Heartbreak Blues strike again, but the thrill isn't gone from a playoff teaser

The Jets turned it on late and wrecked St. Louis's plans, but that doesn't take away all the virtue of a playoff visit.

James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images

Let’s get this out of the way. The St. Louis Blues blew a gasket, breaking many hearts on Sunday night in Winnipeg. They carried a two-goal lead into the third period’s final 120 seconds, and failed to lock down a win that would have booked a trip to Dallas for the second round. After collecting three goals in the first half of the game, the offense couldn’t put anything else past Connor Hellebuyck. Winnipeg found its sea legs in the second and buried a heartbreaker past Jordan Binnington with less than 90 seconds left.

You could feel the air run out of heads in St. Louis. There was crying, extra alcohol consumption, and the idea that the overtime sessions wouldn’t go their way. It’s inexcusable for a playoff team to let its guard down so late. Pavel Buchnevich had to hold onto the puck a little longer before firing a weak attempt towards an empty net. The Blues continue to be worse at performing with an empty net on the ice than the opposition, and it bit them in the ass on Sunday night.

One could sense the Jenga tower starting to crumble when the Jets made it 3-2, and then the final flurry of opportunities led to a wicked one-timer that found its way past Binnington. The Blues’ goaltender made over 40 saves on the night because the defense decided to take their foot off the gas. They can be so resolute with their puck control that the wheels can completely fall off instantly. Winnipeg shut it down on the other end, sealing up the leaks St. Louis found early on.

There’s no way to get around that; folks should have woken up Monday morning in the Midwest with something to celebrate. If they had had their ass kicked by the Jets from the jump on Sunday night, chalking it all up as being overmatched would have been easy. St. Louis had other plans. They like to make these things hurt, so one can sing the lyric most spring seasons with this team, saying, “And that’s why they call it the Blues!”

I appreciated the ride this team took the town on over the past three months. Starting in the first week of February, they failed to lose a game in regulation on home ice in a streak that will stay strong until October. They won 12 games in a row to reclaim their destiny and break into the postseason action. Behind Drew Banmister, that was a very dreamy scenario. With Jim Montgomery at the head, it became a reality. Taking some fortune from that turnaround is a must, even if the heartbreak is still swollen in fans’ hearts this afternoon. The sweet isn’t as sweet without the bitter, a sports staple.

We discovered that Binnington still can take over a game, Jimmy Snuggerud has the gifts to make it in the NHL, and Jake Neighbors is a real asset. Fans found that the defense could be rescued with a few wily veterans. In the most fortunate and unfortunate way, they discovered how vital Dylan Holloway was to the operation. There were many positives to take away from the season, which will only strengthen with time and patience.

Would you have rather seen another team climb over St. Louis for that final wildcard spot? Some playoff action is better than zero playoff action, which is a standard line for single people when they go out clubbing. The feeling would be much different if it were a four-game and done visit. The fact that St. Louis took the best team in the NHL to the brink of elimination should inform the rest of the league that they will be back.

While it hurts right now, the series counts as a stint instead of a cup of coffee that was finished too quickly. Playoff hockey is a golden opportunity because it presents the highest of highs and the lowest of lows inside a three-hour (or three-minute) period.

Still, clear that puck or trap it against the boards next year!