The date was January 19th, 2009. The Blues were sitting in last place in the Western Conference, and decimated by injuries. Erik Johnson had been out for the entire season. Captain Eric Brewer joined him. Paul Kariya had been out of the line-up since the eleventh game of the season and never returned. Andy McDonald continued to be thwarted in his attempts at an early comback from injury. Rookie T.J. Oshie was suffering from an upper ankle sprain.
That night, they visited the first place Boston Bruins.
Down two late in the game, the Blues were able to rally back and score two goals with under a minute left in regulation to tie the contest. They proceeded to win in a shootout.
From that point forward they had the best record in the entire NHL.
The Blues got large contributions from Nashville cast-off Chris Mason in net, forcing them to exile Manny Legace to the minors, along with steady defensive play from stay-at-home defenseman Barret Jackman and former Maple Leaf Carlo Colaiacovo.
Upfront, the Blues received large contributions from the expected, in the form of Brad Boyes, Andy McDonald, and Keith Tkachuk, but also from their youngsters - sophmore David Perron, and Rookies T.J. Oshie and Patrik Berglund. David Backes became a force once moved to center, scoring 31 goals, including a phenomenal four goal game against the defending Stanley Cup Champion Red Wings.
Down the stretch, T.J. Oshie was the straw that stirred the drink. He electrified St. Louis with bone-jarring hits, anchored the first unit power-play at the point, and was arguably the Blue's best penalty-killer. He took home rookie of the month honors in March with 13 points in 14 games, and helped anchor a line with Berglund and Perron that was a large reason why the Blues were able to scratch and claw their way into the playoffs.
When John Davidson came to town, he revolutionized the Blues' culture. He made tickets more affordable, put the right guys in charge, and made the Blues a fan favorite in Missouri once again. One of his best moves was undoubtedly the acquisition of Andy Murray's services.
Murray has been able to bring along the Blues' youngsters, while still getting the best out of his veterans, to create a successful blend of old and new. He was able to construct the defense in a fashion that made them much better than the sum of their parts. Simply put, he made them a team.
The Blues may have been swept by Vancouver, but by no means do they have anything to be ashamed about.
The brightest days are still ahead in St. Louis...
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