2018–19 St. Louis Blues season

The 2018–19 St. Louis Blues season was the 52nd season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 5, 1967. The Blues were in last place in the league in January, but rallied to make the playoffs. They advanced to the finals against the Boston Bruins and won in seven games for the first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
==Season summary==
The Blues started the season sluggish, and head coach Mike Yeo was fired on November 19 with the team's record at 7–9–3. Craig Berube, who had served as assistant coach with the Blues since 2017, was named the interim head coach. St. Louis began the 2019 calendar year with the worst record in the league; 15–18–4 and 34 points recorded.Blues complete amazing comeback with 4-1 win against Bruins for first Stanley Cup title Soon after, rookie goaltender Jordan Binnington joined the team. On January 7, he won his first game in a shutout and took over as the team's starting goaltender. The Blues then went on a franchise-record 11-game winning streak and had a 30–10–5 run to finish the season. They clinched a playoff spot on March 29, 2019."Rain can't dampen Blues' championship parade". espn.com. June 15, 2019. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
In the playoffs, the Blues defeated the Winnipeg Jets, Dallas Stars, and San Jose Sharks to advance to the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals, where they faced the Boston Bruins. It was their first Finals appearance since 1970. On May 29, 2019, St. Louis won a Stanley Cup Finals series' game for the first time in franchise history after getting swept in three previous series (1968–1970), as they defeated the Bruins 3–2 in overtime in game 2. On June 12, 2019, they defeated the Bruins in seven games to win the first Stanley Cup title in franchise history. Until then, they were the oldest franchise to have never won a Stanley Cup.
Ryan O'Reilly, who had been acquired in a trade during the previous offseason, was the Blues' top regular season scorer with 77 points. He then had a franchise-record 23 playoff points and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs. O'Reilly also won the Frank J. Selke Trophy for the league's best defensive forward during the regular season.Kaplan, Emily. "Blues' O'Reilly scores again, wins Conn Smythe". espn.com. June 13, 2019. Retrieved June 21, 2019."Tampa duo Kucherov, Vasilevskiy win top awards". espn.com. June 20, 2019. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
=="Gloria"==
St. Louis had been in last place in the NHL on January 3. On the night of January 6, a few Blues players were in a Philadelphia bar watching a National Football League playoff game. The DJ played the 1982 Laura Branigan song "Gloria", and according to defenceman Joel Edmundson, "this one guy looked at the DJ and said, 'Keep playing "Gloria"!' so they kept playing it. Everyone would get up and start singing and dancing. We just sat back and watched it happen. Right there we decided we should play the song after our wins." The following day, goaltender Jordan Binnington made his first start for the Blues that season and won the game with a shutout.Spiegel, Jackie. "How 'Play Gloria' became the rallying cry of the St. Louis Blues". sportingnews.com. June 13, 2019. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
The team played it after every win for the rest of the regular season and playoffs, and as their hot streak continued, the song became popular in the city of St. Louis. "Gloria" was written on signs and t-shirts. The St. Louis radio station KYKY-FM played it for 24 hours straight after series victories in the playoffs.
==Off-season==
On May 30, 2018, the Blues named Mike Van Ryn as assistant coach, replacing Darryl Sydor, who stepped down to spend more time with his family. Van Ryn played the first three seasons (2000–2003) of his eight years in the NHL with the Blues, scoring 13 points in 69 games.
The Blues extended their affiliation with the Tulsa Oilers of the ECHL on May 31.
==Standings==
===Divisional standings===
===Conference standings===
==Schedule and results==
===Preseason===
The preseason schedule was published on June 15, 2018.
