Captain wants Blues to rediscover energy
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — David Backes was grateful the St. Louis Blues were out of their homes and comfort zones Wednesday, practising in an opponent’s practice rink just a few slap shots from the Pacific Ocean.
Still reeling from the shock of two home playoff losses, the St. Louis captain realizes that a strong road trip is the only way to save his team’s season.
“It’s good to get away from home and all the people that told us how good we were all year,” Backes said. “We’ve had a little trouble dealing with success, with all the talk about Presidents’ trophies and Jennings trophies . . . and now we’re stumbling on our toes.”
Indeed, St. Louis is in an 0-2 hole in its second-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings, giving up eight goals at home to the lowest-scoring team that made the NHL playoffs. Game 3 tonight is vital to the Blues, who know that only three teams have overcome an 0-3 deficit and advanced.
After the Blues’ stellar regular season and an impressive first-round win over San Jose, Backes can see slippage in the Western Conference semifinal series. St. Louis isn’t playing with the precision or the all-out energy necessary to compete with the eighth-seeded Kings, who have extended their late-season surge into the playoffs.
“We’ve had times in the season where we’ve all bought in, and we’ve had times when we’re half in, half out,” said Backes, who had two assists in the Blues’ 5-3 loss in Game 2. “That’s where we are right now. . . Enough is enough, and we’ve got to determine as a group if we’re going to attack this thing, or if we’re going to tuck tail and run.”
Whatever the Kings are doing right on the road, coach Darryl Sutter appears to be going to remarkable lengths to see it in Game 3: His team is staying in a downtown hotel the night before both games, and their pre-game skate Thursday will be at Staples Center — a rare opportunity in a building with all three of its pro sports franchises currently in the playoffs.
Los Angeles also realizes it can’t expect another half-hearted, mistake-prone effort similar to the Blues’ stumbles in Game 2.
“That was probably one of the worst they’ve had in their season so far, and they said it,” said Anze Kopitar, whose short-handed goal in the first period opened the floodgates. “They said it themselves. We know they’re going to be ready to go, and we’re sure they’re going to throw everything at the table.”