Ken Hitchcock and the St. Louis Blues, hot off of their stellar 2011-2012 season, thundered out of the gate in the shortened 2013 (2012-2013) campaign, posting a 6-1-0 record.  However, during the past four games, they’ve posted a 0-3-1 mark, the last three games of which have been at the once-friendly confines of Scottrade Center in St. Louis. Ken Hitchcock has seen this before.

What’s disturbing about the last four games is how badly the once-stingy Blues, particularly during their impressive 45-13-11 run under the tutelage of the reigning Jack Adams (Coach of the Year in the National Hockey League – NHL) award recipient Ken Hitchcock, have been at keeping the puck out of their own net, surrendering an average of 5.25 goals per game.  Last season, the Blues led the NHL in surrendering an average of only 1.86 goals/game but are currently ranked 25^th in the NHL, surrendering 3.12 goals/game.  Statistically, it’s even more of a concern as, prior to the 21 goals surrendered over the past four games, the Blues were only giving up an even 2.0 goals/game over their first seven games played.  Even more disturbing is that the Blues were only allowing 19 shots/game over their first seven games but have since surrendered almost 26 shots/game.

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