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The Latest With The National Hockey League

The St. Louis Blues, who were floundering at the bottom of the National Hockey League standings at the end of January, now own a long-sought chance to finish at the top.

The Blues nailed down the NHL’s Western Conference berth in the finals at home on Tuesday night by beating the San Jose Sharks 5-1 to take the series in six games.

They will face the Boston Bruins for the Stanley Cup beginning on Monday night. The Bruins were, oddly enough, their opponent for the Cup in 1970.

The Blues led the injury-plagued Sharks 2-0 after one period and 3-1 after two. They had won Game 5 in a 5-0 rout.

Think about it. The NHL had expanded in 1967 from six to 12 teams and they played in the finals in 1968, 1969 and 1970.

The Blues never won. They are, in fact, the longest-existing NHL team to never win the Stanley Cup.

How long is it since 1970? Richard Nixon was in his first term as president. The Equal Rights Amendment had not yet passed. The city had a football team (the Cardinals) who bailed later for Arizona.

The United States invaded Cambodia in an expansion of the Vietnam war. Four Kent State University students were killed by the National Guard during a war protest. And The Beatles broke up. That was 1970.

So break out your old bell bottoms and tie-dyed shirts. Enjoy this ride. The Blues are back.

 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman