ST. LOUIS — Last year at this time, Blues fans were frustrated by the team's 1-3-2 start, and to a certain extent, there has been some concern with a 3-1-2 record to the start of this season.
Perhaps the last two games in particular, a 6-3 loss at Montreal and a 3-2 overtime loss to the New York Islanders in which the Blues led 2-0 with five and a half minutes remaining in regulation, are what have Blues fans scoffing a bit, but all things considered, eight of a possible 12 points thus far is not a bad place to be.
"We have some good minutes, we have some bad minutes," Perron said. "I thought our last game was one of our better ones as far as identity, being selfless, changing at the right times. We had a lot of zone time. Maybe we weren't connected enough offensively like that, but definitely a lot of good stuff compered to other games. I think we remember where our level was from last year. It's so fresh on our mind that we want to get there right away. I want to get there too right away, but I just don't think it happens that way. Coaches are doing a good job too to keep on every day bringing new details, bringing stuff that we have to constantly be reminded of. We'll get there and I'm sure we will, but at the same time, it's a process.
"I think if you create a panic situation ...not that we're even close to that, but if you start panicking on things, it just brings negative energy, it drains the positivity out of the group and I think that's what we need in here. We need to be calm, we've done it before, we won and we know how to do it. We've just got to relax a little bit and just focus on our detail and listen to our coaches, trust in our system and we'll be fine."
Berube said the team went over some video Wednesday morning and found a few things that can be cleaned up.
"We've got to do a better job of protecting the slot area in our zone, actually doing a better job in the offensive zone getting in on the inside more," Berube said. "The other night on the island, we had the puck a lot. We created chances but not enough. For that much puck possession, we should be able to create more than that.
"We can do a better job of denying our end a little bit more and forcing teams to turning pucks over. At the other side, we're almost chasing at times in our end instead of just playing at our structure. I'd say maybe a little over-aggressive at times. They're finding some plays and some holes on us. We've got to be a little more structured in our own end."
