Can Robert Thomas (18) and the St. Louis Blues get back into their series against Neal Pionk (right) and the Winnipeg Jets? Game 3 is Thursday at Enterprise Center. (Connor Hamilton-Imagn Images)ST. LOUIS -- One of the things-to-do for Jim Montgomery when he became coach of the St. Louis Blues was to turn Enterprise Center into a house of horrors for the opposition.
When the Blues lost 5-2 on January 27 against the Vancouver Canucks, it dropped their home record to 10-13-2, hardly something to brag about and something that would not resonate with a Stanley Cup Playoff team.
But when the month of February rolled around, so did their home fortunes, culminating with a 14-1-1 record to close 24-14-3, including winning the final 12.
If there was ever a time when the Blues need to make that home mark count is coming up the next two games, Games 3 and 4 of their Western Conference First Round series against the Winnipeg Jets after dropping the first two games on the road.
So if there's ever a time where the Blues need to flex their muscles on home ice, where they've outscored the opposition 57-22 during their season-closing winning streak on 14th and Clark, now's the time to do it.
"We can’t focus on the last two games," Blues defenseman Colton Parayko said. "We can focus on the sense that we’re going to learn and take what we can from the positive side and learn from the things we maybe made mistakes on and how we can get better as a group in terms of playing them. Take that into Game 3, home ice, it’s going to be exciting. Obviously just one game at a time. It’s a lot. It's a seven-game series for a reason. We know where we’re at. Just make sure we go home and put our best foot forward and see where we land."
In putting their best foot forward, at least that's what they hope to do after falling 5-3 in Game 1 and 2-1 in Game 2, the Blues know they have to be at the very least, one play better moving forward.
"I think as a group, we're not happy to be down 2-0, but the games are really close.," Montgomery said . "There’s not much separation going on right now. We need to make a separation, we need to find another level when we go home so we can end up on top by a goal.
"We're going to have the last line change now. We're going to go home, we're going be in front of our frenzied crowd, and we're going to have an opportunity to hold serve at home. We've got to get to Game 3."
They've arrived for Game 3, which is Thursday at 8:30 p.m. (FDSNMW, ESPN2, SN, TVAS, CBC, ESPN 101.1-FM), and they will have to hold serve in order to make this a series and flip those small margins in their favor, much like the Jets did on home ice for Games 1-2. And in doing that, they'll have to do a better job containing the duo of Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor, who have two goals, three assists and two goals, two assists, respectively, in the first two games.
"Now our job, we come home, we have the matchup and whatever 'Monty' wants," Blues captain Brayden Schenn said. "We know they’re good players. They’ve had good seasons. Just keep being hard on them, in your face, and try and make them play in their own end. So far they’ve capitalized on their chances and now it’s our job to go home and worry about our job."
It would be different had the Blues gone north of the border and come home obliterated the first two games, but even in losing twice, each game has been close. It's a matter of finding the difference to push them over the top, starting Thursday.
However, it was the Jets that coincidentally was the last team to win in St. Louis, on Feb. 22, 4-3 in a shootout when they tied the game with half a minute to play in regulation.
"Essentially, it’s a goal a game," Parayko said. "Last game they obviously got the empty netter but essentially 4-3 and then 2-1 [Monday]. It’s super close. I think the special teams are going to be huge. Just could be the difference as well. Just continue to get better, see the little things."