Blues Are First NHL Team To Clinch Playoff Position With Win Over Lightning

Last night’s 3-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning was more than a memorable debut for Jaden Schwartz. With the win, the Blues were not only the first NHL team to hit 100 points this season, they were also the first team to clinch a playoff berth. In a pleasant change for Blues fans, there will be no more hovering over the page on SportsClub Stats that lists probability of making the playoffs. No nailbiting to the last day of the season means that Blues fans can relax for the first time since before the lockout, knowing that their team is all but assured a spot in the playoffs. 2009 was fun, but it was heart attack inducing. This? This is something that they need to look into doing every season.

Blues Vs. Lightning Final Score: 3-1 Win Gets Blues 100 Points First In NHL

This is something that I’m fairly sure that no one in the Blues fanbase — or in the NHL fanbase — envisioned this season. The Blues getting into the playoffs? Sure. The Blues being the first team in the NHL to crack the 100 point barrier? No way.

The Blues played a strong game all evening, albiet it wasn’t necessarily one that could have beaten the Hurricanes on Thursday. Cam Ward was on his game and focused. Dwayne Roloson tonight? Twenty-three shots on goal and three goals past Roloson. Halak? Just one goal allowed on 23 shots.

That sole goal was Brendan Mikkelson’s first in his NHL career, which explains the excitement:

As it stands, though, that victory could very well be a clincher for the Blues as far as getting into the playoffs goes. Mathematically there’s no way that they miss now. How many more points will they add on?

Blues Vs. Lightning Second Period Score: David Perron Gives Blues Important Third Goal

The Blues have only lost one game this season in which they’ve scored three or more goals; the Lightning don’t seem too interested in adding to that loss total at all. The Blues have 16 goals to the Lightning’s 14, but the 2nd period wasn’t much to be excited about for fans of either team. The Bolts managed eight shots on goal, while the Blues managed only three — the difference here is that one of the Blues’ goals went past Lightning goaltender Dwayne Roloson:

That was David Perron’s 15th goal of the year, and T.J. Oshie’s team leading 32nd assist. One more period separates the Blues from being the first NHL team to hit 100 points this season. Can they manage it? Signs are pointing to yes.

Blues Vs. Lightning First Period Score: Berglund's Short Handed Goal And Schwartz's First NHL Goal Puts Blue Up 2-0

It certainly did not take much for the Blues to exploit Dwayne Roloson's shakiness in goal tonight. Frankly, despite a few saves on Steven Stamkos on Jaroslav Halak in the first period, the game has been all St. Louis. The Blues' first goal was a shorthanded beauty by Patrik Berglund. A penalty kill courtesy of Scott Nichol didn't dampen the Blues' offense. Heck, they're going against Roli. This season against him, anything's possible! This, especially, is possible:

If you thought that was it for the first, you were sorely disappointed -- or else treated to a pleasant surprise. Jaden Schwartz, in his first game with the Blues, plunked himself down in the line-up like he was here the whole time. Plunking himself to Roloson's right during his 3rd line shift, he caught a rebound and an over-committed Roloson all at the same time. It was a recipe for a goal:

Welcome to the NHL, kiddo. Keep up the good work.

Blues Vs. Lightning: Prospect Jaden Schwartz To Make Debut Tonight

The Blues signed their 2010 first round draft pick (14th overall) Jaden Schwartz to a professional contract on March 12th, and fans have been anxious to see him in action. He didn’t debut against the Chicago Blackhawks, and he didn’t debut against the Carolina Hurricanes, but tonight he finally gets his chance against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Unfortunately, the injury to Andy McDonald on the Tuomo Ruutu hit Thursday night has him listed week-to-week. The silver lining to this cloud is that the hole in the line-up is giving Schwartz a chance to hop in. Where will he be used? GM Doug Armstrong believes he’s a top-nine kind of guy, but chances are even better that he’ll be filling in top-six for McDonald. He’ll be starting the game on a line with Jamie Langenbrunner and Patrik Berglund, but who know where he’ll end the night. The Blues have been playing sloppy hockey and Lightning goalie Dwayne Roloson is an easy target — Schwartz could be seeing more ice time than he expected.

Blues Vs. Lightning: St. Louis Will Need Luck To Stop Steven Stamkos

The Blues had a messy game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday; they'll need to play smart to keep last season's Eastern Conference runners-up off of the scoreboard.