The Happier Hockey Life Of A Blues Fan
Well what do you know? The streak is over.
The leaf was enjoying an eight game win streak until one of the NHL’s elite teams, the St. Louis Blues ended matters properly this past week.
The all-time NHL record for consecutive wins is 17 in a row by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1993. So the leaf didn’t even get half way to the record. Too bad. The leaf team record for consecutive wins is 10 set in 1993 as well.
Here comes the really funny part. You’ve got to know that whenever we start talking about league records, there is going to be something the leaf did or didn’t do in its history that’s a disgrace to leaf fans. Get this; the longest undefeated streak, (that’s wins and ties) in the leaf’s 87 year history, is a paltry 11 games, a team record set in 1950. Now that is sad. The leaf has never gone a dozen games in a row without a loss. NEVER!
The Philadelphia Flyers own the NHL record for consecutive games undefeated. In 1980, they dethroned the Montreal Canadiens in this category with 35 non-losses in a row. Montreal’s previous NHL high was 28. All of the “Original Six” teams have all-time undefeated streaks longer than the leaf’s pissy little 11. (BOS- 23| NYR-19| DET-15| CHI- 15). Stupid leaf.
Ok, here we go – the St Louis Blues deserve a tribute from leaf haters everywhere and I’ve got 10 good reasons why any leafer could have lessened the misery of their NHL hockey upbringing by having bravely chosen a team like the St. Louis Blues to cheer for. But nope, leaf fans are “Die-hards” as they like to call themselves. Then they think we admire them because of their ignorant, blind loyalty. “Gotta admire those Die-hard leaf fans, eh?” PFFFFT!
Ten Good Reasons To Admire The St. Louis Blues And Mock The leaf
 | In the first three consecutive years of their existence, led by one of the greatest coaches in NHL history, Scotty Bowman, the Blues made it to the Stanley Cup finals. STL goalie, Glenn Hall won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the best player in the 1968 playoffs. No leaf has won the Conn Smythe since the Blues have been in the NHL. In the three years,1968-70, the leaf: missed the playoffs entirely in 1968, was gravely humiliated by the Bruins in a four-straight, 24 goals-to 5 wipe-out in 1969 and then missed the playoffs again in 1970. |
| The 1970’s were mostly unkind to both the Blues and the leaf, but the Blues rallied and overcame some serious adversity to become a respectable .500 team in the 1980’s. The leaf became the second worst team in the NHL in the 1980’s, allowing 3,204 goals, more than ANY of the other 20 teams in the league. |
| Blues legend, Gary Unger began his Iron-man NHL career with the leaf, but was soon traded away when he showed signs of promise. Most of Unger’s 914 consecutive games in the ‘70’s were played as a flashy, crowd pleasing hero in St. Louis. His consecutive games played streak is second only in NHL history to the 964 mark set by Doug Jarvis who was also traded away by the leaf. It appears the leaf never thought highly of guys who showed up to play. |
| The Blues alumni include a spectacular cast of Hall-Of Famers including: most recent inductee, Bernie Federko, Doug Harvey, Dickie Moore, Glenn Hall, Jacques Plante, Peter Stastny, Wayne Gretzky, and more. There will be others who shined with the Blues and who are destined for the Hall, i.e. Brett Hull and Brendan Shanahan. Noticing how Federko was developing into something extraordinary in the late 70’s/ early 80’s, the leaf countered by drafting their own future superstar who has somehow been omitted by the Hall of Fame selection committee in recent years. That would be none other than leaf legend, Rocky Saganiuk. |
| The leaf has not finished first overall in the NHL since 1963. Did your parents own a television back then? I don’t believe all the roads in downtown Toronto were paved yet. The most points the leaf has amassed in one season is 100. The Blues have surpassed that four times in their 36 year history, including a 114 pt. total and 51 Wins in 1999-00 to capture the President’s Trophy. The leaf has never had a 50 win season, not even close. |
| The St. Louis Blues have made the playoffs for 24 years in a row. That is awesome! In fact, only three times in their 36 year NHL history have the Blues missed the playoffs. They will most likely move ahead of the Canadiens this season and into 3rd place in all-time NHL history, behind only Chicago (28 consecutive years) and Boston (29 consecutive years). Since the Blues have been in the NHL, the leaf has missed the playoffs 11 times. There’s that magic number 11 again, hee hee. |
| You know, some leaf fans, especially younger leafer boys and girls wonder why we continually bash and bash the stupid leaf. Everyone knows they haven’t won a Stanley Cup since 1967, but for God’s sake, can’t they win at least something every once in a while? Last season, St Louis’ Barret Jackman won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year. And what about their other defensemen? Chris Pronger became the first defenseman to win the Hart Trophy in 2000 since Bobby Orr. On top of that, he took the James Norris trophy as the league’s best d-man with the league’s superior plus/minus rating of plus-52. Pronger was following up on his Blues buddy Al MacInnis’ Norris trophy win of the year before. Alas, no leaf defenseman has EVER won the James Norris trophy. Oh well. |
| Doug Gilmour tied his teammate, Bernie Federko as the leading scorer in the 1986 playoffs. They were both St. Louis Blues at the time. With Gilmour, the Blues knocked the leaf out of the playoffs that year. No leaf has led the NHL in playoff scoring since 1967. I loved Dougie as a Blue. |
| The Blues have Pavol Demitra. In the past five seasons he has recorded 380 points in 357 games. That’s better than a point per game. That’s also better than Mats Sundin who has 382 pts in 394 games, less than a point per game. Demitra won the Lady Byng trophy in 2000. Sundin never won anything. |
| No leaf is listed on The Hockey News honor roll of the 40 greatest NHL single season accomplishments. Brett Hull makes the list as a St. Louis Blue in 1990-91 when he scored 86 goals and won the Hart Trophy. No leaf has won the Hart Trophy since 1955 and needless to say, no leaf has ever come anywhere near 86 goals in a single season. Brett Hull had 5 -50+ goal seasons, all in a row with the Blues and all in the 1990’s. |
Not everyone thought the stupid leaf was funny
Aw, am I at ten good reasons already? I have about 50 more to share – draft choices, trades, team records – you know, all the stuff just about every other NHL team is better at than the stupid leaf. Who will win the Stanley Cup first, the Blues or the leaf? I know what team is more deserving.
I hate the leaf
Blow leaf blow
Leafhatred.
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