St.. Louis Blues: Cam Janssen Needs to Be in the Lineup Every Night

Let's take a look back when the St. Louis Blues were winning games consistently. One key ingredient to their success was Cam Janssen, the toughest and most potent spice on the hockey market.

Cam Janssen is a hometown hero for the Blues. He is from Missouri, and was acquired from New Jersey in 2007.

His teammates know him as "Bam Bam" and his name says it all. Janssen has been providing the Blues with a toughness, and provides a spark when the Blues are not playing well.

I noticed having watched many Blues games this year, that when Janssen is on the ice, the opposing team is very reluctant to play strategically.

The opposing teams are paranoid, and constantly trying to spot him on the ice. Andy Murray needs to realize how important Janssen is on the ice, especially when their games are numbered at this point.

The Blues have came a long way from last year. But it seems to me that management needs to come to a realization that Janssen is always a factor on the ice.

Here are some key team stats to implement what the Janssen factor is all about:

Janssen has played in 55 games this year. In those 55 games the Blues have a record of (36 wins-19 losses).

From Oct.10-Dec.30  St.Louis was (15 wins-14 losses); and since mid-season with Cam in the line up from Jan.3-March 12 the Blues were (21 wins-5 losses)

He's known as a tough guy, and punishes his opponents with crushing hip checks. He is a very intense player. 

Janssen has not seen any ice time since March 12th against San Jose. St.Louis is (4-1) in Cam's last five games in the line up.

Cam is third in penalty minutes for the Blues behind David Backes (155), and B.J. Crombeen (138).

Janssen has also attained his first goal of his career as a Blue note. That came against Colorado on Jan. 15 in a 5-2 victory.

He might not provide the scoring touch St.Louis has been needing. But I think we can all see the results that come a long with Janssen in the line up.

The last four games Janssen has not been in the lineup. In those four games St.Louis has only managed one victory over the Minnesota Wild. They are (1-2-1) without Janssen in these last four games.

I think the Blues might find their scoring touch again if Andy Murray can find a way of putting Janssen out on the ice. It is evident that the Blues play better when Janssen is out on the ice. It is not fictional to say that Janssen strikes fear into his opponents.

Which in turn will lead the more skilled Blues players to concentrate on scoring again and let "Bam Bam" do what he does best.

Strike fear into the opposing teams, and distract the other team from their strategy.