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Toronto Maple Leafs: 5 Things We’re Missing Without Hockey Right Now

By Stephen Nixon

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 17: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates past Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals in the third period at Capital One Arena on October 17, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 17: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates past Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals in the third period at Capital One Arena on October 17, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 12: NHL commisoner Gary Bettman presents Alex Pietrangelo. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 12: NHL commisoner Gary Bettman presents Alex Pietrangelo. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

#3. Could the St. Louis Blues Win Back-to-Back Stanley Cups?

From worst-to-first, the Blues went from dead last in the NHL to Stanley Cup champions all within six months.

On January 3rd, 2019, the Blues were dead last in the league. Not just last in their division or conference, but the entire National Hockey League. Typically an NHL team knows who they are and how the season will go by American Thanksgiving, but to be in such a terrible position in January and succeed is unheard of.

Led by goaltender Jordan Binnington, the Blues went on a hot-streak and were on their way to glory. For the first time in team history, they won the Stanley Cup.

One season removed from that magical run, the Blues are in a much safer position heading in the playoffs than they were last year. Leading the Central Division with 94 points, the Blues were likely going to end the year in first or second place and would be guaranteed home-ice advantage in the first round.

With the playoffs in sight, the Blues had their eyes on a repeat.

Led by the Ryan O’Reilly, Alex Pietrangelo and Jordan Binnington, the Blues’ core has stayed intact year-over-year, so the players that experienced what it took to a win a Cup last year were are all the same guys who would be doing it again.

Repeating a championship is so difficult, but that experience is incredibly important and the Blues seemed like they had a legitimate shot at doing it.

It would have been an awesome story-line to see if the Blues could get through the tough Western Conference again and repeat as champions, but unfortunately we’ll have to wait a while to figure that out.

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