The St. Louis Blue’s weren’t looking like a playoff team early in the season.

But now, after a killer end to the regular season in which the Blues stormed back from near last in the conference, they find themselves right in the thick of the playoff hunt.

“The season was off to a terrible start but since then they’ve turned it around,” senior hockey player and Blues fan Kyle Meehan said. “It’s been some of the most entertaining hockey I’ve ever seen.”

After a brutal 6-1 loss at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Blues won 12 out of 18 games and pushed themselves into a wild card slot.

“At that time when we went on the road, it was like two months basically on the road, we were in a position where we had to win,” Blues head coach Craig Berube said to AP News. “These guys did a good job, they came together as a team and played really well over that span and we’re in the position we’re in because of that.”

This run came largely on the back of goalie Jordan Binnington. The rookie sensation started his NHL career 3-0 and finished the year with a staggering 24-5 record and .927 save percentage.

“Without Binnington I don’t think the Blues would’ve even made the playoffs,” Meehan said. “He’s one of my favorite players, not only for his on-ice play, but the way he carries himself off the ice.”

Binnington was key in the Blues opening series against the Winnipeg Jets and has now led the Blues into a crucial game seven against the Dallas Stars today, May 7.

“You can expect both teams to leave it all out on the ice,” senior hockey player Mitchell Oberlag said. “This is potentially the last game of the season, and I’d hate to see our run end.”