St Louis Blues

A day after the All Star Game, some may argue that this is when the real season starts.

Teams begin to realize where they belong in the standings, and as the Trade Deadline nears, these teams act accordingly. At this point, it is either time to accept incompetency and start preparing for next season, or it is time to push to accomplish certain positions in the standings.

Unfortunately, very few teams will experience the realization that they are going to be championship contenders this Spring.

The St. Louis Blues have been performing against all odds so far this season, and are making a very good case to not only achieve playoff home ice advantage, but even win the conference.

However, as it has been witnessed throughout the years, finishing first or near the top of the standings does not give a team a direct ticket to a championship. It takes a very resilient group of individuals who are willing to endure anything and make necessary adjustments to overcome any obstacle that stands in their path.

Over the past decade or so the West has been seen by many hockey followers to be the superior conference in hockey. This concept is mainly a result of the fact that the Western Conference teams hold traits of physicality and toughness, and these traits are usually seen to be the dominant assets that lead to a successful playoff run.

Lately however, it appears that the levels of toughness between the East and the West are a lot closer than it has been in a long time. The Boston Bruins demonstrated this when they won the Stanley Cup last season strictly through their willingness to engage in the physical aspect of the game as they played against more skilled opponents.

Likewise, the New York Rangers have also developed around structure and defensive fortitude, and the Washington Capitals, New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins have all established recent statuses as gritty and physical teams as well.

Things in the west, however, have taken a bit of a turn. If one were to observe the standings today, they would see that four of the top six Western Conference teams are at the top mainly as a result of offensive finesse and talent more so than determination and defensive structure.

So the truth is, it takes a balance of skill and toughness to win the Stanley Cup. The St. Louis Blues look to be that exact balance of both right now, plus they have the experience and determination to further justify it.

To begin an overview, just taking a brief look down the Blues lineup, you will not see an Art Ross or Rocket Richard contender on that team, nor will you see a single skater who made it to the All Star weekend. You will not see a pair of telepathic twins who will finish in the top five in scoring. You will not see a Russian 50 goal sniper or an elite playmaker. Heck, you will not even see a player score close to a point per game this year.

You will not see a team full of superstars who compete to dominate individual statistics and awards.

However, when you look at this St. Louis team you will see a few things.

You will see three veteran players who played essential roles in their achievements of Stanley Cup Rings. You will see a Captain who was built for the playoffs, is probably the most underrated defensive forward in the league, and will still score 65 points. You will see nine players with double digit ratings in plus/minus. You will see a solid defensive core who can collectively do everything from shutting top end forwards down to moving the puck with awareness and precision, and quarterbacking powerplays. You will see four balanced offensive lines of skill, power, size, and experience. You will see the best goaltending tandem in the league this season, who combined, are giving up less than two goals per game.

Last but not least, you will see a team who is sitting one win away from being the conference leader, with a game in hand.

Hmm...Do certain features of this Blues team seem strikingly similar to that of last year's Boston Bruins team? Or do they sound more like the 2007 Anaheim Ducks? Take your pick, but they are both teams who practiced the exact same methods and ended up winning Stanley Cups in their respective years.

The Blues have one of the most persistent offenses in the NHL, with a combination of young talent and grit in players such as: Patrik Berglund, David Backes, T.J. Oshie, Vlad Sobotka, Alex Steen, Chris Stewart, and David Perron. These young guys are not only skilled, but hold agitating qualities , size, and strength, and are among the most frustrating to contain in the entire league. Then they have Stanley Cup veterans who provide leadership in Jason Arnott and Jamie Langenbrunner. When Jason Arnott can be the fourth line center, that is evidence that the team is deep enough on offense.

The scary thing is, they have achieved all they have this season without the services of Stanley Cup Veteran and anticipated team scoring leader, Andy McDonald, who has been out practically the entire season with a concussion, and is still expected to sit out for a couple more weeks.

On defense, they have two fantastic puck movers in Kevin Shattenkirk and Alex Pietrangelo, and an underrated shutdown superstar in Barret Jackman. The rest have been playing the supporting cast very effectively.

In Goal, they have the best combined Goals Against tandem in the league. Brian Elliot has really followed in the footsteps of his other goalie teammate, and decided to perform in his breakout year with the same authority that Halak did. Halak also certainly has the playoff experience to give his team a chance if they make it deep.

