Observations From Blues’ 5-3 Win Vs. Mammoth

Thomas scores second hat trick in 11 days, team has found a No. 1 line; despite slot start to season, Buchnevich reaches 20 goals; Mailloux scores game-winner, a beautiful goal, an appetizer of what this player can be; Blues finish 17-5-3 post-Olympic break, 11th in draft pecking order; Parayko 800

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Well, we’ve come to the close of the twenty-twenty five-twenty six St. Louis Blues season, and they close it out with another victory, matching a season-high four-game winning streak done two other times, so three total on the season.

Well, we’ve come to the close of the twenty-twenty five-twenty six St. Louis Blues season, and they close it out with another victory, matching a season-high four-game winning streak done two other times, so three total on the season.

They close out with a five to three win against the Utah Mammoth to close the season at thirty-seven, thirty-three, and twelve.

They close out with a five to three win against the Utah Mammoth to close the season at thirty-seven, thirty-three, and twelve.

They fall four points shy of reaching the Stanley Cup playoffs for the second season in a row.

They fall four points shy of reaching the Stanley Cup playoffs for the second season in a row.

Instead, they will be on the outside looking in for three out of the last four years.

Instead, they will be on the outside looking in for three out of the last four years.

I know basically since the Olympic break, so we’re going back to February 26th, a lot of you have been on the fence of whether you wanted to see this team succeed or whether you wanted to see them tank.

I know basically since the Olympic break, so we’re going back to February 26th, a lot of you have been on the fence of whether you wanted to see this team succeed or whether you wanted to see them tank.

And I understand both ends of the spectrum because the Blues, who closed seventeen, five, and three, obviously one of the best records in the league since the Olympic break, they went from being second to last in the draft lottery pecking order to finishing eleventh, eleventh from the bottom.

And I understand both ends of the spectrum because the Blues, who closed seventeen, five, and three, obviously one of the best records in the league since the Olympic break, they went from being second to last in the draft lottery pecking order to finishing eleventh, eleventh from the bottom.

And I know a lot of you are gonna be looking at that as, “Oh, here they go again.

And I know a lot of you are gonna be looking at that as, “Oh, here they go again.

They’re just good enough to be in that murky middle.”

They’re just good enough to be in that murky middle.”

Let me tell you something.

Let me tell you something.

would you like to have, Gavin McKenna?

would you like to have, Gavin McKenna?

Sure.

Sure.

Would you like to have Ivar Stenberg?

Would you like to have Ivar Stenberg?

Sure.

Sure.

Would you like to have Keaton Verhoff, Carson Carrolls?

Would you like to have Keaton Verhoff, Carson Carrolls?

I can go on and on here.

I can go on and on here.

Caleb Malhotra.

Caleb Malhotra.

There’s a lot of, lot of good-looking prospects that the Blues are gonna be able to get, barring if they make any kind of a move off of the number eleven.

There’s a lot of, lot of good-looking prospects that the Blues are gonna be able to get, barring if they make any kind of a move off of the number eleven.

Oh, and by the way, they have number fifteen as well, depending on the draft pecking order, their pick from the Detroit Red Wings.

Oh, and by the way, they have number fifteen as well, depending on the draft pecking order, their pick from the Detroit Red Wings.

So if they finish in the order that they are in right now, that’s two first-round picks in five.

So if they finish in the order that they are in right now, that’s two first-round picks in five.

So– But let me tell you something.

So– But let me tell you something.

When you look at the grand scheme of things, for all of you detractors that have been dead set against them on making any kind of a run, another playoff run, playing, quote-unquote, “meaningless games,” as a fan, you found yourself a number one line, and not just a number one line, a bona fide number one line.

When you look at the grand scheme of things, for all of you detractors that have been dead set against them on making any kind of a run, another playoff run, playing, quote-unquote, “meaningless games,” as a fan, you found yourself a number one line, and not just a number one line, a bona fide number one line.

Check out some of the numbers that I have listed below of Robert Thomas, who had a hat trick, by the way, tonight, his second in eleven days, his second in the NHL.

Check out some of the numbers that I have listed below of Robert Thomas, who had a hat trick, by the way, tonight, his second in eleven days, his second in the NHL.

Robert Thomas, Dylan Holloway, who finished in his last twelve games with seven goals and twelve assists, nineteen points in twelve games.

Robert Thomas, Dylan Holloway, who finished in his last twelve games with seven goals and twelve assists, nineteen points in twelve games.

And Jimmy Snuggerud, who I’m telling you, this kid’s gonna score thirty-plus goals next year.

And Jimmy Snuggerud, who I’m telling you, this kid’s gonna score thirty-plus goals next year.

I, I can almost guarantee that.

I, I can almost guarantee that.

barring any injuries with these guys, I think you finally have yourself a bona fide number one line.

barring any injuries with these guys, I think you finally have yourself a bona fide number one line.

Can we look at it that way, please?

Can we look at it that way, please?

And have something there that you can be extremely and highly optimistic about, because let’s face it, before the Olympic break, we didn’t know what you had.

And have something there that you can be extremely and highly optimistic about, because let’s face it, before the Olympic break, we didn’t know what you had.

This team was a team that was near the bottom of the league in goal scoring.

This team was a team that was near the bottom of the league in goal scoring.

But when you threw eighty-one, eighteen, and twenty-one over the boards after the Olympic break, you had a chance to not only win games, but just affect games every time they were on the ice.

