St. Louis Blues make history with strong start to season
The National Hockey League has always been full of surprises, and the recent efforts of the surging St. Louis Blues is one of them.
The Blues have been winning game after game lately, thanks in part to the stellar efforts of goaltender Jaroslav Halak, who was acquired from the Montreal Canadiens during the summer.
Halak has posted a trio of shutouts during the Blues’ winning streak, which currently stands at seven games.
Journeyman Ty Conklin, Halak’s backup, was the recipient of the Blues’ most recent win, a 2-0 whitewash of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden in New York City. It was St. Louis’
first-ever shutout win over the Rangers, a team who they have met 129 times before.
“I heard (about) that,” Conklin said after the game. “It’s fine with me. I’m glad it came when I was in net. It would’ve been great when Jaro was in net, but I’ll take it.”
The win over the Rangers gave the Blues a record of 9-1-2 in their first 12 games of the season, which is the best start in team history. The strong start has placed them first overall
in the league standings.
Even more surprising is the fact that the Blues have been winning games without several of their regulars in the line-up. Half of their defence corps is currently sidelined with injuries,
but rookies Nikita Nikitin, Tyson Strachan, and Ian Cole have not looked out of place as replacements for Barret Jackman, Carlo Colaiacovo, and Roman p***k.
Also missing is left-winger David Perron, who has been shelved with recurring headaches he sustained after taking a hit to the head from Joe Thornton of the San Jose Sharks on Thursday,
4 November. Thornton later received a two-game suspension as a result of the hit.
The Blues will attempt to extend their winning streak in their next game. They will face the Nashville Predators on Thursday, 11 November.
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