In conclusion, the main reason why the Blues have an advantage over their western rivals is because they have exercised the concepts of physicality and defensive structure better than the Canucks, Blackhawks, Red Wings, and Sharks, but are doing so without an abdication of the concept of scoring importance.

By not having a single player in the scoring list, yet still being able to maintain a top position in the west, St. Louis has demonstrated that they are not just a physical team of goons, but they are also using a winning style and structure, as well as making necessary adjustments with an absence of over-the-top talent, to ensure continuous success.

Because of this, this team has really had to display distinct resiliency, and this alone will give them the upper hand to propel to a Campbell Conference Championship when the going gets tough.

The St. Louis Blues are playing top-notch hockey, and the buzz surrounding the club is growing after each game.

Coach Ken Hitchcock has preached a "total team effort" since taking the reigns from Davis Payne. His philosophy is working—players are setting each other up, finishing checks and cycling pucks and throwing the gloves off when needed to spark the team. 

As a result, many players on this team are having incredible individual seasons. 

TJ Oshie is having one of the best seasons of his career and has been an offensive spark plug. Alex Pietrangelo is blazing right now, registering a point in eight straight games. David Backes leads the team in points while standing as one of the NHL's best captains. 

Of course, the Blues would not be where they are without the goaltending duo of Brian Elliott and Jaroslav Halak. Elliott is headed back to Ottawa, where he started his career, for the All-Star Game. Halak hasn't allowed a goal in more than 150 minutes and heads into tonight's contest against Buffalo with two straight shutouts. 

However, one player isn't enjoying the same success of his teammates this season. Center Patrik Berglund has played in every game this year for the Blues but has only registered 18 points.

While his point total is near that of his fellow forwards, the big Swede has just two points in his last 11 contests and is pointless in his last five. It would be an understatement to say Berglund is having a disappointing season.

In 2010-2011, he had 22 goals and 52 points. Those totals look out of reach with Berglund's current pace.

The grittier, net-crashing style of offense Ken Hitchcock wants his team playing needs to start with Berglund.

At 6'4", the former first-round pick is the guy you want crowding the crease and giving the opposing goalie a hard time. With that will come more goals from deflections and more opportunities for him to hit the point with setups. 

The other concern with No. 21 is his defensive play this year. While the team defense has been stellar, Berglund has an underwhelming minus-two rating. Penalty killing is not much of an excuse. Berglund's top teammates have positive ratings and so should he. With such a big frame, he needs to be more aggressive and make an impact along the boards. 

Berglund needs to start clicking things together and help this offense improve as the season's battles will only get more important. If he can pick things up and play like he did in 2010-2011, this Blues team will see a great rise in offense.

Berglund has the potential and is capable of being the best scorer on this club. 

And that's exactly what the Blues need to come out on top.

*Note: Coach Ken Hitchcock has announced Jaroslav Halak will now start instead of Brian Elliott. [2 pm, Friday]

The St. Louis Blues have won three straight and have not been beaten in 2012 in regulation.

The Buffalo Sabres have dropped four straight and have looked horrendous against the New York Islanders, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks and Winnipeg Jets. 

Yet this inter-conference contest on Saturday will be one of the biggest games to date for the Blues for numerous reasons. 

The Hot Wings

Not the kind you want. I'm talking about the Red Wings.

The Detroit Red Wings are the NHL's hottest team. Having won five straight, Detroit is atop the Western Conference with 63 points. St. Louis has played one less game and has 62. 

While St. Louis is hosting Buffalo, Detroit will welcome the NHL's worst, the Columbus Blue Jackets. Most likely Detroit will be skating off with a win. The Blues must beat Buffalo to stay right behind their hated rivals. 

The Blues travel to Detroit on Monday. If the Blues can get a regulation win, they'll see first place again. 

In addition, how St. Louis performs on Saturday against the Sabres could be telling of what to expect Monday. Detroit beat Buffalo 5-0 on January 16th. 

Brian Elliott

It is likely that Brian Elliot will be in net against Buffalo. After three straight starts and posting two shutouts, Jaroslav Halak is worthy of a night off, especially if the hot goalie is getting the nod Monday against Detroit. 

For Elliott, the start against Buffalo would be a chance at redemption. 

Elliott has been troubled recently in the net. Winning just once in his last four starts, the All-Star has been mediocre. His great start was January 7th against Colorado, posting a shutout in the 4-0 victory. However, he faced just 16 shots. 

No. 1 would also be making his first start since signing a two-year contract extension. Playing well would be a good start at showing he is worth the deal. 

