Cracked Pavement Sports

The playoff match-ups are set and the Blues now know their first-round opponent.  After going 0-2-1 in the round robin seeding tournament, the Blues have pulled the Canucks.  If the Blues were able to beat the Stars in overtime Sunday they would have played the Flames, and quite frankly, I’m cool with that not happening.  Don’t get me wrong, the Vancouver Canucks are a very good hockey team, but the Calgary Flames are talented all over.  With the lackluster performance from the Blues in the round robin, it is probably best to play the Canucks, a team who has a small amount of playoff experience which will allow them to get their skates back underneath them.  Although the Canucks are no pushovers, the Blues have advantages all over the ice and I expect them to win this series.

               Both of these teams have very talented forward groups, highlighted by young stars.  The player to keep an eye on for the Canucks is Elias Pettersson.  The reigning Calder Trophy winner (Sorry, Binner, but this guy is a stud) was having an incredible season before the stoppage, seeing Elias average nearly a point-per-game.  Pettersson has elite playmaking skills and the potential to finish from anywhere in the offensive zone.  I fully expect to see Ryan O’Reilly on the ice a lot when Pettersson is out there.  That brings me to the key of the St. Louis Blues in this series, David Perron.  Being part of O’Reilly’s line, Perron will see a good amount of ice time and will be relied upon to find the net.  During the seeding games, Perron was able to pot two goals in three games.  Vancouver can be known to play some rough and tumble, small space hockey, and I fully expect Perron to thrive in these conditions.  Outside of Vancouver’s top line, the Blues forwards outclass the Canucks in speed and skill.  Much of the same could be said about the defensive aspect of each team.

               I strongly believe that the Blues hold their biggest advantage over the Canucks when it comes to the blue line.  The Canucks have a good mix of young talent and steady veterans, but the Blues defense is special when right.  Alexander Edler and Quinn Hughes (Likely 2020 Calder Trophy Winner in his own right) are compete ice time machines, but depending on a rookie like Hughes for a lot of time is bound to end up with mistakes for Vancouver.  For the Blues, there are so many dependable players on defense that as long as the Blues can clean up their breakout game, the Canucks will have trouble poking holes in the defense.  This should be a series where the Blues defense can step into the offense quite a lot, and I think you will see Colton Parayko on the scoresheet multiple times and Vince Dunn making his presence known in the offensive zone.

               Both teams in this series have reliable goaltending and there shouldn’t be a lot of weak goals allowed in this series.  Jacob Markstrom of Vancouver has been strong this year, garnering an All-Star Game appearance and shutting down any skeptics who thought he’d lose his job to backup, Thatcher Demko.  Jordan Binnington looks to repeat the unbelievable playoff performance of last year, where he was one of, if not, the most valuable player for the Blues throughout the playoffs.  There are no signs pointing towards Jordan not being able to accomplish this feat.  The Blues and Canucks might find themselves in some close, low scoring games due to the goaltending and this will make for some tense moments.

               This should be a well-fought, grinding series for the Blues, but I expect them to come out on top.  The Canucks are young and lack playoff experience and that is where the Blues should take advantage, especially in a series where it wouldn’t be a surprise to have more one-goal games than not.  My prediction for the series is the Blues in six.  They hit the ice Wednesday night at 9:30PM CT so get your night coffee ready.  Playoff hockey is back and the Blues will try to accomplish something very few in any sport can, defend their championship.  The Canucks will be the first in their way, no holding back, no letting up.  Go get it, boys!