2018 preseason game log: 4–3–0 (Home: 2–1–0 ; Road: 2–2–0)	2018 preseason game log: 4–3–0 (Home: 2–1–0 ; Road: 2–2–0)	2018 preseason game log: 4–3–0 (Home: 2–1–0 ; Road: 2–2–0)	2018 preseason game log: 4–3–0 (Home: 2–1–0 ; Road: 2–2–0)	2018 preseason game log: 4–3–0 (Home: 2–1–0 ; Road: 2–2–0)	2018 preseason game log: 4–3–0 (Home: 2–1–0 ; Road: 2–2–0)	2018 preseason game log: 4–3–0 (Home: 2–1–0 ; Road: 2–2–0)	2018 preseason game log: 4–3–0 (Home: 2–1–0 ; Road: 2–2–0)	2018 preseason game log: 4–3–0 (Home: 2–1–0 ; Road: 2–2–0)	2018 preseason game log: 4–3–0 (Home: 2–1–0 ; Road: 2–2–0)
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score 	Home 	OT 	Decision 	Attendance 	Record 	Recap
1 	September 18 	St. Louis 	3–5 	Dallas 	 	Binnington 	11,125 	0–1–0 	Recap
2 	September 19 	St. Louis 	3–2 	Minnesota 	 	Husso 	14,290 	1–1–0 	Recap
3 	September 21 	Columbus 	0–3 	St. Louis 	 	Johnson 	15,190 	2–1–0 	Recap
4 	September 23 	St. Louis 	5–1 	Columbus 	 	Husso 	11,758 	3–1–0 	Recap
5 	September 25 	Washington 	4–0 	St. Louis 	 	Allen 	15,769 	3–2–0 	Recap
6 	September 28 	Dallas 	1–3 	St. Louis 	 	Allen 	17,363 	4–2–0 	Recap
7 	September 30 	St. Louis 	2–5 	Washington 	 	Johnson 	14,894 	4–3–0 	Recap
Notes:
 Game was played at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.	
Notes:
 Game was played at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.	
Notes:
 Game was played at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.	
Notes:
 Game was played at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.	
Notes:
 Game was played at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.	
Notes:
 Game was played at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.	
Notes:
 Game was played at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.	
Notes:
 Game was played at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.	
Notes:
 Game was played at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.	
Notes:
 Game was played at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.
===Regular season===
The regular season schedule was released on June 21, 2018.
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October: 3–4–3 (Home: 2–3–1 ; Road: 1–1–2)	October: 3–4–3 (Home: 2–3–1 ; Road: 1–1–2)	October: 3–4–3 (Home: 2–3–1 ; Road: 1–1–2)	October: 3–4–3 (Home: 2–3–1 ; Road: 1–1–2)	October: 3–4–3 (Home: 2–3–1 ; Road: 1–1–2)	October: 3–4–3 (Home: 2–3–1 ; Road: 1–1–2)	October: 3–4–3 (Home: 2–3–1 ; Road: 1–1–2)	October: 3–4–3 (Home: 2–3–1 ; Road: 1–1–2)	October: 3–4–3 (Home: 2–3–1 ; Road: 1–1–2)	October: 3–4–3 (Home: 2–3–1 ; Road: 1–1–2)	October: 3–4–3 (Home: 2–3–1 ; Road: 1–1–2)
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score 	Home 	OT 	Decision 	Attendance 	Record 	Pts 	Recap
1 	October 4 	Winnipeg 	5–1 	St. Louis 	 	Allen 	18,292 	0–1–0 	0 	Recap
2 	October 6 	Chicago 	5–4 	St. Louis 	OT 	Allen 	17,429 	0–1–1 	1 	Recap
3 	October 11 	Calgary 	3–5 	St. Louis 	 	Allen 	16,403 	1–1–1 	3 	Recap
4 	October 13 	St. Louis 	3–4 	Chicago 	OT 	Allen 	21,634 	1–1–2 	4 	Recap
5 	October 14 	Anaheim 	3–2 	St. Louis 	 	Johnson 	16,562 	1–2–2 	4 	Recap
6 	October 17 	St. Louis 	2–3 	Montreal 	 	Allen 	20,137 	1–3–2 	4 	Recap
7 	October 20 	St. Louis 	4–1 	Toronto 	 	Allen 	19,268 	2–3–2 	6 	Recap
8 	October 22 	St. Louis 	4–5 	Winnipeg 	OT 	Allen 	15,321 	2–3–3 	7 	Recap
9 	October 25 	Columbus 	7–4 	St. Louis 	 	Johnson 	17,068 	2–4–3 	7 	Recap
10 	October 27 	Chicago 	3–7 	St. Louis 	 	Allen 	17,201 	3–4–3 	9 	Recap
===Playoffs===
The Blues faced the Winnipeg Jets in the First Round of the playoffs, and defeated them in six games.
The Blues faced the Dallas Stars in the Second Round of the playoffs, defeating them in seven games.
The Blues faced the San Jose Sharks in the Conference Finals of the playoffs, defeating them in six games.
The Blues faced the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Finals, defeating them in seven games to win their first Stanley Cup.
