See you around, Captain

This is a rather interesting post for me to write. Why?

Because this is my last post on this site.

You read that right, You’re My Boys, Blues is heading the way of “Blue,” for which the site was named.

Yesterday I said goodbye to the 2011-12 Blues. Today I say goodbye to this site, after nearly a year and a half and over 300 posts.

It’s bittersweet.

Through this place I have gotten some incredible experience and met even more amazing people, and I’ll always be grateful for it.

So to you, whoever and wherever you are, thank you for reading. Thank you for talking Blues hockey with me, for both laughing and mourning with me.

Thank you for cheering just as loudly and emphatically as I was.

Of course you’ll still find me around the Twitter world. Drop by and say hello every once in a while.

For the very last time over here and for always everywhere else:

LET’S GO BLUES!!!!

Until next year, boys

So that’s it then.

This season has been SUCH a whirlwind. So much so that there are hardly words to describe it all.

Whirlwind or not, it has been the most exciting season I’ve seen this team put together. I am aware that the number of seasons I’ve seen is comparatively very small, but this season made me love this team more than I ever thought possible.

All over the St Louis area, there are Blues billboards that show a player or two and have small sayings.

“Because no one could have predicted their story” in between Halak and Elliott on I-170 south.

“Because greatness can come from anywhere” resides over Pietrangelo on I-64 and Jefferson.

“Because no one could have predicted this in October” next to Berglund while heading west on I-44.

Every single time I see one of these billboards, yes, even now after the Blues’ elimination, it gives me hope.

It gives me something to believe in.

Today the team held the press conference to (finally) officially announce Tom Stillman as the new owner. New owner, great management, and an overdose of positivity due to what this team was able to accomplish this year.

The core is set. The desire is there. The final pieces will fall into place over the next six months or so.

The future is bright for our Blues, for us as fans.

I cannot wait to see what comes next.

"So it's really over?" "Yeah, it's really over."

I have been absent. Absent and mourning.

Is this the best way to have gone about handling game four? No, no it’s not, but that’s what I did anyway.

Guys, I am not ready for this. I am not ready for this to be over.

I am not ready for the sweltering summer months and the wistful glances I’ll have to toss at Scottrade as I drive by it every time I head to Busch Stadium.

I am not ready to shift my focus from MY team in the playoffs to someone else’s team in the playoffs.

I do not want this to be over. And yet? It is.

Unfortunately.

But because I am not ready for it, I will not be saying goodbye to this team. Not yet anyway. Give me a couple days to mourn the swift and sudden loss of Blues hockey.

For now, there’s this. The team’s thank you to us.

I say we keep this city blue.

I miss them already.

Thanks for showing up, buddy.

Welp.

I….I don’t really have words. I am, like so many others, numb.

A win in this round would be fantastic. A few would be spectacular.

A sweep? Well, a sweep sucks, but it happens.

I can’t really feel anything right now, so whatever, I suppose.

Gallagher said it SO much better than I ever could.

I had forgotten what almost heart-break felt like. I didn’t miss it.

It's on you, buddy

Blues at Kings, airing at 9pm CST on NBCSN.

I’ll be honest. I’m nervous about tonight’s game. Really nervous.

I recognize that this will have no impact whatsoever on how this game turns out, but I can’t even stop myself. I have been trying to not think about it, to not think about Halak not playing at all this round, about Petro being all hurtified and everything, about the abysmal game I saw the other day, but I can’t help it.

Part of me blames Brad Lee, as today he asked the question to the fan base at large, “How are you feeling?”

Well, Brad? Effing terrified, if you must know.

I’m not at the point where I think I’ve seen my last game at Scottrade, but I’m not confident I haven’t.

I’m stuck in the middle, though I can guarantee my mood for the rest of the week(end) will depend largely on what happens on the ice tonight.

For the last few weeks, I’ve been adding games to the calendar we got at a game months ago. You remember, the one where the guys all look photo-shopped into places around St Louis? Yeah, that one.

I am not ready to stop adding games. May looks MIGHTY empty with only two games written in. Empty calendar = sad Ann.

This is not a lost cause, I know that. I know that our boys have the ability to beat these Kings. They have the know-how and the wherewithal to do so.

The question remains, will they?

I certainly hope so. Oh man, I certainly hope so.

LET’S GO BLUES!!

Well, at least this guy's goal was pretty

I’m sorry, what? I disappeared for a while?

That’s ok, right? I figured if the Blues didn’t show up to play, why should I show up to write?

Look, if you didn’t watch the game, you’ve read the recaps and commentary. If you did watch the game, I am so, so sorry to have shared that with you.

Last night I had an awful, horrendous, abysmal dream about there being a Phoenix/Kings Western Conference Finals. I’m going to go ahead and hope that doesn’t actually happen.

Because really, um, ew.

Dear Captain BaCkes, Knock some sense into yourself and your team. Do it.

Time to get this shiz done.

Hopeful sidenote: The Bruins went down 0-2 in their series against the Habs last year and LOOK HOW WELL THAT WORKED FOR THEM. *Cautious Optimism*

Moose Juice is flowing

Kings at Blues, airing at 8pm CST on CNBC.

I’ll be honest with you guys. I did not watch Saturday’s game. I have spent the last few days fighting off the never-ending fever.

There is not a sickness in the world that would keep me from going to tonight’s game, fever and all.

That said, I don’t have a lot to say about the series, as I’ve missed it all, but I’m still hopeful. From what I’ve read and heard, it wasn’t a blowout loss, nor was it a horribly played game.

Remember last series? The Blues went down after the first game and bounced right on back.

Here’s hoping they bounce right on back.

Late game tonight. Rough day tomorrow. Here we go.

LET’S GO BLUES!!!

Will they open this door?

Kings at Blues, airing at 630pm CST on NBCSN.

It’s here. Holy crap it’s here.

Round two.

Looking back over the regular season, the Blues didn’t do all that well against this Kings team, losing three out of four games.

Somehow, I’m not worried.

This team has battled and worked all season long. They kept working through round one. They’ll keep working through round two and hopefully beyond.

I am so excited for this series I can’t even see straight.

Twelve more wins. That’s all our boys need. Just twelve more wins.

LET’S GO BLUES!!!

Nice face, Beener

Ok, so yesterday I was apparently not counting.

Blues hockey picks up again TOMORROW, not Monday.

Well, there is Blues hockey Monday, and I get to go, so I think that was why I was confused, but nonetheless, hockey tomorrow.

And again, yours truly will be, you guessed it, out of town.

Go effing figure.

Basically what it boils down to is that you kids have to cheer for me. Loudly.

Let’s do this.

Not-Norris candidate

I know, I know, it hasn’t even been a week, but somehow this week without Blues hockey has just seemed SO LONG.

That said, there is plenty to think about. Many questions to address. Things like:

Will the Blues get past newly Vezina nominated Jonathan Quick?

Will anyone on the Kings open the Roman Polak door?

Will a week off for both teams be a blessing or a curse?

What will the ice be like given the non-hockey events going on in both LA and St Louis?

Will every single game be decided by just one goal?

Just how loud WILL Scottrade be on Monday?

Is this a series that will go into overtimes regularly, even in a potential game 7?

Is it possible to survive this type of hockey-related anxiety?

Four days left. Only four days.