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This is it: the last Blues game before the 2014 Winter Olympics. Of course, it has to be a weirdly scheduled 1:00 in the afternoon start time, but hey, I'll take it.
The Blues have blown leads heading into the third period each of their last three games. It took some last-minute heroics in the games against Nashville and Ottawa to get past regulation, and a weird T.J. Oshie goal won it for them against the Bruins on Thursday night.
Their last time out, the Jets pulled a Blues and watched their 2-1 third period lead over the Washington Capitals disappear thanks to three unanswered goals from the Caps. Heck, Winnipeg's first goal was scored by Martin Erat into his own net, so technically the Jets just scored once.
This afternoon can't be another game where the Blues take their foot off of the gas. That's been a disturbing trend the past couple of months, and it needs to be addressed. Maybe the time off for the guys not going to Sochi will be a good thing.
Before the game there will be a ceremony honoring the nine (or ten if you count Vladimir Sobotka, who is injured) Olympians, and there're a couple of milestones to look out for too. Tonight's Barret Jackman's 700th game as a Blue, which you really have to appreciate unless you're one of those people who irrationally hate him. A win bumps Ken Hitchcock past Scotty Bowman into fourth all time in wins, which when you consider how long Hitch has been behind the bench here, that's not half bad.
The Blues have historically had the ThrasherJets' number, going 5-0-2 in their last seven games against them. The Jets are ending a four game road trip. The Blues are ending a four game homestand. Let's get into the Olympic break with 22 home wins and something to look forward to later this month.
Let's do this. Let's Go Blues.
