The date: May 7.
The event: Game 7.
The time: 7 p.m. CDT
The giveaway: A rally towel with the No. 7 on it.
The seventh Game 7 in franchise history.
That's a whole lot of sevens.
Game 7. May 7. Puck drop 7 p.m. It’s the 7th Game 7 at home in Blues’ history. And No. 7 is on tonight’s rally towel. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/v7S3FbOzto
— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) May 7, 2019
So it's fair to say it wasn't a coincidence that No. 7, Pat Maroon — who just happens to be a St. Louis native — scored the game-winning goal in the second overtime to send the Blues to the Western Conference finals.
MORE: Pat Maroon's son gets emotional after dad scores series-clinching goal
Do or die. Pat Maroon chooses do. #stlblues #WeAllBleedBlue pic.twitter.com/4GrlkFzXkQ
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) May 8, 2019
The number seven is anything but just a number in St. Louis. It's deeply rooted in the organization, one that is still looking for its first Stanley Cup in 52 years, an organization that started in — are you ready for it? — 1967.
The 2019 playoffs are the 42nd appearance by the franchise and seven is a factor of 42. This year's trip to the Stanley Cup playoffs is the seventh one under general manager Doug Armstrong since he took over the role in 2010 and St. Louis became just the seventh franchise since expansion to qualify for the playoffs after ranking last in the standings on New Year's Day. The last team to do it was the Ottawa Senators in — can't make it up — 1997.
Prior to this season, the Blues played in seven conference finals. The last time they played in the Stanley Cup Final was ... 1970.
Aside from Maroon, the No. 7 has been worn by some of the greatest in NHL history, such as famed former Michigan head coach Red Berenson, Garry Unger, Hall of Famer Joe Mullen, Cliff Ronning and Keith Tkachuk.
This year's roster, not to go even further out on a limb, is led in points by Jaden Schwartz (wears number 17), Alex Pietrangelo (wears number 27) and Ryan O'Reilly (who is 27 and born on Feb. 7). You can also throw in the fact that Vladimir Tarasenko and Brayden Schenn are 27 and it's easy to see why the number seven is a big one for St. Louis.