Preview: Blues @ Canucks

Preview: Blues @ Canucks

The tough stretch begins. The Blues head north for the start of four straight games on the road beginning tonight in Vancouver. Four very important, tough games in just seven days. The team has been much better on the road this season but clearly this won’t be the easiest span on the schedule. Since tonight is the start of such an important run for the Blues, FrozenNotes offers a complete preview for the game.

St. Louis Blues: 14-14-5 (33 points)
Road: 8-3-3

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Vancouver Canucks: 20-15-0 (40 points)
Home: 14-5-0

Brace for the worst Blues fans, this could be the start of some awfully rocky times. As if the season hasn’t been a struggle enough, the Blues embark on four straight road games all occurring this week before coming back home for three games next week. Without much time to rest, the Blues will have to bring their best night in and night out. If the team doesn’t secure a few wins on this trip, the changes should be soon to follow.

The team is setting itself up for failure. Unless a big change happens soon, the Blues will need a miracle similar to last year’s if they hope to make the playoffs. I keep thinking it is only a matter of time before we see our favorite side turn in complete performances night in and night out, but here we stand 33 games into the year and that hasn’t been the case. Expectations were obviously set a bit high this season, but I find it impossible to believe that this squad is so bad that they sit in the basement of the Western Conference.

The young talent is in place. The roster has veteran faces such as Keith Tkachuk and Paul Kariya. Perhaps there is just too much youth or perhaps the coaching staff just needs to take a different (or new) approach.

Whatever the case may be, time is running short. The hole is getting deeper the Blues must climb out of. The fan base here in St. Louis was at a huge high last spring as the Blues stormed into the playoffs, but has since sunk as the team consistently fails to show up.

I’ve said it numerous times. Tonight is the perfect night for the Blues to start something positive and string something together. If not now, when? I’m afraid if they wait too much longer we will have to start looking toward next season rather than at this one.