Written by Jeremy Rutherford at St.Louis Post-Dispatch.com
To say that the Blues missed an opportunity Monday night would be both an understatement and extremely appropriate.
In spoiling a chance to clinch a trip to the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2001, falling 3-2 to Dallas in Game 6 on home ice at Scottrade Center, the Blues missed 19 shots.
Let’s put this in more context: The Blues directed 75 shots on net compared to 25 by the Stars. Their 19 misfires were more than the visitors had on goal, 14.
But while the Blues responded well after spotting Dallas a 3-0 lead, Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen shut the door on another analytics-defying game in this best-of-seven conference semifinal series, forcing a deciding Game 7.
Yes, St. Louis, let your fingernails grow out for the next two days because at 7 p.m. Wednesday, you’ll need them to gnaw on.
This will be the second Game 7 the Blues will play in this postseason, following one in the first round against Chicago. They won that one 3-2 at home, but this one will be on the road at American Airlines Center.
“We’ve won twice in their building already,” Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. “I don’t think it matters where you play a Game 7. You get a chance to play it, it’s special. I think our players will be excited. I think they’re disappointed. There’s disappointment and we’ll get over that tomorrow. We’ll get focused and we’ll play really well again.”
The Blues fell to 1-3 in chances to clinch in these playoffs, including 1-2 at home. On the bright side heading into Wednesday’s elimination game, the team is 4-2 on the road this postseason, compared to 3-4 at home.
There were 19,808 in attendance at Scottrade Center on Monday hoping to celebrate the franchise’s first trip to the conference finals in 15 years. But it was clear six minutes into Game 6 that it was going to take some work to make that happen.
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