Incredible moments like these are what makes hockey such a thrilling sport, and I’m here to dive deep into the unforgettable 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. It’s hard to believe that four years have passed since the St. Louis Blues were gearing up to defend their Stanley Cup Championship in the Edmonton bubble. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit the rollercoaster journey that awaited the Blues during that unique post-season.
As the Blues navigated through the round-robin stage, there were some concerns bubbling beneath the surface. Despite making it through without any major injuries, the team struggled on the ice, going 0-2-1 in the tournament. Goaltender Jordan Binnington, who had been a rock for the Blues in the previous season, faltered in his performances, allowing a total of seven goals in just two starts. Additionally, key player Vladimir Tarasenko was still recovering from injury, showing signs that he was not fully at his best. The team’s puck control was sloppy, forechecking was lacking, and the power play only managed to score once in three games.
However, there was no need to hit the panic button just yet. These round-robin games were merely for seeding purposes, giving the Blues a chance to identify their weaknesses and make necessary adjustments before the real battles began. This team had faced adversity before and had always found a way to overcome it. The defending champions were confident that these early struggles were just a blip on the radar.
Moving on to the first round of the playoffs, the Blues found themselves up against the Vancouver Canucks. Despite putting up a valiant effort, the Blues dropped the first two games of the series. Bo Horvat’s standout performances for the Canucks, scoring four goals in the first two games, put the Blues in a tough spot. To make matters worse, Tarasenko was sidelined due to a lingering shoulder injury, leaving the team without one of their top scorers.
The biggest blow, however, came in the form of Binnington’s struggles between the pipes. The once-reliable goaltender was letting in goals at an alarming rate, with some soft goals slipping past him. With a save percentage of only .867 and an average of 4.5 goals allowed per game, Binnington’s shaky performances threatened to derail the Blues’ title defense.
In a bold move to shake things up, the Blues turned to goalie Jake Allen for Game 3. The change seemed to ignite a spark in the team, as they rekindled the winning formula that had led them to glory in 2019. A clutch overtime goal from Brayden Schenn in Game 3 and a stellar performance from Ryan O’Reilly in Game 4 quickly turned the tide in the Blues’ favor. With Allen standing tall in net and the team rediscovering their forechecking prowess, the Blues clawed their way back into the series, tying it up at 2-2.
The resilience and determination shown by the Blues in the face of adversity was truly commendable. As they fought tooth and nail to keep their title hopes alive, the team proved that they were not ready to relinquish their crown just yet. The stage was set for a thrilling conclusion to the series, with the Blues ready to write another chapter in their Stanley Cup journey. Stay tuned for the next installment of this gripping saga.