Can the St. Louis Blues address their biggest vulnerability from last season?
The Blues’ playoff run ended sooner than expected, with a crushing Game 7 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. Despite holding a 3-1 lead entering the third period, the Blues let the Jets score two quick goals during a 6-on-5 disadvantage, eventually losing the game and the series in double overtime. Can they fix this obvious weakness and come back stronger next season? 
As the Blues entered the final period of Game 7 with a 3-1 advantage, they were on the verge of clinching the series and moving into the second round. However, they collapsed in dramatic fashion, allowing two goals in the final seconds of regulation. Their fate was sealed in double overtime.
A key issue for the Blues during this game and in other close losses was their poor decision-making and lack of structure when playing with a 6-on-5 disadvantage. With the goalie pulled, the Blues shifted from aggressive offense and solid defense to a disorganized, overwhelmed team. The big question: What went wrong?
A Calculated Coaching Strategy
Jim Montgomery is widely regarded as one of the best coaches in the NHL, but even the best have their missteps.
Under Montgomery’s leadership, the Blues enjoyed a record-breaking season. However, much of their success came when they were either dictating the pace or adapting to the flow of the game. When faced with a 6-on-5 disadvantage, the Blues looked scattered, lacking any clear strategy.
The conventional approach would be to aim for an empty-net goal to seal the win. Yet Montgomery opted for a different route, prioritizing the strategy of icing the puck to limit scoring chances and not worrying about the empty net. While this approach can be effective when it works, it leaves the door open for the opposing team to capitalize on a late opportunity—exactly what happened in the Blues’ heartbreaking loss.
Adjusting for the Future
In his end-of-season press conference, Montgomery admitted that the Blues’ 6-on-5 play needed improvement. He acknowledged the flaws in his strategy and promised to reassess how the team approaches these situations. He indicated that he would look to other successful teams in the league for inspiration on how to handle late-game scenarios more effectively.
The most effective strategy seems to be attempting to secure the game with an empty-net goal, rather than continually icing the puck. Given Montgomery’s aggressive, high-intensity coaching style, it’s likely that he will integrate this mentality even during 6-on-5 situations to better close out games.
Montgomery’s background with the Blues, particularly his previous role as an assistant coach overseeing the penalty kill, offers hope that he has the experience and knowledge to adapt. If he can refine the team’s approach to man-disadvantage situations, the Blues may avoid similar late-game heartbreaks in the future.
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