St. Louis defenseman Chris Pronger has this theory. Considering the Norris Trophy favorite is 6 feet 6 inches, 210 pounds and the owner of a gaudy–not to mention league-leading–plus-minus rating of plus-52, who can argue?
The theory centers on the Presidents’ Trophy, which Pronger’s Blues captured by having the best regular-season record in the National Hockey League. The Blues recently were presented with the trophy in a pregame ceremony, and Pronger was asked why he didn’t skate a lap with it lofted high above his head, a la the Stanley Cup.
“It might get broken,” Pronger said. “It has a lot of parts that can break. I don’t think that big tin one can break. You can dent it pretty good.”
In other words, winning the Presidents’ Trophy barely put a dent in the Blues’ focus on hockey’s Holy Grail, the Stanley Cup.
Welcome to the wild, wacky and wonderful world of the NHL playoffs, which begin Wednesday and where regular-season success doesn’t always translate. Just ask the New Jersey Devils who, after posting the second-best record each of the past two seasons, humbly bowed out in the first round.
Granted, last season’s Presidents’ Trophy winners–the Dallas Stars–went on to capture the Stanley Cup. But that hadn’t happened since the 1993-94 season, when the Rangers accomplished the feat, and has occurred just twice since 1989.
Don’t think the Blues, who face San Jose in a Western Conference quarterfinal beginning Wednesday, aren’t aware of this.
“I’m not overlooking the first round,” St. Louis coach Joel Quenneville said. “The first round is the toughest you have to play. Everybody plays so hard. You have to guard against overlooking it and thinking you still have three more rounds. You can’t look at what’s down the road. Anybody can beat anybody on any given day. Anything can happen.”
The Blues–who, to some people, could be renamed the St. Louis Whos–still are fighting for respect following their stellar regular season. The Blues became just the 10th team in history–and first since 1955-56–to allow an average of less than two goals per game at 1.98. They also proved they can win on the road, tying New Jersey’s NHL record with 10 straight victories away from the Kiel Center.
Roman Turek, in his first full season as a No. 1 goaltender, led the league in shutouts with seven and finished second in victories (42) and goals-against average (1.95). A solid blue-line group anchored by stalwarts Pronger and Al MacInnis, along with a forwards corps that constantly thinks defensive responsibility and applies backside pressure, is just the type of buttoned-down play that stands out come playoff time. Just ask the Blackhawks if the system works: Twice this season, St. Louis limited them to a franchise-low 11 shots.
Yet the Blues haven’t reached a conference championship since the 1985-86 season, so questions remain about their experience.
“Obviously if you haven’t won a Cup or been there, there always will be question marks,” Pronger said. “The only thing we can do is go out and do it and set the record straight. Everybody in our dressing room feels we can do it.
“The way our forwards have played this year and the way we rely on them to come back and create backside pressure allows us, as defensemen, to stand up and create turnovers. From that, we create a lot of our offense.”
The leader of that offense, right wing Pavol Demitra, is sidelined indefinitely with effects of post-concussion syndrome following a hit he incurred March 24. Third-leading goal scorer Scott Young also is listed as day-to-day with a dislocated shoulder.
That said, look for the Blues to dispatch the Sharks and enter a delicious second-round matchup against Central Division rival Detroit. That’s because St. Louis also proved the ability to overcome injuries; MacInnis and center Pierre Turgeon both missed substantial time this season and the Blues barely blinked.
“Guys have either been called up or the extras have been able to come in and fill a role and play extremely well for us,” said Pronger, alluding to 12 double-digit goal scorers. “Consistency has been our biggest strength.”
Consistency is exactly what is needed to survive the marathon-like rigors that define the NHL playoffs. Depth is needed because injuries will happen. Clutch goals are expected because goalies will stand on their heads. Strong defense is necessary because goals can be scarce.
Besides St. Louis, Detroit, Dallas and Colorado have legitimate shots to come out of the Western Conference. The Red Wings had the second-best overall record and feature a deep defense led by Nicklas Lidstrom. Goaltender Chris Osgood always seems to have his credentials questioned, but he started for one Stanley Cup-winning Red Wings team.
Peter Forsberg is sidelined indefinitely with a separated right shoulder for Colorado. But the Avalanche is still potent and will be hungry to win defenseman Ray Bourque his first Stanley Cup. Dallas, plagued by injuries all season, is getting healthy at the right time.
Any team could win the Eastern Conference. Any team could be eliminated in the first round of the Eastern Conference. Such is the balance and parity. The most lopsided pairing in terms of seedings–No. 1 Philadelphia against No. 8 Buffalo–could be the most competitive.
The Flyers went 3-1 against the Sabres during the regular season. But they never faced goaltender Dominik Hasek, who played in just 35 games this season but is red-hot right now. The Flyers also will be starting rookie Brian Boucher in goal and are without Eric Lindros, shelved with a concussion.
“The No. 1 thing with Buffalo is Hasek,” Flyers forward Keith Jones said. “They can change whatever they want around him, but they have still got Hasek. That’s going to be the guy we have to beat.”
Also in the East, No. 2 seed Washington will have to beat Pittsburgh, which defeated the Capitals three of four times this season.
