Welcome to another “Since 2000” installment! This week, we are ranking the top-ten St. Louis Blues non-2019 Stanley Cup Playoff wins.
Playoff Wins Criteria
Even with the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs out of the equation for this ranking, there are quite a few playoff wins to be considered. Since we are ranking playoff wins, the criteria is straight-forward. It has to be a playoff game and the Blues have to have won. Also, please note that we are ranking individual playoff games, not a series as a whole. Whether or not the Blues won a series does not disqualify a memorable game for making this list. On the contrary, a series clincher or Game 7 will certainly get further consideration. Without further ado, let us rank the best Blues non-2019 playoff wins since 2000.
Top-Ten St. Louis Blues Non-2019 Playoff Wins
#10 – 2013 Western Conference Quarterfinal – Game 1
For the second year in a row, the Blues faced the Los Angeles Kings in the playoffs. The Blues, looking to avenge being swept by the Kings the year before, led 1-0 in the third period. However, Justin Williams tied the game in the final minute, sending the game to overtime. Things looked bleak for the Blues in the overtime period. Defenceman Kevin Shattenkirk was given a double minor for high-sticking, putting the Kings on a four-minute power play. The Blues needed someone to make a huge play.
Alexander Steen answered the call. After the Blues cleared the puck, Steen quickly rushed to the Kings end of the nice. As Kings goaltender, Jonathan Quick, attempted to play the puck behind the net, Steen stole it, and scored on a wrap-around. The shorthanded goal gave the Blues the win, when it seemed victory would slip through their fingers.
#9 – 2016 Western Conference Quarterfinal – Game 3
The Blues headed to Chicago in a tie series following a controversial loss in Game 2. A go-ahead goal by the Blues was taken away due to a controversial offside call. Furthermore, the Chicago Blackhawks would score the game-winning goal on an equally controversial no-call (goalie interference). To rub salt in the wound, the Blues had only won one road game the last three post-seasons. As Game 3 entered the third period, the Blues trailed 2-1.
However, the Blues were not going to let the past be their present. Former first-round picks would lead the way. Patrik Berglund tied the game midway through the period. Jaden Schwartz would break the tie with a power play goal. Goaltender Brian Elliott would be spectacular in net, as the Blues won 3-2. The win was significant as it showed the Blues were capable of overcoming adversity.
#8 – 2001 Western Conference Semifinal – Game 3
The 2000-01 Blues were looking to overcome the disappointment of the 2000 playoffs, where the team was eliminated in the first round despite winning the Presidents’ Trophy. After winning round one, the Blues went up against the heavily-favoured Dallas Stars in the second round. However, the Blues won the first two games in Dallas and took a 2-0 series lead back home. In Game 3, the Stars took a 2-0 lead before the Blues tied the game and forced overtime. In double overtime, Cory Stillman scored to win the game for the Blues. Furthermore, the Blues won Game 4 to complete the sweep.
This was a significant win, not only because it helped the Blues complete a sweep, but it helped put the 2000 playoffs in the past. Furthermore, the Stars were just a few seasons separated from winning the Stanley Cup. Hanging on to their Game 3 lead could have helped them turn it around and possibly make another run. The Blues were able to rally and finish the job and advance to the Western Conference Final.
#7 – 2012 Western Conference Quarterfinal – Game 5
We have come upon our first series-clinching win. Behind Jack Adams Award-winning head coach Ken Hitchcock, the Blues were back in the playoffs in 2012. The Blues won the Central Division and were the second seed in the Western Conference. Despite losing the first game, the Blues won the next four to win the series.
The series win was the team’s first since 2002. Furthermore, the series is known for the play of Brian Elliott, who stepped up following an injury to Jaroslav Halak. Elliott won the final three games of the series, giving up only five goals.
#6 – 2022 Western Conference Quarterfinal – Game 5
This series would later haunt the Blues, but Game 5 provided one of the more memorable games in Blues history. Down 3-1 in the series to the Colorado Avalanche, the Blues found themselves down 3-0 in Game 5. The season was seemingly approaching the end. However, the Blues rallied to tie the game in the third period. But Nathan MacKinnon would give the Avalanche a lead late. The goal also completed the hat trick for MacKinnon.
The Blues were not going to go away quietly. With the extra attacker on the ice, Robert Thomas scored to tie the game and force overtime. In overtime, Tyler Bozak scored the winning goal to give the Blues an improbable victory and keep the series going. The magic would run out in Game 6, courtesy of Darren Helm, but for the moment, it gave the Blues hope that something special was on the horizon. At this time, the Game 5 win is also the last win in the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Blues.
