Jaroslav Halak’s professional life really picked up in recent days.
He made a triumphant return to his previous home, Montreal, and blanked his old team 3-0. Canadiens fans gave him a huge ovation after the game. Not so long ago he was their favorite player, before the Habs traded him to the Blues.
He returned home and earned a shootout victory over the Wild. This was a big deal because Halak has lost five times in the shootout this season.
He followed that breakthrough by shutting out the Stars 1-0 Monday night at Scottrade Center. He has two shutouts in three games after earning just one in his first 21 outings.
“Jaro was great,” Blues defenseman Barret Jackman said. “He was very solid when we made mistakes. Very calm and cool, just getting things to settle down.”
Halak is 5-0 with a 1.18 goals-against average and .957 save percentage this month. Cohort Brian Elliott may be headed to the NHL All-Star Game to represent the Note, but Halak is regaining his role as this team’s lead goaltender.
His resurgence is validating the Blues as one of the NHL's elite teams. He is providing the sort of goaltending Stanley Cup contenders need when the games really count.
“It’s been a lot of fun so far,” Halak said after dispatching the Stars. “We keep on winning, especially when we’re getting shutouts. You can’t ask for more.”
Halak exudes confidence these days. He isn’t shrinking back into his net. His shoulders aren’t slumping, making him smaller and smaller in goal. He isn’t missing shots from bad angles.
He is literally standing tall again – and the Blues are a much better team for it.
“He plays big,” Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said after the game. “He plays out, he plays big. No holes. Working to see shots, fighting to see shots, battling. He just plays big now. He’s what I saw in Montreal and what we’ve talked about for a little while.
“I got good information from the Montreal people that I knew there well and he’s back out playing big now. He’s not back on the goal line. When you have confidence there -- and he knows he will be able to make the first save and we’ll clear the rest -- you’re able to play big.
“The biggest difference is his positioning in the net is way more aggressive.”
This is a massive development for the Blues. For all their impressive regular season success, they know they will need excellent goaltending come playoff time.
Halak started poorly this season, prompting then-coach Davis Payne to lean heavily on Elliott. When Hitchcock replaced Payne, he made a point of noting that Halak would be his goaltender.
But Elliott continued playing well – while Halak was seeping bad goals – so Hitchcock rode the hot hand a while longer. Elliott was 6-0 with a 0.99 GAA in November and won three of his first four starts in December.
Many fans were willing to write off Halak and ride with Elliott, a solid stand-up goaltender with a tremendous work ethic.
But Blues general manager Doug Armstrong made a major commitment to Halak, who performed heroically in postseason play for the Canadiens. Armstrong banked on that playoff track record and proven ability to carry his team through a tough series.
So one of Hitchcock’s biggest mandates was getting Jaroslav back on that winning track. It took a while, but it appears Halak is back to his old game-stealing self.
He gives the Blues an admirable situation. Both goalies are playing well and the No. 3 man, Our Town’s Ben Bishop, is starring for Peoria of the American Hockey League.
Some Internet gossips are suggesting the Blues should move a netminder – perhaps Halak, who carries a significant contract – but why would the Blues mess with success?
As Halak said after his latest victory, “The guys are having fun. I’m having fun back there and it’s been working for us.”
