Blues defenseman Colton Parayko

By LOU KORAC

ST. LOUIS -- It was no secret that when the Blues went, Colton Parayko went, and when he didn't, the team suffered.

(St. Louis Blues/Scott Rovak)

Blues defenseman Colton Parayko (right) led the team in ice time (23:34)

and played in 80 games this season after back issues in 2020-21.

The team leader in minutes played this past season at 23:34 was going to be on the ice for important minutes, and for the most part, aside from a hiccup here and there, it went foundationally well for the 6-foot-6, 228-pound 29-year-old. 

Parayko played in 80 games this season after skating in just 32 regular-season games last year due to lingering back issues that he said are alleviated now; he finished with a career-high tying 35 points (six goals, 29 assists) and finished with a plus-16 rating after at one point being a minus-16 on Jan. 29 when the Blues headed into their not-so-Olympic break.

Playing top-pair minutes, whether it be with Nick Leddy, Marco Scandella, Niko Mikkola, Justin Faulk, Torey Krug, whoever it may have been, as a season in whole, Parayko was on the ice against top forwards and handled it well. 

Fans are going to remember a not-so-great Game 6 against the Colorado Avalanche that eliminated the Blues from the playoffs in the second round when Parayko, along with many of his teammates struggled to perform at a high level, but he will be a foundational piece for the franchise moving forward.

Parayko discusses the season as a whole, how healthy he felt this season as well as other topics:

Reflections on the season:

I think obviously, seasons are long, obviously last couple seasons an 82-game season. Lots of ups and downs obviously, a lot of injuries. I thought we had a lot of guys step in at different times. I think that was one of the keys of our team, our depth and not even the guys that we had up here but some of the guys that came in from the AHL, and obviously that's huge when you know you have that depth and obviously they're playing really good hockey down there right now too. I believe they haven't lost yet in the playoffs. So from our team perspective, I thought we grew throughout the year, had a really good start. Maybe some ups and downs a little bit throughout the season, which I think you're going to see through a lot of teams’ seasons and that's normal, and then had a really good finish and I think we're all obviously disappointed. I think we knew we had a really good team. We're really close and obviously one bounce here, one bounce there could be the difference of still playing or not and obviously. We don't want to be here right now doing this media day. We wish we were still playing obviously but like I said, we continue to learn and get these experiences and just understand how hard it is to win and it's very tough.

On if you came back and played at high level this season:

Yeah, I thought obviously last year was tough with everything that was going on for sure. And even just kind of going into this year I felt a lot better, which was good. I was still feeling really good. And I thought for me personally it was obviously a big step from the previous year just based on everything that was going on and so obviously happy to be where I'm at.

On play of defense and if it made strides:

For sure. Obviously, I thought we had a really good season back there. I thought as the season grew too, we continued to get better or as the season went on. Sorry, I was gonna say that the season went on, we continued to grow but I threw that in earlier. But yeah, as the season went on, we got better and obviously we all chipped in a little bit on the offensive side too and defensively, just with help from our forwards, obviously our goaltenders just, I mean, it's easy to talk about your 'D' corps, but it was everybody around us that really made it a lot easier for us; the forwards giving us a lot of back pressure and back-checking for us and things like that, which makes it a lot easier for us to stay up in the play, makes it harder for them to generate things. But obviously throughout the year, I was definitely impressed and happy with how we grew and went.

One or two things team needs to be better moving forward:

Maybe we touched on it earlier in the news conference, I mean, it's kind of easy to say, but obviously it’s a long season, just trying to string together as many games as possible with a full 60 minutes. Just things like that. I mean, it's obviously hard when you're playing that much and I would say maybe string together full 60s as much as possible and be most consistently. It's a tough one.

On how you felt this season after back problems in 2020-21:

Yeah, felt pretty good all year long. Just little things here and there but I think that's just like everybody, even just on a normal season, you get sore backs or whatever. But nothing new with an 82-game season and it held up really well.

On play of Nick Leddy:

Yeah, obviously a true professional. Very good hockey player, just the way that he comes to the rink and he changes the mood and kind of the morale of the team every time he shows up and just kind of being around him obviously he's won before. So having guys like that is huge and as soon as he was here with the team, he fit in perfectly and I couldn't be happier to have him on the team and he played really well for us. And obviously on the ice, we all saw he's just probably one of the smoothest skaters I've ever watched and just fun to be able to watch a guy like that skate every single night and get the opportunity to play beside him. So obviously very fortunate to have brought him in and definitely learned a lot from him as a person and as a player.

What does David Perron means to the team, thoughts on him returning:

Obviously we love him. Very good teammate. Just one of those guys who brings a lot of energy, a lot of life, brings the guys together all the time. You definitely know when David was in the room, and it puts a smile on everyone's face and that's the beauty of him off the ice and on the ice obviously there's no secret of how good of a player is and I think even just since I've been here, he keeps getting better as he ages, which is crazy. And it's really cool to see and I think for a lot of us, we might have to take some tips from him and how we continue to get better as we grow older. He's obviously been here for a long time, meant a lot to this team and this organization and hopefully, he's in the Bluenote again.

Blues defenseman Justin Faulk

By LOU KORAC

ST. LOUIS -- Remember when the Blues acquired Justin Faulk from the Carolina Hurricanes in 2019, months after winning the Stanley Cup?

Nobody knew what to think of it at the time, because they already had, then, a No. 1-type of defenseman in Alex Pietrangelo.

(St. Louis Blues/Scott Rovak)

Defenseman Justin Faulk had arguably his best season in the NHL with the

Blues this past season with 16 goals, 31 assists and a plus-41 rating.

What ensued following that Sept, 24, 2019 trade was Faulk signing a new six-year, $45.5 million extension. It would signify that perhaps the Blues would allow their captain in Pietrangelo to leave following that season to unrestricted free agency, which he did, and Faulk was always -- from a fan's perspective -- being labeled as the guy to replace Pietrangelo and play like he did.

By his own admission, it wasn't the start to his Blues career that he wanted, but things have changed so much for the better since then.

Faulk completed his third season in a Blues jersey and had not only his best season in St. Louis but arguably his best in the NHL.

His 47 points in 76 games were two off a career-high (49 in 82 games with Carolina in 2014-15), his 16 goals were one off tying his career-best with the Hurricanes in 2016-17, but Faulk would shatter his career record plus-minus rating at plus-41, which was tied for sixth in the NHL. His points came in mostly 5-on-5 situations, including a career-high six game-winning goals playing in a role whether it be with Torey Krug or Nick Leddy, or whomever, Faulk thrived as a shutdown defenseman the Blues needed him to be. And his 16 goals this past season eclipsed Faulk's total the first two seasons (12) in 125 regular-season games in St. Louis; he also has a goal and seven assists in 12 playoff games this season.

The 30-year-old answered questions this past week regarding the season for the Blues, which ended in the second round after falling to the Colorado Avalanche, Jordan Binnington's injury, the defense as a whole, among other topics:

Reflecting on the season:

I think we built towards something, with where we were after last season, and how we felt and how we thought we performed and that kind of moving towards the start of the season, halfway through, whatever, and into playoffs. I think the group has grown quite a bit. Young guys have stepped up, matured a little bit, found their footing. I think some of the old guys keep fine-tuning on and off the ice to help the team grow and then obviously help young guys and what not. So I think with where we're at as a whole as a group within this year, it's a pretty, pretty big jump and we know what we have in that room and we know what likely is coming back in a sense, we can see it. We’re ready to keep building on that and hopefully find that next step and keep going and fight our way through the playoffs a little farther.

On if the Colorado series in past and could the outcome been different if Binnington wasn't hurt:

I don't really love to play hypotheticals, to be honest with you. And injuries happen, stuff happens. He's not the only one that was banged up in our group. Obviously we know exactly what he was doing and how well he was playing and it hurts for sure. But no one, quite frankly, outside this team cares.

On where do you see the defense as a whole:

I think guys did a good job at times when guys were out with COVID injuries, whatever, put in different roles. Like you said it was kind of a lot of flip-flopping there at times with guys coming up from the minors and playing. Just trying to find their roles and who's going to play well together, what not. It's not easy, that's for sure and guys handled it pretty well. I think as a group we still have room to go for sure. I think if I look at the 'D' and I think we got pretty good 'D', forwards might want more pucks on the tape and we're deep at 'D' I think. I don't think every team can have what we have throughout the top six. They might have a higher end guy. Obviously we don't have a superstar defenseman, but we have a lot of good, quality defenseman that are comfortable, that have kind of played in all different situations. Down in the lineup, up in the lineup and they can handle it, so I think just continuing to fine-tune. We've got some guys that are younger, that are still learning their way in this league and keep growing and getting better as players and as that happens, it just continually will help our 'D' corps.

On having David Perron stay around despite free agency looming:

Just to echo 'Schenner' there, he's a competitor. I think you want guys on your team that are willing to compete and love to put in that work and you know they're going to step up and work hard when the time comes and it's needed and that's what David Perron does. He's ready for the moment, he's not scared of it and he likes to battle and win hockey games. That's what you want on your team.

On potential for offense to continue to score so much:

I think so. First of all, I don't think that's how we're looking at things. I don't think we're in the room trying to score the most goals in the league. That's not our mindset, trying to do what we have to do to win hockey games, but I think we have the pieces that are there and a lot are coming back. And whatever else happens after that and whoever else is in that room, I think we'll find a way to work together and we got a lot of guys that can score goals consistently and I don't see guys losing that ability over the summer.

