Tough schedule stands between Blues and top spot in Central, West and NHL
In the same position a year ago, injuries derailed St. Louis' hopes as it lost its final six games and finished second in hockey's toughest division, one point behind Colorado. This time around, the Blues could get a key boost if defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk returns from injury, but they'll still have to survive perhaps the toughest schedule among the contenders in a four-team race for the top seed in the West.
Defending home ice will be critical for St. Louis as it plays six of its final nine games at Scottrade, the most of any contender. But the Blues also face the most teams that would be in the playoffs as of today with seven remaining on the schedule, including six of seven in a definitive 13-day stretch to close out the season.
The Central Division could easily be decided by a home-and-home in April with red-hot Chicago, which has gone 8-2-1 since a three-game losing streak to move just three points behind first-place St. Louis. The Blackhawks have the added advantage of a game in hand and close with five playoff teams in their final 10 games, half of which will be at home.
Nashville's schedule doesn't offer many breathers for the struggling Predators, who face six playoff teams in their last nine games. A disastrous 3-8-1 mark since Feb. 24 knocked Nashville off its perch in the West, and the Predators haven't beaten a team that would be in the playoffs since Feb. 12.
Considering the relative strength of the two divisions and the NHL's emphasis on intra-divisional games down the stretch, it's no surprise Anaheim has the inside track to win the Western Conference for the second straight year. The Ducks have nearly clinched the Pacific Division and will face only one more playoff team -- the New York Islanders -- as they try to maintain their two-point lead over St. Louis with eight games remaining.
To have any hope at home-ice advantage or winning the division to avoid a first-round matchup with Chicago or Nashville, the Blues will almost certainly have to overcome their struggles against the Central Division. A 13-10-1 record against the Central ranks as the fifth-best in the division, and St. Louis plays its last five games against divisional foes.
The race for the Presidents' Trophy could be even tougher to win unless the surging New York Rangers falter against a tough, but manageable schedule over their last 11 games. That's one more than any other contender and two more than the Blues for a team that has gone 16-2-1 since Feb. 8 to move into a three-way tie for first place in the NHL and virtually wrap up a Metropolitan Division title with 99 points.
Atlantic Division foes Montreal and Tampa Bay could still make a run as well, though both would have to survive five road games in their last nine. They'll meet in a pivotal game at Montreal on March 30, and both face Nashville this week.
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It all adds up to a major challenge for the Blues, even though they'll take a one-point lead over Nashville into Tuesday night's game at Pittsburgh, set for 6 p.m. on FOX Sports Midwest. A win to cap off a rough six-game road trip would be huge heading into a three-game homestand that begins with a virtual must-win against Columbus, a bad team that shocked St. Louis 7-1 in February.
Either way, the Blues are a virtual lock for the playoffs, something that can't be said for the five teams fighting for the Western Conference's last four spots. Just five points separate fifth-place Minnesota and ninth-place Los Angeles, which sits four points ahead of Dallas with a game in hand.
The Kings have knocked St. Louis out of the playoffs two of the last three years and beat them in two of three games this season, but they face perhaps the toughest remaining schedule of those fighting for a spot. Los Angeles will see seven current playoff teams and play seven of its last 10 away from home, potentially bad news for the team with the Western Conference's worst road record aside from lowly Edmonton and Arizona.
If LA falls short, the Blues certainly won't be complaining.
You can follow Luke Thompson on Twitter at @FS_LukeT or email him at lukegthompson87@gmail.com.
