from Frank Seravalli of TSN,

As hard as the St. Louis Blues tried, there was no way to make Monday morning feel normal.

Not with Game 7 just hours away and a sour Blackhawks-induced reflux taste still lingering on the tip of their tongues.

Defenceman Kevin Shattenkirk said he woke up with his stomach in a knot. Captain David Backes noticed the extra media presence. The Blues even changed up their routine, checking into a downtown hotel for the afternoon in an attempt to channel their focus.

“I think if you’re not nervous in this situation, it’s a little unhuman (sic) to feel that way,” Shattenkirk said.

There was a palpable tension in the St. Louis dressing room. Coughing up a 3-1 series lead, after blowing a two-game edge two of the last three years, will do that. The Blues have allowed 10 goals in the last two games, none bigger than the three that wiped away their 3-1 lead in Game 6 on Saturday.

There was also a sense of opportunity.

“You play hockey for Game 7s,” Blues forward Paul Stastny said. “You dream about it, actually.”

Monday marks the first Game 7 at Scottrade Center since 2000. The home team is 94-67 all-time in Game 7s and went 3-2 in 2015.

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