2019 Stanley Cup playoffs 	2019 Stanley Cup playoffs 	2019 Stanley Cup playoffs 	2019 Stanley Cup playoffs 	2019 Stanley Cup playoffs 	2019 Stanley Cup playoffs 	2019 Stanley Cup playoffs 	2019 Stanley Cup playoffs 	2019 Stanley Cup playoffs 	2019 Stanley Cup playoffs
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Western Conference First Round vs. (C2) Winnipeg Jets: St. Louis won 4–2	Western Conference First Round vs. (C2) Winnipeg Jets: St. Louis won 4–2	Western Conference First Round vs. (C2) Winnipeg Jets: St. Louis won 4–2	Western Conference First Round vs. (C2) Winnipeg Jets: St. Louis won 4–2	Western Conference First Round vs. (C2) Winnipeg Jets: St. Louis won 4–2	Western Conference First Round vs. (C2) Winnipeg Jets: St. Louis won 4–2	Western Conference First Round vs. (C2) Winnipeg Jets: St. Louis won 4–2	Western Conference First Round vs. (C2) Winnipeg Jets: St. Louis won 4–2	Western Conference First Round vs. (C2) Winnipeg Jets: St. Louis won 4–2	Western Conference First Round vs. (C2) Winnipeg Jets: St. Louis won 4–2
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score 	Home 	OT 	Decision 	Attendance 	Series 	Recap
1 	April 10 	St. Louis 	2–1 	Winnipeg 	 	Binnington 	15,321 	1–0 	Recap
2 	April 12 	St. Louis 	4–3 	Winnipeg 	 	Binnington 	15,321 	2–0 	Recap
3 	April 14 	Winnipeg 	6–3 	St. Louis 	 	Binnington 	18,486 	2–1 	Recap
4 	April 16 	Winnipeg 	2–1 	St. Louis 	OT 	Binnington 	18,346 	2–2 	Recap
5 	April 18 	St. Louis 	3–2 	Winnipeg 	 	Binnington 	15,321 	3–2 	Recap
6 	April 20 	Winnipeg 	2–3 	St. Louis 	 	Binnington 	18,524 	4–2 	Recap
==Player statistics==
As of June 12, 2019
===Skaters===
Regular season
Player	 	 	 	 	 	
 	82	28	49	77	22	12
 	76	33	35	68	8 	22
 	72	17	37	54	3 	40
 	57	23	23	46	3 	46
 	71	13	28	41	2 	22
 	72	13	25	38	 	20
 	69	11	25	36	 	16
 	78	12	23	35	14	45
 	70	9 	24	33	 	14
 	74	14	17	31	 	22
 	80	10	18	28	20	15
 	74	10	18	28	 	64
 	65	10	17	27	2 	14
 	80	14	12	26	 	17
 	60	8 	12	20	8 	21
 	78	3 	14	17	 	40
 	64	2 	9 	11	8 	68
 	59	2 	8 	10	9 	47
 	25	3 	4 	7 	8 	6
 	32	2 	4 	6 	 	6
 	29	3 	2 	5 	0 	10
 	32	2 	2 	4 	 	6
 	16	1 	2 	3 	 	4
† 	7 	0 	3 	3 	 	0
 	13	1 	1 	2 	3 	0
 	20	0 	2 	2 	 	2
 	14	0 	2 	2 	2 	14
 	5 	0 	0 	0 	 	0
 	1 	0 	0 	0 	 	2
 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
Playoffs
Player	 	 	 	 	 	
 	26	8 	15	23	2	4
 	26	12	8 	20	9	2
 	26	3 	16	19	5	12
 	26	11	6 	17	 	4
 	26	7 	9 	16	4	16
 	26	5 	8 	13	 	8
 	26	5 	7 	12	 	14
 	26	2 	10	12	6	10
 	25	4 	5 	9 	5	8
 	20	2 	6 	8 	 	8
 	26	3 	4 	7 	 	8
 	22	1 	6 	7 	 	10
 	26	0 	7 	7 	9	18
 	25	3 	3 	6 	0	4
 	21	1 	5 	6 	 	10
 	26	2 	3 	5 	2	2
 	8 	1 	3 	4 	4	0
 	19	1 	2 	3 	6	4
 	15	1 	2 	3 	3	10
 	17	2 	0 	2 	3	30
 	10	1 	0 	1 	 	0
===Goaltenders===
Regular season
Player	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	32	30	1,876:25	24	5 	1	59 	1.89	807 	.927	5	0	0	0
 	46	45	2,567:57	19	17	8	121	2.83	1,277	.905	3	0	0	0
‡ 	10	7 	491 	2 	6 	0	29 	3.55	250 	.884	1	0	0	0
Playoffs
Player	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	26	26	1,559:30	16	10	64	2.46	742	.914	1	0	1	4
 	1 	0 	24:28 	0 	0 	1 	2.45	4 	.750	0	0	0	0
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Blues. Stats reflect time with the Blues only.
‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Blues only.
Bold/italics denotes franchise record.
==Roster==
==Transactions==
The Blues have been involved in the following transactions during the 2018–19 season.
===Trades===
Date	Details 	Details 	Ref
 	To Toronto Maple LeafsWPG's 1st-round pick in 20183rd-round pick in 2018 	To St. Louis Blues1st-round pick in 2018	
 	To Buffalo SabresPatrik BerglundVladimir SobotkaTage Thompson1st-round pick in 20192nd-round pick in 2021	To St. Louis BluesRyan O'Reilly 	
 	To Edmonton OilersConditional 6th-round pick in 2020 	To St. Louis BluesJakub Jerabek 	
 	To Anaheim DucksFuture considerations 	To St. Louis BluesJared Coreau 	
 	To Anaheim Ducks6th-round pick in 2019 	To St. Louis BluesMichael Del Zotto 	
===Free agents===
Date	Player 	Team 	Contract term	Ref
 	Tyler Bozak 	from Toronto Maple Leafs 	3-year 	
 	Kyle Brodziak 	to Edmonton Oilers 	2-year 	
 	Brian Flynn 	from Dallas Stars 	1-year 	
 	Carter Hutton 	to Buffalo Sabres 	3-year 	
 	Chad Johnson 	from Buffalo Sabres 	1-year 	
 	Wade Megan 	to Detroit Red Wings 	1-year 	
 	David Perron 	from Vegas Golden Knights 	4-year 	
 	Tyler Wotherspoon	from Calgary Flames 	1-year 	
 	Joey LaLeggia 	from Edmonton Oilers 	2-year 	
 	Jordan Nolan 	from Buffalo Sabres 	1-year 	
 	Beau Bennett 	to Dinamo Minsk (KHL) 	Unknown 	
 	Patrick Maroon 	from New Jersey Devils 	1-year 	
 	Petteri Lindbohm 	to Lausanne (NL) 	1-year 	
 	Jakub Jerabek 	to Vityaz Podolsk (KHL) 	1-year 	
 	Nikita Soshnikov 	to Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL)	2-year 	
===Waivers===
Date	Player 	Team 	Ref
 	Dmitrij Jaskin	to Washington Capitals	
 	Chad Johnson 	to Anaheim Ducks 	
===Contract terminations===
Date	Player 	Via 	Ref
 	Dmitri Sergeev	Mutual termination	
 	Brian Flynn 	Mutual termination	
===Retirement===
Date	Player	Ref
 	 	
===Signings===
Date	Player 	Contract term	Ref
 	Nikita Soshnikov 	1-year 	
 	Robby Fabbri 	1-year 	
 	Mackenzie MacEachern	1-year 	
 	Jordan Binnington 	1-year 	
 	Oskar Sundqvist 	1-year 	
 	Dmitrij Jaskin 	1-year 	
 	Dominik Bokk 	3-year 	
 	Joel Edmundson 	1-year 	
 	Jordan Schmaltz 	2-year 	
 	Alexei Toropchenko 	3-year 	
 	Mackenzie MacEachern	1-year 	
 	Joel Hofer 	3-year 	
 	Jay Bouwmeester 	1-year 	
==Draft picks==
Below are the St. Louis Blues' selections at the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, which was held on June 22 and 23, 2018, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
Round	# 	Player 	Pos	Nationality 	College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1 	251	Dominik Bokk 	LW 	Germany 	Växjö Lakers (SHL)
2 	45 	Scott Perunovich 	D 	United States	Minnesota (Big Ten)
4 	107	Joel Hofer 	G 	Canada 	Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
5 	138	Hugh McGing 	LW 	United States	Western Michigan (NCHC)
6 	169	Mathias Laferriere	RW 	Canada 	Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL)
7 	200	Tyler Tucker 	D 	Canada 	Barrie Colts (OHL)
Notes:
# The Toronto Maple Leafs' first-round pick went to the St. Louis Blues as the result of a trade on June 22, 2018, that sent Winnipeg's first-round pick in 2018 (29th overall) to Toronto in exchange for a third-round pick in 2018 (76th overall) and this pick.
==References==
Category:St. Louis Blues seasons
St. Louis Blues
Category:Western Conference (NHL) championship seasons
St. Louis
Category:Stanley Cup championship seasons