The Blues new priority on heavy checking, getting the puck up ice quickly, jumping into the offensiven play, and their new skill at winning faceoffs (apparently all after Monty's new system finally clicking in, and the extra practice they got at faceoff technique has really paid off in helping them get ahead early, and has helped them ton their 8-2 record ion their last 10 games. Of course, their new willingness to sacrifice their bodies to black shots, resulting in many more blocks than earlier in the season, hasn't hurt at all. That's all a good sign towards seeing them catch the 2 teams ahead of them for the last Wild Card spot.