St. Louis Sports Online

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Mike Huss "The Fuss According to Huss" St. Louis Sports Online lead columnist and host of "Sportstalk" on WGNU AM-920 (8:00-9:00 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays)

A funny thing happened to the St. Louis Blues Friday night in their game with the Detroit Red Wings. No, it wasn't that the Blues held their own against the new, improved and more powerful boys from HockeyTown. Rather, we found out that the Blues are still in operation , the Kiel Center did not fall down, and civilization as we've known it did not end, ten months after the departure of Brett Hull.

Remember those panic stricken days back in early July? The fans and hockey media screamed in print and on talk show that the days of the franchise are over. Sharp objects needed to be hidden and guards needed to be posted on tall buildings and bridges in the Gateway City. Remember that glaring Post Dispatch column on the day after Hull signed with Dallas entitled "They Better Win"??

Early in the 1999 calendar year, the Blues picked up only five points in a seven game home stand against some of the lesser NHL teams. Plus, it was announced that the team and Kiel Center are for sale and there would be no major trades or acquisitions.

Once again the forecasts of doom and gloom were sounded by the talk show faithful, talking heads, and hockey geniuses. How many times did we hear "I told you, so" about this hockey team?

Lo and behold, here we are in April, and the Blues are playing relatively well. They defeated Dallas at Kiel ,in the much heralded return of the Golden One. They earned a tie in Toronto, and a win in Washington, before playing the Red Wings to a draw. At this writing, the team has more wins than it has losses.

Yet as we head for the home stretch of the 1998-1999 edition of the NHL marathon, it seems that the Blues fans and local media experts do not have the enthusiasm/optimism for this year's playoff run as we have seen in past seasons.

For the past three seasons, the Blues started their summer vacation by lining up and shaking hands with the Red Wings. Smart money would tell you it would be four straight summers if the Blues would draw the Wings in Round One.

Assuming the Blues get the invitation for this year's far from exclusive NHL private post season party, it is not because of their better golf courses or the chance of meeting Bill Bidwill why the Blues would prefer to start the playoffs in Phoenix than in Motown.

This six month roller coaster ride illustrates the good things and bad things about the National Hockey League. Yes, despite having a mediocre season and injuries, EVEN YOU can be make the playoffs opening up a new pot of gold for your franchise. You can play teams many points ahead of you in the standings, and start 0-0 in the playoffs.

This may be exactly what Joel Quenneville is hoping for.

Right now Coach Q is the best of our town's Professional Coaches. Ironically, he does not get the fanfare or name recognition as the other two contestants in this category.

Yet, despite all the noise over Hull's departure, injuries to Pronger, Courtnall, Fuhr and others, an impending sale of the hockey team, and budgetary constraints, Coach Q has maneuvered his team within striking distance of the number 5 position in the Conference. His steadying influence and no panic approach could result in an opening round series with the Coyotes and a reasonable chance of advancement to round 2.

Quenneville knows that Grant Fuhr COULD make the Blues a Wild , Wild Card team in the playoffs. It is very possible that a goaltender such as #31 COULD steal the first round of the playoffs. He also knows that Pavel Dimitra MIGHT be ready to cap off a 40 goal season with a first round playoff spurt. It COULD occur.

He also knows that from there, anything COULD happen in the second round or beyond.

I find it ironic that all of the fears that the Blues and their followers had for the playoffs last season, could be the advantages for them this season.

Yet, Quenneville is also a realist: he know that it COULD NOT happen. But they are going to get the chance, nonetheless.

Beauty or fallacy, this is the National Hockey League. This is the same league that issued the edict that some games will have two referees and some games will only have one. This is the same league that starts most of its penalties with the word obstruction.

What does that tell you about the NHL hierarchy and its view of the regular season??

So my advice to you Blues Fans is this: take a long, deep breath and relax. Enjoy the playoff run, regardless of its length. You are still this town's most faithful and loyal group of followers.

Stranger things have happened in the National Hockey League. It has been a very long season and it will be a long series of playoff games.

Last season we were asked, "Why not the Blues??". Perhaps, one could ask the same question this season; but for any entirely different reason.

To you fans, it is OK to fret and complain about the play of the team, but there is one thing you don't need to worry about:

Despite popular opinion or hope, even without Brett Hull, the Kiel Center won't come tumbling down.