I had my guard up. I wasn't going to let it happen to me again. These St. Louis Blues were not going to contend for a title this year.

We knew that last summer, we knew it in October when they got off to a slow start, we knew it when Davis Payne was fired. And then the fat man showed up. The Blues fell under the spell of a fat shaman named Ken Hitchcock and sudenly...they sure seemed a lot like contenders. They spent much of the season near the top of the standings. They competed for the President's Trophy up until the last weekend. Still, I kept my guard up.

Sure, my wife and I got a playoff ticket package. Because we like playoff games, not that we thought there would be a ton of games to attend and we wanted seats for the third and fourth round.

And then the Blues took down the Sharks in five games. And the Canucks were eliminated. And the Red Wings were sent packing. And the Blackhawks lost. Suddenly, the Blues were seemingly the best team left in the power conference.

And I fell for it. Dammit. Why not the St. Louis Blues? Because, apparently. Just because.

What has happened feels like a lonely dude wattching late night cable TV alone. And then a 1-900 number commercial pops up with a bunch of hot chicks saying they want to talk to him. And you can see those commercials 10 times. And something happens each time. Maybe they do want to talk to him. Maybe they are waiting for his call. And he calls. And it sucks. And it's disappointing. And it's expensive. If the Blues fold up shop today with a four-game sweep at the hands of the Kings, the Blues are a 1-900 number. A tease. A mirage on television.

No, I haven't given up. No, I don't think it's quite over. But we're damn close.

There are a few changes today. Ryan Reaves is rumored to be in for B.J. Crombeen. And the Carlo Colaiacovo era may be at an end with his benching in favor of Ian Cole. I'm not ready for the season to end. I hope the Blues aren't either. This is your game day thread. Comment like there might not be another Blues game until Cotober.

The first period will be the barometer tonight at Staples Center for the St. Louis Blues.

After being humiliated at home in Game 2 and allowing four first-period goals, we need to see how the Blues are going to handle the 2-0 series deficit. Only once in franchise history have the Blues come back from a 2-0 deficit. If you're looking for unbridled enthusiasm, you might be in the wrong place. We haven't written the Blues off yet, but tonight is huge.

Welcome back Alex Pietrangelo. He's healed to at least a level where he thinks he can at least play tonight. His absence on Monday was glaring. It put guys in positions they weren't comfortable in, it hampered them defensively and with moving the puck. No. 27, your teammates need you. We need you.

Also, welcome back...Chris Stewart? Apparently Jason Arnott is hurt. So Stewart "earns" his way back into the lineup. Play hard, sir. Play hard.

I would think Brian Elliott is starting in net. Haven't seen anything official, but I would be he gets the nod.

No other lineup changes. I don't give a shit who is suiting up for the Kings. It doesn't matter, frankly. This game tonight is all about the Blues figuring out how to control the tempo and play their game. If they do that, they have a helluva shot at winning. If they don't, well I hope you didn't get your hopes up about using those Game 5 tickets you bought today.

This is your game day thread. Comment like Brett Hull is watching. You never know, he might be.

Tonight is the most important game of the entire season for the St. Louis Blues. No, they can't be eliminated fromt eh playoffs. They wouldn't even be pushed to the brink if they lose tonight. But no one in this building outside the suite holding the L.A. Kings executives wants this series to go to Los Angeles with the Kings up 2-0. If the Blues want to take advantage of the opportunity laid before them, they have to win tonight.

Unless they don't win. And then we'll totally say the series isn't over.

You might remember the Blues lost a tight one in the first game of the first round. And they came back and pounded, literally, the Sharks into submission. Could we see the same thing tonight? Game 1 didn't see too many get togethers after the whistle until the third period. The game was physical in spurts, but not consistently. It did seem like the Blues had little fear of crowding Jonathan Quick in the crease. That's a good thing.

The fourth line could use a little more playing time, in my opinion which is in no way humble. They created chances and usually kept the Kings deep in their own zone. And if Scott Nichol could hit the net in a high pressure situation, we might be talking about a Blues win or at least an overtime game to start the series. Alas.

Hey, that Brian Elliott is a good goaltender. Welcome him back against Quick. And no, we don't know if Alex Pietrangelo is playing tonight. Yes, we'd like to know too.

This is your game day thread. Comment like you're concussed.

It's been a long week.

The Blues last played on Saturday night, a thrilling come from behind victory that clinched the first round against the San Jose Sharks in a brief but extremely close-fought five games. There wasn't much difference between the Sharks and Blues. And we're tempted to say the same of the Kings and Blues tonight.

Both teams get by on defense. The Blues allowed the fewest goals this season, the Kings the second lowest. They both allowed the same number of goals in the first round. They both came in the league about the same time and have won the same number of Stanley Cups. Unfortunately.

Jonathan Quick has a good shot at winning the Vezina trophy he led the league in shutouts, was second in goals-against average. Brian Elliott was second in shutouts and first in goals-against average (save percentage too). Told you there's a lot that's alike about these teams.

