The Blues position in the standings is not what I call comforting, but at least Arizona has been playing as poorly as we have. The Yotes are only 1 point ahead, while having played 4 more games than the Blues.The St. Louis Blues and Colorado Avalanche are set to resume their season series after Tuesday's matchup was postponed due to three Avalanche players entering the NHL's COVID protocol.
Colorado had three games postponed and their practice facility closed on April 16, but practices resumed Wednesday afternoon and the team traveled to St. Louis afterwards in anticipation of playing Thursday, Saturday and Monday (a make-up of the April 20 postponed game) at Enterprise Center.
Because of the postponements, the Blues haven't played since Saturday.
"It's strange, for sure," Blues Head Coach Craig Berube said of the time off. "Obviously we want to play games, but it is what it is. It is a little different. Just got to stay motivated and ready."
The Blues are one point behind the Arizona Coyotes for the final playoff spot in the West Division, but Arizona has played three more games. Colorado ranks second in the division, two points behind the Vegas Golden Knights for first.
THE SERIES SO FAR
Jan. 13: Blues 4, Avalanche 1
Mike Hoffman expected to make his Blues debut but was a last-minute scratch due to his work visa still needing approval. Without Hoffman on the second line, Oskar Sundqvist was promoted and delivered immediately, netting two goals in a 4-1 win on Opening Night. Jordan Kyrou and Kyle Clifford also scored in the victory. Jordan Binnington made 26 saves in his first win of the season.
Jan. 15: Avalanche 8, Blues 0
Colorado scored five times on the power play in an 8-0 rout of the Blues in the second game of the season. Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and two assists, while Gabriel Landeskog scored twice, in an 8-0 victory.
April 2: Avalanche 3, Blues 2
Colorado got two goals from Nathan MacKinnon to lift the Avalanche to a 3-2 win against the Blues on April 2. The win extended Colorado's point streak to 13 games while the Blues were kept without a win in their fifth straight game. David Perron had a goal and an assist, Mike Hoffman added a goal, and Jordan Binnington made 36 saves in the loss. Ivan Barbashev returned to the lineup after missing 18 games with an ankle injury.
April 3: Avalanche 2, Blues 1
The Blues put forth a strong effort to snap a winless streak, but Cale Makar scored in the final minute to give Colorado the edge in a 2-1 win at Ball Arena. The win extended Colorado's point streak to 14 games.
April 14: Avalanche 4, Blues 3
Devan Dubnyk made his debut with the Avalanche after starting goalie Philipp Grubauer was placed in the League's COVID protocol earlier in the day. Dubnyk made 31 saves in his debut and fended off a third-period push from the Blues, who eventually fell 4-3. Mike Hoffman scored twice, while Vince Dunn also tallied for St. Louis.
Still, the Blues had their "easy" games earlier in the season, and only performed so-so. The competition is tougher now (mostly games against the top teams in the Division), so there is virtually no room for error.
Here's to a late season turnaround.