This is why the National Hockey League changed its playoff format. For games like tonight, when the St. Louis Blues walk into Chicago to meet the Blackhawks.
So that a game like tonight’s can carry that extra juice, either as a precursor to what would be the best playoff series of Round 2 this spring, or even next year, with good memories and bad blood lending every regular season meeting that much more currency.
Sure, by the end of Round 2 we are guaranteed to say goodbye to either the defending Stanley Cup champions or a St. Louis club that sits atop the NHL standings at the moment. And it must be noted that Colorado, currently tied with Chicago, could have some say in all of this. But for now, with the Blues rolling into the United Center, tonight is Rivalry Night, as they’re billing it on American TV.
Up here in Canada, we’re calling it Playoff Desperation Night, with home games in Toronto (vs. Tampa Bay), Winnipeg (vs. Colorado) and Vancouver (vs. Nashville) that have all kinds of ramifications. But none of those Canadian teams have won a Stanley Cup since 1967. And none are of the pedigree of either the Blackhawks or the league-leading Blues, a club that can check off two sullen defeats in the last two playoff years.
St. Louis blew a 2-0 series lead to lose to the Los Angeles Kings in six last spring in Round 1. They did not have an answer for Jonathan Quick in goal, so general manager Doug Armstrong traded for one when he acquired Ryan Miller just before the trade deadline this year.
In the spring of 2012, St. Louis fell victim once again to the Kings, this time in Round 2. L.A. pulled off the cleanest run through the Stanley Cup playoffs in recent history in 2012, which made the first-round exit in 2013 even more bitter for the Blues.
Back to back jack for St. Louis—it left head coach Ken Hitchcock seething.
But now, St. Louis is ready, with a world class goalie, intimidating size, and four lines that can wear a team into the ice. A perfect example: lowly Edmonton had the Blues tied 2-2 after 40 minutes last week in St. Louis. By game’s end, the score was 6-2 Blues, and any success the Oilers had enjoyed through 40 minutes was a distant memory as they boarded their charter, proverbial tails between their legs.
Chicago knows that feeling, having lost all three games against St. Louis this season.
“We’ve had a tough (time) getting points in our division,” Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville said Tuesday night, after a dramatic overtime loss in Philadelphia. “The last few years we’ve done extremely well … taking care of business in our own division. This year Colorado has had our number, St. Louis has had our number.”
It is perhaps the creeping signs of Stanley Cup fatigue, the residue of a two-month playoff slog that ensures there isn’t enough left in a team’s tank to push the repeat button the following spring. Throw in the Olympics, where Chicago sent 10 players, and perhaps we are watching another Stanley Cup champ that won’t repeat.
The Blues, meanwhile, have clearly waited their turn. Even Quenneville, whose Hawks are eight points back of the division lead with 13 games to play, has given up on overcoming St. Louis in the standings. Asked if he still believed the Central crown was within reach, his answer began with a dismissive, “Ach” that told the questioner all he needed to know.
“It was a tough weekend (just passed) when we don’t beat Nashville (in Chicago) and they beat Nashville in Nashville,” Quenneville said. “It was a big turnaround — almost like we lost a game to them. We can chip away, see how it goes. But right now it doesn’t look so hot.”
In the post-Olympic glow, this matchup carries a distinct Canada vs. USA ring to it. David Backes, T.J. Oshie and Ryan Miller on St. Louis. Canadians Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp and Duncan Keith for Chicago. As such, Toews isn’t giving any quarter when it comes to the Central Division, or anything else.
“One thing at a time,” he cautioned. “We’ve got to play better, one game at a time, one win at a time. We’re frustrated about (the loss in Philly), and we’ll try to rectify things (at home tonight). Start with a big win against a good team that we’re chasing, and go from there.”