DALLAS -- When David Backes arrived in St. Louis during the 2006-2007 season, the Blues were coming off a rare year without a Stanley Cup Playoff appearance. Before missing the playoffs in 2005-2006, the Blues had played beyond the regular season for 25 straight seasons. The Blues had even been to the Western Conference Final in 2001.
So perhaps his first thought upon joining the team wasn't about the years of frustration he might endure, years without playoff success, years without playoffs entirely. As Backes said after St. Louis eliminated the Dallas Stars 6-1 in Game 7 of the second round on Wednesday, "It's been on the goal sheet every single year.
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