The focus of this column should include the words “Montreal” and “Canadiens” with some degree of repetition, but the fact remains that the St. Louis Blues have bigger concerns at hand than tonight’s opponent. They are the Central Division’s own Winnipeg Jets, who have won back-to-back contests, 13 of their last 18, and find themselves with a sudden seven-point lead over the second-place Nashville Predators. That’s one; the other being the Blues themselves, who have now lost four out of five and perhaps find themselves with a touch of shellshock here in early December.
The oft-recycled one-game-at-a-time mantra still carries limitless importance and so the Note must not overlook either the Canadiens or tonight’s contest.