Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

5 reasons the Blues finally broke through to the Stanley Cup finals
St. Louis Post-Dispatch ^ | 22 May 2019 | Ben Frederickson

Posted on 05/22/2019 4:43:15 AM PDT by ShadowAce

Yes, it really happened.

No, you were not dreaming.

Your St. Louis Blues are four wins away from their first Stanley Cup, four wins away from that parade, four wins away from a curse cured.

A tornado warning tried to stop them.

Like the Sharks and the Stars and the Jets, it failed.

These Blues changed coaches, changed goalies, and, in front of a sold-out Enterprise Center crowd on a stormy Tuesday night, changed perceptions of an organization that had been blocked from the Stanley Cup finals since 1970.

Hey buddy, they’re still here. And there, crying in the hallway near the dressing room, was Kelly Chase, the man who first read that Blues rallying cry. And there was little Laila, the Blues’ superhero, interviewing Alexander Steen. And there was Bobby Plager in his playoff beard, celebrating for two.

A crowd of 18,684 assembled beneath a scary sky, and that's not counting the mass at Ballpark Village. The hockey gods stirred over our downtown. Tornado sirens sounded. So? Those who could not be here watched from their basements — if their reception didn't cut out. The storm calmed. The sirens stopped. Not long after the Blues scored the first goal of the game, the rain ceased.

Blues legends Chris Pronger, Brett Hull and a long list of teary-eyed, well-oiled alums tried to make sense of a 5-1 Blues win. Current Cardinals Adam Wainwright, Yadier Molina and Kolten Wong cheered like Average Joes. Old friends Chris Long and David Freese popped up on the big screen, stirring roars. It was a movie in real life, and it just now reached the best part.

“We’re not done, boys,” Blues coach Craig Berube told his men.

“There’s still one more opponent to beat,” Vladimir Tarasenko said.

Boston beckons.


(Excerpt) Read more at stltoday.com ...


TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: gloria; hockey; stlouisblues
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-31 next last
It's been 49 years since the Blues have made it to the Finals. And we've never won the Cup.

This is our year.

1 posted on 05/22/2019 4:43:16 AM PDT by ShadowAce
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: ShadowAce

I remember when the franchise almost moved to Canada and one name prematurely discussed was some form of “Saska-Toons.”


2 posted on 05/22/2019 4:45:35 AM PDT by ConservativeStatement (God Bless America. Thank you, Kate Smith!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ShadowAce

I wish you well! Besides the Isles, the blues are the team i want to see win a Cup the most, it’s a GREAT hockey town.


3 posted on 05/22/2019 4:45:47 AM PDT by LRoggy (Peter's Son's Business)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ConservativeStatement
Yup. I remember that as well. I've been a fan, and watching them since the 70's. Every year I've been disappointed, and this year I was expecting the same disappointment.

In fact, my standard for success had sunk to the point of "if we make it to the playoffs at all, it's been a good year."

To have come this far is beyond anything I had expected.

4 posted on 05/22/2019 4:51:16 AM PDT by ShadowAce (Linux - The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: LRoggy

If memory serves.....St. Louis is the only NHL team to have a live organ player at their games. I remember them in every arena. Now, it’s just blaring bad music.


5 posted on 05/22/2019 5:00:45 AM PDT by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to says)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: ShadowAce

Good luck to you guys. It’s time.

And I’m a Philly fan who remembers the infamous Flyers-Blues Spectrum Rumble back in the early 70s... Ahh, the good old days... :^)

Berube is a former Flyer, I wish him and the Blues well.


6 posted on 05/22/2019 5:03:41 AM PDT by NFHale (The Second Amendment - By Any Means Necessary.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NFHale

It was a great game. Good luck to the Blues. In my household we have a saying and that applies to all sports. “Anyone, but Boston.”


7 posted on 05/22/2019 5:17:11 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (Only a Replacement Wall? Ann Coulter is deeply saddened)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: ShadowAce

Good luck...those victory parades in Boston are becoming tedious anyway...


8 posted on 05/22/2019 5:19:52 AM PDT by Geronimo (God Bless America and President Donald J. Trump...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ShadowAce
It would be good to see St. Louis win this year. They weren't among my favorites, but all the teams I was pulling for ended up losing early on.

I've often speculated that the Blues must have been one of the worst-managed teams for a franchise that had the resources to get a lot of talent. You could make a Hall of Fame roster of former St. Louis Blues who played on some really good teams -- Brett Hull, Adam Oates, Al MacInnis, Chris Pronger, Grant Fuhr, Scott Stevens, Brendan Shanahan, Rod Brind'Amour, Pierre Turgeon, Curtis Joseph, etc. And yet they always seemed to be missing one or two key playoff ingredients and would quietly lose in the first or second round after being one of the top teams in the regular season. In this sense they were almost like the Philadelphia Flyers of the Western Conference.

9 posted on 05/22/2019 5:28:44 AM PDT by Alberta's Child ("Out on the road today I saw a Deadhead sticker on a Cadillac.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ShadowAce
This is our year.

I'm rooting for your team. One of my best pals is from beantown, and since the Pats and Sox both won championships this past season, he is insufferable.

If the bruins win, I can never visit him again {I'm from the Burgh, so we know how to win and lose with class and dignity, but Boston uggghhhhh}.

GO BLUES!

10 posted on 05/22/2019 5:32:27 AM PDT by USS Alaska (Nuke all mooselimb terrorists, today.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Puppage

If I have to hear another Bostonian yammer on about "the drought is over...it's been 90 days since the last victory parade" I'll puke. Go Blues!

11 posted on 05/22/2019 5:35:56 AM PDT by DoodleBob (Gravity's waiting period is about 9.8 m/s^2)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: ShadowAce
GLORIA !!!

Beat the Bruins :)

12 posted on 05/22/2019 5:38:05 AM PDT by onona (It is often wise to allow a person a graceful path.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EQAndyBuzz; ShadowAce

Blues versus Philly Fans and Philly PD:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J72dYTLfKUQ

Bob Plager on the brawl:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRl3WEPAhok

Yeah... that’s Old School Philly... haha!!


13 posted on 05/22/2019 5:39:19 AM PDT by NFHale (The Second Amendment - By Any Means Necessary.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: NFHale
Yeah--the Phillys may have changed, but I still don't like them.

At. All.

14 posted on 05/22/2019 5:57:23 AM PDT by ShadowAce (Linux - The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: ShadowAce
I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned yet the opponent that the St. Louis Blues had back in the 1970 finals.

The Boston Bruins!

1970 was the year of Bobby Orr's famous Stanley Cup winning goal - against the Blues.

15 posted on 05/22/2019 5:57:29 AM PDT by SamAdams76
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SamAdams76

yup. I’m really looking forward to this series. I think we can pay them back for that.


16 posted on 05/22/2019 6:01:47 AM PDT by ShadowAce (Linux - The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: ShadowAce

Avs fan rooting for the Blues but honestly believe that Boston will hoist the cup.


17 posted on 05/22/2019 6:23:34 AM PDT by taxcontrol (Stupid should hurt - dad's wisdom)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ShadowAce

A rematch of the Bobby Orr Flying Through the Air Series.
Sweet!


18 posted on 05/22/2019 6:24:11 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ShadowAce

19 posted on 05/22/2019 6:25:23 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DoodleBob

"Don't ever play 'Lady of Spain' again!"

20 posted on 05/22/2019 6:26:55 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-31 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson