By Jeremy Rutherford (The Athletic)
This season, St. Louis Blues players are passing around a vintage Keith Tkachuk Jofa-brand helmet as a symbolic award for the player of the game.
There were several worthy candidates in the club’s 3-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday. But after a serious stumble in San Jose and another “L” in L.A., the helmet could have been passed around the coaches’ office.
Craig Berube, who was celebrating his five-year anniversary since being promoted as the Blues’ head coach, proved over the weekend that his voice still resonates with the club and his decisions are still making a difference.
The credit should be shared with Berube’s staff, including the video staff, which I’ll address in a bit.
The shocking 5-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks three days earlier could have been season-debilitating. They didn’t just lose. They didn’t show up — against the worst team in the NHL.
For those fans who dealt with the defeat diplomatically, there was still a sense of “they better come out strong” against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday if they want anyone to believe this season will be worth watching. And they didn’t, down 4-0 after the first period of an eventual 5-1 loss.
L.A. is a good team, sitting No. 5 in the NHL standings after the game. Still, how did the Blues win five of six games, including victories over New Jersey, Colorado and Tampa Bay, and then get demolished in back-to-back games by a combined score of 10-2?
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