2018–19 St. Louis Blues season

The 2018–19 St. Louis Blues season was the 52nd season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 5, 1967.[1] The Blues were in last place in the league in January, but rallied to make the playoffs. They advanced to the finals against the Boston Bruins and won in seven games for the first Stanley Cup in franchise history.

2018–19 St. Louis Blues
Stanley Cup champions
Western Conference champions
Division3rd Central
Conference5th Western
2018–19 record45–28–9
Home record24–15–2
Road record21–13–7
Goals for247
Goals against223
Team information
General managerDoug Armstrong
CoachMike Yeo (Oct. 4 – Nov. 19)
Craig Berube (Nov. 19 – Jun. 12)
CaptainAlex Pietrangelo
Alternate captainsAlexander Steen
Vladimir Tarasenko
ArenaEnterprise Center
Minor league affiliate(s)San Antonio Rampage (AHL)
Tulsa Oilers (ECHL)
Team leaders
GoalsVladimir Tarasenko (33)
AssistsRyan O'Reilly (49)
PointsRyan O'Reilly (77)
Penalty minutesJoel Edmundson (68)
Plus/minusRyan O'Reilly (+22)
WinsJordan Binnington (24)
Goals against averageJordan Binnington (1.89)

The Blues were the fourth St. Louis-based pro sports team to win a major championship, joining the eleven-time World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball, the 1957–58 St. Louis (now Atlanta) Hawks of the NBA, and the 1999–2000 St. Louis (now Los Angeles) Rams of the NFL. This made St. Louis the eighth city to win a championship in each of the four major U.S. sports.

Off-season

On May 30, 2018, the Blues named Mike Van Ryn as assistant coach, replacing Darryl Sydor, who stepped down to spend more time with his family. Van Ryn played the first three seasons (2000–2003) of his eight years in the NHL with the Blues, scoring 13 points in 69 games.[2]

The Blues extended their affiliation with the Tulsa Oilers of the ECHL on May 31.[3]

Season summary

The Blues started the season sluggish, and head coach Mike Yeo was fired on November 19 with the team's record at 7–9–3.[4] Craig Berube, who had served as assistant coach with the Blues since 2017, was named the interim head coach.[4] St. Louis began the 2019 calendar year with the worst record in the league; 15–18–4 and 34 points recorded.[5] Soon after, rookie goaltender Jordan Binnington joined the team. On January 7, he won his first game in a shutout and took over as the team's starting goaltender. The Blues then went on a franchise-record 11-game winning streak and had a 30–10–5 run to finish the season. They clinched a playoff spot on March 29, 2019.[6][7]

In the playoffs, the Blues defeated the Winnipeg Jets, Dallas Stars, and San Jose Sharks to advance to the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals, where they faced the Boston Bruins. It was their first Finals appearance since 1970.[8] On May 29, 2019, St. Louis won a Stanley Cup Finals series' game for the first time in franchise history after getting swept in three previous series (1968–1970), as they defeated the Bruins 3–2 in overtime in game 2.[9] On June 12, 2019, they defeated the Bruins in seven games to win the first Stanley Cup title in franchise history.[10] Until then, they were the oldest franchise to have never won a Stanley Cup.[11]

Ryan O'Reilly, who had been acquired in a trade during the previous offseason, was the Blues' top regular season scorer with 77 points. He then had a franchise-record 23 playoff points and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs. O'Reilly also won the Frank J. Selke Trophy for the league's best defensive forward during the regular season.[12][13]

"Gloria"

St. Louis had been in last place in the NHL on January 3. On the night of January 6, a few Blues players were in a Philadelphia bar watching the National Football League "Double Doink" wildcard game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears. The DJ played the 1982 Laura Branigan song "Gloria", and according to defenceman Joel Edmundson, "this one guy looked at the DJ and said, 'Keep playing "Gloria"!' so they kept playing it. Everyone would get up and start singing and dancing. We just sat back and watched it happen. Right there we decided we should play the song after our wins." The following day, goaltender Jordan Binnington made his first start for the Blues that season and won the game with a shutout.[14]

The team played it after every win for the rest of the regular season and playoffs, and as their hot streak continued, the song became popular in the city of St. Louis. "Gloria" was written on signs and t-shirts. The St. Louis radio station KYKY-FM played it for 24 hours straight after series victories in the playoffs.[14]

