Saturday Studmuffins: St. Louis Blues' Keith Tkachuk

Playoff hockey is back for the Blue Notes of Ess Tee Elle, and it couldn't have come in a more exciting fashion. Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that it was evident via "the sounds of the fans in attendance Friday, more than enough time has elapsed without postseason hockey in town. With the crowd buzzing as early as the pregame warm-ups, a deafening roar ensued when McDonald put the Blues ahead 1-0 on a power-play goal only 3 minutes, 19 seconds into the game."

The Blues managed to compile quite a push for the playoffs, being in last place in the NHL's Western Conference as recent as February, and a trade-deadline decision to keep forward Keith Tkachuk paid dividends Friday night at the Scottrade Center as "Walt" put together a two-goal, one-assist evening against Ken Hitchcock and the Columbus Blue Jackets, pushing the Blues into the post-season for the first time in three years.

Things will likely get harder before they get any easier, however, as the Blues could very well face President's Trophy candidate San Jose. The Blues faced, and were eliminated by the Sharks in their 2004 playoff appearance, and have been ousted by the Sharks on two other occasions in the last decade. Until that series gets underway, however, it's celebration time for the Blues.