Two weeks isn't a lot of time, but it's amazing how much can change in such a short time.
With two weeks left in the regular season, the Blues were in the driver's seat. They were atop the league standings and well on their way to clinching, at a minimum, the top spot in the Western Conference if not the President's Trophy.
What a difference two weeks can make.
Instead of being atop the league, or even the conference, the Blues ended the season tied for the fourth most points in the league. A long fall in such a short time.
We can try to blame injuries - for we certainly have suffered more than our fair share in the last couple of weeks. We can try to blame goaltending - because it certainly has not been what we were expecting when we traded for Ryan Miller. We can try to blame coaching - because the staff couldn't seem to get the mix and match line combinations motivated to perform. We can try to blame management - because we didn't have the organizational depth to deal with the sudden rash of injuries (what club would?).
The reality is, though, no one really cares who or what you try to blame. The only thing that matters is that we faltered when we should have charged.
A run deep into the playoffs will cause everyone to forget the last two weeks. A quick exit will have everyone pointing fingers for the next five months.
The beauty of the NHL playoffs is that everything is new. This could still be our year.
We have our work cut out for us, though.
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