Opinion
4 min read

Can the St. Louis Blues Outshine the Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena?

As the St. Louis Blues gear up to face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena, fans are buzzing with anticipation for what promises to be an electrifying encounter on Valentine's Day. The Blues have been a force to reckon with, and their recent performances suggest that they could very well continue their dominant streak.


Jan 3, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) skates with the puck ahead of forward Mitch Marner (16) against the St. Louis Blues in the third period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Looking back at their last game on December 24th against the Chicago Blackhawks, the Blues showcased a remarkable offensive display, netting 7 goals out of 42 shots – an impressive shooting percentage of 17 percent. Their powerplay was particularly lethal, converting two opportunities into goals during their four chances. This kind of efficiency on special teams could be pivotal in their upcoming game against Toronto.


The defensive aspect was equally commendable; despite being hit with only two penalties throughout the game, they managed to keep Chicago's scoring in check and dominated faceoffs with a winning percentage of 60 percent. Such discipline will be crucial when facing a team like Toronto that has its own set of sharpshooters.


Jan 3, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Ilya Samsonov (35) makes a save as defenseman Rasmus Sandin (38) crashes into the net in overtime against the St. Louis Blues at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

In contrast, during their December 22nd battle against Florida Panthers, while they won by scoring four times from just 24 shots (also a shooting percentage of 17 percent), it was evident that faceoff performance needs improvement as they only won about one-third of them – something that can't be overlooked when going up against strong centermen from Toronto.


However, it wasn't all smooth sailing for STL; on December 20th versus Tampa Bay Lightning, they suffered due to penalties – taking five in total which included one major penalty leading to significant time spent shorthanded. Despite this setback and losing by five goals difference while managing only one goal themselves from twenty-nine shots (a mere three percent shooting success rate), there were positives such as killing off all but one powerplay faced and maintaining solid goaltending with twenty-seven saves out of thirty-three shots.


Jan 3, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Ilya Samsonov (35) makes a glove save on a shot from St. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou (25) in overtime at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

The key takeaway for STL is consistency in offense combined with disciplined play without sacrificing aggression or physicality – elements that will test Toronto's defense and goaltending capabilities.


Toronto Maple Leafs should not be underestimated though; playing at home provides them an edge along with any tactical adjustments they might employ after analyzing STL's recent games. It is essential for STL not just to anticipate these changes but also adapt swiftly during gameplay if necessary.


Blues fans should mark their calendars for February 14th when these two hockey titans clash under Canadian skies at midnight Eastern Time (ET). The match will broadcast nationally on ESPN+ over internet streams and locally on BSMW channel number six hundred seventy-one for those following away from home. This Valentine’s Day showdown may very well turn into a heart-stopping spectacle worthy of its primetime slot.

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