On a wing and a prayer, St. Louis Blues gear up for final playoff push

The St. Louis Blues gained two points on Sunday night with a win in overtime over the Chicago Blackhawks — and suddenly the NHL playoffs are within reach.

Like notes on a piece of sheet music, the St. Louis Blues are bouncing up and down the standings.

After Sunday, they’re heading into a higher octave.

When Blues winger and alternate captain Vladimir Tarasenko became sidelined with an upper-body injury this week, it appeared to be the dagger in the Blues’ playoff hopes this season.

Then Alex Pietrangelo happened. Or rather, kept happening.

In true captain form, Pietrangelo stepped up to lead his squad to a gutty win 5-4 win in overtime against the Chicago Blackhawks, who aren’t technically mathematically eliminated from the postseason but may as well be.

With his score against the Blackhawks in the third period, Pietrangelo set a new career-high in single-season goals:

But it was in his three assists that Pietrangelo truly proved his worth to this team as it shifts its playoff push into high gear.

These Blues keep finding themselves down in every way, but you simply can’t count them out. St. Louis worked its way back from being down two in the second period, as well as two one-goal deficits in the third.

It was Patrik Berglund who scored in overtime to secure the win.

Sunday night capped off a playoff-caliber weekend for Pietrangelo, which also saw him net two goals and an assist for three points against the New York Rangers on Saturday.

These Blues might not play a day past April 8. But if they do, it will be largely thanks to their captain.

Next: Each NHL Team's Biggest 'What if' Moment

With the win, the Blues (83 points) pull to within one point of playoff position behind the Dallas Stars and Anaheim Ducks (84 points), though the Ducks were leading the New Jersey Devils in the second period Sunday night. St. Louis has 10 games left on its regular season schedule.