Target Practice

While the Blues should be excited about their defensive play and the dominance of Halak, the offense is nowhere to be found as of late. 

In their last three games, the Blues have had just four goals on a whopping 233 shots (on goal, missed or blocked). That will not be good enough against playoff-caliber teams. They must find the back of the net. 

Easy solution? Give Alex Pietrangelo more chances.

The 22-year-old has a point in his last eight games after scoring the game-winning goal on Thursday against Edmonton. (A category which he now leads with  four.)

In Order To Win

If the Blues do want to win this game, they're going to need to do a lot of things right. Buffalo can't be happy about being embarrassed this past week. Expect them to come out with a vengeance. 

Primarily, St. Louis must control the Sabres' offensive production, which really comes in the form of two guys: Thomas Vanek and All-Star Jason Pominville. They each have over 40 points. No one else on the team has more than 25. 

The Blues also must make Marc-Andre Gragnani check out early or keep him off the ice. The D-man has a plus-11 rating. By far, that is the team's best. Only two other players are on the ice for more goals than goals against. 

Again, offense will be key. If U.S. Olympic goaltender Ryan Miller is in net, goals will be hard to come by. The Blues must break out of this offensive slump and light the lamp. 

This game is a huge one for St. Louis. After losing to Detroit in their last meeting 3-0, the Blues need to use Buffalo to head into the Motor City with hot sticks and confidence. Losing to a falling team like Buffalo could be a crucial blow in this Central Division race. 

Steven Conklin is a contributing writer for the Bleacher Report and a student at the University of Central Missouri. He joined B/R in October 2011 and will be a B/R intern starting January 23rd. Any comments, questions or suggestions are more than welcome.

Jaroslav Halak is the best goaltender the St. Louis Blues have right now. 

Yet rumors and speculation about the team trading the Slovakian netminder continue to float around. 

Can we just kill the talks now?

Brian Elliott may be the lone All-Star this year from the Blues and currently has better season totals, but that doesn't warrant giving Halak the slip and dealing him to New Jersey, Toronto or anywhere else for that matter. 

I'm not ranting as a fan. Player experience, contracts and Halak's hot hand all tell us the Blues would regret any deal involving the "Halak-ness Monster."

That nickname alone should end this discussion, but let's look at both Elliott's and Halak's statistics and then the reasons St. Louis has to keep the Slovakian. 

Brian Elliott: 15-5-1, 1.68 GAA, 9.37 SV percentage, 5 SO

Jaroslav Halak: 12-7-5, 2.08 GAA,  9.18 SV percentage, 3 SO

Experience

Although both Elliott and Halak are 26 years old and were drafted in the same year (2003), Halak has had a much better career and actually has postseason experience. The St. Louis Blues traded for him after he stole the job from star Carey Price and led Montreal to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2010. 

Brian Elliott also saw the postseason that year with Ottawa. In four games, Elliott won just once and gave up over four goals per contest. 

The Blues are seemingly a lock for the playoffs. Why take the chance with Elliott alone when Halak has proven himself as a force? 

Contracts

Brian Elliott is now locked up for the next two years after signing an extension on January 18th. Some might assume that this is a hint Halak is on the move. It isn't.

The Blues also signed Halak to a four-year, $15 million deal after his arrival before even seeing the ice with St. Louis. If he continues this level of play, it would be foolish not to retain him for the deal's last two years. 

Don't believe me? 

General manager Doug Armstrong seemed pretty excited having both Jaro and Elliott locked up until 2014.

Right Now

Brian Elliott started the season on fire, but it looks like it is wearing off. He has given up three goals in three of his last four games. His recent shutout of Colorado came on a night St. Louis dominated all around and allowed just 15 total shots.

If that is the true Brian Elliott as we've seen all year, the Blues would have trouble scoring nearly four goals a game against the league's best. The extension would then be regrettable, having both Ben Bishop and Jake Allen waiting in Peoria. 

Halak, on the other hand, is on fire and was most spectacular Monday night against Dallas. He recorded his third shutout of the season and out-dueled an impressive Kari Lehtonen. Since the hiring of guru Ken Hitchcock, Halak's game has progressed as expected, and he now looks like Hitch's favorite. 

This is the Jaroslav Halak that St. Louis has been waiting to see.

It's Simple..

Why trade the hot goaltender while battling two division rivals and Vancouver to stay atop the West?

Why trade either one?

