Let's get the new week started, and if you are off from work today, I hope you are enjoying it ...

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After another frustrating road loss, this time in Chicago, we have to say it again: the Blues will have to do much better on the road to maximize their potential. We keep harping on this, but for good reason. With the team about to embark on a stretch that has them playing 13 road games and only 3 home games, the issue can't be ignored or downplayed. The road futility isn't a mini-trend. It isn't a minor thing. It isn't random. And while it's obviously true that all teams are better at home than on the road, the extreme nature of the Blues' home/away splits is glaring.   

• The Blues (10-13-3) are tied for 24th among the 30 NHL in road winning percentage, .442. At home they're No. 2 in winning percentage, .848.

• The Blues' average of 1.96 goals per road game ranks 28th among 30 NHL teams. At home the Blues rank 11th in the league with an average of 2.94 goals per game.

• In even-strength situations the Blues are +1 on the road with 43 goals scored and 42 goals allowed. At home, they are a spectacular +41 with 71 goals scored and only 30 allowed.

• The Blues' power play is dead last in the league in success rate on the road; they are 7 for 79 for 8.9 percent. On home ice the Blues rank 9th in PP success, scoring 26 times on 121 chances for a rate of 19 percent.

• In their 16 non-wins on the road (this includes OT and shootouts), the Blues have averaged only 1.31 goals per game, and have scored 1 goal or less in 9 of the 16.

• In their 16 non-wins on the road, the Blues have been outscored 16-7 in the third period. But it's even more glaring as of late; in their last nine non-wins on the road the Blues have been outscored 8-1 in the third period. And we're talking about a lot of close games here, so those third periods are killers.

• It doesn't help that forward Alex Steen is out with a concussion; he was easily the Blues' best player on the road this season before going down. In 18 road games, Steen had 7 goals, 7 assists and was a plus 7. Moreover, he'd won 55 percent of his faceoffs on the road. Even though Steen hasn't played a road game for the Blues since Dec. 27, he is still tied for the team lead in road goals and points. Steen also gave the Blues a big dose of those effective intangibles that can make a positive difference. With Steen in the lineup the Blues were 7-8-3 on the road, including 4-2-2 in his last 8 games.

• Going by the plus-minus ratings, here are the Blues that have had the least amount of success on the road: Alex Pietrangelo minus 7; T.J. Oshie minus 7; David Backes minus 5; and Patrik Berglund minus 4. That's why coach Ken Hitchcock was absolutely right in Chicago when he stated after the game that the team needed more from their top players.

Before we wrap this up, here's something else to keep an eye on. Here's a look at the Central Division and each team's record against divison rivals:

Nashville 13-3-2

Chicago 9-4-2

Detroit 10-5-0

St. Louis  5-8-2

Columbus  3-12-2 

Thanks for reading. I don't want to be negative about the Blues, who are having a very good season. But if I'm going to praise them, as I do often, it's only fair to point out areas that clearly require improvement.  

And Coach Hitchcock would undoubtedly agree.

— Bernie