The first playoff spot this season has been clinched. Raise your hand if at the beginning of the season you would have bet money that it would have been the St. Louis Blues to do it.
The amazing turnaround since Ken Hitchcock came onboard 13 games into the season continued on Saturday night with a 3-1 victory for St. Louis over the Lightning in Tampa Bay. It was a game that included the first career goal for top prospect Jaden Schwartz in his NHL debut, a power-play tally late in the first period.
In addition to being the first team to reach officially punch their playoff ticket, the Blues were the first team to hit triple digits in points, hitting 100 with the win. It was the 40th win in 60 games since Hitchcock took over.
Maybe equally important is that it opened up an eight-point cushion on the Western Conference's No. 2 team, the Canucks. And with the Rangers falling to the Avalanche it pushed the Blues five points up on the Rangers in the race for the Presidents' Trophy and home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs. That would be kind of a big deal. St. Louis is only 29-4-4 at home this season.
The only bad news on the night? Team captain and Selke Award candidate David Backes had to leave the game after blocking a shot with his foot. They'll be holding their collective breath in St. Louis that he's going to be alright, they just had Andy McDonald go down earlier on this road trip.
But hats off to the Blues who can pop the champagne, in my eyes the best story of the season.
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