:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69218562/usa_today_15987481.0.jpg)
The Blues are riding a four game winning streak into their last game in Minnesota this week. The Jeckyll and Hyde season continues - they’re on a win streak now, but coming off of a three game losing streak... which came after a three game winning streak. Which came after a seven game losing streak, which came after...
You get the point.
The streakiness has confused fans, and it’s confused the team. Who are the Blues? Are they a uncertain, tentative team who just can’t figure out their issues? Are they a team that plays for each other, and who can fight back from adversity (or a Zach Sanford turnover/bad clear) to win in overtime?
Here’s what Craig Berube thinks:
“I think you go through ups and downs with that throughout the season, depending on the situation and what’s going on with your team at the time. But right now, guys are feeling good and we’re a pretty confident team,” Blues coach Craig Berube said. “We’re really doing a good job, the guys are really playing together as a team out there. … Guys are really backing each other up and cheering each other on. We’ve got real good team spirit right now.”
Certainly, the spark is back in the top six, which is contributing to their current streak. The defense, despite recent injuries to Vince Dunn and Colton Parayko (who played Thursday night), has become tighter. The Justin Faulk Renaissance (the Faulkissance?) continues. This is an incredible stat:
Justin Faulk has played the equivalent of an entire game the past two days. After posting 29:19 in Wednesday's 4-3 win, he logged 30:44 in Thursday's 5-4 OT win. He's had 13 shots (seven on goal), three hits and four blocks, 56:36 of his ice time was 5 on 5. #stlblues
— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) April 30, 2021
Maybe he won’t be Seattle-bound after all.
Going into tonight, the Wild aren’t concerned, and why should they be? They clinched a playoff spot a week ago, and their fight was certainly there Thursday. The Blues are the team with something to prove, and something to accomplish.
Right now, according to MoneyPuck.com. the Blues have a 90.6% chance to make the playoffs. That’s not 100%, but that number’s getting higher. A win tonight and an Arizona loss to the Golden Knights would go a long way to sealing the Blues’ playoff fate.