Three Takeaways From Blues' 2-1 Win Against Avalanche

DENVER – OK, this is getting serious. Quite serious.

Actually, it’s been that way since the 4 Nations Face-Off break. Only the St. Louis Blues knew they could build what they’re currently building into something.

The beat goes on, and this may be the most impressive win of the bunch, coming into Ball Arena on Saturday and in workmanlike fashion, cooling off the equally red-hot Colorado Avalanche, 2-1, to run their winning streak to nine games.

Pavel Buchnevich scored the deciding goal in the third period, and Zack Bolduc’s power-play goal in the first period, coupled with Jordan Binnington’s terrific work with 28 saves continued to fuel the Blues (40-28-7), who moved into a tie for the first wild card from the Western Conference with the Minnesota Wild, who lost 5-2 against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.

The Blues had to survive Colorado’s pulling of goalie Mackenzie Blackwood and deal with the Avalanche’s onslaught of attempts at the net, but the sacrificing of bodies to preserve the lead and some important, tense saves from Binnington enabled the Blues to end the Avs’ home winning streak at 11.

“It was an intense game,” Binnington said. “I feel like every time we come to this building, it’s that level of intensity. Right from the beginning, we know they come hard. We weathered the storm early, got the lead. It was a very fun hockey game, I think it was an entertaining hockey game and we’re glad we got the two points.”

Robert Thomas, who assisted on both goals and extended his multi-assist streak to four games, which ties a Blues franchise record, called it a playoff game.

“It’s exciting. That game was really exciting, tight-checking, not many chances both ways. Felt like a playoff game,” Thomas said. “It was really exciting. Obviously everyone saw that, but throughout the game, so many guys doing the same thing and sacrificing. At the end of the day, that’s what gave us a good chance to win.”

Here are Saturday’s Three Takeaways:

* Finding a way in a tough building against a red-hot team playing 10th game in 17 days – This was as taxing as it gets, and for the Blues to finish off this stretch of 10 games in 17 days, in a tough building in altitude where opposing teams are already at a disadvantage, they stayed committed to the structure and willed themselves once again.

“It’s the end of 10 in 17 games, we went 9-1 and we lost the first one,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “It’s very impressive what we’re doing right now.”

“It’s what we’re dealt, right? This is our schedule, we’ve got to find a way to get it done and it’s our job,” Binnington said. “I’ll tell you, it’s been fun hockey and fun coming together and time on the road, just practicing and building each game and coming back in games, holding leads. This is the time of year where you want to be playing this kind of hockey and we’re doing a good job of it.”

“When you get a little bit of mojo and a little bit of flow going, everyone’s been stepping up huge,” Thomas said. “Any given night, someone’s stepping up and making a big difference, not always offensively, but whether it’s checking or defensively and when you have everyone going on the same page and pulling the rope together, we’re a dangerous team.”

* Building something special – For anyone to imagine that the Blues would be in this position a month ago would have likely been laughed at.

But when the Blues came in off the break on Feb. 22, they lost that game, and when the consensus was they liked the result of a 4-3 shootout loss compared to the 6-5 shootout win prior to the break, that said all you needed to know.

It’s been all about the process of getting to playing the game the right way and not cheating it, and right now, the Blues are playing the game the right way.

And they’re reaping the rewards in the process.

The Avalanche had won four in a row, it was 12-1-1 their past 13 since a 3-1 loss at St. Louis on Feb. 23, it had won 11 in a row at home (outscored opponents 51-17) and points in 12 straight at home (11-0-1; haven’t lost in regulation here since 3-1 vs. the Wild on Jan. 20).

This was no coincidence.

“I think the buy-in has been evident with the blocked shots,” Montgomery said. “The ‘Buchy’ goal is a great example (at 8:54 of the third period). People sacrificing at the net front, screen, rebound, put the puck in. I think that’s why you see it in the newspapers, the social media stuff.

“There’s something going on special right now and it’s great to be part of it. I’m very grateful to be here.”

What is that special something to the players?

“I think it’s a lot of little moments that lead to big moments,” Binnington said. “We’re finding a way to get it done and it’s everyone, top to bottom. Everyone’s having a contribution. I think we’ve just got to keep focusing one game at a time and focusing on these little moments and we’ll see what happens in the end.”

Building something special included Laura Branigan's 'Gloria' in 2019. Do the Blues have their Gloria in 2025? Perhaps, it's Jobu.

"Jobu's second intermission speech got us going, I think," Binnington said. "He brought a vocal moment to the room."

What did he say?: "You've got to understand his language if you want to know what he says," Binnington said.

Enough said.

* Commitment to taking away middle of the ice – The Blues are serving notice to anyone they play: you can have the perimeter of the ice. But the interior? Good luck.

The Avalanche are one of the top teams off the rush, and the Blues gave them just four opportunities in the game. They’re committed to sacrificing the body, laying out to block shots (22).

It will be a commitment of five bodies in front of you, taking away anything and everything.

“They make so many plays. They’re such a good hockey team, but we protect ice really well,” Montgomery said. “We gave them the outside and we collapsed to the net well, we won the battles. It’s very impressive.”

And if the last two minutes wasn’t evidence enough, with players taking longer and extended shifts and still sacrificing the body to protect the house, then you’re not paying attention.

“It’s just a free for all out there, guys laying out everywhere, extended shifts,” Binnington said. “It’s kind of just chaos and trust your hockey sense and make reads with whatever energy you’ve got. We found a way to get it done against a talented group there. Just a hard-fought, character finish.”

* Bonus takeaway … the play of Robert Thomas – Thomas made the pass to Bolduc for the perfect one-timer at 10:57 of the first period and a 1-0 lead, then helped set up Buchnevich’s goal.

Thomas now has 10 assists the past four games (two goals, 10 assists in a five-game point streak).

“He’s been instrumental. He’s been unreal,” Montgomery said. “He’s playing like he’s one of the best players in the league and it’s a big reason why we’re such a good team right now.”

And it’s happening no matter who Thomas is playing with these days.

“That’s what special players do and that’s why he’s special,” Montgomery said.