Standings

Divisional standings

Central Division
Pos Team GP W L OTL ROW GF GA GD Pts
1 y Nashville Predators 82 47 29 6 43 240 214 +26 100
2 x Winnipeg Jets 82 47 30 5 45 272 244 +28 99
3 x St. Louis Blues 82 45 28 9 42 247 223 +24 99
4 x Dallas Stars 82 43 32 7 42 210 202 +8 93
5 x Colorado Avalanche 82 38 30 14 36 260 246 +14 90
6 Chicago Blackhawks 82 36 34 12 33 270 292 22 84
7 Minnesota Wild 82 37 36 9 36 211 237 26 83
Source: National Hockey League
x Clinched playoff spot; y Clinched division.

Conference standings

Top 3 (Central Division)
Pos Team GP W L OTL ROW GF GA GD Pts
1 y Nashville Predators 82 47 29 6 43 240 214 +26 100
2 x Winnipeg Jets 82 47 30 5 45 272 244 +28 99
3 x St. Louis Blues 82 45 28 9 42 247 223 +24 99
Source: National Hockey League
x Clinched playoff spot; y Clinched division.
Top 3 (Pacific Division)
Pos Team GP W L OTL ROW GF GA GD Pts
1 z Calgary Flames 82 50 25 7 50 289 227 +62 107
2 x San Jose Sharks 82 46 27 9 46 289 261 +28 101
3 x Vegas Golden Knights 82 43 32 7 40 249 230 +19 93
Source: National Hockey League
x Clinched playoff spot; z Clinched conference.
Western Conference Wild Card
Pos Div Team GP W L OTL ROW GF GA GD Pts
1 CE x Dallas Stars 82 43 32 7 42 210 202 +8 93
2 CE x Colorado Avalanche 82 38 30 14 36 260 246 +14 90
3 PA Arizona Coyotes 82 39 35 8 35 213 223 10 86
4 CE Chicago Blackhawks 82 36 34 12 33 270 292 22 84
5 CE Minnesota Wild 82 37 36 9 36 211 237 26 83
6 PA Vancouver Canucks 82 35 36 11 29 225 254 29 81
7 PA Anaheim Ducks 82 35 37 10 32 199 251 52 80
8 PA Edmonton Oilers 82 35 38 9 32 232 274 42 79
9 PA Los Angeles Kings 82 31 42 9 28 202 263 61 71
Source: National Hockey League
x Clinched playoff spot.

Schedule and results

Preseason

The preseason schedule was published on June 15, 2018.[15]

Regular season

The regular season schedule was released on June 21, 2018.[16]

2018–19 game log

Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)

Playoffs

The Blues faced the Winnipeg Jets in the First Round of the playoffs,[17] and defeated them in six games.[18]

The Blues faced the Dallas Stars in the Second Round of the playoffs,[19] defeating them in seven games.[20]

The Blues faced the San Jose Sharks in the Conference Finals of the playoffs,[21] defeating them in six games.[22]

The Blues faced the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Finals,[23] defeating them in seven games to win their first Stanley Cup.[10]

2019 Stanley Cup playoffs

Legend:   Win   Loss

Player statistics

As of June 12, 2019[24]

Skaters

Goaltenders

Regular season[27]
Player GP GS TOI W L OT GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Jordan Binnington32301,876:252451591.89807.9275000
Jake Allen46452,567:57191781212.831,277.9053000
Chad Johnson 107491260293.55250.8841000
Playoffs[28]
Player GP GS TOI W L GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Jordan Binnington26261,559:301610642.46742.9141014
Jake Allen1024:280012.454.7500000

Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Blues. Stats reflect time with the Blues only.
Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Blues only.
Bold/italics denotes franchise record.

Transactions

The Blues were involved in the following transactions during the 2018–19 season.

