The St. Louis Blues slayed the dragon last postseason, eliminating the Chicago Blackhawks in seven games, finally thwarting one of their primary tormentors in the Western Conference.
Would that continue in the 2016-17 season? So far, so good for the Blues, who defeated the Blackhawks, 5-2, in their opening-night game in Chicago on Wednesday night. Vladimir Tarasenko had two goals; Kevin Shattenkirk and Paul Stastny also had goals. So did Scottie Upshall.
Well, technically.
With Corey Crawford pulled and trailing by two goals, the Blackhawks attempted to break out of their own end. Brent Seabrook reversed the puck to Patrick Kane, but the puck slipped right by him and back towards the empty net.

Duncan Keith skated back to prevent the puck from crossing, but it was too late: The Blues had their fifth and final goal, courtesy of the Blackhawks’ own-goal. Upshall was the last player to touch the puck, and was credited with the goal.
Not exactly the start Joel Quenneville and his team wanted.
“There definitely will be some learning going on and we’ll be accepting mistakes from hard work,” he said. “But that’s where you get better.”

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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at [email protected] or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.
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