Blues fans have been chattering about Andy Murray being in trouble as Blues coach. There’s nothing to it. Chairman Dave Checketts and team president John Davidson completely support Murray. Besides, he signed a four-year contract and this is only year two. At the very least, Murray has next season, his third, to correct the Blues’ anemic offense and power play. If the Blues are struggling a year from now, then we can have a legitimate discussion about Murray’s future.

It is frustrating to watch this team sputter offensively through too many games.

The other day in my column, I relayed my statistical research that showed the weakness of the Blues’ power play from a historical standpoint. The PP success rates over the last two seasons are the lowest  in franchise history excluding 1967-68. (The data for that season is incomplete.)

But what about goals, any kind of goals?

As of now, this is the fourth-lowest scoring team in Blues history:

Lowest goals/game, St. Louis Blues history:

1. 2003-2004,  2.33

2. 2005-2006,  2.35

3.  1967-68,  2.39

4.  2007-2008,   2.43.  

Some historical context is required because the NHL as a whole does not generate as many goals as the league did in the olden days.

But here’s a simple question: How can you expect to score if you don’t shoot the puck?

Since 1982-83, STATS LLC has been keeping track of shots on goal per game.

And since then, these last two teams have recorded the lowest shots-on-goal average any Blues teams.

This season’s average of 26.1 shots on goal per game ranks at the bottom since ‘82-83. 

And the second-smallest total occured last season, when the Blues averaged 26.9 shots per game.

Sure, some of this is related to talent. The Blues need a top centerman. They need a finisher around the net. They need a defenseman who can provide a boost in the offensive zone; Erik Johnson will eventually develop into that guy.

But it seems to me that the Blues are too passive offensively. 

Shoot the puck.

Pounce on some rebounds.

Thanks for reading…

–B