Look, I don't know how this is going to go. It could be a long difficult series. If one offense catches fire, it could be over quickly. If the Kings' struggle scoring goals, the Blues have a helluva shot to move on. If the Blues struggle scoring goals, the Kings have a helluva shot to move on.

I'm nervous, you're nervous. Let's just get it started. This is your game day thread. Comment like you're an Internet celebrity.

The Blues have a chance to close out the first round with a win on home ice tonight against the San Jose Sharks. And I don't care if you plan to be on your couch, in a bar, listening on the radio or standing at your seat inside the arena: It's time.

It's time to make as much noise as you possibly can to keep pushing this young hockey team to another level. It's time for the Blues to answer their critics coming down the stretch who said this squad was boring and not built for the playoffs. It's time for the Blues to pay us back for all those Tuesday night Columbus games, those blowout games in Detroit, all the money and time we've spent on this franchise with a memorable home victory and handshake line. It's time for the Blues to put these Sharks out of their misery.

Going back through the records, I believe the Blues have clsoed out a playoff series 12 times before tonight. That's not too many opportunities to be there and see it happen. Let's not put off to Monday what they could take care of tonight.

The Blues may have a 3-1 series lead, there is pressure to get it done tonight. Consider this: If the Blues can't get a win tonight, they fly cross-country back to San Jose for another elimination game in the Shark Tank. The Blues have won twice there. Expecting a third win in that building in the same series might be a little too optimistic. So that would tie the series at three wins apiece and bring it back here for a Game 7. And in a Game 7, anything can fucking happen. There is too much left to chance by not winning tonight. So put those possibilities to rest and close this thing.

On the Twitter, reports from the morning skate say no lineup changes for the Blues. I haven't seen an update on Jaroslav Halak, so just assume Jake Allen is backing up the now-starter, Brian Elliott.

Look, we want to party tonight too. Only eight teams in a league of 30 make the second round. It hasn't happened nearly enough around here the last decade. As in, it hasn't happened once in the last decade. But I'm already nervous. And excited. And cautiomistic.

That's all I got. You probably haven't read much of this anyway. That's fine. I'd be blind drunk too if I could. This is your game day thread. Comment like you're drinking coffee. Because coffee is for closers.

"(Jaroslav Halak's) not going to play obviously and he's not going to skate," Ken Hitchcock said. "He skated yesterday, so we'll just keep working him towards getting back here sometime. But right now, he's not available, so Brian (Elliott) is the guy."

That's what the St. Louis Blues' head coach told Jeremy Rutherford after practice on Wednesday in San Jose in preparation for tonight's Game 4 in the first round. Brian Elliott better be "the guy" because the Sharks are going to be in full-out desperation mode.

Consider these facts:

• The Sharks have lost two in a row. A third would mean going back to St. Louis with the Blues holding a commanding 3-1 lead.
• The Blues were tied with Detroit for most home points in the league with 65.
• The Sharks were 17-17-7 on the road during the regular season.
• Rutherford reports that Michal Handzus and Brad Winchester (I'm sorry, Brad Fucking Winchester) may dress and seeing playing time tonight. Talk about desperate...
• The top line of Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Joe Pavelski have combined for three points -- all three coming on March Playoff Beard Thornton's three assists in Game 3.

So here's where we are. The Blues are standing pat with the lineup. No demotions to the press box, no messages to receive or send other than the guys who were on the ice Monday get another crack tonight. The top line for San Jose is getting broken up. Antti Niemi is starting again because the Sharks have no other options. And all the pressure will be on Elliott.

I know the Blues have been able to control the flow of games and have been the better power play team. I would wager the offense will not be the unit to win this game. No, I'd wager this one will have the tightest checking yet in the series. It will likely be low scoring and real estate at a premium. The pressure will be on Elliott to withstand the barrage that is coming.

It will be interesting to see how Hitchcock plays David Backes And Friends. The No. 1 line has been the shutdown line. They'll probably still get Thornton. That means Marleau might have a little more room to skate with Martin Havlat and Ryan Clowe. We'll see if it works.

It's simple: Win and the Blues have a chance to start the handshake line in St. Louis Saturday night. Lose, and no matter what the series will return to San Jose next week for Game 6. Drama, we got.

This is your game day thread. Comment like you're not even tired.

The first 10 minutes of this hockey game might tell us where the rest of this series is headed. That's a lot of pressure to put on one-sixth of one game in a possible seven-game series. But a lot is riding on the first 10 minutes tonight.

All the fisticuffs and shenanigans at the end of Saturday's Game 2 weren't all started by the Blues, but it felt like they ended all of them. Emphatically. Players were hitting the ice, and the guys in teal were seemed to be on their backs. A lot.

That happened two days ago, including one long, probably quiet plane flight to San Jose. So it's all sunk in. The realization has hit. If you're a Sharks player, you realize the Blues beat you on the scoreboard and physically on the ice. Plus, it's the first game of the playoffs at their home rink, the fans will be wanting some Blues blood. The energy level will be turned up to an 11 when the puck drops tonight.

