The hardest thing about judging the Blues’ performance this season is that they haven’t been the full shebang all season long. Tyler Bozak has been out since January 26th due to a high, and possibly illegal, check to the head by Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone. That’s 21 games without the team’s third line center and veteran locker room presence. That’s less than ideal.
Jaden Schwartz, on the other hand, has missed only (?) 14 games, out since a February 12th lower body injury against the Coyotes sidelined him. In a shortened season, 14 and 21 games is a lifetime.