#5 – 2016 Western Conference Semifinal – Game 7
Our first Game 7 on the list. The Blues and Stars had a classic seven-game series in 2016. Through the first six games, the home team had only won twice. That favoured the Blues heading into Game 7 in Dallas. What unfolded, however, was unexpected.
The Blues dominated the game from the opening faceoff. Goals by Robby Fabbri, Paul Stastny, and Patrik Berglund gave the Blues a 3-0 lead after the first period. The Blues did not look back. It was 5-0 after two periods. The final score was 6-1. The Blues advanced to the Western Conference Final for the first time since 2001. Furthermore, the five-goal differential is the most the Blues have in a clinching game since 2000.
#4 – 2017 Western Conference Quarterfinal – Game 1
For the second time in three seasons, the Blues faced the Minnesota Wild in the first round of the playoffs. Two years ago, the Wild had success against a young Jake Allen, scoring 12 goals in six games. In contrast, Allen would get revenge in 2017.
In Game 1, Allen stole the show. Facing a constant barrage of shots from the Wild, Allen stood his ground and kept the Blues in the game. Despite being outplayed, the Blues won in overtime. Allen stopped 51 of 52 Wild shots. In fact, Allen’s dominance in Game 1 (and in the series as a whole) even caused an unusual outburst of frustration from Wild head coach Bruce Boudreau.
April 12 2017
Jake Allen made 51 saves (4th most in Playoffs by a Blues Goalie) & Joel Edmundson scored the Overtime Game Winning Goal in Game 1 of the 2017 Playoffs vs the Minnesota Wild.#stlblues pic.twitter.com/2GPEcMF5Yb
— STL Blues History (@STLBlueshistory) April 12, 2022
#3 – 2002 Western Conference Quarterfinal – Game 4
Brent Johnson is not a name Blues fans think of when goaltenders come to mind. On the other hand, in the 2002 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Johnson stole the show. After dropping Game 1, Johnson shut out the Blackhawks in Games 2 and 3.
In Game 4, the Blues had a chance to take a 3-1 series lead. The Blackhawks came to the arena, however, ready to give the Blues everything they had. In and old-fashioned goaltender’s duel, the Blues escaped the Windy City with a 1-0 win. A second-period goal by Pavol Demitra was all Johnson needed. Johnson recorded his third-straight shutout. More importantly, the Blues had a commanding 3-1 series lead. The Blues finished off their rivals in Game 5.
#2 – 2014 Western Conference Quarterfinal – Game 1
After a six-game losing streak to end the season and relinquish the Central Division title, the Blues faced the defending-Stanley Cup Champion Blackhawks in the first round. The first game got off to a fast and furious start. The Blackhawks led 3-2 after the first period. However, goaltenders Ryan Miller and Corey Crawford settled in after that. Furthermore, the game remained 3-2 until the final two minutes of regulation. The Blues forced a turnover and scored the tying-goal, forcing overtime.
The Blackhawks dominated the first overtime, but could not score. In the second overtime, the Blues found some life and generated chances, but again, no team could find the winning goal. This sent the game into triple overtime. About a year after his overtime-winning goal against the Kings, Alexander Steen struck again, 26 seconds into triple overtime. The Blues won the marathon game, 4-3.
#1 – Western Conference Quarterfinal – Game 7
It probably surprises very few that yet another Blues and Blackhawks game sits atop this list. This one by far stands out as the Blues best non-2019 playoff win. Once again, the Blues were facing the defending champion Blackhawks the first round. However, the Blues were not going to be intimidated by the champions. The Blues won three of the first four games. In addition, the Blues won both games played in Chicago. Alternatively, the Blackhawks won Games 5 and 6 to set up a winner-take-all Game 7. For the Blues, they were faced yet another chapter of heartbreaking defeat. Once again, they were staring at the possibility of their rivals ending their season.
April 25, 2016, however, was different. The Blues jumped out to a 2-0 lead before the Blackhawks tied the game in the second period. Teams traded chances going into the third period. In a twist of fate fit for Hollywood, Troy Brouwer, a former Blackhawk, knocked a loose puck into the net to give the Blues a 3-2 lead. Brian Elliott would be a brick wall in net for the Blues to hold the lead.
Furthermore, the Blues got some help from luck late in the game, as a shot from Brent Seabrook hit one goal post, shot across the goal line, and hit the other goal post before being cleared out of the zone. As the Blackhawks mounted one last push in the final seconds, the Blues took the puck and cleared it out to end the game. As Doc Emrick famously said at that point, “the defending champions are defending no more.”
We will end this installment with the celebration following that memorable game.
Main photo: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
