St. Louis Blues Hope Things Go Better in 2nd Game vs. Rangers

After the St. Louis Blues suffered a deflating 6-3 loss to the New York Rangers on November 11, they’ll try to have better results this time around.

One of the lowest points during the St. Louis Blues’ up-and-down 2015-16 season came on November 11, when they visited the New York Rangers for the second half of a two-game East Coast swing. After going into the game with a load of momentum from the “#RoarBacon” campaign that had risen from the Blues’ comeback overtime victory over the Blackhawks on November 4. After a 4-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils on November 10, everything came crashing down against the Rangers, as the Blues gave up three goals in the game’s first 15 minutes and ended up losing 6-3.

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After that game, veteran forward Martin Havlat chose to leave the team, and thanks to struggles with creating consistent offensive opportunities, the Blues didn’t win back-to-back games again until December 15 and 17. While it was just one game, it’s safe to say that the New York game was somewhat of a turning point in the Blues’ season, and now as they sit in a vulnerable spot again with Brian Elliott, Alexander Steen, and Alex Pietrangelo injured, the Blues will hope that Thursday’s game doesn’t cause as much damage.

While the Rangers are still in great position to earn a playoff berth, sitting in second place in the Metropolitan Division, they have just 74 points, sitting five points behind the Blues (who have to settle for third in the tightly-contested Central) and a whopping 18 behind their chief Metropolitan competition, the league-best Washington Capitals. The Rangers are currently on a two-game losing streak, having suffered a 5-2 road loss to the Devils on Tuesday, so they’re not exactly in the same comfortable spot that they were last time they faced the Blues. At that point, the Rangers had won six straight. That dominant stretch from October 25 to November 15, which ended up resulting in a nine-game winning streak, is still the best streak that the Rangers have been on this season.

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On Thursday, the Blues will undergo the most aggressive lineup change that they’ve had to deal with since February 12, when Jaden Schwartz‘s return shook things up.

St. Louis Blues Hope for Better Results in Second Meeting with New York Rangers

By Patrick Karraker | Feb 25, 2016

After the St. Louis Blues suffered a deflating 6-3 loss to the New York Rangers on November 11, they’ll try to have better results this time around.

More from Arch Authority