There’s a certain kind of toughness that defines the St. Louis Blues — whether it’s on the ice during a heated NHL playoff series or in the soulful wails of an East Bay blues legend still performing at 97. This week, the Blues name has been center ice in more ways than one, with playoff drama against the Winnipeg Jets and the inspiring story of Nat Bolden, a blues singer who refuses to retire from the stage. Both tales, separated by decades and soundboards, reveal what it truly means to be a Blue: relentless, resilient, and never out of rhythm.
Playoff Heat Turns Up As Blues And Jets Clash In A Gritty Series
The NHL postseason is rarely polite, but the series between the St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets has cranked the intensity up to eleven. Game 5 wasn’t just another checkpoint in the wild chase for a second-round spot — it became a flashpoint of emotion, injury, and edge-of-the-seat storytelling. Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele, a key offensive weapon for the Jets, was forced off the ice with an injury that has now sidelined him for Game 6. The circumstances of the injury have sparked a whirlwind of debate, and in true playoff warrior fashion, the verbal sparring has been as fierce as the on-ice battles.
Blues captain Brayden Schenn delivered a punishing sequence early in the first period, including a controversial hit that earned him two minutes in the penalty box. But St. Louis head coach Jim Montgomery was quick to deflect criticism, insisting Scheifele’s injury resulted from a later hit by Radek Faksa — not Schenn’s. Winnipeg coach Scott Arniel wasn’t having it, questioning Montgomery’s medical insight and turning the post-game media scrum into a chess match of coaching mind games.
What makes this exchange more than just locker room noise is the history and passion behind it. Arniel and Montgomery aren’t strangers — their careers intersected decades ago in the minors. Yet now, they find themselves on opposite sides of a series that may define both of their postseason legacies. And despite the swirling controversy, the Jets managed to punch ahead with a 5-3 win in Game 5, proving once again that hockey is as much about momentum as it is about morals.
Even Without Scheifele, The Jets Press On — But The Blues Are Watching
With Scheifele out and Nikolaj Ehlers still sidelined with a foot injury, the Jets lineup is looking worn but determined. Vladislav Namestnikov stepped into the void and scored in Game 5, embodying the “next man up” mentality that Arniel praised. Yet the Blues aren’t done digging in. This isn’t just a series for advancement — it’s a battle for identity. The Blues may be behind in the series, but every shift they take is loaded with the kind of grit that turned them into Stanley Cup champions not long ago.
Whether a Game 7 is looming or the Jets close it out in St. Louis, one thing is clear: the Blues are leaving nothing on the ice. And with Cam Fowler and Brayden Schenn anchoring a defense that’s been through the trenches, St. Louis is still very much in the fight — both for the series and for respect.
The Bay Area’s 97-Year-Old Bluesman Nat Bolden Proves Age Is Just A Number
While the playoff drama unfolds under the bright lights of arenas and media scrutiny, another Blues story is playing out in a quieter, but no less powerful, key signature. Nat Bolden, a 97-year-old blues singer and Bay Area institution, continues to perform with the energy of a man half his age. Celebrating his birthday with a packed show at the Continental Club, Bolden didn’t just mark another year — he reminded everyone what passion and purpose sound like when they’re drawn from the soul.
“I’m just blessed,” Bolden says simply when asked how he keeps going. And that’s all anyone needs to know. Born in 1928 in Arkansas, Bolden’s journey took him from the fields to the forge, from welding by day to running a nightclub by night. He didn’t start singing professionally until he had to — and even then, he turned the ‘Til Two Lounge into his personal blues lab, honing a style that still captivates crowds across the Bay Area.
“That man’s got more moves than a chess piece,” says San Jose blues artist JC Smith. And like a seasoned player in a lifelong game, Bolden knows how to make every performance count. He wasn’t always welcomed on stage, but he owned it — because he didn’t just want to entertain, he needed to connect. And he’s been doing that, uninterrupted, for decades.
Nat Bolden’s Legacy Is The Blues’ True North — Passion Without Compromise
What makes Bolden’s story resonate so deeply with the Blues name — whether it’s the team or the genre — is its authenticity. He never asked for a pass. He worked hard to support a family of eight. He didn’t rely on welfare because he knew the value of the hustle. And when he finally got paid for singing, he understood what it meant to be a professional.
“If you don’t get paid for what you’re doing, you’re not a pro — you’re just out there doing,” Bolden says. It’s a distinction that applies just as well to playoff hockey as it does to midnight blues sets. It’s about showing up. About giving your all, even when no one’s watching. About turning every moment — on ice or on stage — into something that matters.
Whether On Ice Or In The Lounge, The Blues Are A Testament To Endurance
From the rink-rarefied air of an NHL playoff series to the smoke-filled rooms of the Bay Area blues circuit, the name Blues carries with it a legacy of endurance, emotion, and unwavering spirit. The St. Louis Blues may be fighting for their playoff lives this week, but they’re also carrying the weight of a name that’s never been about easy wins. It’s about grinding. Fighting. Standing tall when the world’s pushing you down.
And Nat Bolden — still singing, still moving, still blessed at 97 — is living proof that the Blues never fade. They only grow deeper.