The St. Louis Blues have managed to keep their home ice rink relatively tilted towards the opposing net this season. Just before the week off, they have to continue like this.

The St. Louis Blues have done a very good job protecting their home, as the saying goes. The Blues weren’t unbeatable at the Scottrade Center, but they made it a tough place to win most nights.

They must continue in this way for their last game before the week off and for the remainder of the season, if possible. Right now the Blues are in a prime position to win home ice in the playoffs, so keeping the home protected has to be a habit.

Right now, the Blues have two things going for them mentally as they prepare to face the Florida Panthers before the team’s break. They have the home ice advantage and also a revenge factor.

Regardless of how any of us think the team has played over the past month, there have only been a handful of games the Blues have never been to. One of them was a game against the Panthers in October.

A score of 5-2 doesn’t look terrible. However, the Blues have never been so close. They let Florida, a team that was already struggling, dominate them from start to finish.

With that in mind, both teams are basically in the same position in the standings today as they were then. This time the Blues have to prove to Florida that they are the better team. They must show that they can defend their territory.

This is exactly what the Blues have been doing lately. For the season, at this point, they’re 15-8-0 at home and 11-8-3 on the road.

If seven games above .500 don’t get your engine started, the Blues have been even better lately. According to Fox Sports, St. Louis has won three in a row and four of its five home wins. They also kept the opposition silent, with just seven goals conceded in those games.

At the very least, the Blues just need to bounce back from their bad road trip. Seeming to get it right after three straight wins, the Blues collapsed in the east. They blew themselves up in Philadelphia and scored a point in Washington, but lost even though they were the better team for much of the game.

St. Louis can’t afford a lot more games where they can say they were better but don’t get the win. Not if they really want to establish themselves as strong contenders.

Getting a solid win over Florida right before their week off would be exactly that kind of signal. St. Louis seems to do well against top teams, but struggles with mid to lower level teams – that is, playing with your opponent.

Home cooking might be just what the doctor ordered for it. Get some quick goals and surpass this one and you set yourself up for success.

Florida won’t be easy as they look to bounce back, just like the Blues. Like St. Louis, they have just suffered a shootout loss where they were happy with their performance, but disappointed not to take the victory.

They also suffered three straight losses. Whatever the talent, it is difficult to lose a team in a fourth game, so the Blues will have to focus on this competition and not think about their mini-holiday plans.

At the very least, the Blues need to play for their goalie. Regardless of streaks or the home ice rink, the Blues have too often ruined good goalie performances lately.

It is suspected that Allen will return to the net and a very good game for the Snake would send a clear message to fans and opponents alike.

Overall, the fans just want to see some good hockey and a few wins. For the most part, they’ve seen it when they buy a ticket to a home game. St. Louis must keep driving.