On if Scott Perunovich is ready for a top six role:

Yeah, I think he hasn't played many games realistically over the last three years. The college season, what not. So him getting in those games and getting that experience of playoff hockey is good for him to know what that feels like. Some nights, he didn't play a ton of minutes but being on the bench watching and seeing how intense it is and how hard it is, is great for him. I think he's going to have a good opportunity, I'd imagine, to cement himself and put himself in this league and he's just got to keep going. Obviously we spend the summers, you work out, you do whatever you need to do and he’s skating and doing all that stuff. But him just seeing how hard it is I think will be good for him to know that and that he handled it pretty well. The confidence that he can do it and be a contributor.

On Niko Mikkola's growth:

I think he got a lot of experiences here. He played up and down through the lineup. He spent a lot of time there with (Colton) Parayko on the top pair against some of the other teams’ top lines and then he had some time where he's in and out of the lineup and then he came back in playoffs and played well. I think when you see that and see how well he played at the end there, was able to step back in and make an impact, it's a true sign of him learning and developing throughout the year and not just getting complacent. And so I think as he continues to grow and he hasn't played a ton of games either in this league but to play more and to get that more experience, he's got the ability to come in and still make an impact every night and another guy that can take a step and cement himself in the lineup at some point.

Blues center Brayden Schenn

By LOU KORAC

ST. LOUIS -- With the way his stats were running since Brayden Schenn arrived in St. Louis in 2017, a 20-plus goal season was bound to happen.

And with the Blues putting together nine guys to hit that mark this season, Schenn was certainly going to be among them.

(St. Louis Blues photo)

Despite missing 20 games in the regular season due to injury, Brayden

Schenn (left) was among nine Blues to reach 20 or more goals this season.

Despite missing 20 games due to various injuries, the all-purpose center iceman was able to string together nearly a point per game season, finishing with 58 points (24 goals, 34 assists) and a career-high plus-21 rating. 

Schenn didn't score in the postseason for the Blues, and of course he was putting the onus on himself for not doing that, but he still managed to put up eight assists in 12 games while flipping back and forth between playing center and wing.

Playing through cracked ribs and an oblique injury didn't keep Schenn from being the Blues' physical wrecking ball when needed.

The 30-year-old, who became a first-time father this past season, reflects on the Blues reaching the second round this season, what he played through, along with a variety of other topics:

Thoughts on the season:

You know what, the team came together, bought in (the) team mentality. We had a lot of pieces ... started from the goalies out, a lot of depth in the organization and a lot of guys bought in. Had a successful regular season. We all want to win. We feel like we're right there and we're one of the top teams in the league. You know now we've just got to find a way to keep pushing and continue that for next season. Playoffs are funny, you just need to get in and you have a chance, and we felt like we had a chance this year and just obviously came up short.

On if he's over being eliminated in the second round:

I mean, when you see hockey games and scores this time of year, you want to be playing, that's no secret. I don't think you just lose and you're over it 24-48 hours later. Obviously it still hurts, you want to be playing and having a chance or competing to win the Stanley Cup again.

On if things are different had Jordan Binnington not been injured:

The 'what if?' you can go anyway with that. He was playing great hockey for us, no doubt about it. Came in and gave our team a ton of confidence, and at the same time, Ville (Husso) came in and played good goalie for us, too. You can look on injuries and 'what ifs' but there's a lot of 'what ifs' and you need luck throughout the playoffs. It's one of those things, it's a tough question to answer.

On what injuries you were playing through and what injuries you had throughout the season:

I mean it's three sets of broken ribs throughout the year, so that's one of those things. I've never broken a rib in my life, and one of those things where you get unlucky. Come back in the playoffs, like I said, I'm not here to make excuses at all. I've got to find a way to score a goal and produce in the playoffs. I'm not using injury as an excuse. I've got to find a way to be better, but as far as offensively, I feel myself and the team, everyone stepped up throughout the regular season and found a way to score goals. We had a high dynamic offense from the backend out. As far as that, injuries aren't an excuse, I'll never use them as an excuse when it comes to my play. It's just one of those things when you get unlucky sometimes.

Was it the broken ribs that caused you to miss games in the regular season:

The games I've missed this year, broke ribs three separate times and tore an oblique on the other side. It's compensation, it's unlucky. I was in San Jose on the last one and I didn't have the puck and Brent Burns drove his elbow and his forearm into the back of my ribs and broke them. You sit out time and you kind of get as healthy as possible into the playoffs. It's the reality of the sport and I'm not the only guy banged up in the playoffs. Like I said, I'll never use it as an excuse as far as my game goes.

Was it five broken ribs the first time:

It was five the first time. That was just an unlucky play. (Alex) DeBrincat, his stick got caught up in my skate and I went down. I don't know how many (broken ribs) last time, one or two, some cartilage in there, too. It's unlucky.

Thoughts on wanting to see David Perron back:

You're putting us on the manager's chair right now. We have absolutely zero pull when it comes to decisions like this. But what (Perron) means to our team and means to our locker room, I think he's come in a couple of times with the Blues and he's just getting better. He's one of those guys where he finds a way to score goals, he runs a very dynamic power play, he's good to old guys, to young guys, and I know he loves being here. So, an unfortunate situation with we have absolutely zero control over that. We'd love to have David Perron back, of course, as players. But it's a business and we know that and we can't really control it. But he plays well with (Ryan) O'Reilly and does a lot for us, and we'll see how that one shakes out.

On if this offense can continue to produce like this moving forward next season:

I've been on teams where you can't score goals and you've been on a team like this that can ... you know you're able to come back and score goals in any type of game, or any situation of game. I think when you see that, it gives guys confidence in the room and stuff like that. At the same time, the way to win Cups and advance round-in and round-out when the times get tough, and into the playoffs, is defense. So we have guys that can score and we have lots of guys that can play 200-foot games. That's how Army builds his teams, that's why he's been so successful and the Blues have been so successful for 10-plus years now, because guys bought in and play defense and that's how you win.

Thoughts on Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou and if there's still room for growth there:

Of course, they're only going to get better. They haven't even hit their prime yet, I don't think. What have I seen from them? I see two guys that have really bought into team mentality, guys that want to get better, guys that want to win. They're going to be cornerstones for this franchise moving forward for the foreseeable future. 'Tommer', the way he passes the puck and finds the open man, he's going to be one of the top playmakers in the league, and 'Rouzy', his ability to be explosive and challenge guys with their speed, you need guys like that on your team. So, they're huge pieces for us, and I'm sure Army challenged them last year to take a step forward and both guys obviously took a huge jump. Those guys are going to be huge pieces for us moving forward.

Blues center Ryan O'Reilly

By LOU KORAC

ST. LOUIS -- The numbers may not have always been there for Ryan O'Reilly at the start of the 2021-22 season, but when was all said and done for the Blues captain, in the end, there's no questioning the body of work as a whole the 31-year-old produced in his fourth season in St. Louis.

(St. Louis Blues photo)

Blues captain Ryan O'Reilly (right) completed his fourth season in St.

Louis, finishing with 21 goals, 37 assists in the regular season.

O'Reilly did surge in the end of the regular season to finish with 21 goals, the third time he did that in his four seasons here and he did finish with 58 points, his second-fewest next to last season's 56-game COVID-19 shortened season (54 points) but he came on strong again in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, finishing with 12 points (seven goals, five assists) in 12 games. And for the seventh straight season, O'Reilly once again proved he's one of the top face-off specialists in the league when he produced at 56.78 percent

O'Reilly will be entering the final year of his contract in 2022-23 and there will come a time, whether it be sooner or later, when the Blues will have to make the decision of whether to commit to him with another contract or not.

O'Reilly discusses that and the season as a whole, his thoughts on the championship window, on teammate and friend David Perron and more:

Thoughts on the season:
We're obviously very disappointed losing to Colorado. I think we would've liked to perform better there. But overall, our season was great. We had so many different guys step up and it was a fun team to be a part of. Again, we're looking to do the same thing going forward, get a bit better and give ourselves a good chance to win next year.

On if the team back is on the map:
Yeah, we're definitely very close. Looking at the teams playing right now, we're right there. Obviously we didn't beat Colorado, but the confidence in the group around and talking to guys, we know we can give ourselves a better chance to win and be right there. So, it's going to come down to having a good summer, being in shape, getting healthy and ready to start right again.

Want to be skilled, but also gritty? How do you do both?:
Yeah, I think the group, I think we have the ability to score goals, it's just staying committed to that process of playing Blues hockey and being stingy to play against. I think it's all there, it's just being consistent with it and trusting our process. But yeah, I feel we're a really good hockey team and we're going to be right back there again.

On Perron coming back again:
We want to keep this group together and he's such a big part of it. Yeah, the season just ended, and I'm sure things will progress as we go forward here, but yeah, he's a big part of this and I think we both want to be here.

On your contract and if you want to be here long-term:
Oh absolutely. It's a place I want to be. Yeah, it's crazy going into a contract year. It feels like time kind of flew by. Yeah, I'm sure things, over the summer and going into next year, I'm sure we'll try to figure something out. Again, the season just ended, so we haven't really had time to discuss it. But yeah, if it happens, it happens.

On clip of playing the air guitar with his stick on the bench:
I don't (do that a lot). I was just trying to get another stick and I was looking at one of our trainers, Drew. I think it was like music playing, which was loud and I couldn't really hear him. I was just trying to get his attention and, I don't know, just a random thing. Yeah, it's not something I do often.

How COVID affected him early in the season:
Yeah, I think it definitely did a number on me. It was tough. It was tough coming back from it. Needing to have jump and stamina, it was tough, it was hard, it took a little while to find my rhythm again. But yeah, I don't think anybody had an easy time with COVID. It was unfortunate, but it was nice that we had the depth and we had different guys step up over the course of the year when guys would go down. We always had such a good team that we were able to keep going and stick with it, find ways to win games. Yeah, it ended up being alright.