The combination of the two is better than if the team dealt either one. The "Halak-ness Monster" is good, but a two-headed monster is even more frustrating for opponents. 

I don't see a trade happening. The Blues have a surplus of forwards with the likes of Alex Steen and Andy McDonald returning. There are no clear holes in this team to fill unless a top scorer is available, and that continues to be a mystery until the deadline gets closer. Keeping both goalies will bring the highest reward. 

The talks should be cut here. Moving Halak is a possibility, but it is one that the Blues would regret.

Keep Halak. Keep Elliott. Enjoy the ride, St. Louis.

Steven Conklin is a contributing writer for the Bleacher Report and a student at the University of Central Missouri. Any comments, questions or suggestions are more than welcome.

The St. Louis Blues are at the top of the Western Conference for many different reasons. The net-minding duo of Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott has been frustrating teams for most of the season and the team sports the second-best defense in all of hockey.

Being overlooked, however, is the play of Alex Pietrangelo.

Yes, Brian Elliott is the only Blue headed to Ottawa as an All-Star.

Yes, captain David Backes is an Olympian, 2011 All-Star and the team leader in points. 

Alex Pietrangelo, however, is the best player on this team right now. 

After starting the season slow offensively, "Petro" is beginning to shine at the opposing blue line. The 22-year-old defenseman is on a tear right now, posting a point in his last seven games.

Pietrangelo has been a disciplined, physical force defensively all season. His measly penalty minute total of eight is a team-low among the everyday players.

This is the player the Blues expected to see after drafting him fourth overall in 2008 behind stars Steven Stamkos, Drew Doughty and Zach Bogosian. While Petro hasn't developed as quickly as Doughty and Stamkos, he is finally nearing superstar status in his second full season and it is paying dividends for St. Louis. 

After being drafted, the 6'4" Canadian had a rough time staying afloat in the NHL. A head injury and poor defensive play called for trips to the AHL's Peoria Rivermen and back to junior hockey in the OHL for two seasons. 

Some Blues fans wondered if Pietrangelo was ever going to be a good fit in the organization. It is safe to say those doubts will never surface again. 

In the 2010-2011 season, No. 27 finally cemented his place in St. Louis as a key to future success. 

His 43 points and plus-18 rating were the best among team defensemen and would have been the best among all rookies if he qualified. He did not qualify due to his eight and nine-game seasons before. 

Now, Pietrangelo is showing even more maturity as a hockey player and a team-leader. He currently serves as one of the alternate captains and is one of the most vocal guys on the bench. He leads all defensemen in goals (7) and his 21 points trails only Kevin Shattenkirk (23). The star also shares the team lead in game-winning goals with three. 

One could argue Petro was snubbed out of this year's All-Star game. 

Whether he was or wasn't snubbed is not for us to decide, but right now it looks as if it was a good thing. Something has sparked the youngster and boosted his game to another level as of late and it could be the rejection. 

The Blues can only hope this lasts. With Alex Pietrangelo's game at its peak there is no telling what this St. Louis club can accomplish now and in the future.

Steven Conklin is a contributing writer for the Bleacher Report and a student at the University of Central Missouri. He joined B/R in October 2011 and will be a B/R intern starting January 23rd. Any comments, questions or suggestions are more than welcome.

The St. Louis Blues have had a fantastic first half in the NHL this season. The key words in the previous sentence are not fantastic season, but instead first half.

This year the St. Louis Blues have proved and accomplished a lot, and this article is not designed to take away or diminish anything they have done, but to put things into perspective. The Blues have had an outstanding first half, and although it is much better than having a terrible first half, the Blues have not guaranteed themselves anything.

Most people consider Lord Stanley's Cup to be the hardest trophy to win in all of professional sports. The season-long test of 82 games is grueling enough, and then there are the playoffs, a four-round tournament that tests skill, stamina, mental toughness and of course physical toughness.

Many of the greatest players to lace up a pair of skates have never lifted that most precious prize above their head. It is the goal of every NHL player, and obviously the goal for the St. Louis Blues.

The Blues have definitely taken the right steps to claim the Cup. The team is currently in first place in the Western Conference and tied with the New York Rangers for the No. 1 spot in all of hockey, but like I said before, there is a long journey ahead. Unfortunately for St. Louis, most of that journey will be on the road.

The Blues have a league-best record of 19-3-3 at home this season. The road games, however, have been much different for St. Louis: The Blues have a mediocre 8-9-3 record on the road this season. Teams who win championships are the teams who find ways to win on the road. So far, St. Louis has not shown this ability, but they need to right now.

