Home-Ice Advantage
There is a saying in the world of hockey that goes, To win on the road, you have to have a good home-ice advantage. And for the St. Louis Blues, that has certainly been the case.
The St. Louis Blues are an American professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference in the National Hockey League (NHL). Founded in 1967, the Blues are the oldest NHL team never to have won the Stanley Cup championship. However, what they lack in championship titles, they make up for in their dominance on the ice.
The Blues play their home games at the Enterprise Center, which has been their home since 1994. It is a modern, state-of-the-art facility that can hold up to 18,096 hockey fans. With its close proximity to the Scottrade Center, the home of the St. Louis Cardinals, it is a perfect location for die-hard sports fans to come and support their beloved Blues.
The Enterprise Center is known for its intense atmosphere, with fans cheering and chanting throughout the game, making it a daunting place for opponents to visit. The atmosphere is electric, and it is often attributed to the outstanding support of the St. Louis Blues fans.
But what truly gives the Blues their home-ice advantage is not just the atmosphere but their dominant performance on the ice. In the past three seasons, the Blues have had a record of 83 wins, 39 losses, and 14 overtime losses at home, making them one of the top teams in the league in terms of home-ice success.
For the 2019–2020 season, the Blues had a home record of 22 wins, 11 losses, and 6 overtime losses. That was good enough for the eighth-best home record in the league and helped the team secure a spot in the playoffs. And in the playoffs, the Blues continued their dominance at home, winning 10 out of 12 games on home ice on their way to winning the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history.
One of the main factors that contributes to the Blues’ success at home is their ability to score. The Blues’ home record of 3.44 goals per game ranks fourth in the league in the last three seasons. Led by star players like Vladimir Tarasenko, Jaden Schwartz, and Ryan O’Reilly, the Blues have one of the most potent offenses in the NHL, making it difficult for visiting teams to keep up with their scoring pace.
Another crucial factor in the Blues’ home-ice success is their strong defense. The Blues have an average of 2.57 goals against per game at home in the last three seasons, ranking them in the top third of the league. Led by veteran defenseman Alex Pietrangelo and young star Colton Parayko, the Blues’ defense is a force to be reckoned with, making it tough for opposing teams to find the back of the net.
The St. Louis Blues’ home-ice advantage is not just a recent occurrence. It has been a dominant aspect of their game for quite some time. Over the last decade, the Blues have consistently been one of the top teams in the league when it comes to home-ice success. In fact, over the past 10 seasons, the Blues have had a home-winning percentage of 61.2%, ranking them third in the entire NHL.
The Blues’ home dominance is not limited to just the regular season. The Enterprise Center has also hosted several memorable playoff games, including Game 7 of the 2016 Western Conference Final against the San Jose Sharks, where Troy Brouwer’s game-winning goal in the third period sent the Blues to their first conference final since 2001.
So, what is the secret to the Blues’ success at home? Many attribute it to the passionate and supportive fans who create a hostile environment for opposing teams. Others believe it is the team’s ability to feed off the energy of the crowd and use it to their advantage on the ice.
Whatever the reason may be, it is clear that the St. Louis Blues have a significant home-ice advantage. The Enterprise Center becomes a fortress when the Blues are on the ice, and as the team continues to excel on their home turf, it is evident that their home-ice dominance is here to stay.
The St. Louis Blues have proven time and time again that they are a force to be reckoned with on their home ice. With their passionate fan base, talented players, and strong performances on both sides of the ice, it is no surprise that the Blues have become a dominant team at home in recent years. As they continue to excel on their home turf, it is clear that the Blues are a team to watch out for, not just in the regular season but also in the playoffs.
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