One or two things you'd like team to do better going forward:
It was a great team, fun to be a part of, fun to watch. You see there were a lot of good things at different times, so it's just being more consistent with it. I think as a group, if we stay together more, I think that will come together naturally. So again, going into the summer, it's all individual, we all have to find a way to get a little bit better. That's individually for each guy, find new things to work on and such. Right now we rest and start training soon and get prepared.

On the roster/championship window:
Oh we're definitely right there. We're definitely right in the mix of it. Yeah, I love our roster, the guys we have and in the room, the way guys are together, it's a very good group and a great mix of both, whether it's energy or veteran presence. I have full confidence that we can find our way back there and have a chance.

On Nick Leddy and if you'd like him back:
Oh absolutely. You watch him out there, how smooth he is, the way he skates, and defensively just shutting stuff down, it just comes so natural to him. He just makes such an impact out there. Yeah I hope things can work out bringing him back. He did a phenomenal job for us.

On the Jordan Binnington injury:
Yeah, coming back 1-1 here, that happens, Binner going down, you kind of feel the energy just come out of the building and us, too. I don't think we responded the right way. Again, you look back and there's a lot of things you could have done different at times, but yeah that was a big moment that we just didn't handle the right way and that falls on myself, too, and other leaders on the team.  We're still a very deep team in all areas and (need) to find a way to respond. It is what it is, move on.

Highest-scoring team. On the potential there for the offense to continue:

Yeah absolutely. We're a very talented group offensively. Power play was great this year. Every year is different and as long as we're winning hockey games, that's all that really matters.

Blues goalie Jordan Binnington

By LOU KORAC

ST. LOUIS -- When Nazem Kadri fell into Jordan Binnington in Game 3 of the Western Conference second round series between the Blues and Avalanche, it not only crashed Binnington's second-half resurrection but also all but squashed the chances of beating Colorado.

(St. Louis Blues/Scott Rovak)

Blues goalie Jordan Binnington (50) had regained the swagger that had

made him successful in the past before injuring his left knee vs. Colorado.

At the time, the 28-year-old Binnington had been playing by far his best hockey of the season but arguably the best hockey of his NHL career.

The Blues were off to a roaring start and were up to the task of defeating the Avalanche until their No. 1 netminder went down with a left knee injury that sidelined him for not only the remainder of that series but likely for the playoffs, if not most of it.

Binnington had relinquished his starting role to Ville Husso when he struggled throughout large swaths of the season, going 18-14-4 with a 3.13 goals-against average and .901 save percentage, but when Binnington was handed the starter's keys again for Game 3 of the first round against the Minnesota Wild, Binnington would go 4-1 with a 1.72 GAA and .949 save percentage.

That was the Binnington that was living up to the six-year, $36 million contract he signed after backstopping the Blues to the 2019 Stanley Cup.

Binnington had a brace on his left knee from the injury with Kadri and teammate Calle Rosen and fielded questions from the media on Tuesday after the Blues were eliminated by the Avalanche in six games.

Here are his thoughts:

Thoughts on the season:

I think a lot of guys took steps forward, I think our young guys especially. I think we came together more and more as a team throughout the season. We finished the season strong and came together well and we put up a good fight in the playoffs. We’re not satisfied for sure, but I think it’s definitely, for me, it’s a learning experience, just a year of experience for all of us to carry with us and kind of bottle up that feeling of not winning. Just losing, you bottle it up and you carry that motivation with you in your summer programs and just think about the next season and when we’re getting ready to come back and get back to work.

On how the knee is and if you could have played had you advanced past Colorado:

It's doing alright. It’s kind of tough to say. It's just going to take some time. I guess it's something that since we’re not playing, it will have time to get back to fully healed. I can't confirm, or not, if that would be the case.

Thoughts on the collision with Kadri and if it could have been avoided:

It’s a physical sport and it's playoff time and he’s going to go to the net hard. It's how it goes. I don’t think he intentionally was trying to do what he did to me, or for me to get injured, I should say. But I think he knows how to play hard and how to go to the net and that’s what happens in this sport. For me, it is what is and I just have to kind of deal with it.

On if you were playing best hockey of career at the time, give you confidence moving forward:

I was feeling good for sure. I think after the season like this one, it was definitely interesting and a year of experience for me for sure. It kind goes into, when things aren’t going your way in whatever you’re doing, it’s how you handle it. I think we handled it pretty well here. I really tried to put the work in and it kind of came to fruition towards the end. It’s unfortunate how it ended. I’ve got to just keep working, carrying that with me. Definitely it was fun being back out there and being in those moments of just being at home, in front of the atmosphere and the crowd and the playoffs and you remember why you put that work in and why, on those tough days, you’re going to push through it. I definitely had a couple of those moments.

On if he won't need surgery:

Yeah.

No surgery:

No.

On getting back in there and playing like you did heading into off-season:

It definitely was nice to kind of prove to myself and just to get back in there and feel good and get some victories. Towards the end of the year, we were playing very well and had a great point streak going. I think we were just playing together as a team. It was just fun being a part of it again.

One or two things you'd like to see the group do better moving forward:

I think in an 82-game season, it's starting right away and continuing to build from the first game of the year, playing together and understanding that, everyone is going to have a chance, everyone at a certain point is going to be the guy for that certain game and understanding that it’s going to be different all the time. Just continuing to work and want to contribute in any way you can as a team to keep building towards this time of year and playoffs. It really comes together. I think we started to do that towards the end of the year. It was promising. The longer we can do that and the earlier we can start doing that, the better.

On the water bottle incident with Kadri:

So I went to get my knee checked out in that game, I was coming back to the rink, the game just ended, walking down the hallway, couldn’t find a recycling bin on my way down the hallway and right before I walked into the locker room, I see him kind of doing the interview there, smiling, laughing and I’m there in a knee brace limping down the hallway. I felt like it was a God-given opportunity. I don’t know, I could stay just silent and go in the room or I could say something and just have him look me in the eye and understand what’s going on, something to think about. I just ... yeah, threw the water bottle, an empty water bottle, it landed like two feet from him. It is was it is there. I mean, but it is what it is, it’s hockey, it’s a competitive game.

On coming to grips with Husso starting the playoffs and now feel good about your standing with the team:

Whatever happens, I think it always goes back to this, it’s how you handle it. Just keep trying to put yourself in the best position possible to be successful and contribute to the team. Ville had an outstanding season and he’s a great goaltender. It was working for the team, so absolutely I’ve got to just do what I can to be ready to get back in there if the team needs me, whenever that is. I feel I’m in a great spot and I think it was a great learning experience and a season for me and a good test of character. Another year of just getting closer with the teammates. We have a great core here so I think the guys were really supportive of me trying to find my way. As a team, I got just lot of love in the locker room. It definitely will carry with us as we move forward. 

On getting through the adversity you faced when things weren't going well, will this adversity make you stronger as a person and player:

I believe so. I think that’s kind of makes life fun, is having to overcome challenges. At the end of the day, that’s what you are going to be most proud of is moments like that. I’m proud with how I kind of handled it and how the team handled with me. That’s life, you know.

On if you knew right away you were injured on that play in Game 3:

It was interesting. I’ve never left a game as a goaltender in my whole life, so it was something I was kind of proud of and tried to carry with me. I just felt like something was off. Ray [Barile] was so comforting out there, he was kind of just saying, 'You’ve got to test it out before I leave you here.' I felt alright on my feet. When I went down to my knees, I realized I couldn’t go.

On David Perron, what he's meant to the organization and thoughts on him returning:

He’s just such a true warrior. Come playoff time, he’s one of those guys you really love going out there and playing with and for. Off the ice too, I have so much love for the guy. It will play out how it plays out. For the time being of being in the present, I think we’ve all had a great time playing together and we’ve got a lot of love for him.

Blues right wing David Perron

By LOU KORAC

ST. LOUIS -- Remember the moment David Perron was there to console his buddy Alex Pietrangelo, as the two skated off the ice at Rogers Place in the 2020 bubble?

That moment had all the feels like it could have very well been the last time Pietrangelo would put on a Blues jersey, and as it turned out, it was.

(St. Louis Blues photo)

David Perron (right) is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July

13 but has indicated he wants to stay with the Blues.

Now it's Perron's turn to have those same feels, because now the 34-year-old can hit the free agent market on July 13 and sign with whomever he chooses if a new deal with the Blues isn't in agreement or signed.

But by all indications, both Perron and the Blues want to keep this marriage going. The 26th pick in the 2007 NHL Draft wants to stay here, and by all accounts, the Blues want to keep him here.

Perron had himself an outstanding season even after a concussion and COVID-19 tried slowing him down; he finished tied for third on the team with 27 goals, one off matching his career-high in 2013-14 and 57 points in 67 games this season.

Perron led the Blues in goals (nine) and points (13) in 12 playoff games, which ended in a second-round defeat against the Colorado Avalanche.

Perron let with the media on Tuesday and offered his thoughts on the season, his season, his willingness to stay in St. Louis and liking the core moving forward:

Reflection on the season:

It was a pretty good season. I thought we lost to a good team. We've got to find a way to improve over this summer as a group, as a team and come back at them. We've been a pretty consistent team for many years now and we want to keep doing that.

Is the team back on the map after postseason problems in years before:

I don't know if we ever left that category, but definitely beating Minnesota is always a good feeling to get out of the first round. You almost feel like the belief in the group increases every win that you get. And then again when 'Bozie' scored the overtime goal there (in Game 5 against Colorado) and if we would have just got one more win, I think we there's a chance we win that series obviously. So I think we're in that group. yeah.

On the fine line of wanting to be skilled, up-tempo, transition team and wanting to be a physical, gritty, get both elements at same time:

I think we can score many ways, we can play different ways. I think that's one thing that maybe we were missing times in the playoffs, just kind of going wave after wave, a little bit more, kind of building that momentum that we can feel like we're taking control of a hockey game, even if the score’s tight. That's definitely one thing I think we can get better at as a group, but there's a lot of things to like obviously in the regular season. We scored a lot of goals, we scored in many ways and that's good stuff right there.

Despite the rough year physically, were you happy with your season:

I thought it was one of my better years that I've ever had. I think two years ago I had a pretty good year. I think I was able to build off of it. When you look back at the month of January, it was only like, I don't know, eight, nine games where it didn't go as well. I was coming back from injury, I had COVID in that time too, just a couple bumps and bruises that I had to get over with and I was able to do that and then really build off of it and really good last three, four months really so I'm proud of that.

On unrestricted free agent status, any talks, want to be back:

I'd love to be back. The desire has been there for me last year, during the year and right now. So … it’s what it is.

On if anything is going on right now contract-wise:

Again, I don't really want to talk about that publicly. So I'll just kind of defer to that.

On St. Louis being your second home, does that factor in:

It's a lot for sure. Just for our kids, they're in school right now, they love the city, just like we do, just like I do and obviously playing with this guy beside me (Ryan O’Reilly), the whole group I'd love to keep going. I feel like I've built myself as a player over the years and I want to keep this going for sure.

One or two areas of improvement for next season:

I mean, personally, just like I said, just a little bit more maybe momentum between lines after line, just kind of building our game a little bit more. Kind of having more control over games at times, but I think it was there at times, too. So I think it's just a way to do it more consistently.

On how young do you feel, putting up numbers as you get older:

It depends which time of the year, how many injuries that you're going through, but no I feel really good. I feel I found a way to play the game right now where I feel like I can be consistent every night. I feel like I can have an impact on the game and kind of bring a lot of positives to the team. I think I got a few years where I'm going to feel like that still.

Different offseason things to make that happen:

No, I mean, some stuff. You always want to get better, training-wise all that stuff, but I've been pretty consistent in my training. What I've been doing over summers, now I've just kind of keep going.

On when Binnington goes down in Game 3 vs. Avalanche, still playing if that doesn't happen:

I mean, you'd like to look back and think that way, but that's the way it happened. I don't know. Did we turn the page? I think we probably needed a few more days or a week, whatever. But at the same time, we're proud of our group, we lost to a good team. And there's no point just overthinking everything. So I'm proud of the guys, the way they played this year and that's what I think.

Blues season comes to an end in crushing fashion

Helm scores with 5.6 remaining in regulation to give Avalanche 

3-2 win, series win, ending second-round series in six games

By LOU KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- What a brutal ending.

It may have been one of the most gut-wrenching endings to a game -- and season -- in Blues history.

(St. Louis Blues/Scott Rovak)

Goalie Ville Husso (right) makes a lunging save on a shot attempt in front

of teammate Niko Mikkola in a 3-2 loss against Colorado Friday.

With their season on the line again, the Blues were looking to duplicate what they accomplished in Game 5 in Colorado. Even as badly as they were being outplayed by the Colorado Avalanche in Game 6 at Enterprise Center on Friday, the Blues were on a one-shot game that seemed destined for overtime.

Oops.

Or so they thought.

But Darren Helm -- Darren Helm? -- spoiled it all. His goal with 5.6 seconds remaining in regulation gave the Avalanche a stunning and series-clinching 3-2 win in the Western Conference second round to send Colorado to the conference final for the first time since 2002 and a date with Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.

The Blues were looking to force a Game 7 on Sunday, hoping for the chance to win a series for the third time in franchise history when trailing 3-1. 

But alas, it wasn't meant to be. 

A seeing-eye shot from the left circle on what looked like a nothing play eluded the glove of goalie Ville Husso, piercing the net and piercing the hearts of the Blues, this ending their season.

It’s kind of in front of the net and (Cale) Makar made the play up and they had four guys on the rush," a dejected Blues forward Brayden Schenn said. "Got to find a way to get that one to overtime. Probably a little bit of my fault. I don’t know if that was my guy. I got to look at the replay again. But yeah, that one stinks."

That's as hard a body blow as one can take. It came in the form of a Mike Tyson full-fledged uppercut right to the stomach, and the Blues absorbed it and fell to the canvas.

Just 5.6 ticks left in their season, and no chance to try and save it now.

"I think early on up the ice, we're kind of in a set forecheck, we let their D get by us and carry the puck up the ice, created a little bit of an odd-man rush, made a play to the weak side," Blues coach Craig Berube said. "They shot it, went through some people and it went in. But up ice, we could have done a better job.

"It's tough, a tough way to end it. That's the way it goes. Our guys battled hard."

But let's face it, that play was a microcosm of the game itself. The Avalanche were playing like this was its Game 7, and to an extent, it probably was. Can you imagine if this had gone to a winner-take-all game on Sunday, a series on the brink that they were expected to win handily? All the pressure in the world would have been on them, and the Blues would have been playing with house money trying to spoil the party. 

Not so.

"Obviously the game, we had a chance to take it," Blues captain Ryan O'Reilly said. "I thought Huus' gave us a chance, he made some huge stops, gave us a chance all game. I thought we started a little slow, which hurt us. That was kind of the feeling that we had all series at home. We didn’t play the way we needed to here, which made it difficult to win. Lost every game at home here … just very disappointing. 

"Overall, it’s a very disappointing season. I think we’re better than what we’ve shown against these guys. I thought we could’ve got that to seven, but yeah, when we lost Binner, I think there was a good chance there. It’s on myself, too, to kind of find a way to rally the group and respond the right way. Yeah, it’s disappointing."

The Avalanche, which is 5-0 on the road in the playoffs, outshot the Blues 39-20 in the game, had a territorial advantage in zone in puck possession and zone time, while the Blues -- again -- played passive and dismissive with their puck play.

Husso, who was both great and had fans shaking their heads with the final two goals allowed, getting beat again on the tying goal on the short side, did his best to keep the Blues in it with a number of clutch saves. He had to play near-perfect for the Blues to force Game 7 since the offense was pretty much anemic against a wobbly goalie at best, Darcy Kuemper.

"'Huus' gave us a chance to win," Schenn said. "Not an easy situation for him to come in the series. He found his groove.

"Just couldn’t find ways to generate enough offensively. We feel we got a good team and let that series slip. They’re a good team. You've got to hand them credit. But we feel like we got good pieces in here, too. And we challenged them a lot better than we did (last year). It’s hard to come back from 3-1. We know that. Games 3 and 4 really hurt us, and it’s tough to come back in a series like that."

"We didn't make enough plays," Berube said. "I thought we defended well. We didn't transfer the puck from defense to offense tonight. We just kind of put pucks out to the neutral zone and they did a good job of countering. They came with a lot of speed. I thought their D played extremely well tonight and carried the play for them."

Earlier in the series, after Game 1, Schenn said the Blues were just "chucking pucks" back to the Avalanche, and it led to an onslaught of wave after wave after wave of Colorado attacks.

"Well, that's a highly-skilled team over there," Berube said. "They've got a lot of offense, they got a lot of good players. I guess you could ask ... you want more from some guys maybe, but I thought we played them pretty well, I really did. I didn't like Game 1, but other than that, we were right there in all the games."

The Blues scored the first goal for the fifth time in six games in this series when Justin Faulk made it 1-0 with one minute left in the first.

Husso kept the Blues in the lead with several key saves; he faced 13 shots in each period Friday.

J.T. Compher scored the first of two goals, depth guys for the Avalanche getting the job done, when he scored off a rebound at the net at 5:19 of the second to tie it 1-1.

But the Blues scored off a 2-on-1, with Jordan Kyrou converting a Schenn pass to make it 2-1 at 9:34 following a Jack Johnson turnover. It was another lead for the Blues, that could have been increased when Kyrou inexplicably didn't shoot with Kuemper out of position on his forehand, went to the backhand and had his shot from the slot blocked by Josh Manson. Kyrou then missed a breakaway with 59 seconds left, and the Blues missed out on a chance to go up by two or three goals.

"Jordan Kyrou could have had three tonight," Berube said. "Just the way it goes. We didn't get the breaks."

With a one-goal game and 20 minutes left, there was no chance the Avalanche were sitting back like it did in Denver on Wednesday. Colorado was coming with an onslaught.

The Blues were weathering every storm imaginable until Colton Parayko, who struggled throughout, flipped an uncontested puck into the stands for a delay of game penalty at 8:19. 
The Blues had it all but killed off, but Compher tied the game with one second left on the power play, a shot from the right circle that beat Husso again high short side, which seems like his Achillies' heel, getting beat short side. The goal came at 10:18 and tied things at 2-2.

"Well, obviously the power play goal, we almost had that killed off," Berube said. "We made a little bit of a mistake in the neutral zone and gave them a free look, they score. Then again, like I said up ice, we've got to do a better job on that set forecheck."

The Blues had little to no good looks on the offensive end in the third period, so naturally, their best shot was to get this to overtime. 

And they nearly succeeded.

(St. Louis Blues/Scott Rovak)

Blues defenseman Justin Faulk (72) moves the puck away from Avalanche

forward Andre Burakovsky in Game 6 on Friday at Enterprise Center.

"They’re a good skating team. Their D are mobile, active," Schenn said. "They break out the puck pretty well. Actually really well. You have to have a good forecheck when you have D like that. And that takes sustained O-zone time. And we didn’t have enough of it. We showed it in spurts, but that’s not good enough to win a series."

It surely wasn't enough to win this game, and in the end, Helm's shot was a bitter pill to swallow.

The teams shook hands at the conclusion, and the remaining crowd on hand saluted the Blues on their season.

"I don't say a lot," Berube said. "We talked, we had a great season, proud of the guys, they worked really hard, but we really came together as a team throughout the season and the playoffs, battled hard in the playoffs, beat a real good team out in Minnesota and we're right there with Colorado. It's tough to lose. You can't say much. They don't want to hear anything."