Trades

DateDetailsRef
June 22, 2018 (2018-06-22) To Toronto Maple Leafs
WPG's 1st-round pick in 2018
3rd-round pick in 2018
To St. Louis Blues
1st-round pick in 2018
[29]
July 1, 2018 (2018-07-01) To Buffalo Sabres
Patrik Berglund
Vladimir Sobotka
Tage Thompson
1st-round pick in 2019
2nd-round pick in 2021
To St. Louis Blues
Ryan O'Reilly
[30]
October 1, 2018 (2018-10-01) To Edmonton Oilers
Conditional 6th-round pick in 2020
To St. Louis Blues
Jakub Jerabek
[31]
January 3, 2019 (2019-01-03) To Anaheim Ducks
Future considerations
To St. Louis Blues
Jared Coreau
[32]
February 25, 2019 (2019-02-25) To Anaheim Ducks
6th-round pick in 2019
To St. Louis Blues
Michael Del Zotto
[33]

Free agents

DatePlayerTeamContract termRef
July 1, 2018 (2018-07-01)Tyler Bozakfrom Toronto Maple Leafs3-year[34]
July 1, 2018 (2018-07-01)Kyle Brodziakto Edmonton Oilers2-year[35]
July 1, 2018 (2018-07-01)Brian Flynnfrom Dallas Stars1-year[36]
July 1, 2018 (2018-07-01)Carter Huttonto Buffalo Sabres3-year[37]
July 1, 2018 (2018-07-01)Chad Johnsonfrom Buffalo Sabres1-year[38]
July 1, 2018 (2018-07-01)Wade Meganto Detroit Red Wings1-year[39]
July 1, 2018 (2018-07-01)David Perronfrom Vegas Golden Knights4-year[40]
July 1, 2018 (2018-07-01)Tyler Wotherspoonfrom Calgary Flames1-year[41]
July 2, 2018 (2018-07-02)Joey LaLeggiafrom Edmonton Oilers2-year[42]
July 5, 2018 (2018-07-05)Jordan Nolanfrom Buffalo Sabres1-year[43]
July 6, 2018 (2018-07-06)Beau Bennettto Dinamo Minsk (KHL)Unknown[44]
July 10, 2018 (2018-07-10)Patrick Maroonfrom New Jersey Devils1-year[45]
July 27, 2018 (2018-07-27)Petteri Lindbohmto Lausanne (NL)1-year[46]
May 4, 2019 (2019-05-04)Jakub Jerabekto Vityaz Podolsk (KHL)1-year[47][48]
June 3, 2019 (2019-06-03)Nikita Soshnikovto Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL)2-year[49]

Waivers

DatePlayerTeamRef
October 2, 2018 (2018-10-02)Dmitrij Jaskinto Washington Capitals[50]
December 11, 2018 (2018-12-11)Chad Johnsonto Anaheim Ducks[51]

Signings

DatePlayerContract termRef
June 24, 2018 (2018-06-24)Nikita Soshnikov1-year[54]
July 3, 2018 (2018-07-03)Robby Fabbri1-year[55]
July 3, 2018 (2018-07-03)Mackenzie MacEachern1-year[56]
July 6, 2018 (2018-07-06)Jordan Binnington1-year[57]
July 6, 2018 (2018-07-06)Oskar Sundqvist1-year[58]
July 7, 2018 (2018-07-07)Dmitrij Jaskin1-year[59]
July 11, 2018 (2018-07-11)Dominik Bokk3-year[60]
July 24, 2018 (2018-07-24)Joel Edmundson1-year[61]
September 13, 2018 (2018-09-13)Jordan Schmaltz2-year[62]
December 13, 2018 (2018-12-13)Alexei Toropchenko3-year[63]
February 9, 2019 (2019-02-09)Mackenzie MacEachern1-year[64]
March 21, 2019 (2019-03-21)Joel Hofer3-year[65]
April 8, 2019 (2019-04-08)Jay Bouwmeester1-year[66]

Draft picks

Below are the St. Louis Blues' selections at the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, which was held on June 22 and 23, 2018, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.

Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1 251 Dominik Bokk LW Germany Växjö Lakers (SHL)
2 45 Scott Perunovich D United States Minnesota-Duluth (NCHC)
4 107 Joel Hofer G Canada Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
5 138 Hugh McGing LW United States Western Michigan (NCHC)
6 169 Mathias Laferriere RW Canada Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL)
7 200 Tyler Tucker D Canada Barrie Colts (OHL)

Notes:

  1. The Toronto Maple Leafs' first-round pick went to the St. Louis Blues as the result of a trade on June 22, 2018, that sent Winnipeg's first-round pick in 2018 (29th overall) to Toronto in exchange for a third-round pick in 2018 (76th overall) and this pick.[67]

References

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  5. Blues complete amazing comeback with 4-1 win against Bruins for first Stanley Cup title
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