Too many Blues fans try to be analytical. “You can’t blame the goalie. It’s a team game. The real problem was the inability to finish on the power play. The defense has to clear the puck more efficiently. Blah, blah, blah.”

Keep things simple. Blame somebody.

You don’t have to be right. You don’t even have to believe it yourself. Do you think Cubs fans really thought the Cubs lost the sixth game of the 2003 National League Championship Series because Steve Bartman tried to catch a foul ball? At the time, the Cubs were ahead 3-0 in the top of the eighth inning. There was one out and one runner on. Moises Alou went to the wall and tried to reach in and catch the ball but couldn’t get it. It is possible, but not likely, that he could have made the catch if Bartman had not reached for the ball himself.

So instead of a possible out, it was a strike. Big deal. The Cubs were still ahead 3-0.

Things fell apart. A walk, an error, a hit. Another hit.

But why dissect these things? It was easier to blame Bartman.