Defense Propelled St. Louis Blues Atop the League

Owners of St. Louis Blues tickets definitely love what they are seeing from their team. In the last six years, the Blues has made it to the playoffs only once in the 2008-2009 season and their appearance that time was even forgettable. St. Louiswas swept in the first round by the Vancouver Canucks. This season is a completely different story for the boys of Scottrade Center.

The Associated Press

St. Louis is currently ahead of the pack not just in the Western Conference but also in the entire National Hockey League. With 97 points overall, the Blues is six points better than the closest teams who are in the hunt for the Presidents’ Trophy. The last time St. Louis won this award was still during the 1999-2000 season.

For the season record, St. Louis is currently 45-18-7 and is on a five-game tear. In this winning streak, the team defeated San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks, Anaheim Ducks, and Columbus Blue Jackets twice. St. Louis held their opponents to only one goal in this winning streak. Since February, the Blues has won 16 of their past 21 games highlighted by multiple four-game winning streaks which helped them propel at the top of the standings. This season is really a magical one for the team especially considering the history of the team in the past years.

One of the biggest improvements that St. Louis had this season is their defense. Last year, the goals against average of the team were in the bottom half of the league. This season, St. Louis now allows the fewest goals per game. In the past season, they allowed an average of 2.78 goals a game but this season, it was reduced to almost one goal a game at 1.86. In terms of save percentage, the Blues were 27^thin the league last year. This season, they now top the league with .928 averages.

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

The team’s tenacious defense can be well attributed to their two goalies who are having a fantastic season on that end. Brian Elliot, who is in his first year with team, tops the league with a 1.61 goals against average. Elliot also tops the league in terms of save percentage with a .938 average.  The 26-year-old goalie was signed by the team in the offseason and his great play for the team led to him getting a two-year extension. Another half of the great goalie tandem of St. Louis this season is Jaroslav Halak. Halak is second to Elliot in terms of goals against average with 1.86. He is seventh, on the other hand, when it comes to save percentage (.926). Halak is in the second year with the Blues after being traded in 2010. Weeks after getting traded to the team, Halak signed a four-year contract with the team.

With Elliot and Halak anchoring the defense of St. Louis, the potential of this team winning the Stanley Cup is getting stronger as the playoffs approaches.

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