ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - So here we sit. Three games remaining with home ice and first place both in reach for the St. Louis Blues.
Winners in six of their last seven, the Blues now focus on the postseason and getting into the "right mindset" for the run. But it comes down to what sets this team above the rest. What makes the Blues a scary team to deal with come playoff time?
One word, Binnington.
The argument has been going on since February when the Blues were in the midst of an 11-game win streak. Is Binnington the best overall rookie in the NHL? Putting that argument on the shelf for a couple minutes, the Blues 25-year-old netminder WILL be the reason this team advances far in the playoffs.
If you look at the successful teams over the last five seasons, playoff wins come down to the goalie. Last year, Braden Holtby had a 2.16 GAA with two shut-outs, Matt Murray the year prior with a 1.70 GAA and then there's Jonathan Quick in 2014. Plain and simple the big saves at the big moments will be the Blues chance at Lord Stanley's prize.
The doubters will say, Binnington is a rookie and will be playing on a big stage, possibly against a team that's been in a lot of big playoff series recently (Blues projected first-round opponent is Nashville). Well, he's 2-0 and allowed 2 goals on 50 shots against the Predators. I'd say he's proven he can handle the big stage.
Again, let's look at Murray who made his NHL debut in the 2015-16 season, playing 13 games and winning nine of them. Then he stepped up to the plate in the playoffs and led the Penguins to a Stanley Cup going 15-6 with a .930 save percentage.
Playoffs are a different beast, without question, but the calmness that Binnington has shown this season should warrant some confidence from the fan base – and the NHL – to be aware of what Jordan could do.
Joe Vitale, Blues radio analyst and former NHL player, joined Chili's Week in Hockey Tuesday evening and said that the calmness is obvious. “He's very poised, some similarities to a Marc-Andre Fleury actually. They both are very calm and they both don't take themselves to seriously. A lot of his confidence and calmness is due to his time in the minors.”
Now, let's get back to the Calder Trophy conversation. Scott Burnside of The Atheltic joined the show Tuesday, also. Burnside who has a vote in the best overall rookie said that the only factor that is hurting Jordan is the amount of games that he's played.
However you spin it, with three games remaining, "Win-nington" sits first place for GAA, second in Save Percentage, tied for fifth in shutouts and has the best winning percentage of any goalie in the league.
Award or no award, Binington is the x-factor for the Blues chances at the Cup.
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