Let's Go Blues

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues' last three wins have followed the same script: trail by one goal in the third period, and get game-tying goal followed by the game-winner in overtime.

It might not be a strategy for long-term success, but for a team fighting for its playoff life, it is working just fine.

The Blues will need to keep those winning ways going as they host the Vancouver Canucks on Friday night.

"We can't do anything but worry about us," Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo told NHL.com. "We can't control what the other teams are going to do. So, if we keep winning hockey games, we'll have a good opportunity to get in."

Wednesday's 2-1 victory over the Boston Bruins allowed the Blues (40-28-5) to climb within three points of the Anaheim Ducks for the second and final wild card spot in the Western Conference. The Blues have a game in hand over the Ducks.

"We know if we lose a game or lose a couple, we might be out of it," Blues goalie Jake Allen told NHL.com. "So it's just points right now. ... Whatever it takes right now, it's emotional games, no question. You need to take a deep breath and relax. They're a little different than a mid-November game for us. It's fun. We enjoy tonight and refocus again tomorrow."

The Blues have shown a much-needed resiliency during the stretch, played without leading goal scorer Vladimir Tarasenko (upper body), and overcoming a fluke goal for the Bruins that gave them a 1-0 lead in the first period.

"We knew (the resolve) was in there, but obviously we're finding it at the right time at least," Blues coach Mike Yeo told NHL.com.

It is the first time in franchise history that the Blues have won three straight overtime games and the first time they have won three straight when trailing at some point in the third period.

St. Louis has won four straight against Vancouver, including both earlier meetings this season. The Blues have gone 7-0-1 in their last eight games against the Canucks.

The Canucks will be playing the back-half of a back-to-back stretch and are coming off a 5-2 victory at Chicago on Thursday. Vancouver snapped a seven-game losing streak.

"It's always difficult when you don't win, but we've done some good things," Canucks defenseman Alexander Edler, who scored twice Thursday, told Canucks TV. "We've upped our battle a little bit in a few of those games and you've got to take those positive things with us, but it's nice to win."

Canucks center Bo Horvat scored his 20th goal of the season against the Blackhawks, tying his NHL high set last season.

"For it to mean something in a win and for us to play like we did tonight and finally get rewarded, all the bounces we've had as of late, it definitely gives us a little bit of confidence going into tomorrow," Horvat told Canucks TV.

glen a richter wrote:I would have preferred a Colorado win, but this is the Blues we're talking about. Does anything, internally or externally, ever go right for them?

Should be an easy win tonight, so count on a decisive loss.

glen a richter wrote:I would have preferred a Colorado win, but this is the Blues we're talking about. Does anything, internally or externally, ever go right for them?

Should be an easy win tonight, so count on a decisive loss.

WaukeeBlues wrote:

glen a richter wrote:I would have preferred a Colorado win, but this is the Blues we're talking about. Does anything, internally or externally, ever go right for them?

Should be an easy win tonight, so count on a decisive loss.

Eh not necessarily. Canucks just beat up on the Blackhawks last night so maybe they're feeling it a little bit. I know the Hawks have all but packed it in but so have the Canucks, so...

Nothing is a given in this league and the Blues better not come out tonight like that's the case.

theohall wrote:If Tarasenko is back, what are the odds the power play goes back to the totally dysfunctional 4 forward, single defenseman first unit?

gaijin wrote:

theohall wrote:If Tarasenko is back, what are the odds the power play goes back to the totally dysfunctional 4 forward, single defenseman first unit?

I hope not. What was the power play- something like 75% while Tarasenko was out and Yeo put two defensement on the ice? Granted, 3 out of 4 is a pretty small sample size, but still- why wouldn't you keep going with it as long as the PPGs are coming?