Chicago Blackhawks 5 St. Louis Blues 6

The St. Louis Blues proved without a doubt that they are a team that can compete through thick and thin. They are down Paul Stastny, Jaden Schwartz, Kevin Shattenkirk, and Patrik Berglund due to injuries. They are playing with three call ups and still they play with the heart we all know and love. The previous game against the L.A. Kings was one that should be wiped from memory. It was a bad game and they happen but you move on from them and that is certainly what the St. Louis Blues did Wednesday night in Chicago.

The Blues and the Chicago Blackhawks faced off against each other in the NBC “Rivalry Night” and it did not let down on the excitement factor. The 1st period saw 7, I repeat 7 goals into the back of the night, 5 of which came from the sticks of Blackhawk players. Blues attackers Alexander Steen and rookie Robby Fabbri scored the two first period goals for the Note. Many fans on both the St. Louis Blues subreddit and Twitter vented their anger towards Hitchcock as the game was slowly becoming a downward spiral of depression. Personally, I too was fighting the urge to vent my frustration of that 1st period, but the hockey gods saw fit to reward us.

The 2nd period was by far the most influential of the entire game. The Blues started the period strong and maintained pressure the whole twenty minutes. By the end of the period the Blues had pulled themselves even with the Hawks at a 5-5 score going into the 3rd. Steen got his second goal of the night, Jay Bouwmeester came through for the Blues on the power play, and Captain America himself, David Backes put home the tying goal on a great angle shot.

The 3rd period was your classic war of attrition style game, where both teams traded chances and neither of them giving the other the ground to take the lead. Jake Allen, who was sent in to relieve Elliott after Elliott sustained a possible head injury in the 2nd period, played with his head on the ice making beautiful saves and keeping the Blues alive. The game finally went in over time with the new 3 on 3 rule and it was a nail biter. Several times the Blues and Blackhawks traded opportunities until ultimately, Vladimir Tarasenko was able to snipe the puck into the back of the net and past Chicago goalie Corey Crawford. St. Louis fans from across the country rejoiced as their team found the heart and drive to pull off one of the best comebacks in the last decade.

After the game the media in Chicago swarmed Blues players and the match-winner Tarasenko had this to say.

Tarasenko: "We've built a winner's mindset here." #stlblues — Lou Korac (@lkorac10) November 5, 2015

Now for the grim news from the game. Steve Ott did suffer an injury to his upper body, quite possibly focused on his arm. The replays weren’t that great but from what was shown he did hurt his wing in some manner. In the 2nd period, Blackhawks Captain Jonathan Toews had a breakaway against Elliot. David Backes was in pursuit behind Toews trying to stop him. Elliot made the save as Backes checked Toews and both of them came crashing into Elliott and into the net. Elliott was relieved after this initial incident and Hitchcock had this to say after the game.

Hitch said Elliott took a blow to the head. An update will come tomorrow. #stlblues — Lou Korac (@lkorac10) November 5, 2015

Both players will have an official announcement tomorrow morning regarding their conditions. So Blues fans sleep well tonight and take this win with a small grain of salt. We may see Phoenix Copley being called up if Elliot might have a concussion. As for the Ott injury, we may see one of either Martin Havlat or Dainius Zuburus signed to a two way deal to help cover for Ott’s injury. This has been the Bleedin Blue recap and we shall see you Saturday for a match-up between your St. Louis Blues and Barret Jackman and the Nashville Predators.