St. Louis Blues

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Lore & Background

The Blues started the season sluggish, and head coach Mike Yeo was fired on November 19 with the team's record at 7–9–3. Craig Berube, who had served as assistant coach with the Blues since 2017, was named the interim head coach. St. Louis began the 2019 calendar year with the worst record in the league; 15–18–4 and 34 points recorded. Soon after, rookie goaltender Jordan Binnington joined the team. On January 7, he won his first game in a shutout and took over as the team's starting goaltender. The Blues then went on a franchise-record 11-game winning streak and had a 30–10–5 run to finish the season. They clinched a playoff spot on March 29, 2019. In the playoffs, the Blues defeated the Winnipeg Jets, Dallas Stars, and San Jose Sharks to advance to the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals, where they faced the Boston Bruins. It was their first Finals appearance since 1970. On May 29, 2019, St. Louis won a Stanley Cup Finals game for the first time in franchise history as they defeated the Bruins 3–2 in overtime in Game 2; the team was swept in their three previous finals trips (1968, 1969, and 1970). On June 12, 2019, they defeated the Bruins in seven games to win the first Stanley Cup title in franchise history. Until then, they were the oldest franchise to have never won a Stanley Cup.

In Their Own Story

The air inside the arena was thick with tension, but the focus was entirely on the ice below. The Blues had been in last place in the NHL on January 3. On the night of January 6, a few Blues players were in a Philadelphia bar watching the National Football League "Double Doink" wildcard game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears. The DJ played the 1982 Laura Branigan song "Gloria", and according to defenceman Joel Edmundson, "this one guy looked at the DJ and said, 'Keep playing "Gloria"!' so they kept playing it. Everyone would get up and start singing and dancing. We just sat back and watched it happen. Right there we decided we should play the song after our wins." The following day, goaltender Jordan Binnington made his first start for the Blues that season and won the game with a shutout. The team played it after every win for the rest of the regular season and playoffs, and as their hot streak continued, the song became popular in the city of St. Louis. "Gloria" was written on signs and t-shirts. The St. Louis radio station KYKY played it for 24 hours straight after series victories in the playoffs.

Reader's Guide

The Blues faced the Winnipeg Jets in the First Round of the playoffs and defeated them in six games. Next up, they faced the Dallas Stars in the Second Round of the playoffs, defeating them in seven games in double overtime. Then, they faced the San Jose Sharks in the Conference Finals of the playoffs, defeating them in six games. Finally, they faced the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Finals, defeating them in seven games to win their first Stanley Cup. Ryan O'Reilly, who had been acquired in a trade during the previous offseason, was the Blues' top regular season scorer with 77 points. He then had a franchise-record 23 playoff points and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs. O'Reilly also won the Frank J. Selke Trophy for the league's best defensive forward during the regular season.

Did You Know?

• The Blues were in last place in the NHL on January 3, 2019, but rallied to win the Stanley Cup.
• The Blues became the fourth St. Louis-based professional sports team to win a major championship, joining the Cardinals, Hawks, and Rams.
• St. Louis became the eighth city to win a championship in each of the four major U.S. sports.
• The Blues were the oldest franchise to have never won a Stanley Cup until their 2019 victory.
• Ryan O'Reilly set a franchise record with 23 playoff points in the 2019 postseason.

The Historic Turnaround

The 2018–19 campaign stands as the most dramatic turnaround in franchise history, transforming a struggling squad into undisputed champions. Established in 1967, the Blues entered their 52nd season with little optimism, sitting at the very bottom of the league standings by January. A mid-season coaching change proved pivotal; after Mike Yeo was dismissed in November, interim head coach Craig Berube took over and guided a stagnant team toward redemption. The catalyst for this resurgence was rookie goaltender Jordan Binnington, who seized the starting role on January 7 with a shutout victory. Following his arrival, the team embarked on a franchise-record eleven-game winning streak, surging from last place to secure a playoff berth by late March. This incredible momentum carried them through three grueling series against Winnipeg, Dallas, and San Jose before they faced Boston in the Finals. On June 12, 2019, St. Louis defeated the Bruins in seven games, ending their status as the oldest franchise without a title and capturing their first-ever Stanley Cup.

Championship Legacy and City Pride

Securing the 2019 Stanley Cup cemented the Blues' place in St. Louis sports lore, marking a monumental achievement for the city itself. By winning this championship, the Blues became the fourth professional team from the region to claim a major title, joining the illustrious ranks of the St. Louis Cardinals, the 1957–58 Hawks, and the 1999 Rams. This victory also elevated St. Louis to become only the eighth city in history to have won championships across all four major American sports leagues: baseball, basketball, football, and hockey. The triumph was particularly sweet given the team's previous heartbreak; they had been swept in their three prior appearances in 1968, 1969, and 1970. Breaking this decades-long curse required a perfect storm of resilience and skill, culminating in a hard-fought seven-game series victory over Boston that finally brought the Cup to St. Louis after more than half a century of waiting.

Individual Brilliance and Awards

While team effort was crucial, the 2018–19 season was defined by exceptional individual performances, most notably from center Ryan O'Reilly. Acquired in a trade during the preceding offseason, O'Reilly emerged as the franchise's top regular-season scorer with an impressive 77 points. His two-way dominance was recognized league-wide when he earned the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the NHL's best defensive forward. However, his true impact shone brightest on the ice during the postseason. O'Reilly set a new franchise record for playoff scoring with 23 points, leading the Blues through every round of the tournament. His consistent excellence throughout the playoffs earned him the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the most valuable player of the Stanley Cup Finals. Alongside his offensive contributions and defensive mastery, O'Reilly's leadership was instrumental in guiding a team that had started the year as league underdogs to their ultimate glory.

The Gloria Anthem Phenomenon

A unique cultural phenomenon emerged during this season centered around the song "Gloria" by Laura Branigan, which became the unofficial anthem of the Blues' resurgence. The tradition began in early January when players were watching an NFL game in a Philadelphia bar; after hearing the track played repeatedly, they decided to adopt it as their post-win celebration music. Coincidentally, goaltender Jordan Binnington made his first start for the team the very next day and recorded a shutout victory. From that moment on, "Gloria" was played after every win throughout the remainder of the regular season and playoffs. As the team's hot streak continued, the song permeated the local culture, appearing on signs and apparel across St. Louis. Local radio station KYKY even broadcasted it for 24 hours straight following playoff series victories, symbolizing how a simple melody helped unite a city behind its hockey team during their historic run.