Press Box: Could Blues really win Stanley Cup?

John Moore of the Bruins checks Patrick Maroon of the Blues into the glass during the first period in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday in Boston.
John Moore of the Bruins checks Patrick Maroon of the Blues into the glass during the first period in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday in Boston.

photo

JOHN SYKES JR.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JOHN SYKES JR. - Top Six - 23407 Greystone Manor

What would a Stanley Cup title mean for the city of St. Louis?

That's a question that has been swirling around for the past two days, and it's one that many Blues fans hope to have answered tonight following the conclusion of Game 6 against the Boston Bruins at Enterprise Center.

So who has an answer for that question?

Well, a similar question was asked Friday night to Kawhi Leonard, after the Toronto Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors 105-92 to take a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals. One win from the franchise's first championship, a reporter asked Leonard with a title would mean for the city of Toronto.

Keep in mind, this is Leonard's first season with the Raptors. So his answer was rather appropriate.

"I'm really not sure," he said. "I guess you really have to ask somebody on the street or one of our fans. I'm pretty sure it's a long time waiting, they're going to be excited. I mean, they're already excited, just us being here for the first time. They're going crazy after the Eastern Conference finals. I don't know, there's no telling. You gotta ask a fan or somebody that's in Canada, or been living in Canada for awhile."

That answer is so good, I'm going to steal it and apply it to the Blues.

When it comes to University of Missouri athletics, the St. Louis Cardinals or the Kansas City Chiefs, I consider myself somewhat of a diehard fan. However, when it comes to the St. Louis Blues, I'm a casual fan at best.

But I'm working on it.

I followed the Blues regularly in the late 1990s and the early 2000s, and I can recall the days of Brett Hull and Al MacInnis. But then, suddenly, I stopped, and I honestly can't remember why.

And then, three years ago, I came back to the Blues. A lot of it had to do with my arrival in Jefferson City, as well as our coverage of the Blues.

I remember watching games earlier this season, seeing the Blues give up goals by the bunches: eight to Winnipeg in November, seven to Calgary in December, and then six goals on three different occasions that month.

Then the winning streak happened, "Gloria" began catching on and suddenly losing was no longer contagious.

St. Louis won in six games against Winnipeg, then in seven against Dallas. After Patrick Maroon's winning goal in double overtime of Game 7 against the Stars, he quickly became the hometown hero, much like David Freese in 2011 with the Cardinals.

When the Blues beat the San Jose Sharks in six games to reach the Stanley Cup Final, it all felt so surreal. Hockey in June was coming to Missouri.

Could this really be happening? Could St. Louis be four wins from its first hockey title?

Fast-forward to today. The magic number is down to one.

It's setting up for the perfect ending. The Blues clinched each of their first three playoff series on home ice, and they have a chance to do so tonight.

And if they do, please - oh please - let some reporter ask that question to Maroon. Like Leonard, he's also in his first season with the Blues, but he's easily qualified to answer that question.

I know I can't say what a Stanley Cup title will mean for the city of St. Louis, but I can't wait to hear the answer.