from Craig Custance of ESPN,

Before the season, St. Louis Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said he was going to pay especially close attention to how his team performed against the league's elite teams. Putting up points during the regular season hasn't been St. Louis' problem, it's been finding that extra gear in the postseason against the best teams in the league like the Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings.

So Tuesday night's 5-2 win over the Kings must have been gratifying. The Blues scored five unanswered goals, continuing to roll at home behind a hat trick from emerging superstar Vladimir Tarasenko.

If the Blues are going to finally break through and advance past the best in the West it will be because of the maturation and improved play of the young core -- players like Tarasenko. Things certainly look promising on that front so far this season.

read on for Burnside on the Panthers, LeBrun in Justin Williams and Strang on Columbus....