By rallying in Calgary, one of the tougher NHL towns to visit, the Blues bolstered their playoff hopes appreciably.

After taking six of eight points at home, they took three of six on the road. The shootout loss at Edmonton was a bummer, but beating the Flames made up for it.

And not just because Blues coach Andy Murray outmaneuvered the bald-headed despot, Mike Keenan. Although Hockey Guy must admit, that was especially enjoyable to watch.

(The Flames have lost five of their last seven, by they way. “I think at times we’re working and feel like we’re battling, but we’re not finishing the plays and not getting it done, and I think the only way to do that is keep focused on your little things,” Old Friend Craig Conroy told the Calgary Sun. “Right now, we can’t try to do too much. I think when we try to do too much, that’s when we start to get caught, stay too long on shifts and turn over the puck.”)

The Toronto Globe and Mail took an excellent look at The Number – the point total it takes to make the playoffs in a given year.

“There are just so many teams involved that it’s interesting to watch the point scheme and see how it shuffles out every night,” Dallas Stars’ coach Dave Tippett said, according to the Globe and Mail. “In past years, when you saw a printout of who every team is playing, you could usually pick out a game and say, ‘I think they’re going to win this one or lose that one.’ Here, it’s a pick ‘em on a lot of nights.

“From our end, the way we’re looking at it is, ‘if we’re not playing, let’s hope there are no three-point games.’ But with so many more teams involved, the point total could be a little less.”

Ah, for the good old days of the (Chuck) Norris Division. Back then, the Blues could finish well south of .500 and still make the playoffs

This year it may take 95 points. To get to that number, the Blues will have to piled up a LOT of road points down the stretch.

TOO EXUBERANT?

Did Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin go overboard celebrating his 50th goal? Many old-school hockey guys believe so.

What do you think?

AROUND THE RINKS: Remember Manny Legace? The former Blues goaltender stopped 46 shots as Peoria edged San Antonio for a critical 1-0 victory . . . Should every team missing the playoffs get an equal shot at the first overall pick in the NHL Draft? That idea has gotten lots of play among hockey experts, since it would eliminate any motivation teams might have to tank. As it is, the NHL draft lottery is weighted in favor of teams with the worst record . . . The Blues won’t get top draft prospect John Tavares, a cornerstone center, but the team could buck up for free-agent college center Tyler Bozak. The Denver University star has most NHL GMs highly interested . . . Will Tavares go first overall? The Ottawa Sun speculates that the Islanders might opt for Viktor Hedman over Tavares if the team gets that pick . . . After starting the seasonn 6-0-2, the Sabres have played two games under .500 since then. The Buffalo News suggests that coach Lindy Ruff and GM Darcy Regier are in some real peril as a result . . . Blues prospect Jori Lehtera is toiling for the Rivermen for the rest of this season. The Finnish playmaker is under contract for one more year back home, but the Blues management team is gaining a better sense of his long-term NHL potential . . . The team is also taking a look at James Livingston, a potential long-range grinder with some size . . . The Boston Globe notes that Colorado has $44 million in salary committed to 2009-10 salaries, not counting Joe Sakic. If Sakic opts to play on, he may have to finish his career elsewhere. And how will Colorado upgrade its goaltending with all that dough tied up in skaters? The Avalanche will have an interesting summer . . . Vancouver has just $31 million committed to players next season, since GM Mike Gillis hasn’t been able to lock up looming free agents Daniel and Henrik Sedin, who could be headed to Toronto. New Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke brought the twins to the NHL and he has cleared salary room to facilitate a reunion . . . Martin Brodeur won’t retire any time soon for the Devils. Not only is he still playing at a high level, but he will owe his ex-wife $500,000 a year through 2020. Ouch!