So how do the Blues beat Roberto Luongo? This was the question the fellas mulled as they flew back to St. Louis from Vancouver.

In two games, they have scored one goal – on a lightning-quick, power-play rebound conversion by Brad Boyes. Otherwise, the spectacular Luongo has stymied them.

Nobody is more frustrated than Andy McDonald. Not only has Luongo made several acrobatic saves to rob him at point-blank range, but the crossbar robbed him three times in Game 2 alone.

The Blues knew that Luongo would stop everything he saw from the outside. They knew he would get most of the first saves in tight, too.

But he has stopped deflections and rebound conversions as well. The work he did against David Backes in tight was utterly amazing.

Vancouver brings a 2-0 series lead back to St. Louis as result. The Blues need to turn the series on the dime – and they will have to somehow beat Luongo to do that.

Trouble is, players naturally tend to become too fine around the net after a couple of games like these. Players tend to hesistate, waiting for the perfect shot. They tend to aim instead of fire.

The Note must keep firing. They must keep attacking, swarming and getting pucks there anyway possible.

Somehow, some way they have to create their own breaks. At some point, a puck will go in off a skate and their spirits will be buoyed.

FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHT NIGHT

Naturally, B.J. Crombeen is being demonized by the Vancouver media for the last-second fracas. He went after rugged Canucks defenseman Kevin Bieksa. But that situation wouldn’t occurred had his skates not been yanked out from under him — a textbook playoff-hockey move at the end of a game.

That’s hockey. The Canucks sent a message to Crombeen, who been hassling the Sedin Twins all night, and Crombeen demonstrated his displeasure.

Hockey Guy misted up, because this how playoff hockey was all the time before Gary Bettman sanitized the game.

In the old (Chuck) Norris Division days, there was scrum after almost every whistle. Players needed those playoff beards to protect their skin from frequent face washings.

After all the whining by Canuck players and reporters about Luongo being inconvenienced by Game 1 snow showers in the crease, there was scant mention of how the Canucks crashed into Chris Mason with impunity in Game 2.

(Ah, for the old days of Bob Probert punching Vinny Riendeau in the head, Nick Kypreos “falling” on Grant Fuhr and knocking him out of the playoffs and Geoff Courtnall plowing into Jamie Storr at full speed. New hockey fans would recoil in horror at tapes of how the team used to be played.)

But that’s just playoff hockey. If the Canucks believed Game 2 was terribly rough on the Sedin twins, then this team isn’t a real Cup contender.

Playoff hockey gets a LOT more physical than this as teams advance. Ask the teams that Anaheim flattened en route to its Cup. Hank and Danny will have to strap it on if they want to finally lead their team to postseason glory.

This is one of those career-defining opportunities. If the Sedin Twins shrug off the abuse and lead the Canucks forward, they will reach that Next Level of their career.

Their peers will view them as elite players, not just as highly talented players. Naturally, the Blues will attempt to discourage such career growth during the next two games at Scottrade.

On the other hand, Alex Burrows is already already making his mark. What a nice player to have on a team — a pesky guy with some finishing skills. Blues fans are more than a little irritated with this guy, which is high praise.

PRAISING BARRET JACKMAN

With Erik Johnson and Eric Brewer out, he is the team’s shutdown defenseman. That is asking a lot a lot of him, but he has become a LOT better all around defender. In particular, he has become much sharper with with his puck movement.

Hockey Guy loved his play in the first two games, despite the losses.

Also earning praise is Mike Weaver, the former Canuck who has proved invaluable this season with his puck-moving ability. The Blues never dreamed he would play such a large role on this team, but injuries created his opportunity.