"It was nice," Blues goalie Jake Allen said after practicing on the outdoor rink at Centene Community Ice Center on Thursday. "It's good to get outside in the fresh air and have some fun. We've had a tough schedule here, so it's a little bit of a fun day, and then we get back to work."
"I think we all enjoyed it. I think the coaches enjoyed it, too," added Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo. "This time of year, there's a lot of practices, a lot of hockey, a lot of travel. It's just a good change of pace (to) do something different."
The Blues swept their four-game homestand and currently sit in first place in the Western Conference. Thursday's practice began inside wth skills competitions but shifted to the outdoor rink, which opened in November, for a loose 3-on-3 scrimmage.
"I was looking to do a regular practice out here, and I still might do it," added Blues Head Coach Craig Berube. "But today was more of a fun day for the guys. We wanted to come out today, do more of a skills session and have some fun out here, that's all. It's been a hectic schedule, it's a little bit of a break from the regular grind."