But ponder this situation. If the Blues can manage to take a lead or at worst hold a tie with the Sharks, say halfway through the first period, the momentum is going to shift. That burst from the crowd is going to subside (we saw it here Thursday night). The flow of the game will return to a more normal pace, a pace often dictated by the Blues so far in this series. If they play their game with the aggressive forecheck, limiting Sharks shots, clogging the middle and quick counterattacks, the Blues will be in the driver's seat.

So that Chris Stewart has another chance to redeem himself. While everyone acknowledges that he wasn't horrible, just playing okay wasn't good enough. After sitting out Game 2, he's expected back tonight. Matt D'Agostini is expected to join the Jaden Schwartz Press Box Buffet Crew (patent pending). I would have liked to see that physical Ryan Reaves back. Hope he's not dinged up from Game 1 and we're not hearing about it.

It's late. The playoffs are nerve-wracking. Enough chit chat. Let's get ready rumble. This is your game day thread. Comment like you want to break a Sharks player's nose.

There's no doubt about it: this is the biggest game of the year for the Blues.

Going to San Jose down 2-0 is just about the last thing the Blues want to happen. An average road team, the Blues can't afford to have to win two games in San Jose. A loss tonight and the series is titled so heavily in favor of the Sharks that I'm sure the Blues will start calculating how much playoff ticket money they have to give back.

But a win? Well a win makes this a series.

There's no reason the Blues can't win tonight. None. The Blues out-played the Sharks in Game 1 for most of the time. Overtime was a complete domination for the Blues. All they need to do is put the puck in the net—someone besides Patrik Berglund has to be able to beat the frighteningly average Antti Niemi.

The big lineup changes are already around the internets, and this site. In: Carlo Colaiacovo, Matt D'Agostini and B.J. Crombeen. Out: Chris Stewart, Ryan Reaves and Kent Huskins. Honestly? These moves mean dick. Carlo is marginally better than Huskins, the ghost of Stewart and the ghost of D'Ags will both be ghostly. I have to figure B.J. is in only because Reaves can't go but they don't want to say that. If Hitch really wanted to get the lines going, he'd taking Vladimir Sobotka and his five goals off the third line. But whatever.

This is the playoffs. This is your GDT. Comment like you don't want to go to San Jose down 2-0.

We've known since Saturday night that this was the matchup. We've thought back on those four Blues wins over the Sharks. Players have rested and prepared at practice. Blue and yellow bunting has been hung with care around the arena. There's a giant playoffs logo painted on the ice. All the preparations are ready; let's get ready to rumble.

Welcome to Game 1 of the first round of the NHL playoffs. The San Jose Sharks finished the season with four wins which earned them the seventh seed in the Western Conference. One of those was a shootout win. They scored a total of 16 goals in those four games. Two were over the usually stingy L.A. Kings.

Antti Niemi will be the starter for the Sharks in net. The former Cup winner with Chicago saw his save percentage dip to 91.5 percent and his goals-against average rise slightly to 2.42. He is beatable.

Partially because of his playoff resume, partly because of his play in some big games this year and partly because Brian Elliott has some sort of upper body injury, Jaroslav Halak gets the start tonight. He is 4-2-0 in his career against San Jose. At home this season, Halak was 16-3-2 while stopping 93.3 percent of shots he faced. That's fairly good.

The pressure will be on the Blues to put defensive pressure on the Sharks. Keeping the San Jose shots total down will be one barometer of how they're doing. Another will be how many offensive chances the Blues create off turnovers.

It's time. This is your game day thread. Comment like you're going fucking crazy.

Holy crap am I glad this isn't the actual end of the season. I mean, think about how depressing last night would have been if it was the last home game before the off season. Granted, if this team doesn't figure out what the hell is going on, there won't be that many more home games anyway.

So this is it, game 82 of the 82-game marathon. I bet you will see some relieved players on that bench tonight. Relieved the marathon is over and the second season has arrived. Riding home from the disappointing 4-1 loss to Phoenix Friday night, I shared a few theories about what's going on with an uncle and cousin who went to the game with me. Pregame bullets, we has them.

• Blues are worn down from the road games earlier this month. That's somewhat believable even though the average age of this team is like 25.
• After they caught and handily passed Nashville, Detroit and Chicago, there was a natural let down. Clinching the division was a formality. Maybe they didn't have the Western Conference No. 1 seed as a goal. That's kind of scary. What if they don't think making the Cup Finals is a realistic goal?
• Working the now healthy guys back into the lineup takes time. They do seem to be relying a lot on Andy McDonald.
• They're getting recharged for the playoffs. Damn, I hope so.

We will see Jaroslav Halak in net. If he wins tonight, does he start Round 1, Game 1? If he falters, is it Brian Elliott? Also back from the press box are Scott Nichol (who never deserved time off in the first place) and B.J. Crombeen (don't take dumb penalties, son). If only tinkering with the fourth line was the absolute answer to get the Blues back up to speed.

Oh yeah, the Blues are playing a team out of the playoffs, the Dallas Stars. A Blues win and a Canucks loss to Edmonton still gives the Blues No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. In other words, no shame in finishing second.

This is your game day thread. Comment like the playoffs start next week.