Never mind all those harrowing one-goal victories Ken Hitchcock racked up after taking over as coach of the Blues.
That was just the warm-up act.
This team — the one that skated over the Canadiens 3-0 in Montreal Tuesday night — is the one the rest of the National Hockey League should fear.
Much has been written about this team’s impressive depth. Much has been written about the collective Blues commitment, effort and discipline.
But now we’re finally starting to see its high skill level emerge as well.
Goaltender Jaroslav Halak has made it all the way back from his October swoon. With the whole league watching closely, he shrugged off enormous homecoming pressure and blanked the Habs.
A few months ago Blue fans were giving up on Halak. Even a few weeks ago he still seemed likely to fall into a No. 2 role behind the surprising Brian Elliott, who remained amazingly reliable through the first half of the season.
Now? Halak is playing with obvious confidence again, giving this team a legitimate 1-2 punch in goal.
Winger Chris Stewart is getting back to full speed, too. After scoring 15 goals in 26 games for the Blues late last season, he scored just four times in his first 29 games this season.
Earlier this season he appeared to be skating in oatmeal. The big fellow was a step or two behind every play.
But in his last 10 games he has scored six goals, five at even strength. Playing next to David Backes has reminded him how power forwards are supposed to play the game.
Top offensive defenseman Alex Pietrangelo scored just two points in 14 December games. Such poor productivity was puzzling, given last season’s 43-point breakout.
But Pietrangelo has regained his 2010-11 form this month, scoring seven points in four games. Rather than merely jumping into plays, he is creating plays and sometimes finishing them, too.
Like Stewart, Pietrangelo is a team-changer. Like Stewart, he has unique abilities, special qualities that every team covets. But like Stewart, he wasn’t producing anything like he did last season.
Now he is. And so the Blues have outscored their opponents 14-5 during their current four-game winning streak.
This team can attack in waves now. Veteran forward Jason Arnott scored just two points in 13 November games.
In his last 17 games he has 14 points – including eight on the power play, which is finally clicking after a months-long slump.
With the Blues returning home for a five-game homestand and skilled forward Andy McDonald edging closer to returning from his latest concussion, you can see the momentum building.
This team hit the accelerator without McDonald. The Blues did it without Alex Steen, arguably their most valuable all-around forward, and highly skilled defenseman Kris Russell, too.
If this team can remain mostly healthy during the season’s second half, fans should see the best Blues hockey since their heady Presidents’ Trophy days.
And with top offensive prospects Jaden Schwartz, Vladimir Tarasenko and Phil McRae preparing to bolster this team for 2012-13 and beyond, fans are about to see the best Blues era since Joel Quenneville’s best days.
There will be no need to make a big play for a high-priced scorer before the trade deadline. There will be no need to make another blockbuster deal.
The long wait is over. This team has arrived. Winning hockey has finally returned to St. Louis.
