The NHL standings can change drastically on a nightly basis and there's no better illustration than the Blues' current situation. They sit tied for the league lead this afternoon with 60 points, but when the Blues return to the ice for their next game Thursday, they could be No. 6.
That's because New York (60), Chicago (60), Boston (59), Detroit (59) and Vancouver (59) are each in action either tonight or tomorrow, prior to the Blues hosting Edmonton.
"It'll change tomorrow or the next day, but I think it's the 60 (points that's meaningful)," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. "I've said this before: when you get into this stage, where you're close to the (all-star) break, plowing through the 60s and getting into the 70-point total (is good).
"Getting through 60s is hard because everybody seems to be around that 50-point total at this time. Each conference has 10, 12 teams in the 50-point range. So getting into the 60s is good. And then if we can quickly plow a way and get through the 70s now, there's light at the end of the tunnel. So for me, it's about the points."
The Blues are No. 1 in the Western Conference, but they are just four points ahead of No. 6 Nashville and only 10 points separates them from being out of the playoff picture in the West as of today.
"There's still a lot of games to go, but everybody's been patient, the organization, the fans and we're reaping the benefits now," Blues defensman Barret Jackman said. "The fans are really behind us now. It's fun to be out in St. Louis now. People are talking hockey. It's a great feeling.
"We've got a target on our backs. We're not going to sneak up on teams the second half of the year. We can't be second-guessing ourselves. We've just got to go out there and play every night and play like we're the underdogs the rest of the year."
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KEY ADJUSTMENT
To start the third period Monday night, Hitchcock swapped the right wingers on his top two lines, moving Oshie with David Backes and David Perron and putting Chris Stewart with Patrik Berglund and Matt D'Agostini.
The adjustment made a difference, as Oshie converted a give-and-go with Perron for the only goal of the game.
"I thought we needed a different energy in the top six," Hitchcock said. "I just felt like we were too focused on checking other teams' players and their top players were struggling. I just thought the line was on their heels. They were defending too much rather than attacking. I thought Osh could fly around and create some energy. Osh is an attack player and that's what he did."
Hitchcock isn't sure whether he'll keep Oshie with Backes and Perron Thursday against Edmonton. The Blues are expected to get Alex Steen back in the lineup and Hitchcock says Steen will be in the top six. The line that's had the most success this season was Steen, Backes and Oshie, which would possibly put Perron, Berglund and Stewart together.
"I think you're going to find us do a couple of things different here," Hitchcock said. "We have a lot of road games to play, so we have to look at a little bit different box that we're going to play in. For me, not including Andy (McDonald), we have probably seven interchangeable parts in the top six. So we'll mess around with it.
"We really liked Steen with Backes. Obviously Oshie or Stewart both play well with either guy, so we've got some flexibility. David Perron plays well with Berglund, so we've got some flexibility. I think we'll just experiment and we'll see what works on a game-by-game basis. Start one way, we might finish another way."
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STEEN, RUSSELL UPDATES
The Blues held an optional skate today, and the players on the ice included Alex Steen (concussion) and defenseman Kris Russell (groin). Afterwards, Hitchcock said that it appeared both would play Thursday.
"They'll both practice as full-time players tomorrow," Hitchcock said. "Assuming that they get through practice and feel fine, then we'll anticipate them playing on Thursday."
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HALAK ROLLING
By virtue of Monday's shutout, Blues netminder Jaroslav Halak will be back in net Thursday against Edmonton.
Halak has blanked two of his last three opponents, and he's allowed just two goals in a span of 211 minutes, 3 seconds. With the win Monday, he's 9-0-3 in his last 12 games.
"It's all timing," Halak said. "Sometimes I need to make the key saves for them to keep the score tied and sometimes, they come up big for me. It's a combination right now."
Thursday's start will be Halak's sixth in the Blues' last eight games.
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ODDS & ENDS
- Of the top nine teams in the NHL standings as of today, the Blues (No. 2) are the only club with just one representative, Brian Elliott, going to the NHL all-star game. The Rangers have 3, followed by Chicago (3), Boston (3), Detroit (2), Vancouver (4), Philadelphia (4), Nashville (3) and Ottawa (5). The game is being played in Ottawa this season and four of the Senator's five selections were voted in by fans.
- The Blues have shutout three of their last five opponents: Colorado (4-0), Montreal (3-0) and Dallas (1-0).
- Blues forward T.J. Oshie will answer your questions in this week's Blues chat, which will take place Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. I will provide a link to ask questions as soon as possible.
