“I just find the hockey in March and April to be great,” Hitchcock said. “Because even the teams that are out (of the playoff picture), their players are trying to win jobs. The games are great evaluators. I find that every game is one you can take stuff from. They’re fun to coach in, fun to be a part of. Every game has implications.”

Keep in mind, Hitchcock is not simply a coach, he is a certified junkie. He watches as many hockey games as time allows, studies video and makes assessments on a daily basis.

“When you’re watching games in October and November,” he said, “it’s background noise. Now you’re focusing on opponents, you’re looking for tendencies, looking for things you can learn from. ... I just find this time of year to be great for our game and our sport.”

This time of year also is one in which the Blues must “probe” their roster, to use Hitchcock’s term. Monday was spent doing just that, exploring combinations on the ice, speaking to individuals off it.

The Blues (50-17-7) are contending for the best record in the league. With 50 wins, they are one shy of the franchise record of 51 wins in 1999-2000, a record they are certain to break in the next few days. But the Blues also are concerned about an imbalance.