But when you threw eighty-one, eighteen, and twenty-one over the boards after the Olympic break, you had a chance to not only win games, but just affect games every time they were on the ice.

This is a line you must start twenty-twenty six, twenty-seven with.

This is a line you must start twenty-twenty six, twenty-seven with.

I– Again, barring any major change where Alex Steen, once he takes over on July 1st, is gonna be able to sign somebody which I don’t see or make a trade for a bona fide star that you can say deserves to be a top line player here.

I– Again, barring any major change where Alex Steen, once he takes over on July 1st, is gonna be able to sign somebody which I don’t see or make a trade for a bona fide star that you can say deserves to be a top line player here.

Eighty-one, eighteen, and twenty-one should be not penciled in, penned in as your number one line next year.

Eighty-one, eighteen, and twenty-one should be not penciled in, penned in as your number one line next year.

I mean, this, this group totaled ninety-five points in twenty-five games after the Olympic break.

I mean, this, this group totaled ninety-five points in twenty-five games after the Olympic break.

Think about that, ninety-five points.

Think about that, ninety-five points.

They were one, two, and four in plus-minus in those twenty-five games, and I– and, and Thomas only played in twenty-three of them because he was coming back off of that leg procedure that he had.

They were one, two, and four in plus-minus in those twenty-five games, and I– and, and Thomas only played in twenty-three of them because he was coming back off of that leg procedure that he had.

So be happy about that.

So be happy about that.

The fact that you have a bona fide number one line, one that you can say, “Those guys are difference makers.”

The fact that you have a bona fide number one line, one that you can say, “Those guys are difference makers.”

They found that post-Olympics.

They found that post-Olympics.

Colton Parayko, number eight hundred, game number eight hundred tonight.

Colton Parayko, number eight hundred, game number eight hundred tonight.

Congratulations to him, one of the good guys on this team.

Congratulations to him, one of the good guys on this team.

Somebody who was almost traded at the trade deadline to the Buffalo Sabres until he nixed it, and he had every right to do that.

Somebody who was almost traded at the trade deadline to the Buffalo Sabres until he nixed it, and he had every right to do that.

continues to climb up the pecking order on the franchise games played list.Next up is Barrett Jackman at 8-0-3 in second place, and then you’ve got Bernie Federko at 9-27, number one overall.

continues to climb up the pecking order on the franchise games played list.Next up is Barrett Jackman at 8-0-3 in second place, and then you’ve got Bernie Federko at 9-27, number one overall.

It’ll take Parako another couple of years to reach that, and you have to assume that he’s going to be here to be able to do that.

It’ll take Parako another couple of years to reach that, and you have to assume that he’s going to be here to be able to do that.

11 years for him here.

11 years for him here.

Colt 55 deserves the honor.

Colt 55 deserves the honor.

Number 800 tonight.

Number 800 tonight.

Logan Mayhew scored the game winner tonight.

Logan Mayhew scored the game winner tonight.

What a beautiful backhand.

What a beautiful backhand.

Makes a read off a turnover, gets into the slot, top-top shelf cheese on the backhand.

Makes a read off a turnover, gets into the slot, top-top shelf cheese on the backhand.

Now, we’ve had many discussion on this young player throughout the year.

Now, we’ve had many discussion on this young player throughout the year.

Yes, he started slow.

Yes, he started slow.

Yes, things didn’t go well for him early on, but man, did he really pick it up.

Yes, things didn’t go well for him early on, but man, did he really pick it up.

20 of his last 24 games, he played 20-plus minutes, and he was playing with Philip Broberg, getting the other team’s best assignments.

20 of his last 24 games, he played 20-plus minutes, and he was playing with Philip Broberg, getting the other team’s best assignments.

I thought he took leaps-leaps and bounds moving forward.

I thought he took leaps-leaps and bounds moving forward.

And not just the goal itself, because we’re doing observations for tonight’s game, but I thought that goal that he scored tonight, he had a str- he had a rough stretch in the first period in the game Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

And not just the goal itself, because we’re doing observations for tonight’s game, but I thought that goal that he scored tonight, he had a str- he had a rough stretch in the first period in the game Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

But listen, he’s just 22 years old.

But listen, he’s just 22 years old.

He’s gonna– mistakes are still gonna happen.

He’s gonna– mistakes are still gonna happen.

This kid’s still got a lot to learn.

This kid’s still got a lot to learn.

But that goal, to me, was a microcosm just how far his game and his season has come.

But that goal, to me, was a microcosm just how far his game and his season has come.

So take that for what you will.

So take that for what you will.

this team really showed a lot.

this team really showed a lot.

But then again, this is gonna be another dis- a discussion for another day.

But then again, this is gonna be another dis- a discussion for another day.

you have to wonder why they missed the playoffs.

you have to wonder why they missed the playoffs.

We’ll get into that then.

We’ll get into that then.

But again, tonight was another win.

But again, tonight was another win.

they finished 10-2-2 on the road in their last 14 games.

they finished 10-2-2 on the road in their last 14 games.

This team did a lot of good things right.

This team did a lot of good things right.

Tonight was another one.

Tonight was another one.

They capped it.

They capped it.

They-they didn’t fold.

They-they didn’t fold.

They didn’t go into the tank like a lot of people were hoping that they would.

They didn’t go into the tank like a lot of people were hoping that they would.

And there’s a lot to be optimistic for moving forward.

And there’s a lot to be optimistic for moving forward.

There really is.

There really is.

A lot of good young talent that’s gonna be coming in here

A lot of good young talent that’s gonna be coming in here

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