Here are the troubles as I see them:

Fatigue is going to take it's toll on every team but maybe a little more on the Blues, with so many in the Olympics. They are certainly lacking that spark we've seem most of the season. Are they just gassed?

Scoring is always tough in the playoffs. Tarasenko is doubtful for the start of the playoffs and I have no idea what to expect with Steen's return. If both of them are out, this team seems to have trouble scoring. Pretty disappointing that others have not stepped up and filled the voids. Reason for concern.

Guts and heart. One trait this team has shown all year and even more in the past few weeks is the grit it takes to get out of a mini-slump, in the middle of a game. It seems once they get down and show a poor effort, it gets worse not better, as the game progresses. I know last stand thinks I'm nuts but Backes is a great player and weak "C". I would rather have Jackman or even Roy or Morrow as a "C". Backes has a tendancy to get a little wild when the Blues are down by one or two goals and take dumb penalties, at the worst possible times. I think he is doing that to try to "lead" the team. Since he doesn't have real leadership skills he just does what he thinks will show everyone else how hard you can play. Being one of the best players in the NHL doesn't do us much good when he's sitting in the penalty box, with 3 or 4 mins to go and down by a goal.

On the bright side:

The goaltending should be top-notch!!

They have a great NHL coach that has his name on the Cup already. He knows what it takes to win, in the playoffs.

They have one of the best balanced defenses in the NHL and they are all healthy.

They have the talent up front. They just need to get it clickin in these last few games.

Go Blue!!