’re going to worry about the next shift, then the next shift. ....
“We know the schedule is favorable right now. (But) we’re going play two teams (Saturday and Sunday) where we’re playing back-to-backs again, and they are not and are rested, waiting for us. So there’s another challenge that’s coming within that time frame. We’re in the midst of 10 games in 17 days.”
The performance since the break has been remarkable, especially considering top defenseman Colton Parayko suffered an injury that will keep him out of the regular season. I, for one, have been stunned by the turnaround. It was on Feb. 6, when the Blues were 24-26-5, when I wrote: “The Blues lead the league in ‘if onlys,’ and I’m sick of it. This core group was supposed to level up this season and compete for the playoffs.”
But Montgomery’s troops, clearly rested and ready, returned from the break rejuvenated.
“I think we found our identity,” forward Jake Neighbours said. “And we’ve kind of found what we understand makes us successful — and what works. And we’re doing it at a consistent rate.”
So how would you describe the Blues’ identity?
Blues forward Dylan Holloway celebrates a goal with teammate Jordan Kyrou on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, in the second period of a game against the Avalanche at Enterprise Center.
“Just really stingy,” Neighbours said. “You know, not giving up a lot through the neutral zone or the D-zone. And just being really hard to play against. Obviously it requires a lot of effort and a lot of hard work, which guys are doing, and guys are playing selfless, blocking shots for each other. We’re playing physical, doing all the little habits and details that you need to do to win hockey games. And then, once you do that stuff and you feel good about it, you’re going have the puck more, and it just creates offense.”
Of late, good players are now playing like someone good should. Robert Thomas. Pavel Buchnevich. And captain Brayden Schenn, who has 10 points in his past 10 games.
Speaking of identity, when the Blues are cruising, it’s because they play like a bunch of Schenns out there — fearless, gritty and unselfish. The Blues are bruised but for good reason — so many blocked shots in recent games. And the Blues are confident — there’s belief in their voices.
As for this brand of hockey, “That’s what we’ve been trying to build for some time now — and guys have fully bought in now,” Schenn said. “You’ve seen results. And, you know, even in a game like (last Saturday) in LA, where you maybe didn’t have your legs, you didn’t have your best that night, yet just on sacrifice and will and determination, you’re able to grab a point out of it. That was just with guys playing hard and blocking shots and playing the right way.
“So obviously, with No. 55 out, we know he’s just how good a year he’s had. But guys are rallying around it. And our goal is to be in the playoffs.”
Incidentally, it’s peculiar that the Penguins are under .500 — Pittsburgh hasn’t had a sub-.500 season since 2005-06 (which was a good year to be bad, considering who was the top pick in the draft).
You’d think the Blues would start Jordan Binnington in net against Pittsburgh, then use Joel Hofer on Saturday at Minnesota, followed by Binner again on Sunday at home against Anaheim. Since the break — and his sublime performance in the 4 Nations title game — Binnington is 5-1 with a .915 save percentage (fourth-best in the league since the break).
He’s been a standout, but what’s stood out is the stingy identity of the Blues overall. So yeah, let’s see it on display during this imperative stretch of hockey.
“It’s been the commitment they have to each other,” Montgomery said, “and just how guys are being incredibly selfless, offensively and defensively, doing the little things that help a teammate score a goal.”
