Blues post 7 consecutive wins in a
push to make the playoffs after a two-year absence
[March 27, 2025]
By WARREN MAYES
ST. LOUIS (AP) — The wins just keep on coming for the St. Louis
Blues, and their seven-game streak has significantly improved their
chances of returning to the playoffs after a two-year absence.
After beating the Montreal Canadiens 6-1 on Tuesday night, they have
strung together their most consecutive victories since November
2022. It's the longest active winning streak in the NHL.
“We've just got a recipe that works and a game plan that everybody
believes in,” said Dylan Holloway, who has 24 goals in a breakout
season. “Guys are playing for each other. It's a good vibe in here,
for sure.”
St. Louis has outscored opponents 36-10 and only trailed for a total
of 5:24 during this winning stretch. It's just business as usual,
according to Alexandre Texier.
“We've got a job to do,” said Texier, who like Holloway, scored
against Montreal. “This game is over and we think about the next
game. We're not enjoying too much about this momentum. We want to be
in the playoffs. We just have to do it every single night.”
The Blues are 13-2-2 since the season resumed after the 4 Nations
Face-Off break, outscoring opponents 70-38. No team in the NHL has
more points or goals in that time.
“There's a pace and a purpose to what they're doing,” coach Jim
Montgomery said. “They're just doing it naturally. There's smiles on
their faces. They're loving doing things right."
The formula during the streak has been simple. The Blues are strong
on the forecheck and work to limit transition opportunities for
their opponents. They block as many shots as possible.
“It starts with the belief in this group and believing in the
process and each other,” said Philip Broberg, who scored a goal and
had three assists against Montreal to keep his impressive season
rolling. “It's all about hard work.”
Montgomery agreed, calling his team's effort professional.
“Everyone's playing well: Our top line, our top six are scoring and
playing defense,” Montgomery said. “Our bottom six are scoring and
hanging on to pucks and protecting pucks. Our defense has been
really solid. The little details have been there throughout the
lineup. Everybody’s doing it."
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St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington skates during a timeout
in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Montreal
Canadiens Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff
Roberson)
Montgomery has helped turn things around since
replacing fired coach Drew Bannister on Nov. 25 after a 9-12-1
start. But the Blues were still eight points behind Vancouver for
the Western Conference's second and final wild-card spot coming out
of the break and had not won three in a row all season.
It looked like the playoff drought would reach three. Now it looks
like that could end.
“I know it’s a simple answer, but it’s just guys playing hard,
playing for one another and playing together,” captain Brayden
Schenn said. “They haven’t all been pretty, but we’re finding a way
and that’s the most important thing this time of the year. There’s
definitely buzz around the city. ”
The Blues hold a firm grip on the second wild card in the Western
Conference, four up on Calgary and five up on Vancouver. They now
have the Wild — holders of the first wild card — in their sights,
just two points back after Minnesota lost 5-1 to Vegas.
All those teams have games in hand on the the Blues, who have nine
left, compared to 12 for the Flames and 11 for the Canucks. Holloway
doesn't think anyone is looking at how many games anyone has left.
“Obviously, we know it's a tight race,” Holloway said. “The biggest
thing is we just have to control what we can control. We can't
control other teams. The biggest thing for us is to just keep
playing the way we are. It works. We just have to go a game at a
time.”
The Blues hit the road to play Thursday in Nashville looking to
extend their win streak to eight games.
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