Next Monday night the Blues head to Joe Louis Arena, also known as the house of the Detroit Red Wings where no road team has won a game since November 3rd. For the Blues, it is their final regular-season chance to show that they can win in one of hockey's most feared arenas.

It is a chance to show the hockey world that when St. Louis comes to town, they bring a relentless 60-minute attack that cannot be matched. It is a chance for the Blues to tell the Evil Empire that the NHL Central Division no longer belongs to them, but that all roads now go through St. Louis. It is a chance for the Blues to show that the greatest hockey team in the world does not lie in Hockey Town, but in the place that is typically known as Baseball Heaven.

The Blues have a huge chance Monday night to show the world that hockey is officially back in St. Louis, and it is here to stay.

The journey does not end with Detroit though. The Blues also need to show that they can build up consistent victories on the road. Over the next month, the Blues have six road games that are all very important, but the real test begins on February 23rd.

Starting that night, the Blues will leave the friendly confines of the Scottrade Center and begin a brutal test in which 13 of their next 16 games will take place on the road. The trip will take them all over the United States and will even extend out into Canada. It will be the ultimate test of will power for this young and talented Blues team.

It will also be the ultimate opportunity. The Blues can show that they are not just a team that performs at home but a team that can also change their identity. They can become a team of road warriors, a team that shows up every night and competes hard for 60 minutes no matter what the circumstances are.

The Blues need to do more than survive this stretch of road games though. They need to dominate them. Only through domination on the road can this team go into the playoffs on a proverbial high note.

Only through road domination can the Blues consider themselves a favorite to claim the coveted trophy known as Lord Stanley's Cup. Only then can the Blues finally be satisfied with themselves.

The New Jersey Devils are currently a playoff-bound team, but the future of Zach Parise is still a dark cloud looming over the club. The team has been trying to tie their captain up for some time now. 

New Jersey must make the tough decision of trading the star winger or taking their chances at re-signing him this summer should the Olympian test the market. 

The 27-year-old Parise is enjoying a healthy season after missing all but 13 games last year. In 44 contests, Parise has tallied 15 goals with 38 total points. 

If New Jersey does cast him into the market, they might get a nibble from the St. Louis Blues. 

St. Louis has continued their success under veteran coach Ken Hitchcock and are trading punches each day with both the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings for first place in the division. Pursuing a player like Zach Parise would be a smart move if the Blues want to stay near the top of the West. 

A Parise deal would be of heavy cost but would give the Blues the kind of scorer they will need to compete with teams like Vancouver, Detroit and San Jose as the season wears on. 

Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reports Devils GM Lou Lamoriello will want a top, young player, prospect, and a first-round pick in return for the forward who produced a 94-point season three years ago. 

Would the Blues be willing to deal so much for the winger?

Before any deal is finished, St. Louis would surely want Parise to sign a deal and not just bring him in as a rental for this year's run. The team is full of young, rising players and should compete year after year moving forward. 

The Blues could also satisfy New Jersey's demands. 

St. Louis has shown no hesitance trading draft picks to fill team needs. The team included their 2011 first pick to Colorado in a deal for Chris Stewart and Kevin Shattenkirk. 

This team also has plenty of young talent that would entice New Jersey. 

Top prospect Vladimir Tarasenko, for instance, is playing in Russia's KHL. He was recently traded to a contending team there and doubt now lingers that he will be coming to St. Louis next year like most expected. 

A more realistic chip would be Jaden Schwartz. The Blues' No. 2 prospect is currently playing NCAA hockey but is one of the best up-and-coming centers in the sport. With a surplus of centers in the organization, Schwartz could be dealt for Parise. 

Of course, St. Louis wouldn't be the only club looking to add Parise to its roster. 

Minnesota's name is always thrown out in Parise talks. Being a Minnesota native, Parise would likely have no complaints heading west. 

Whether or not Zach Parise will be wearing a Devils jersey at season's end is a mystery and all we can do is wait and see. 

One thing is for certain: The addition of Parise would pay dividends for St. Louis offensively and would boost the club's chances at winning its first Stanley Cup. 

Steven Conklin is a contributing writer for the Bleacher Report and a student at the University of Central Missouri. He joined B/R in October 2011 and will be a B/R intern starting in January 23rd. Any comments, questions or suggestions are more than welcome.