Thank You Blues! Sports Foo

On Thursday, October 6^th, 2005, the St. Louis Blues had their home opener against the Detroit Redwings.  As is the custom, they had the on-ice player introductions, and except for a spotlight, Scottrade Center was dark.  Watching on T.V., I couldn’t help but think I was watching the movie Major League.  “Who are these @#$! Guys?”  They dropped the home opener 4-3, their 2^nd of 46 losses that season, to go with just 21 wins.  It was the start of the Dark Ages for the Note, who had made the playoffs for 24 consecutive years.

The Blues had some Jake Taylors and Roger Dorns-guys who were household names.  After two seasons in Dallas, Scott Young would begin his 2^nd tour of duty in St. Louis.  Young would lead the team in points with 49.  Dough Weight was still there.  He led in assist with 33.  Mike Sillinger had the most goals.  It’s a nice honor, but with only 22, the Blues just didn’t have enough scoring punch.  There was also Keith Tkachuck, but he played in just 41 games that season.  

The only player who remains with the Blues from the ‘05-‘06 campaign is defenseman Barret Jackman. 

Four goaltenders went between the pipes for the Blues that season.  None of them had a record above .500.  There was Reinhard Davis with an 0-5-1 record and goals against average of 4.67.  Patrick Lalime was 4-18-8 and a GAA of 3.64. Jason Bacashihua, 4-10-1 and 3.23.  Curtis Sanford was the “bright spot.”  He had even .500 record at 13-13-5 and a respectable 2.66 GAA.  In fact, he is the only one left of the bunch who is playing in the NHL, having appeared in 36 games this season for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

In between then and now, there have been a lot of low points.  They managed to make the playoffs just one time—2009 against the Vancouver Canucks.  The Blues made a very entertaining run late in the regular season just to make the playoffs.  They ended up with the number 6 seed, but were sacrificial lambs to Roberto Luongo and the Canucks.  The Blues managed just 5 goals while being swept in 4 games. 

In fact, they have not won a playoff game since April 12^th, 2004.  That was a 4-1 victory against the San Jose Sharks.  They would lose that first round series 4 games to 1.  When is the last time they won a series?  That was a 2002 first round match-up against the Chicago Blackhawks in which the Blues won 4 games to 1 before losing to the Detroit Redwings in the 2^nd round 4 games to 1. 

Compare that to what the Cardinals have done since the Blues last won in the post-season—2 World Series titles.

Even the Rams have a playoff win since 2004.  No Kidding!  January 8^th, 2005 the Rams knocked off the Seattle Seahawks 27-20 in the Wild Card Round.

This season started off looking like it was going to be a carbon copy of recent memory.  The Blues would win some, lose some, and struggle to make the playoffs. 

On Saturday, November 5^th, they went to Minnesota and lost 2-1.  The loss dropped them below .500 at 6-7.   The Blues played sloppy, lost their composure, and took 8 penalties.  Goalie Jaroslav Halak lost his 5^th consecutive game.  The next day, they jolted the team. 

It is always darkest before dawn, and a new day was about to begin.  Without warning, the organization fired Davis Payne and brought in Ken Hithcock.   

Immediately we liked what we heard.  Hitchcock talked about playing a sound defensive system, playing the entire length of the ice, playing a complete 60 minutes of hockey.  It sounded great, but you couldn’t blame us for being skeptical, right? 

At the time of writing this, the Blues have gone 42-13-9 under Hitchcock.  Has their ever been such an in-season turnaround in sports?  We’ve seen teams change in the middle of the season.  We, in St. Louis, just witnessed last fall a memorable stretch with the Cardinals.  But, has there ever been such a sustained turnaround like this ever in all of sports?

They may not have playoff success, and the Blues may not be able to repeat this next year.  Who knows?  There maybe some players who are having career years, and they might not be able to ever equal it.  Nonetheless, it has been a great season.  The Blues have put the fun back in hockey.

One thing that is different about this team as opposed to say in the 1990’s, is that it is built on team defense and goaltending.  In the 1990’s, you had the likes of Brett Hull, Brendan Shanahan, and Geoff Courtnall.  It was great, exciting hockey.  But, goal scorers go in slumps.  Team defense generally does not go into slumps.  You may play a few bad games in a row, but prolonged slumps generally do not occur.  Strong goaltending can go in slumps, but , so far, it hasn’t happened. 

Baseball uses the phrase, “Hope springs eternal.”  Here’s hoping for Blues fans for a long run this spring.  I’m not predicting that they will win the Stanley Cup, but let’s face it.  Here in St. Louis we have been blessed with great baseball, and even a Lombardi Trophy, even if we are paying the piper for that now. 

But the Blues have only been to the Finals 3 times—1968, ’69, and ’70 when all they had to do was get passed the other expansion teams to qualify.  They walked away emptied handed each time. 

They may win it this year, they may not.  A lot of things have to go right for any team to win championships in any sports, on any level.  But it would be nice just once for the Blues to bring it home.  Regardless, it has been a great regular season.