NEW YORK As Blues goaltender Jake Allen gloved a close-range shot from Islanders forward Jordan Eberle on Monday, Allen displayed poise, calmne s and a type of swagger. His demeanor of late has been exactly what the Blues expected as Allen enters his fifth year with the organization Hau’oli Kikaha Men Jersey . And coming on the heels of the first season in which he handled the majority of the Blues’ workload, Allen hopes to continue trending in the right direction, too.
MORE: Inside the 2017-18 Blues
Allen went 33-20-5 last season and has notched 16 wins since the 2016 All-Star break. He credits his strong performance a year ago for his emergingconfidence in 2017.
Three games in, he has looked sharp with a .930 save percentage, making a case to be one of the league’smost reliable netminders. He made 29 saves against the Penguins, 38 against the Starsand 40 while facing the Islanders.That’s 107 in a span of five days,and proof to Allen that he’s doing what his teammatesexpectof him.
“[I’m]just trying to battle out there and compete,” he said after Monday’s win. “Every game is Charvarius Ward Men Jersey different. Some games I might face 15 shots, some games I might face 50, but my objective is to just give the boys a chance. Right now, theyre doing it for me and Im trying to do it for them.Were finding ways to win.Weve got to find ways to capitalize a little more and close out some games, but you know, were moving in the right direction.”
For the second time inthree games, the Blues played into overtime on Monday. With the new format, where the three-on-three play opens up the ice,much of the pre sure falls on the shoulders of the goaltenders. Allen recognizes the double-edged sword of overtime, explaining thatit can be fun and a challenge.
“Overtime its tough,” he said.”Youre going to win some and youre going to lose some. Its pond hockey. I think Andre Hal Jersey you have to go in there with that mindset.I think you just have to have fun with it. Same thing with the shootout. Youre not going to win them all but you just go out there and enjoy it and do your thing.”
The Blues offense has giftedAllen eight goals. A large part of the offensive support has come from defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, who has ama sedat least a point on five of those goals. Moreover, hispresence on the blue-line has helpedmake Allen’s job easier.
“Every team needs a guy like that,” Allen said. “If you dont, its a tough sled on your back-six. For [Pietrangelo]to play against every single night the top line and the best players in the league, its not easy. Its probably not fun but he does it so well and thats why hes one of the best.”
With Allen receiving a break on Tuesday night as St. Louis visited Cameron Wake Youth Jersey the Rangers,Blues head coach Mike Yeo is content with what he is seeing from his veteran.
“He really looks like he’s in form right now,” Yeosaid. “I thought he was good in Pittsburgh [on opening night] and his last two starts. He’s been outstanding, so that’s real good.”