Ken Hitchcock is doing the accounting.
The story heading into Game 3 on Sunday afternoon between Hitchcock's St. Louis Blues and the Chicago Blackhawks is undoubtedly how the Blues will respond after having what appeared to be a potential game-winning goal - and a potential 2-0 series lead - by Vladimir Tarasenko erased after Jori Lehtera was ruled to be "millimeters offside."
What could have been a 3-2 lead eventually turned into a 3-2 loss for the Blues, after Andrew Shaw scored late in the third period, his goal standing after another review process, this one checking for goaltender interference.
Whether Hitchcock's keeping tabs with NHL hockey operations or the hockey gods, we don't know, but he's keep tabs, is what matters.
"I know we just had two go the wrong way," Hitchcock said, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Jeremy Rutherford. "We're owed two back the other way."
Each review took four-and-a-half minutes, twice bringing an intense playoff game to a halt, which irked a lot of the players. But Hitchcock says the Blues must overcome, the time for chatting due in the offseason.
"That's probably for summer time conversation," said the head coach, whose job is certainly on the line after three straight first-round exits. "I'm sure there'll be lots of discussion. That (offside call) will be a video that will get played over and over again, but for right now, all I know is it's a call that went against us and we need to move on and get ready for (Sunday) afternoon."
The Blues dealt with their fair share of adversity this season, as multiple key players went down to injury. They not only survived, but thrived, finishing second in the Central Division and Western Conference with an impressive 107 points. They're going to have to summon that same resolve if they hope to win three of five against the defending Stanley Cup champions.
