Can St. Louis Blues Overcome Odds? 5 Key Strategies for Playoffs Success and Silencing Doubters
The St. Louis Blues are facing an uphill battle as they fight for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. With 33 games remaining in the regular season, interim coach Drew Bannister acknowledges that their backs are against the wall. The standings currently show that six of the eight playoff seats are nearly locked up by other teams. This leaves the Blues, along with six other teams, competing for the two wild-card spots.
As the Blues return from their 10-day break, they find themselves right in the mix for a playoff spot. However, their recent game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, which ended in a 1-0 loss, highlights the challenges they face. Bannister emphasizes the importance of not allowing such losses to pile up and recognizes that there is no room for error moving forward.
The odds of the Blues making the playoffs vary depending on who you ask. MoneyPuck gives them an 18.1 percent chance, while BetMGM has them at +250. Dom Luszczyszyn of The Athletic considers them a “long shot” with a 12 percent chance. He points out that the Blues’ league-leading record in one-goal games masks their true talent and suggests that teams with a poor expected goal differential rarely make the playoffs.
Despite these projections, the question remains: Can the Blues prove their doubters wrong and secure a playoff spot? Here are five key strategies they need to focus on:
1. Get secondary scoring and improve goal differential: Goal differential is a crucial factor in determining playoff success. Currently, the Blues have a minus-12 differential, indicating room for improvement. They need to enhance their five-on-five scoring, as their expected goals share ranks 30th in the NHL. The team’s top three point producers are all on the same line, highlighting the need for more secondary scoring from other forwards.
2. Be better on the road: The Blues’ record on the road this season is 11-12-1, which ranks No. 22 in the NHL. With a significant number of road games remaining in the season, they must improve their performance away from home to increase their chances of making the playoffs.
3. Beat the bottom teams: The Blues have struggled against teams currently not in a playoff spot. In their final 33 games, they will face 16 such teams. Overcoming their difficulties against these opponents will be crucial for their playoff aspirations.
4. Overcome key injuries: The Blues will be without defensemen Justin Faulk and Scott Perunovich due to lower-body injuries. Faulk has struggled this season, and Perunovich has provided a boost to the power play when healthy. The team will need other players to step up in their absence.
5. Force Armstrong to keep them intact: The Blues’ general manager, Doug Armstrong, holds the power to make trades before the NHL trade deadline. If he believes the team has a strong chance of making the playoffs, he may choose to hold onto key players and potentially add some reinforcements.
As the St. Louis Blues continue their quest for a playoff spot, they must focus on these key strategies to overcome the odds and silence their doubters. With determination, secondary scoring, improved goal differential, better road performances, and a full roster of healthy players, they have a chance to secure a playoff berth and defy expectations. It won’t be an easy path, but with the right approach, the Blues can prove their critics wrong and make a deep postseason run.