The St. Louis Blues might be seven points shy of a playoff spot in the Western Conference wildcard race, but they're turning heads with a sizzling 7-2-1 record since the Olympic break. While some might question if this late-season push aligns with their apparent rebuild strategy post-trade deadline, there's no denying the standout performances fueling this surge.
Leading the charge is Jimmy Snuggerud, recently honored as the NHL's Third Star of the Week. Alongside linemates Robert Thomas and Dylan Holloway, they've formed one of the league's most dynamic trios. On defense, Philip Broberg is emerging as a top-pair force, while Logan Mailloux is finding his groove in a top-four role.
But let's not overlook the backbone of this hot streak: the phenomenal goaltending duo of Joel Hofer and Jordan Binnington. Together, they've anchored the Blues with a remarkable .936 team save percentage over the last ten games, surrendering just 19 goals on 298 shots.
Hofer has been particularly impressive, boasting a 5-0-1 record, a .948 save percentage, and a 1.7 goals against average. Binnington, despite a 2-2-0 record, has shown marked improvement with a .924 save percentage, a significant uptick from earlier in the season.
While the Blues' playoff hopes remain slim, with only a one percent chance of making it according to Money Puck, this team has a history of defying the odds with late-season rallies. Whether this run will be enough to keep their postseason dreams alive remains to be seen, but they're certainly making things interesting.